A businessman from the Philippines once gave me priceless advice. He said, “Clear off your office desk every night before you leave. You’ll be thankful in the morning.” Since then, I have tried to do that very thing every evening before I leave. And I have seen numerous benefits from maintaining a clutterfree desk:
- Less Distraction. A cluttered office desk is filled with potential distractions. Sticky-notes, business cards, file folders, and uncompleted projects all clamor for our attention every moment of the day. Removing them and creating a minimalist desk allows our mind to better focus on the most important project of the moment: the one you are working on.
- More Freedom. A minimalist desk grants freedom to pursue the project of your choosing. Your to-do list is not held captive by the folders on your desk. It is determined by you – even if you are getting direction from someone else.
- New Opportunity. A new day brings new opportunities and the potential to accomplish something great. Walking into an office with yesterday’s work still visible immediately anchors you to the past, tying yesterday’s rope to today’s potential. But a clean desk breeds life, encouragement, and endless possibilities. Even if your new day is going to consist of completing yesterday’s project, starting again or reopening the file offers new opportunities and a new way to see a problem or accomplish a task.
- Increased Reputation. A clean desk indicates a clean and focused mind. It makes you look efficient, accomplished, thorough, and organized. And while nothing can replace a job well done, a clear desk can only help improve your reputation among your co-workers.
Granted, a minimalist desk comes more naturally to some than others. But I stand as proof that the principle of a clean desk can be applied to any worker’s personality. Here are six steps that I have found particularly helpful in making the transition:
- Reduce your Office Items. The first step in keeping your desk minimalistic is keeping fewer things on it and around it. Seems simple enough… almost so simple that it often gets overlooked. Take a look around your desk surface. What doesn’t absolutely need to be there? Photos, calendars, books, supplies, and food should all be considered. If it’s not essential, remove it permanently.
- Use Drawers. Using drawers isn’t cheating, it’s smart. It keeps your projects, tools, and supplies at your fingertips while still removing them from your line of sight. In my drawers, I store all of my supplies (pens, stapler, etc.) and my current projects. My current projects are stored in labeled folders in my top drawer for easy access. And only the current project that I’m working on gets to be on my actual desk surface.
- Finish Your Projects. One of the biggest enemies of desk clutter is unfinished projects. Sometimes, they lay on our desks for weeks distracting us and taunting us. The mind clutter of an unfinished project can be crippling at times. If the project can be completed in less than 20 minutes, see it through to completion right away. If the project will take longer, find a drawer to store it in until you are ready to pull it out and work on it again.
- Store Things Digitally. A simple Contacts program and Tasks program can probably remove 95-100% of the notes cluttering your workspace (I have always used Microsoft Outlook). Find one and learn to use it. Those sticky-notes will no longer clutter your screen or distract your mind. And you’ll never lose one again either. I have found this method to be both liberating and essential.
- Limit Computer Distractions. While your computer can be essential in helping to eliminate the clutter from your desk, it can provide distraction of its own. Help your cause by decluttering your computer desktop along with your physical desk. For starters, find a non-distracting wallpaper image and remove all unnecessary icons.
- Set aside 5 minutes. Take the last 5 minutes of every day to clear the surface of your desk. Rest assured that once you get started with the habit, it’ll take far less than 5 minutes. But set that much aside at the beginning. Trust me, your morning you will thank you.
A clear and minimalist office desk will grant you more focus, peace of mind, and productivity. And that’s good for both you and your company.
Dharmesh says
Decluttered my desk today to help my mind get over the comforts I’m use to here. I find myself loyal to a company because of how recognizable and unique my desk area is. In order to move on with my Career, I think this is one step closer to leaving the company.
DC says
Seems good on the surface, but if I put something in a drawer I will instantly forget it exists. I’m an “Out of sight, out of mind” personality so an empty desk and everything put away doesn’t work for me. Organized and up, but still visible and easy to find is the only way I can be effective and efficient.
Marla says
I am exactly the same way! Out of sight, out of mind.
Clelie Rich says
Me too!
