The allCLEAR Method is a highly effective, structured approach designed to reduce cognitive load and visual noise by synchronizing a physical workspace reset with a mental offload. It addresses the reality that every object on your desk triggers an open mental loop, causing friction, decision fatigue, and subtle stress that tanks performance.
By walking through five tactical steps, the method clears your physical and mental slate to rebuild immediate focus. The 5-Step Process Breakdown 1. Assess & Acknowledge
Stop jumping straight into shuffling papers around your surface. Take exactly 60 seconds to step back and audit your workspace as an outside observer.
Identify the primary hotspots (e.g., loose sticky notes, legacy paperwork, cords, unreturned items). Note how the visual clutter changes your tension levels.
Determine your core intention for the desk space before moving anything. 2. Logically Offload (The Mind Dump)
Mental clutter breeds physical clutter, so clear your head before clearing your desktop. Grab a blank paper or open a basic text editor.
Write down every single task, nagging thought, or “to-do” loop occupying your head.
Do not edit or format the entries; get them fully out of your mind and safely recorded onto the paper.
Close or move the list aside so it is out of sight while you manage the physical environment. 3. Clear Everything (The Clean Slate)
Remove absolutely everything from your desk surface except for your core computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Place all loose items into a temporary bin or on the floor behind you.
Wipe down the naked surface using a quick, fresh-scented cleaning cloth to establish a sensory marker of a reset.
Enjoy the immediate psychological relief of an completely open workspace. 5 Steps to Declutter Your Workspace – Kent Sanders
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