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clean my desk


 

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How to clean my desk by Ken Chen

"You'll need a whole evening"

How I did it: Started picking stuff and sorting them atop my bed in groups like books, materials, references,cables, equipment, etc.

After everything was sorted and grouped I cleaned the Desk.

Decided then what I needed the most and start to put those stuff back, i.e. Desk Lamp, laptops, keyboards, mouse, picture frames,etc.

When that was complete I started to processing every remaining pile using the GTD Inbox approach, that was what took the longest.

Lessons & tips:

  1. Choose a day you'll know you won't be interrupted
  2. Have handy soft-drinks and snacks in order not to get distracted by preparing lunch or dinner. 
  3. Put some energy boosting music, turn off TV. 
  4. Make a list of the things you really want back on your desk.  
  5. Take stuff once at a time and put on piles close by in the floor (I used my bed since my desk is inside my bedroom) sorted by purpouse. 
  6. Have a trashcan and everything that you can judge to be trash throw it right there.  
  7. Put back the stuff in your list.  
  8. Start processing the remaining stuff in the piles using the GTD Inbox approach: Every item has to be placed inmediatly, wether that would be storage, a box or the trashcan, don't follow priorities after all you'll need to process everything. 
  9. Relax and enjoy your new tidy and spacious desk. 

Resources:

  1. 43folders blog
  2. Zen habits blog 
  3. Flylady 
  4. 43thingers 
  5. Getting Things Done 
  6. Ferry Corsten's Right of way CD  
  7. Big trash bags 
  8. A couple of cartoon boxes 
  9. Cleaning stuff. 


 

Jan 26, 02:12PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer



More "How I Did It" stories

drakemer

It took me
1 day
It made me

How I did it: Rather than tossing my papers by default on top of the desk, I sorted my papers according to their importance and topic. For instance, my banking papers are now underneath my desk, whereas my teaching documents are on top. Read how I did it…

Oct 14, 01:53AM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer


Finn http://www.sadnessofrain.livejournal.com

It took me
1 day
It made me
feel accomplished.

How I did it: I focused myself, and then did things step by step.1. Removed anything that didn't belong on my desk - all kinds of things which I don't actually use at my desk seem to end up there. Put them in the area where they actually belong.2. Dusted the surfaces. It makes it look a whole lot nicer!3. I put school/work stuff on one side, and recreational stuff like journals and penpalling things on the other side. 4. Created a space for things that… Read how I did it…

May 15, 12:30PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer


People doing this:

  • New York City
    5 entries
  • Poinciana
    1 entry
  • Kimitsu
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    People doing this are also doing these things:

    Entries

    BeagleBuddy

    Why I want to Clean My Desk 4 weeks ago

    I cleaned it before, but it’s messy again. I did this on a different account, but I can’t remember my password and we changed internet providers so I have a new e-mail account. (If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.) I just realized how much this site helps. I was doing fine until I couldn’t log on here and now my whole room is a mess again. I swear, once I get my desk clean, I will never let it get dirty again!

    Oct 08, 02:27PM PDT | 0 comments


    Sammie "You have to be willing to get happy about nothing." - Andy Warhol

    Done 5 months ago

    Kind of an extreme way of doing this – the desk will need to be moved into the new office soon, so I have completely cleared it. Once it’s in it’s new position, it will be set back up neatly without all the clutter!

    May 31, 06:11AM PDT | 2 cheers | 0 comments


    Finn http://www.sadnessofrain.livejournal.com

    I'm starting... 5 months ago

    I’m doing this now. Hopefully I’ll be done in a few hours. I’d forgotten I owned so much junk!

    May 15, 11:34AM PDT | 0 comments


    Libby is procrastinating

    Starting time 6 months ago

    I’m starting now. I hope to be done within two hours.

    May 10, 05:49AM PDT | 0 comments


    Sammie "You have to be willing to get happy about nothing." - Andy Warhol

    Working on it 6 months ago

    Spent some time clearing junk off my desk. This seems to be a neverending task – the desk is large and acts like a magnet for any clutter in the room.

    Determined to get it done properly this time and off my list.

    Apr 21, 07:51AM PDT | 0 comments


    zeeks is sick of everything else coming first. Time to do things my way!

    Clean my desk 7 months ago

    My desk at work is shameful. I am in charge so I need to do as I say and lead by example.

    Apr 05, 03:17AM PDT | 0 comments


    Ken Chen Trying to keep my desk clutter at a minimum

    GTD David Allen's desk 9 months ago

    http://lifehacker.com/5138412/take-a-tour-of-david-allens-office

    Jan 26, 09:32PM PST | 0 comments


    Ken Chen Trying to keep my desk clutter at a minimum

    Temptative list of what to put back on my desk... 9 months ago

    2 computer monitors
    2 Laptops
    1 Desktop Tower
    1 PocketPC cradle
    1 wireless keyboard
    1 wireless mouse
    1 Pen tablet
    1 Printer
    1 switch
    1 desk lamp
    2 Picture frames
    1 Mouse Pad
    1 set of speakers

    Jan 25, 02:24PM PST | 1 cheer | 2 comments


    Ken Chen Trying to keep my desk clutter at a minimum

    There we go again... 9 months ago

    I stayed at home last night I woke up pretty early. Since I’d all this T I M E I decided to go on with cleaning off my desk.

    BIG MISTAKE

    It’s 4:00pm and I’d just clear off half of it, the other half of course being on my bed waiting to be catalogued.

    Well, hope I finish cleaning it before the sun goes down, a clean desk only looks good under sunlight.

    It’s a beautiful summer day, the pool must be cool and there’s a lot of breeze and singing birds…

    BIG MISTAKE

    :)

    Wish me luck!

    Jan 25, 01:15PM PST | 2 cheers | 1 comment


    Mike just is.

    ... and after 10 months ago

    Finally did it. What am I going to do with all that space?

    Dec 31, 2008, 01:43PM PST | 1 cheer | 1 comment


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