Why I Clean Up

Throughout human history, cleaning up has been valued as a ritual. I won’t explain why. Anyone who needs convincing is unlikely to be convinced anyway.

For me, a tidy environment serves two purposes:

• It helps me focus on what’s in front of me.
• Cleaning itself is a ritual that I can link to others (e.g. 10 squats after cleaning up).

What I Clean Up

This article is less about why and more about what. These are the small things that accumulate and need regular attention.

Daily

• Clean up my email inbox (Inbox Zero by Merlin Mann).
• Clear the entire browser state (yes, all tabs will be gone).
• Process at least one fleeting note into my Zettelkasten.
• Clean my physical desk.
• Review all RSS feeds and process them into the Zettelkasten.

Weekly

• Review Mastodon bookmarks and turn them into fleeting notes.
• Empty the downloads folder. Put everything where it belongs or delete it.
• Add new books to my calibre database.

Your Turn

I’m curious what others clean up regularly. If you have your own daily or weekly cleanup rituals (digital, physical, or mental), send them to me.