Clear desk, clear mind

Posted on December 6, 2022 by David Hopkins

Does a clear desk really mean a clear mind?

Before the lockdown in March 2020 my ‘home office’ was also a bit of a dumping ground for boxes, my Lego (built sets and in those in storage), and my vinyl record collection. The shift to being fully remote meant a quick re-ordering of some of the stuff in this small bedroom and the rush to be ready for fully remote working.

Nothing has really changed in the last, well, nearly 3 years. In terms of the space, I’ve sorted some of it, moved some to another room, and changed the orientation of the desk to give more useable space for both me and my record collection (which has grown considerably in this time too). But it’s still a cluttered space, and it bothers me.

If you simply clear the clutter to the guest room as a temporary fix when friends come over for dinner, the thought of your newly cluttered area doesn’t leave your mind. For many people, even when everything is filed, folded, and fantastic, they may live a life that is overcommitted and may feel overwhelmed by other things—people, thoughts, constant activity. An organized space can help set you up for success but it’s not the key to creative bliss.

Does a clear space really mean a clear mind? by Laura Vrcek

Short of going full-on, get-rid-of-everything or starting the garage conversion I’ve been thinking of for the last year (moving the home office into its own dedicated space), I’ve done as much as I can in terms of creating space. It’s not that it’s so bad I can’t move, because I can, it’s just that I feel the pressure of the stuff, and that gets in my brain and stays there.

The old saying, ‘clear desk, clear mind’ does work for me. I am slowly moving things to a space where I understand what it is I have and making some difficult decisions about keeping it or passing it on. My kids don’t want me to get rid of the Lego, but some has already gone and other kits will soon follow.

This still leaves the stuff that’s on the desk itself – post, papers, books, ‘things’!! What doesn’t work for me are ‘desk tidys’ – pots or trays for papers, pens, etc on the side of my desk. While it may look good when I first used it, it’ll soon get full of other junk I need to find a space for, or I’ll just chuck it away as being useless.

Basically, everything you’re looking at is fighting for your attention, making it difficult to focus on just one thing. This visual pollution, a term that applies to anything in your line of vision that could attract your attention unnecessarily, includes pieces of paper, random objects from other parts of the house, or even cables and wires on your desk. Of course, you don’t have to completely clear your workspace of everything, but there are ways to organize your space that make it more beneficial to your productivity. Decluttering your desk to reveal a white, shiny surface can help clear your mind of distractions and allow you to work much more effectively.

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Visual and mental clutter both create an extremely distracting work environment, which is detrimental to productivity. When your desk is clear and you’ve rid yourself of further distractions, you’ll feel better and get significantly more done. Keeping a clean space and clean desk isn’t just about pride for your home or workspace; it’s also a matter of clearing your mind of worry and letting you focus on what’s important. It’s simple, effective and can help you live a much more productive and happy life.
Clean Desk, Clear Mind: Why Having a Clutter-Free Workspace Can Help You Be More Productive by Women’s Business Daily

At least with remote work, I have less need for papers or print-outs around me as much. With everyone in the same circumstances, we’re all digital. There are times when I like to have something on paper to read or review, but I’ve also got the shredder under the desk when I’ve finished with it.

I’m never going to get my working space ever looking as clear and stylish as the photo above, but I would like to, maybe just once.

Perhaps I will tackle the garage conversion in 2023 after all!