With all the buzz around mult-tasking it would seem that an effort to minimize distractions would go against current trends. I believe mult-tasking is over rated and while managers may look at it as a positive skill set what it really means is that less completed work is getting done.

I have noticed that everyone from time to time, gets distracted. The phone rings and people forgot what they were doing before-hand, an email alert comes in and then there’s the reading of the email and the responding and maybe even the following of links. After the distraction is finished the brain has to wait while it re-adjusts itself to its prior task. People with ADD know this, and we also know it is worse for us as one distraction frequently blends into the next.

There is an age old argument about keeping your desk clean versus leaving it messy; and while there are valid points on both sides, the bigger challenge is keeping your desktop clean. We live in our computers. Every time we install a program there is another shortcut icon installed on our desktop, more applications to pin to the task bar and important folders to keep track of.  My co-worker has a personal laptop that does not have an inch of free screen space on it because it is covered in icons.

It’s time to stop the madness! Clean off your desktop and only use what you need. This should only take you about 15-20 minutes depending on the speed of your computer. I use a program called Fences. This program organizes all your icons into huge sub-divisions on your desktop. A double click of the mouse and all the folders disappear. Now you can actually enjoy that picture of your nephew eating spaghetti! I also use a program called Launchy. It’s a cute little piece of freeware that opens when you need it using Alt and Spacebar on your PC.  Once open you just type in what it is you are searching for.  I have found this program to be faster and more accurate than the search at the bottom of the toolbar but Windows 7 has greatly improved its search capabilities so there is that option as well.

Now take a moment to enjoy your virtually clean desktop. When you start your next project whether it be checking your email or catching up on the day’s work, open one, yes just one window. Fight the urge to have multiple windows on your browser open. Unless you are doing research there is only need for one window. Turn off your email notifications and put your cellphone on silent or better still in a different room. Now focus on the reason you are sitting in front of your computer in the first place. When you have completed that task, take a break or go on to the next.

By ridding yourself of electronic clutter, you will be able to minimize distractions and focus on the task at hand, giving you a better chance at actually completing it.