This simple, relaxed, no-pressure routine helped me declutter a space in just 17 minutes, helping me clear my physical and mental clutter.
Estimated read time: 2 minutes
Shunmyo Masuno wrote in The Art of Simple Living, “Your desk is a mirror that reflects your inner mind…The people who always have tidy desktops are most likely good at their jobs. In contrast, those whose desks are always cluttered may be unsettled and have trouble focusing on their work.”
I think my desk sits somewhere in between. I would describe it as “order within chaos” (in Chinese, we say乱中有序). It is not entirely messy, but it is also not properly organised.
On some days, the clutter distracts me more than I would like. For example, instead of concentrating on my tasks, I keep thinking about the mess on my table. Yet, I take no action.
How to Declutter Your Space Quickly?
With the mindset that I’ll just do a simple space tidying and simply remove some unwanted items, I set a timer for 17 minutes and started.
You may ask, why 17 minutes? Well, it is short enough that I cannot use “no time” as an excuse, yet long enough to make visible progress. Fifteen minutes felt too neat and easy to ignore. Seventeen felt slightly intentional, with it being long enough to focus, but not so long that I would procrastinate.
Here is what I did:
- Chose a space, in this case, my work desk.
- Cleared everything off the table surface.
- Sorted loose papers into proper files.
- Discarded old notes, random receipts, pens that no longer work, basically anything that’s lingering without purpose.
- Placed important documents and those that I need to refer frequently into a Muji A4 standing file box.
- Wiped the table down before putting back only the essentials.
It was just quick decisions and simple sorting and tidying, not a complicated reset organisation system.
Can a Simple Routine to Declutter a Space Improve Focus?
Yes, definitely!
Seventeen minutes was just nice. This simple routine to declutter a space felt manageable and realistic.
The mental fog that had been bogging me down lifted immediately. I felt more clearheaded, could focus better, and sitting down to a clean table makes me happier and feels like a good start to the working day.
If there’s a space has been bothering you, try this simple routine and tidy a space this week. It does not need to be perfect, just pick up some momentum.
Try it this week 😊
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