Much like when trying to get to inbox zero, you can’t be afraid to remove and delete things you don’t need. Whatever you choose, the important part is that you maintain the system, Lee said. Each folder could contain a different topic, project, or file status. The folder system can depend on what approach works best for you and the work you do, productivity expert Deb Lee said.

The subfolders can help you figure out exactly where to put something in the future, Bansal said. Create folders, then create more foldersĬreate a few folders with broad categories that you deal with a lot, like client work or finances, and drag items from your desktop to these folders, Sumit Bansal, co-founder at the Productivity Spot, suggested.Īfter the initial round, go through those folders to make subfolders for additional organization. “Your cluttered desktop is clear and your anxiety will begin to diminish.”Ģ. “You’ll feel better immediately,” Lauderdale said.

To combat this, Lauderdale recommends starting with one folder, and moving everything into there. The easiest way to clear your desktop is by utilizing folders, but when you have a desktop full of unorganized documents and files, sitting down to create an organization system may feel daunting. SEE: BYOD (bring-your-own-device) policy (Tech Pro Research) Here are seven ways to hit desktop zero, as recommended by productivity experts and professionals who practice the concept. Similar to the concept of inbox zero–the act of keeping your primary email box empty– working to keep a computer screen completely clean can help keep things organized while minimizing potential distractions. “Similar to a cluttered office, a cluttered computer desktop can create anxiety and make it difficult to get anything done,” Alex Lauderdale, senior editor at, said. Multiple professionals said the clutter can distract them from getting work done, or make it difficult to find what they need quickly. Having too much on your screen can become stressful–a recent Bynder survey found that 30% of professionals have over 100 files saved on their desktop. Whether it’s documents, screenshots, or computer programs, everything can have an icon cluttering the desktop, even if you don’t need instant access to it. Much like an email inbox, a computer desktop can often turn into a catch-all spot.

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