I know someone who’s computer desktop perpetually looks like it was the site of a bombing run. Every inch is covered with shortcuts, downloads, documents, and set-up files. She has multiple copies of jpegs and pdfs, because she wasn’t sure if the original downloaded properly, or she couldn’t find it.
I don’t know about you but I couldn’t function that way. I’m not a clean freak. I just find it easier to get things done when my work space is reasonably uncluttered and organized.
And yet there are times when my desktop gets messy. When that happens, the first thing I do is gather up everything and put it in a new folder.
Out of sight, out of mind.
The next step is to clean out the folder and put things where they belong. I might do this right away but I usually do it later, when I have some downtime.
Doing it this way allows me to quickly get back to work. When I’m ready to tackle the folder, I’m able to take my time and make better decisions about what to keep and where to put it.
Okay, maybe I do have some issues.
Anyway, if you find clutter distracting or it impairs your productivity, you might give this method a try.
You can do the same thing in the physical world. When you have too much clutter on your desk–papers, files, books–put everything into one or two piles and when you’re ready, chop those files down to size.
If you have a messy closet, put everything into boxes as the first step. Later, go through the boxes deliberately, putting away the things you know you need and getting rid of everything else.
You can do the same thing on your smartphone. If you have too many apps, put them all into digital folders or push them to another screen. Or delete everything. Only put back (or re-download) the apps you know you will use.
De-clutter first. Organize second.
I keep my digital world organized with Evernote
