Project diary: one-afternoon desk makeover

Today I’m sharing the nuts and bolts of a recent mini-project in my home office: I cleaned up my desk.

My office wants a lot more help than this, but I tried to keep my blinders on. ADHDers like me need low-cost, high-impact projects —  even if we think we should do more. Why? Because we don’t always finish big projects we start. If we can both start and finish the task in one afternoon, that helps avoid the dreaded lingering mess from an incomplete job.

While smaller, less glamorous projects may work better for us overall, we can have trouble motivating ourselves to start them. They don’t feel as exciting. Then once we start, the project can get away from us. Let me tell you how I pulled this one off.

What I did and how much it cost me:

I wanted to make my office a more pleasant and productive place to work. I also needed to do it without creating a huge project (or a huge mess). This isn’t my strong suit. I like big, impressive projects. The fact that I kept this one small makes me feel pretty accomplished.

The big changes:

• Removed PC speaker system and replaced with a bluetooth speaker
• Installed backlighting
• Added a stand for my laptop

The resources:

• Money: $47 ($20 for a laptop stand and $27 for supplies to install the backlighting)
• Time: ~1 hour (includes installation, cleaning, and dealing with interruptions from my kid)

I didn’t actually do that much, but look at the before and after photos. Although the backlighting comes up a little harsh onscreen, it looks fantastic in person and makes a huge difference on dreary days. The desk surface feels clean, open, and inviting. The overall effect is a space that feels much more professional and inspiring.

To make this project work without letting it get too big, I focused my effort in three key areas.

I resisted big-ticket purchases.

It’s easy to blame a problem on stuff because stuff doesn’t require us to make an effort. Compare these two statements:

1. My current desk configuration doesn’t support focus or productivity
2. My desk is too small for the equipment I have and the work I do

To solve Problem #1, I have to use my brain. Problem #2 requires only my credit card. And if I can’t afford to pay several hundred dollars for my dream desk right now? I still get off the hook. The problem starts and ends with my desk. No new desk means I have the freedom to complain without working to make things better.

Plus, some ADHDers self-medicate with spending. The thrill of gearing up for success makes us feel like we’ve done more work than we really have. Or we think the correct tools will magically make the work easier. It’s an unhealthy habit, especially for the many ADHDers who struggle with financial insecurity.

Does this mean I should accept a too-small desk forever? No. I hope to build my dream workstation someday.

However, that day is not today. Acquiring and getting rid of stuff takes time and planning. It also contributes to clutter, waste, and my carbon footprint. As much as I want the big project, I can’t afford it right now.

Making do with my current furniture required mental effort. I didn’t buy my way out of the problem or gift myself the fancy desk I thought I deserved. But every time I see my desk now, it reminds me: I took my work seriously enough to craft a nice space to do it in. I don’t think a new desk would’ve given me that feeling.

I questioned everything.

Organizing expert Marie Kondo and many others recommend what I’m going to call the nuke-and-rebuild approach to getting a space in order. In other words: don’t look at your messy desk, move a few things around, carry your five dirty coffee mugs to the sink, and call it a day.

When I reorganized my desk, I removed everything from the surface. Then I questioned each individual item I put back on. Because I don’t actually store much on my desk, most major items returned after a good cleaning.

However, I surprised myself with my speakers. Ever since I built my first computer circa 1999, I’ve connected serious speakers to it. As a result, I’d taken my current set — two desktop speakers plus a subwoofer under the desk — for granted.

But did I need them? The way I use my computer speakers has changed a lot since I lived with my parents. My bluetooth speaker actually works better for what I currently listen to at my desk: mostly podcasts and instructional videos instead of music and games.

The bluetooth speaker eliminated clutter and cords from my desk and improved my listening experience. I also appreciated giving it a permanent, useful home when I’m not on the road. And I never would’ve thought to question my big speakers unless I took everything off the desk.

I solved one  problem at a time and avoided the huge project.

Despite the improvements you see in these pictures, my office doesn’t feel done. It’s still the least-maintained room in the house. I have a lot I want to do with the decor and I won’t do it anytime soon. I have to make my peace with that.

If you have ADHD, remember that cliche about not letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. For whatever reason, we tend to have two settings: leap into a huge project headfirst or don’t do it at all. Perhaps this has something to do with time blindness. If we have trouble grasping the concept of the future, why would we want to put our important projects there? If we’re going to start a project — something that can feel daunting enough on its own — we want to do it right.

We run into trouble when doing it right means diving into a project we can’t afford right now. I knew I couldn’t redo my whole office, but I had an immediate desk problem that needed attention. So I applied a bit of wisdom I’ve gained from software development: solve one problem at a time.

This isn’t my nature. I want to shoot straight for the goal. Attack the whole thing at once. But that rarely works. I end up with a huge mess and no idea where to begin cleaning it up. Right now, the best thing I can do for my home and my work is to make this desk work for me. So that’s what I did — and no more.

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