Mywife came to my study yesterday and said, “wow, that’s pretty anal.” I thought she was flirting with me, but then I realized she was referring to my desk. I keep it austere and geometric. Not anal.

I started keeping my desk in tip-top shape a few months ago.

Her comment got me thinking

about my new found obsession with keeping my desk surface completely clean. Here is the list I ticked off in my mind:

Aesthetically Pleasing

Minimalist Ethos

Sense of Order

Sense of Control

Clean

I minimize distractions so I can better focus and drop into a flow.

I feel more productive and calmer. So there.

Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.

- Barbara Hemphill

Minimize distractions

Working at home is challenging. You can get off task and not productive if you don’t manage your workspace. Learn how to get in the Zone by turning off your phone and getting into a flow state. Minimizing distractions is vital to getting more done in less time and moving your projects forward.

Desktops can be a catch-all for all kinds of papers and stuff you think you are going to need or get to, or review, or read, or whatever. I always had a bunch of stacks of papers and a hodge-podge of magazine articles and mail. There was rarely any empty real estate on my desk. By rarely, I mean never.

Every time I would sit down to get to work, I would feel guilty about not getting to all those things lying there like so many dead fish. It was a real buzz kill and not the way to start a work session.

They didn’t go away, those papers. They just sat there while I tried to work. And they would grow and get bigger and messier as time passed.

Neatness Counts.

Now I keep a pristine desktop. I have nothing on it but my computer, mouse, keyboard, phone, and glasses. Each time I leave my desk, I arrange these things in an exact orderly pattern. It looks great to me. When I return, I get a feeling of control and purpose.

It makes a difference in my productivity and work quality. I didn’t realize it.

When you get serious about a project or a pursuit: clear space for it. Clean off your desk, literally and figuratively.

The Power of Aesthetics

It wasn’t a conscious commitment to change that led me here. It was photos of desktops and workspaces that were clean, crisp, and organized.

I am peppering this article with a bunch of example images — desk porn.

It was the aesthetics of these images that I found compelling and wanted to copy.

The aesthetics of the photos is what I found compelling. Those images and vision were enough to get me off my ass and neaten shit up.

I have an Apple Mac computer with a cordless mouse and keyboard, and it makes a clean appearance that I have come to love.

I used to think it was OCD to have a clean desk. A neat office was a sign of a sick mind. Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs had messy desks. If it suited them, it should be good enough for me.

Since I dismissed the alternative and never tried it, I didn’t have anything to compare my brilliant disarray. It was an elegant wasteland. Right.

Ever since I started keeping a clean workspace, I have been meticulous about maintaining it. It just seemed to happen. I didn’t give it much thought until my wife brought it to my attention, and I felt challenged to defend my neatnik self.

Here are some of the thoughts that I want to share with you, and maybe you will want to give it a try.

The Olden Days

Using yesterday’s tools to solve today’s problems. Marshall McLuhan

In the olden days, before storing everything as a computer file and doing all research on the web, there were maybe reasons or excuses to have stacks of papers and books, etc. strewn over the work surface. It was the detritus and wake of running down ideas and following thoughts.

That is no longer the case.

We have computers to store all our related files and apps like Evernote to organize the things we will get back to later.

There is no need for papers etc. on our desk. It takes discipline to clean it off.

I’m not saying throw things away. Put them on a shelf or file cabinet or wherever you can quickly get to them when the time comes. Chances are, if you are at all like me, that stuff will sit and accumulate dust until you finally acknowledge you aren’t going to get around to looking at it.

Eliminating clutter makes room for your real treasures. Your true treasures are your unobstructed thoughts and ideas.

Touch things once

Touch it once has long been the golden rule of paperwork. When you pick up a piece of paper, you should immediately address the associated action. Cultivating this habit keeps you from shuffling through the same stack of paper over and over again. It saves a tremendous amount of time, clutter, and angst.

The little things, consistently applied, become big things.

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

One of the most famous philosophers of the twentieth century is Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was known for his obsessive austerity and sense of proportion and symmetry. He designed and built his home to exacting standards to create a calm, ordered, and logical environment.

What mattered to him was symmetry and proportion. He also had given away his considerable fortune and lived extremely frugally.

The philosopher reveled in the plainness of the house. It emphasized the proportions and balance. His sister Hermine said, ‘Ludwig had such a sensitive feel for proportions that half a millimeter often mattered to him’. When he felt a newly installed ceiling was too high, he had it taken down and lowered by three centimeters.

It’s good to imitate the

mental habits of a great philosopher.

That is why I move my mouse to be just so far from the keyboard before leaving my desk.

Simplify!

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”

Thoreau

I’m with Marie Kondo on the subject of decluttering. I remember back to my office as a young systems engineer for the ABC television network. I wanted to learn everything, devour cutting-edge technology, and employ it in the service of my company and the world. I am still an avid techno-utopian.

There were some unintended consequences of my enthusiasm. What I ended up with was stacks and stacks of free subscription technical magazines and journals that I fully intended to scour and devour.

But I came upon the finite limits of my workday, and there was also partying. Every time I walked into my office, I felt like I was way behind and guilty. That turns out to be a counterproductive mindset. Who knew?

How vulnerable do you feel if someone sees your desktop?

Files and papers everywhere is a clear sign you’re disorganized and out of sorts.

Imagine a clean, well-organized desktop.

What would that say about you? Take a moment to realize that the person drawing a conclusion about you is you.

Signal the Universe

Upgrade your work environment.

If you want a more up-leveled and inspiring lifestyle, it’s a struggle to keep your thoughts large and in charge if your desk looks like a dumpsite.

