Mini Figure from Simple Desktops
When I shared simpledesktops.com as my pick of the week on episode 29 of The Digi Show, I admitted that I’m quite fanatical about having a clean computer desktop. When I’m practicing what I preach, my computer desktop is clean and inspiring. However, I do fall off the wagon at times and it seems that by the end of the month I can end up with a lot of “stuff” on my desktop and it looks like this:
I immediately feel jumbled and unable to concentrate on what I’m doing when I’m greeted with a screen filled with icons, folders, and random images. I really prefer Leo Babauta’s (the zen habits guy) approach to a clutter-free desktop. I file everything into folders on my system that don’t show up on my desktop. Everything is easily accessible from my start menu button or by opening a folder and I don’t have all the distractions to deal with. I feel so much happier when my screen looks like this!
Elitism from Simple Desktops
I like to change my wallpaper every month or so to keep it fresh and fun. Here are some of my other favorite desktop wallpapers from simple desktops. (All images are linked)
Steve (look inside the apple)
Today’s a great day to evaluate what your computer desktop space looks like. Is it overwhelming and cluttered? Or simple and serene? I challenge you to do some spring cleaning and tidy it up a bit. You’ll feel more productive and inspired if you start your computer experience off with a clean slate!
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I’m surprised that you didn’t mention digi-papers as quick, readily-available backgrounds, Katie! The solids included in about every kit are gorgeous backgrounds with just a bit of texture and interest. My current background is a watercolored floral from Flergs’ Pretty Petals mini-kit– not a solid, but simple and very pretty.
I copy my background paper to a “Wallpaper” folder on Dropbox, and from there I also use it as my cellphone background. Somehow that bit of coordination, paired with an uncluttered computer screen and a bed made each morning, brings sanity and order to my otherwise impossible existence.
You are so right – they make great desktop backgrounds! Thanks Jenn
I am a bit picky about clear desktop so on my PC laptop I right click (on the desktop)and uncheck the show desktop icons under the view menu. Icons all gone so the beautiful picture I have for wallpaper is all that shows up.
Awesome tip! As I was reading this post, I realized that I NEVER launch anything from the desktop and being too lazy to delete/reorganize the icons it was wonderful to just opt to not view them. If only this worked on my house…
Wouldn’t that be fabulous! I would love to opt to not show all the piles of stuff around my house!
I keep a fair bit of stuff on my desktop, usually about 20 folder shortcuts. They all sit around the edges of the screen grouped so that I can find them easily. I agree that having a messy desktop sucks, but usually don’t mind having the ones I have there either.
I love having a clean desktop, and for the most part I have accomplished this on my own. However, there are still some icons on my desktop that I don’t want to get rid of because I don’t know what they are or what they do and I don’t know if I can or should get rid of them. I’ve gotten rid of all the superfluous shortcuts, but these other mysterious icons aren’t shortcuts, so I don’t want to just delete them without knowing what they do, and I don’t have the first idea about where I could move them to. Ugh, computers are great, but confusing!
Sarah DG
I just move all of those “mysterious” ones to a folder called desktop in my user folder.
When someone (geek husband or kid under a homework deadline) leaves something of questionable value on my desktop, I stow it away in a single folder called “Other People’s Stuff”. That way, they can find it but it doesn’t clutter my existence.
I figured out what most of them were: installers. I deleted them all and now my desktop is CLEEEEEAN!
Thanks, Katie! I just freshened up my desktop with the meditation trees background.
That’s one of my all time favorites Heddy
ooooh yeah I definitely need to clean my desktop off, I have approx 200 things saved on it. It’s a complete and utter mess!!!