Should I keep my notebooks?
I graduated three years ago, and I still have most of my college notebooks. I work in the field I studied and am contemplating pursuing a master’s in a different but related area. I’ve never referred back to those notebooks, so they don’t seem particularly useful, yet it feels like a waste to discard them since they represent 4.5 years of hard work and a significant financial investment. However, living in a tiny studio apartment makes me wish I had the extra space.
What do you think? Do you keep your old notebooks?
Edit: Thank you all for your responses! I’ve decided to gradually digitize them using a scanner at the university library that’s meant for books and chapters. For now, I’ll hang on to the physical notebooks while reorganizing my apartment, but I’ll feel more at ease letting them go in the future once they’re backed up.
It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this decision! Digitizing your notebooks is a great compromise, allowing you to preserve the information without taking up physical space. It’s understandable to be hesitant about letting go of something that represents your hard work, but keeping only what truly matters can help declutter your space and mind. Holding onto the physical notebooks for now while you work on digitizing them feels like a good strategy—it gives you peace of mind knowing you have the option to reference them if needed. Plus, once you’ve scanned everything, you might feel more comfortable parting with them. Good luck with the digitizing process and your potential master’s pursuit!