a playlist for clearing the clutter

oh my god my google drive is a disaster

are they gonna kiss???

Happy Tuesday to my many romantic lovers!

I am really bad at keeping my desk clean. It’s a dumping ground for unopened mail, unread books, and anything vaguely work-related. Same goes for my Google Drive, which is a hellscape of half-edited drafts, untitled lists, and Austin Powers screenshots that I’m saving for? something???

It’s time for a good sweep. I love spring cleaning—the literal and metaphorical tidying, the chucking of unnecessary documents, the window-scrubbing and systematic mold elimination from the dreaded bathtub grout. Spring cleaning feels especially necessary right now, as I’m recovering from an emotionally heavy year spent hauling personal and professional clutter from room to room like a haggard lady Santa Claus. (Lady Santa Claus: She’s Santa—for girls!)

This month’s BIG ONE! playlist is designed for whatever kind of decluttering you need. Maybe your desk is as messy as mine; maybe you need to open the windows to allow some fresh air into your space. Maybe you need to release some habits that no longer serve your creative practice. What do you need to clear this month to make space for the work you want to do?

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but first, your weekly dose of treats:

Welcome to YEAH BABY YEAH, a weekly roundup of little treats to get you through your creative practice and/or stave off the darkness within.

1. Aioli + chili crisp sandwiches: Sorry, is this gross? Is this gross to you? Grow up. I slather garlic aioli on both slices of bread, add a pile of meat, and top the meat with chili crisp. Fancy sandwich, every day. Fancy sandwich every day!!!

2. Plane crash analysis: My genius friend

   Caitlin Kunkel
   turned me onto Admiral Cloudberg, aka Kyra Dempsey, an independent blogger who covers aviation disasters. I wrote about the blog—and its surprising impact on my flight anxiety—for Slate.

3. Big pants: I needed navy pants for my crossing guard uniform, and I finally sprang for these Everlane barrel pants I’d been eyeing for a while. I sized up because I wanted a very comfy situation, and a comfy situation is what I received. Perfect for my big pants // tiny shirt // springtime ensembles. Short-legged compatriots, be warned—they’re a little baggy at the knee, but it’s nothing a tailor can’t fix.

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okay time for the playlist

These monthly playlists are a paid subscriber benefit—free subscribers, I’ll see you next week!