What does your desk reveal about the way your mind works? There’s no single formula. Creative professionals disagree over whether an empty desk or a creative desk is the secret to creativity and productivity. What works for one mind doesn’t work for another – and it’s entirely possible that you’ve been managing your desk all wrong.
If you can’t stand the clutter when you arrive at your desk every morning, distracting you from getting anything productive done, it may be time to clear off the papers, sort through the drawers, and embrace minimalism.
If you’ve been working at an office with a “clean desk” policy and it feels like it takes all of your strength just to get the gears churning, it may be a good sign that you’re naturally a messy desk individual.
The messy desk
On the subject of desks, Albert Einstein once said that an empty desk is the sign of empty mind. Many famous people have had messy desks, from Mark Twain to Mark Zuckerberg. Clutter helps them make new connections. Clutter can be great, but it may be time to change your definition of clutter if you prefer a messy desk.
Stop leaving unsorted mail or stacks of paper you don’t need any more lying around. Keep clutter useful. Whether it’s a project that’s on the go, resources you need to do your job, or objects that inspire you, a better-cluttered desk is one that means something to you.
There have been scientific studies on the psychology of messy desks. One hypothesis is that messiness leads creative people away from convention. In some cases, messiness spurs creativity as minds make new links out of the chaos surrounding them. Multi-tasking can help you make leaps of logic and find unconventional ideas.
The empty desk
The empty desk can be highly motivating for creative professionals. The decluttered desk is for the kind of person who needs tranquility and calm to get to work and have brilliant ideas. Clutter can signal laziness and make you feel like you’re not in control. You need to tame the beast of clutter on your desk and clear the workspace in order to let your ideas crystallize and grow.
Clutter can keep you from processing new information and coming up with innovative solutions. A clean desk also shows others that you’re organized and you have everything under control. The minimalist desk is for those who are easily distracted and struggle to get back on track.
Whichever way you prefer to work, you should upgrade your office with a new desk that fits your work style. If you love chaos and find it feeds your creativity, invest in a desk that lets you spread out. Your desk should match your multi-tasking mind with room to keep multiple projects on the go at once.
The minimalist will want storage space. As hard as you try to keep clutter under control, when it comes to work, some papers just can’t be decluttered. If you want to access higher creativity, invest in the desk that works for you.