- What Makes a Desk Cluttered
- Start Your Clutter-Free Desk: Decide to Take Control
- Master Cable Management: The Critical Practice Behind a Tidy Desk
- Arrange a Sensible Desktop Layout
- Establish Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Decluttering Rituals
- Power Up with Portable Power Stations to Cut Cable Clutter
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Explore EcoFlow's Portable Power Solutions
The Ultimate Guide to a Clutter-Free Desk and Nightstand
- What Makes a Desk Cluttered
- Start Your Clutter-Free Desk: Decide to Take Control
- Master Cable Management: The Critical Practice Behind a Tidy Desk
- Arrange a Sensible Desktop Layout
- Establish Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Decluttering Rituals
- Power Up with Portable Power Stations to Cut Cable Clutter
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Explore EcoFlow's Portable Power Solutions
Clutter can quickly become a nightmare if not regularly maintained. And it’s easy to see how a beautifully organised desk or nightstand can suddenly become cluttered and chaotic. It’s essential to identify the main culprits of creating clutter so you can stay on top of it. Read on to discover the best way to declutter and start your process as soon as possible.
What Makes a Desk Cluttered
Little items, such as stationery, can quickly clutter any space. However, you might think that some items need to be on your desk or nightstand; otherwise, it’s inconvenient, and this might be a fair point. For example, if you have a small holder to keep pens in, you won’t want to store it in a cupboard where it will be out of sight. Instead, you want it nearby.
Other things can also quickly clutter a space. Gadgets like smartwatches and even small alarm clocks can start to make a once-tidy space messier alongside the biggest culprit: cables. Cables aren’t just an eyesore; they can make a small, neat desk space suddenly messy with charging cables, power cords, and headphone wires, which are some of the most frustrating.
Start Your Clutter-Free Desk: Decide to Take Control
The longer you leave a cluttered desk, the worse it’s going to get. While the growing clutter might seem overwhelming, and you may be unsure of where to start, it’s best to tackle your desk so that it’s clutter-free as soon as possible.
A messy space can trigger stress and anxiety if left alone. So rather than letting that anxiety and stress grow, you can start the process by wiping the slate clean, meaning that you don’t have to stare at all that mess and wonder where to begin. Instead, start entirely from scratch and look at your space with a fresh pair of eyes. This will help you distinguish between what you think is genuinely necessary and what isn’t.
Starting from scratch will also help you consider how you currently use the space and how you’d like to use it in the future. For example, with your nightstand, you might only want a lamp and a space to charge your phone at night, rather than a lamp, your phone, work notes, books, and whatever else you use beside you each night. The same applies to your desk; you might find that starting afresh gives you a new perspective on what you need from your desk.
Master Cable Management: The Critical Practice Behind a Tidy Desk
Cables are a real nuisance when it comes to desk and nightstand clutter. A significant reason for this is that we often need to charge devices in these spaces, and over time, more and more cables can become strewn about. It’s essential to start from scratch when it comes to your tech, too. In doing so, you can understand how many cables you have versus how many you really need. For example, you might find that you have a phone charger on your desk and nightstand when you only need one space to charge it.
One simple step is to ensure that your cables don’t clutter your desk or nightstand; instead, attach them to your space by keeping the wires out of sight and the charging ports in view. A cable box or management sleeve might also help you.
A simple way to eliminate loose wires entirely is to switch to a multi-device wireless charger, such as the EcoFlow RAPID Mag Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Foldable), which keeps your phone, earbuds, and smartwatch powered without adding more cables to your desk or nightstand.
DELTA 3 Classic Portable Power Station
Arrange a Sensible Desktop Layout
It’s unlikely that everything on your desk is necessary, so when conducting a revamp, assess where your items should best go and if you need some organizers to help you. For example, giving your pens a pen pot will instantly create some organisation and help you feel like you don’t need to dispose of items unnecessarily—they simply need a new home. Thinking in this way is excellent for maintaining a tidy work-from-home office without unnecessarily contributing to the negative consequences of landfill sites, such as with pens, paper, and other desktop items.
Establish Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Decluttering Rituals
When you get home after a long day, it can be tempting to revert to old habits and return everything to its previous state. However, make it a habit to clear away daily clutter for 5-10 minutes every day—for example, coffee cups, paper, and leftover Post-its.
Then each week, check in again on the clutter. On a Sunday, before your week is filled with work and chaos, you can spend 15-20 minutes organizing your files and giving your desk and nightstand a thorough clean, removing dirt and dust.
Finally, each month (perhaps on the first or last day), if your space is getting too cluttered again, it’s best to reassess how you set up your home office. Start afresh and take time to reassess.
Power Up with Portable Power Stations to Cut Cable Clutter
A portable power bank is the perfect companion to fix your need for visible cords. This is because you can position it in a location that suits you without needing long cables or extension cables getting in the way. Portable power banks and stations may not store as much energy as a whole home generator, and they won’t be a whole home backup power solution, but they are a great decluttering solution, nevertheless. You also want to ensure that you don’t waste energy and maintain efficient energy use—leaving cables switched on is never helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the 12-12-12 Rule for Decluttering?
Minimalists tend to favour the 12-12-12 rule, which involves taking 12 items, discarding 12 items, donating 12 items, and then returning 12 items to their proper place. While this can be an efficient means of decluttering, it may not be suitable for everyone.
What Is the 50% Rule for Clutter?
The 50% rule is relatively straightforward: whatever area you’re cleaning or clearing, you need to remove at least 50% of what’s there. First, remove everything. Then, from what you have left, remove 50%. Then, put the remaining 50% of your items back into the space if needed.
What Should I Remove First When Decluttering?
Whenever it comes to decluttering your space, particularly your desk or nightstand, it’s essential to start with the cables. These nuisances can really take up a lot of space and make these areas seem more cluttered than necessary. So removing them or finding management solutions will help considerably.
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Explore EcoFlow's Portable Power Solutions
While there are many factors to consider when tidying your space, the most important is often figuring out what to do with all your cables. One great solution is to manage these properly with a portable power bank, so you don't have extension cables and the like travelling across your room. Why not discover the EcoFlow RAPID Mag Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Foldable) and more? Get your tidy desk and nightstand started today!