The dormitory is one of the most important living spaces in a university. A dormitory is not only a place for rest, but also a carrier of collective life. We are all eager for a warm living environment, but with the accumulation of items, the original clean space gradually becomes undesirable. How to store items efficiently and keep your dormitory almost tidy? On the afternoon of November 28, Dean Mei Ciqi, moral education assistants of student community, and students inside and outside Xinya College got together with teachers Jia Shengbo and Yang Hui from "LI YU TIDY" in the hall of Xinya to discuss the skills and significance of dormitory storage.

Jia Shengbo from "LI YU TIDY" first showed four pictures and asked the attendees to evaluate their own dormitory: crowded and orderly, crowded but orderly, crowded and disorderly, overcrowded and disorderly. The teacher aimed to remind people through these pictures that the increase of items is the root cause of space problems-- once there are more items than there is room to store, mess is inevitable. The loss of a sense of control over space may become a mental pressure that implicitly drains our mental energy. Teacher Jia also shared all kinds of typical photos taken during his previous visit to the dormitories of Xinya to show the audience the possibility of good storage and management in a dormitory.
How to realize ideal space arrangement and regain a sense of control? Jia shared a formula called "CACGF". "C" (control) means controlling the quantity of items. For this, you should control your desire to buy things. "A" (abandon) means allowing your old belongings to leave you. What items should be abandoned? Citing Japanese storage master Marie Kondo's methods, Jia offered a concise standard beyond hard metrics like frequency of use and time of last use: When you pick up one item, do you still feel excited about it? If not, perhaps it is time to find a way out for it.
The second "C" refers to "classify". Jia suggested that people should classify their items by referring to the classification system of a supermarket, such as electronic products, food packaging, apparel accessories, etc. "G" refers to "group". Things that are normally used at the same time should be put into the same group. For example, clothings, tools and accessories needed for outdoor sports can be stored at the same place; neckties, shirts, suits and waistbands that need to be used together for formal occasions can also be put side by side.
Finally, the most important step to maintain the whole storage effect is "fix"-- fixing the location of storage and always returning things to their designated location. For opaque space, you can remind yourself of the items stored by sticking labels or other means. More importantly, you should develop the consciousness of returning things to their designated location and self-discipline. Just as Mr. Jia said, storage is a matter of items, space and humans.
Mei concluded that storage is not only a technique, but also a philosophy. Upholding the concept of "control and abandon" does not mean living as an ascetic, and delicate storage is not to eliminate casualness. Emphasizing storage is to emphasize a person's sense of control and initiative in life. Mei also reminded that the bed-and-desk sets for each student in a dormitory are seemingly private spaces, but a dormitory as a whole is a public living area, so the students are supposed to assume corresponding maintenance responsibilities. The academy system is designed to encourage each student to reflect on their role and performance in public life, and dormitory storage can be a starting point for such reflection.