Green Oasis

That’s what my computer desktop looks like at work. I’m going for a simple aesthetic, something that strips everything down to its barest, functional essential. No distractions from what I want to do. Yet my desktop isn’t boring. It cheers me up every time I see it.

To accomplish this I:

• found a desktop image that makes me happy like the one you see from Mike Swanson’s beautiful collection;
• remove all icons—there’s no need to stare at the Recycle Bin when hitting the Delete key works better than dragging a file to the Recycle Bin icon—My Documents and My Computer are only a Windows + E keystroke away;
• set the taskbar to autohide—it’s only a distraction—Alt + Tab is my friend
• apply the inbox zero concept to my desktop—my desktop is only a temporary space for files that I’m actively working on—the half-life of files on my desktop is around one hour;
• use an application launcher like FindRun Robot—it feels like the Stone Ages whenever I actually have to slog through my Start menu;
• use a multiple desktop manager like VirtuaWin—each desktop has exactly one task (which may require more than one window) and nothing else—a clean, cheery desktop is never more than a keystroke away;
• and use the sleek Analog Clock from Google Desktop to keep me aware of the passage of time.

Using my computer used to feel like treading water in a polluted pool. That wasn’t very conducive to reaching the flow state. Now I feel like I’m swimming in a clear stream.