http://www.knowandnetwork.org/francesbell/weblog/126.html

http://www.knowandnetwork.org/francesbell/weblog/127.html

Inspired by reading an article called Clear Thinking
 Saturday's Guardian newspaper, I have decided to out my untidy desk in an effort to reform myself as the article suggests.  Theo Theobald (is that really his name?) struck home with these words

"Your desk is at the heart of this. For many, it has become a metaphor for their whole working persona: badly organised, over-burdened, with no sense of order. At the same time it acts as both a badge of honour (look how busy I am!) and a shield to hide behind." 

Just look at the mess that is my desk at home (work colleagues can confirm my office desk is probably even worse).  To see it in its full-size horror with notes check it out at Flickr. 

So now I am publicly shamed, I just need to follow the 10 step solution

Ten-step detox

1. Clear the clutter. Instead of incrementally sorting through your drawers and desktop, start by dumping the lot somewhere else and only allowing the important things back.

2. Wipe as you go. Once the decks are cleared, keep them that way by reserving your desktop for live work, not pending.

3. Hydrate. Being dehydrated stops you concentrating. Once you've got a clear desk space, you can make room for a glass of water to keep sipping on; remember a little and often is the key.

4. Stop! Stop doing the things that don't matter and you'll have more time to work on the things that do.

5. Set your own standards. Organisational culture and peer pressure might turn you into a sheep. Be your own person.

6. Make a change a day and you'll get into the swing of accepting that the status quo never remains for long.

7. Stop self-sabotaging. You're the one who makes the work spin out to fit the time. Desist.

8. Volunteer for extra. Help someone else out and you'll find that you reap what you sow.

9. Curb your fear of success.

10. Do the daunting. Putting off tasks you hate takes more time and energy, than it would to get stuck in.

As you can see, in my usual methodical fashion, I started with no. 3.  Well, readers can I complete the 10 step program?

Will you help me? 

Share your own experiences with the detoxyourdesk tag at http://www.knowandnet.org and on flickr.com

http://www.knowandnetwork.org/francesbell/weblog/222.html

I just received this fascinating comment on my blog post at Emerge , scroll down to read all of Cristina da Costa's comment.

"Just a quick note about bearded women:

In Portugal we usually use the expression Thick Bearded Women to refer to women who are educated, hard-working, courageous and sharp in their decisions and actions. In other words, someone you don’t really want to mess up with, but that you kind of look up to; Sophisticated, independent women. "

What a wonderful concept - I shall aspire to be thick bearded.  I think Anne probably is, here is her story

http://www.knowandnetwork.org/francesbell/weblog/230.html

Thanks to my colleague David Kreps for passing on this cat video - very funny!