Technically, full things aren't a problem. They'll only become a problem when one more thing is added.
Trouble is, you don't know when that'll be, so you probably won't catch it. Next time you see it, it'll already be overflowing.
For the vast majority of things, overfilling is much more costly to emptying early. Empty the trash a day before it's full and you'll have to empty it again a day sooner. Empty it late, and you'll waste time struggling to shove everything into the bag and without spilling everywhere.
I know which I prefer.
There's also intrinsic benefits to not being full. A drawer which is 80% full is incredibly convenient. Things won't slide around but you still have space to organize things, and you can toss in something new without thinking. If a drawer is 99% full, you'll have to carefully tug things out to avoid dislodging the pile.
The ideal amount varies. You want enough space that it won't be full next time you check. If you check something infrequently, if the amount of content varies frequently, if it's slow to empty or doesn't have potential for overflow, the ideal threshold will be lower.
An extra winter jacket which doesn't fit in the closet is annoying, but not particularly pressing. Closets are frequently opened, vary by the size of a laundry load, can be quickly emptied, and can overflow just about anywhere. Most people have laundry chairs anyway.
A takeout container of unexpected leftovers outside a full fridge is cause for immediate concern. What are you going to do, eat faster?
Empty things before you think you need to, and this can't happen.
Don't play chicken with the trash can.
You're the only one with something to lose.
- Rew
Nightly Notes
Recently, I've been thinking about things I do incidentally. My schedule isn't full, but it's close. I've hit the cliff where space exists, but aligning without conflicts is an ordeal.
You can do a lot of non-obvious things, when you have the space. Organization requires empty space. So does decompressing.
I don't get fresh air when my calendar is full, though I'd never put "fresh air" onto my calendar intentionally. It just happens, or fails to happen, based on the constraints.
Is the solution to that to relax the constraints, or to make fresh air a constraint?
I don't know.
- Rew