Frances says
Excellent guide! Thanks for sharing. Clutter-free is definitely the way to go.
Nancy Meehan says
I have been following this guide for several years now in keeping my desk top here at home ( I’m retired) clutter free. It’s been a huge help with staying on top of bills and other paperwork that comes with just living life. I do make use of the drawers. There’s just one that I use for unfinished projects and no I don’t forget about those because I pull them out the next day. But I always make sure my desk top is completely clear of papers every night. This method has carried over to other parts of my home and certainly has made my life much more simpler. Yes, clutter free is the way to go!
Grace says
I was decluttering my workspace today and this post was perfect, thank you! One thing that has keeps me from clearing my desk regularly is that I’m always afraid if I put something away, I’ll forget about it. You didn’t address this fear, but as I was reading your other ideas I realized that I can keep a To Do list for everything I put away. To Do lists always help me focus, and in fact means I actually won’t forget, which is what happens 90% of the time when things pile up on my desk. Thank you for the inspiration, and am really looking forward to implementing all your ideas!
Alexis says
Spending a great deal of time in Swizerland both for business and pleasure over the years has provided excellent lessons in cleanliness, organization and yes, minimalism. They do things different there than in California. Rarely in an executive office do you find a single piece of paper out of place. The secret: I term it “A culture of quality”. Switzerland is the mecca for handcraftsmanship, organization and utilitiy and it shows! What do you expect from a nation whose primary exports include fine watchmaking? Small cabinets allowing the horizontal storage of papers are everywhere. Papers or project files can be located quickly and easily. Papers aren’t left on desks at all. Even more important are files that resemble loose-leaf folders called file binders. Using a two hole punch, these traditional office organizers replace most filing cabinets with manila folders. Their design allows flat storage of papers and when used resemble a well made large book. They’re amazing! You can buy starter sets of the European filing system from Empire Imports in Massachusetts. Once you start using this system you really don’t want to use anything else. For a minimalist they’re perfect! You will never buy another manila folder or metal file cabinet again.
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Naomi says
As a costumer this one is a tough one for me… but reading through the notes I’ve realized I have modified these tips to best suit the need I have for order without stifling creativity.
1. When I’m done working at my sewing desk every evening the machine gets turned off and moved to the back of the desk.
2. My tools get put away after I’m finished with the task at hand… Patterning, the rulers get hung up… Cutting, scissors or rollerblade get put back in a basket along with the weights and the cutting mat goes in its corner… Patterns, go back in their envelope and filed at the end of the project.
3. Each project has a basket that everything needed to accomplish the end result is stored in. If a project has multiple days to complete when I’m done working on it I fold it and return it to the basket until the next time.
4. The only project allowed on my desk is the one I am currently tackling.
This has helped clarify what drives me the craziest about my business partner, she explodes all through my areas. Time for a strategy meeting to eliminate the issue.
Terrie says
Going to find a box to throw it all in pronto!!!! An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance!!!
Joyce says
I can’t do office trays. I have to have something that holds the papers vertically or things just keep getting piled on top. I attended a seminar that taught us to use 1-31 folders. Everything you need to do, or use on that day gets put there. I keep my 1-31 Every Day File in the file cabinet next to my computer and go right to the current date to start my work. If it doesn’t get done that day, I move it to the next day I think I might accomplish it. I also have my file folders in that drawer and try my best to file things away as soon as they’re done. It greatly simplifies my life and I feel more organized because things are in their proper place.
I love this blog. So glad I found it. I frequently repost in Facebook and my son tells me he knows I’m sending a message directly to him! We’re both on the journey to simplify and minimize, so it’s nice to have the support.
pat says
I never let myself be put in a ‘larger work space’ It may seem nice to others but I know I tend to fill the space I have. Filing is my downfall. It sits in a large basket on my shelf. Changing fiscal years is my worse time for clutter has I have both fiscal years paperwork to deal with for about three months. I divide the desk (L-shaped) and roll the chair back and forth; keeps the sanity level from going out the roof.