How to Organize Your Desktop

Sort your files into folders. Label these by year and folder hierarchy. Make sub-folders for each set of programs. Make sure that your naming conventions (the names that you use) are clear and concise.^[1]

Color code your files. Use colors according to relative importance. Use a bold color for "urgent" items, a less bright color for less urgent tasks.

Move your folders to other directories. Placing your folders into the hard drive (such as "My Documents") will clear up more space on your desktop and help it appear far less cluttered. If you like, you can then create desktop shortcuts pointing to your favourite or most used programs, if your computer program has this facility.^[2]

Choose an attractive wallpaper. If you've got a background worth looking at, you're more likely to keep the desktop free of file and folder clutter. Choose a favorite photo or picture, or choose rotating images.

Clean your desktop periodically. Take a look at the files that you have accumulated on the desktop. This could be something to do when you're bored or tired, needing a break from harder work. It could also be something that you do regularly, according to a schedule, once per month or week, for instance.^[3]

Use the Desktop Cleanup Wizard. If your version of Windows features it, you can use this automatic desktop cleanup tool. Go to "Start", "Control Panel". In the "Desktop" tab, click "Customize Desktop". Then choose "Clean Desktop Now". You can also choose to run this tool periodically. The wizard moves unused items from the desktop to an archive folder. It is the digital equivalent of scooping all that paper into a box.^[4]

Put shortcuts somewhere else. Use the menus, launch bars, or an add-on to launch frequently-used programs, rather than cluttering up your desktop with shortcuts.^[5]