Zen Desktop?

All this talk of creating a minimalist workspace has me thinking. Is it really possible?

Here’s a list of things currently on my desk. Help me decide which things to toss/relocate:

  1. An empty orange juice glass
  2. Several new Plasticmind Design business cards
  3. Several old Plasticmind Design business cards
  4. Greg Hoy’s business card
  5. A jar of Vicks
  6. A broken Xacto knife
  7. Several pens
  8. A Green and Black’s currant and hazelnut dark chocolate bar
  9. Nail clippers
  10. An unused Jawbone bluetooth headset
  11. An empty heart shaped picture frame
  12. Several pads of sticky notes
  13. Tax stuff (shudder)
  14. A Leatherman
  15. A capo
  16. An iPod
  17. An external hard drive
  18. A drawing tablet with respective pen and mouse
  19. American Sign Language: The Easy Way
  20. A spindle of blank cds
  21. A list of email addresses from everyone in our YAM group
  22. A flash drive that doesn’t work
  23. SXSW badges
  24. An empty Leopard case
  25. A book of sheet music by Avalon
  26. A typewritten story about two kittens I wrote when I was thirteen

This is a clutterbug’s desperate cry for help. Thoughts?

  • posted on 15 March 2008
  • by Jesse

InterAction:

15 March 20081. Matt Heerema:

You have a gorgeous Web site. Your desk on the other hand, is in need of some serious help :)

16 March 20082. Mark:

Wow, I never would have expected a desk like that! For me, I start to get heart palpitations if I have anything on my desk except my lamp, iMac, keyboard, and mouse. No joke.

In fact, I can't even stand too many cluttery things at eye level and above anywhere within my range of vision, so I grabbed a couple of sets of those nifty boxes at Ikea to put things in, and then put those on my bookcases. So I have one with CD/DVD media and printer paper, another with all of my old PC install CDs, etc.

You also need some help with those cords. Lifehacker just did a post on cleaning that up.

And as crazy as it sounds, I have just found what a huge difference it makes for me to vacuum my desk, printer, modem, voip switch, and router. Just getting the thin layer of dust cleaned up makes me more productive!!

16 March 20083. ren:

1, 3, 6, 9 (you don't need those in your workspace...haha), 10, 11, 19, 22, 24, and 26.
And the capo and sheet music should go elsewhere unless you actually do play guitar at your desk.
How was that?
Now remind me never to list the clutter infecting my desk......
:-D

18 March 20084. John:

Bigger desk, definitely.

18 March 20085. John:

Bigger desk, definitely.

30 March 20086. Dr. Nicole Sundene:

I'm sorry but this is absolutely hilarious! My desk is much worse, so you are doing fabulously by my opinion!

YourThoughts?


(Minutia)

This entry was written by Jesse on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 10:14 PM and appears in the Miscellany chapter. The previous article was entitled, "SXSW: Prologue", and the next entry is called, "Bye-bye Inkblot. Hello Baby.*". Bookmark the permalink, save it to del.icio.us or Digg it.

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  • Jesse said, "@dollarshort » Disgusting. Where's the hooker outfits while they're at it?" Jesse said, “@dollarshort » Disgusting. Where’s the hooker outfits while they’re at it?” 2008-09-07T04:09:05Z 2008-09-07T04:09:05Z
  • Jesse said, "Brian Regan fans: Don't forget, his new show entitled "The Epitome of Hyperbole" debuts tonight at 10pm EST on Comedy Central." Jesse said, “Brian Regan fans: Don’t forget, his new show entitled "The Epitome of Hyperbole" debuts tonight at 10pm EST on Comedy Central.” 2008-09-07T00:57:44Z 2008-09-07T00:57:44Z
  • Jesse said, "Just finished watching Kite Runner, a painfully beautiful movie." Jesse said, “Just finished watching Kite Runner, a painfully beautiful movie.” 2008-09-07T00:23:36Z 2008-09-07T00:23:36Z
  • Jesse said, "@shauninman » Without a doubt, do it. Every time I play I regret not having a full-size, weighted keyboard." Jesse said, “@shauninman » Without a doubt, do it. Every time I play I regret not having a full-size, weighted keyboard.” 2008-09-06T18:35:10Z 2008-09-06T18:35:10Z
  • Jesse said, "Anyone remember the 8-bit Plasticmind phase? http://plasticmind.com/mario.gif" Jesse said, “Anyone remember the 8-bit Plasticmind phase? http://plasticmind.com/mario.gif” 2008-09-06T07:33:59Z 2008-09-06T07:33:59Z