I spend a lot of time at my desk writing blogs, articles, materials for my website, new programs. I love it when I’m inspired, when ideas just flow, bubbling up, emerging, and blooming almost by themselves.

Of course, it’s not always like this. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by everything I have to do, and ideas don’t come out as easily. This happened a couple of days ago.

I looked around me and realized that my desk had gotten out of hand. ?There were stacks all around me, books I meant to read, sticky notes, letters, unfinished ideas.

Clutter affects our mind and limits our creativity.

My desk mirrors my mind. So, to clear my mind, I first cleared my desk. I realized this cycle is typical for me. I know that a clear desk equals a freer and more creative mind, but I still can’t keep it up. What’s missing?

My missing piece was a system. It’s not enough to know the solution. You also need a way to apply it consistently.

So I’ve set up this this new system for myself, making it simple and fun to help me actually use it.

I got 3 colorful notepads: red, green and blue. I write my most important, immediate actions on the red pad, and “things that don’t necessarily need to be done today” on the green one. ?The blue on is for ideas and inspirations that come up. I write them down immediately so I don’t forget them.

Every morning, before touching my computer or anything on my desk, I clear it. Start from scratch. Anything requiring my immediate attention goes in my paper tray, everything else is filed in folders.

Once a week, I do a “clear desk check-in?, going through everything in my tray, my notepads, and evaluating my system to see if I need to make any changes.

It’s not perfect, but it’s much better than before. Order is in, chaos is out.

What does your desk look like right now? How productive do you feel? What’s your system?