If you are thinking and imagining change, do what you can to make upgrades to where you’re at now. Do what you can with what you have.

Clean it up. Fix up what you already have. Throw out the clutter and let in some air. This intention will alert The Universe that you’re not screwing around, that you’re doing everything you can, and are awaiting further instructions.

“Whether you’re aware of it or not, this clutter creates indecision and distractions, consuming attention and making unfettered happiness a real chore.” — Tim Ferris, The 4-Hour Workweek

Order your surroundings to mirror the order you seek internally

Elite athletes are notoriously superstitious. It’s part of a regimen aimed at controlling their environment and dropping into the Zone for top performance. We can all imitate that.

I love this quote from tennis great Rafael Nadal. It makes so much sense.

“I put the two bottles down at my feet, in front of my chair to my left, one neatly behind the other, diagonally aimed at the court. Some call it superstition, but it’s not. If it were superstition, why would I keep doing the same thing over and over whether I win or lose? It’s a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head.”

It’s good to model the organizational habits of an elite athlete.

I order my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head.

A neat desk is a sign of a sick mind. Bullshit.

Discard What You Don’t Need

Before we begin craving more, doesn’t it make sense first to part with the things we don’t need? We end up accumulating stuff. Check out George Carlin’s classic riff on “stuff”.

The practice of decluttering is an essential part of the simple living Thoreau practiced and preached. Japanese author Marie Kondo popularized the concept in her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.’ In it, she writes:

‘The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell, is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life.’

A simple and peaceful life starts when you remove the things that make you feel stressed. Paulo Coelho said, ‘If it doesn’t add to your life, it doesn’t belong in your life.’

It’s hard to relax when you’re surrounded by things you don’t need.

Discarding material possessions is about letting go of physical and mental burdens. Start with your workspace.

Feng Shui

When you approach your desk, what do you feel? The next time, pay close attention to your workspace environment.

Look around. Do you see a space that aligns with your vision of success? A thriving person would have a clean, harmonious space that aligns with your ideals.

Check out the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui. It is the art of designing harmonious environments based on ancient Chinese principles of how people connect to and are affected by their close surroundings. You can significantly improve the flow of your life by placing objects and decorating according to the natural flow of energy (Qi).

Getting organized will help you reduce stress, stay focused, and enhance happiness. It makes me healthier and happier.

If you’re stressed, make a clean slate

A crowded desk makes it harder to focus and easier to feel overwhelmed. A clear desk creates a calmer atmosphere more conducive to reducing stress.

Reserve your desk surface solely for things you use every single day like your mouse, keyboard, and computer. A clear desk space is where creativity and productivity can flow.

Make decisions about every piece of paper that ends up on your desk surface.

To set myself up for a fresh start every day, I wipe down my desk at the end of the day. I take a minute to reflect on what I accomplished that day and forgive myself for any missteps. I then assure myself that I will have a productive day tomorrow.

I give myself permission to leave my work and fully embrace my personal time.

If you’re looking for a stroke of illumination, hone in on your values.

I view my desk as a place where inspiration strikes, I don’t give in to clutter. No trinkets, books, or things that don’t need my attention while I focus and flow.

I want a greater sense of control.

The Importance of Detail

In Navy SEAL training, there’s a test that trainees go through that at first seems mundane.

Trainees stand outside of their room, at attention, and say, “Ready for inspection, sir!”

The supervisor will then go into their room and inspect every corner. No dirt or mess, and the furniture perfectly positioned.

The bed gets intense scrutiny.

A precise way of making a bed that is up to snuff is wrinkle-free and tucked at exact angles. The pillow and blanket must be in their correct place.

If the tiniest detail is wrong, its time to run into the cold ocean waves outside the building. Then roll in sand to get wet and sandy. Then chafe your way through the day.

They are instilling the trainees to focus on, and be responsible for, detail.

If you can’t trust you to make a bed, how can you be trusted during a mission?

Do it right, or don’t do it at all. Be exacting.

I make my bed and I clean my desk.

You can’t have high performance without significant attention to detail.

If you care a lot about the little things, you care a lot about the big stuff. How you do anything is how you do everything.

Detail requires extra work. But the benefits far outweigh the cost of mediocrity.

Inculcating this mindset is why I square away my desk. It makes me feel no-nonsense and mission-critical.

Summary

Here are the things I have found valuable about completely clearing my desk and keeping it clear.

Aesthetically pleasing

Minimalist ethos

Sense of Order

Sense of control

Clean

Fung Shui the shit out of your desktop. Just my wireless mouse and keyboard and computer.

I minimize distractions so I can better focus and drop into a flow. I feel more productive and calmer.

You don’t have to be the victim of your environment. You can also be the architect

Our environment subconsciously shapes our actions and thoughts.

If this makes sense to you and you try it, tell me how it feels and works in the comments. Thanks!

Here are some supporting References:

Fowler, P. (2017, September 29). 7 Health Benefits of Getting Organized. https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/how-cleaning-and-organizing-can-improve-your-physical-and-mental-health

How a Clean-Desk Policy Drives Productivity and Creativity. (2016, September 08). https://www.cleverism.com/clean-desk-policy-drives-productivity-creativity/

The Benefits of a Clean Desk Policy. (2018, August 24). Retrieved from https://www.shrednations.com/2018/08/benefits-clean-desk-policy/

The Surprising Health & Psychological Benefits of a Clean, Uncluttered Desk. http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/11/02/the-surprising-health–amp-psychological-benefits-of-a-clean-uncluttered-desk.htm

Tidy Desk or Messy Desk? Each Has Its Benefits. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/tidy-desk-or-messy-desk-each-has-its-benefits.html

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