Clutter and Productivity: Introduction

Posted on April 5, 2011 by LJ Earnest
Categories: #Getting Started,Clutter,Productivity

I am taking two weeks off from blogging. Enjoy this article from the archive!This article was originally published on 28 May 2007.

Photo by EvelynGiggles

I am believe that clutter often stands in the way of productivity.

Physical clutter gets in our way and also weighs us down mentally when we see it, knowing that we will have to do something about it. If we hide it from sight, we will remember we have to do something with it when we go to the place we have stored it (a closet, drawer, etc).

Mental clutter gets in our way when we keep having the same thoughts about the same things repeatedly. We may try all sort of memory tricks to get it out of our minds, but eventually it will come back.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity is a productivity system for controlling the mental clutter. It advocates getting everything out of your head and into a trusted system that is regularly reviewed.

But what about physical clutter?

Many times we don’t see physical clutter around us, particularly if it’s ours. For some reason, I never have trouble seeing other people’s junk lying around

In this series of articles, I’m going to give you some concrete steps to get rid of clutter around the very spot where you read this blog…your computer and your desk.

Photo by EvelynGiggles