Amy Lindgren

Do you feel an itch to make New Year’s resolutions? Or does the prospect make you feel like crawling under the bed?

I can relate to both of those sentiments. Some years I greet the first weeks of January with open arms and something approaching glee. A new year! All those calendar pages waiting to be filled; all those dreams and ideas ready to be tried!

And, some years I don’t. If the holidays have been too frantic or the past year has been difficult, my new-year mindset might switch from exuberance to something warier. Eventually I come around, but it’s a slower build-up if I’m still wading through last year’s “schtuff.”

Naturally the problem extends to goal-setting as well. Although I like setting goals in January, I’ve learned that if I’m having one those years, I’ll need to clean things up a bit first. Otherwise, the mental-clutter hangover from the year before is going to mess with my bigger-picture concentration.

If I transfer this concept to work processes, the same rule seems to hold — the more clutter I’m holding in my head from past projects, the less focus I’m able to muster for the situation at hand. My bandwidth is simply used up: Clutter and chaos lead to confusion and inertia.

If this sounds familiar, you might also benefit from a spot of decluttering before you can make way for new synergies. This can be especially true if you’re conducting a job search.

To be fair, it’s almost impossible not to stumble under the cascade of emails, job alerts and miscellaneous data that rains down on job seekers the minute they announce their interest in new work.

I once knew a woman who was living entirely in the bedroom of her small condo to avoid seeing the dining room table over-flowing with a years’ worth of job search detritus. She no longer entertained or even went out with friends. Of course she was depressed, but which came first, and what was affecting what? Losing the heart of her home to an intractable problem certainly wasn’t helping.

Even job seekers who are managing well emotionally are impacted by the clutter of job search. How many versions of a résumé are enough? Never mind — better look at them all to select the right one. Which emails need to be read immediately? Oops — too late — the interruption has already happened — might as well read them right now.

If you think an end-of-the-year decluttering might help tamp down these distractions, try these basic steps to get started.

• Clear your email backlog by creating categories of files, such as Newsletters, Job Postings, Review Weekly and Toss Later. Once you move everything possible into these files, your inbox should be left with only two types of emails: Personal correspondence, and things requiring immediate action.

• Reduce future inbox clutter by diverting incoming emails into preset folders. For example, if you receive leads from job boards, type their addresses into this feature of your email program, sending them directly to their folders. Then you can read them at established times during the day instead of being interrupted by their arrival.

• Invest in two plastic file boxes — the kind you can hang files in, so you can see them vertically rather than in a stack. One box is for any paper connected to leads you’re currently pursuing, the other is for leads that are on hold or materials you’re not likely to reference often.

• Adopt the filing habit on your computer as well. Never accumulate multiple documents with names like “Résumé 1” and “Résumé 2”. Instead, name documents clearly and create ample folders to contain them. Learn to use your software or apps so you can scan visually by name or date, rather than stumbling through dozens of icons on your desktop.

• Create a job search regimen where each session concludes with all materials going back into their boxes or electronic files, with only the to-do list for the next session remaining visible. When you sit down for the next session, the to-do list will prompt you to pull the appropriate files forward to begin your work. At other times of the day, your space will revert to “neutral,” allowing you to maintain your boundaries more effectively.

• Enjoy a fresh start. With some of the job search (and other) clutter tamed, you can focus on the bigger picture, including any troubleshooting your search may need. And don’t forget about resolutions and goals. Planning for the future can be a great way to align one’s priorities in the present.

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Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.