When I was in graduate school, I used to always hear about how high-energy, highly productive people were so well organized. They’d have their desks neat and clean (unlike mine!). They’d know where everything was. They’d have a place for everything.
Can you imagine how productive and energetic you’d be if your desk reflected that level of organization? It’d be like the workaday equivalent of Marine boot camp, where everything was spit-shined and in its place, you could bounce a quarter off the bed, and everyone was raring to go.
Then someone showed me a picture of Jean Piaget’s office. Piaget was the noted Swiss scientist and philosopher whose work in the mid-twentieth century was absolutely seminal in under standing child development.
His office looked like Hurricane Katrina had just passed through it.
So much for that theory.
Okay, so there are exceptional people who manage to be both energetic and highly productive in an office of stunning chaos and disorganization (the great conservative writer and founder of the National Review, William, F. Buckley, was one such person). Thing of it is, you probably aren’t one of them. Neither am I.
For us mortals, a clean and uncluttered desk a great help to focusing our energy. And the rubble of disorganization usually reflects the mind of the owner of said desk, and the scattering of his or her energy. I know it does for me. When my workspace is clean and efficient, I’m able to marshal my energy and focus on the task at hand. I feel more like a laser and less like a low-watt light-bulb, which casts a little bit of light over a large area, but truly lights up none of it.
So, at the risk of sounding like your mother, clean your desk.
REAP THE BENEFITS OF MINIMALISM
Is you desk crowed with knickknacks; trays of paper clips, rubber bands, and other office supplies; and filled with files, books, magazines, and so many papers that the inbox is invisible? Al these things demand attention, making it that much harder to focus, which leads to energy-sapping stress that can’t be fixed with a double espresso.
It’s time to take action. For a less stressful workspace, become a minimalist.
Start by piling everything on your desk in your inbox. 9You do have an inbox, don’t you? It’s there somewhere. I know it is). If you need more space, use the floor. Begin with items that can easily be put away; scissors, the staple remover, tape, and all other office supplies should have a designated drawer. They don’t? No problem. Give them one. Or find some easily accessible but out of sight place to store them.
Books go on the bookshelf, and magazines get thrown out, passed along, or neatly filed. Sort through all the papers – every single one of them – and dispose, delegate, file, or take action (or add that to your to-do list and file the paper). Resist the temptation to put aside any papers – that just leads t an overflowing inbox (or to relocated junk).
On to knick-knacks. You may think you’re inspired by your collection of Pez dispensers, but really it’s just another concentration spoiler. Get rid of it, or at least get it out of sight. For minimum distract ion, try to keep your desk clear of everything except your computer, phone, and maybe a photo or two.
When my workspace is clean and efficient, I’m able to marshal my energy and focus on the task at hand. I feel more like a laser and less like a low-watt light-bulb, which casts a little bit of light over a large area, but truly lights up none of it.
ORGANIZE THE DESKTOP DISTRACTIONS
Now once you’ve cleared up your desktop, it’s time to clean up your desktop – your computer desktop. Is it crowded with icons and folders? Do you have a system for all incoming files? (I truly felt more energy once I did this. My computer desktop was a constant drain. I think, at its worst, it had 110 icons on it, so that many were starting to double up).
If you don’t have a logical filing system, then take the time to devise one. Arrange work by projects, clients, or time frame (current projects, past, future, etc). As long as it’s intuitive to you, it doesn’t matter what your system looks like. Try to minimize your desktop folders to one or two. Keep the dock with all your program items hidden. Now may be you can see your screen saver. It is something soothing, such as a mountain, a seascape, or some other view of nature? (f it’s not, change it, unless it’s a treasured family picture that truly soothes you).
Now downloads. I suggest designating one folder to contain all downloads in your computer’s inbox. At least once a day go through and sort items, then file, take action, forward, or discard.
Once you’ve cleared your desk and desktop, the best way to keep it from getting cluttered again is to get into a routine. When you’re dividing your day into blocks of time, reserve time for housekeeping. If you don’t’ stay on top of your inbox – both real and virtual – you’ll soon be inundated with files. Managing your paperwork, information streams, and clutter will go a long way toward alleviating workday stress.
And, unless you’re Piaget or Buckley or some other one in a million genius, less stress, less clutter, more organization, and more space translates into more energy.
It definitely does for me. It should work for you as well.
If it doesn’t, at least you’ll get a neat desk out of the deal.
You may think you’re inspired by your collection of Pez dispensers, but really it’s just another concentration spoiler.
