Back in the days when I lived in Texas, I met some very strange people. Once, at ZH’s office party, someone said to me, “You know, your husband’s desk is always clean at the end of the day. It’s creepy. It’s like nobody works there.”
I knew two things about ZH — one, he’s a neatnik; and two, he’s slightly odd (but that could be because he was French) — so I didn’t think much about the comment. At the time, as a housewife with three young children, I didn’t work; hence I didn’t have a desk to compare to. I had gone to college and graduated but don’t recall much studying and much less a desk.
Then when I got back into the work force, I understood what that person meant about clean desks. There were hardly any to be found at my office. In an average open floor space, there were mostly desks cluttered with computer monitors, telephones, piles and piles of papers. The actual working space, if any, was around the size of a sheet of paper. I’ve worked late many times and seen the cleaning crew squirt cleaner on just that 8.5 x 11 spot and scrub it. One time, there was a mysterious smell that emanated from somewhere on our floor and got progressively malodorous as days went by. After some investigation, the office manager discovered a plate of half-eaten sushi under a pile of clutter on a desk whose occupant was on vacation.
I began to feel a certain empathy for ZH (but don’t tell him.) Like him, I needed a wide, uncluttered space in order to work efficiently and creatively. I may have documents and books open on my desk during the working day, but I when I leave at night I put away everything in drawers, file cabinets, or trash can. The only things remaining are the computer screen, telephone, and green plant. I don’t keep a framed picture of my family on my desk any more than I would keep one of my boss at home. I only print out papers that are absolutely necessary, and these are either filed away or tossed when I’ve finished working with them. Pens, markers, paper clips return where they belong out of sight.
I’m a firm believer that positive energy flows better when there’s no confusion and chaos in its path. The mind can focus better on the task at hand when you’re not staring at a pile of documents that have yellowed around the edges or that upturned empty plastic cup. You’re more efficient when you can find things quickly instead of having to dig around for them. You can be more productive when you know your workload is limited to what’s really in front of you, and not that stack of unidentified miscellany spilling over near your elbow that may or may not be urgent.
Never mind what your snarky co-workers may say. A clean desk is not a sign of a sick mind. A clean desk means you’re unbridled and unhampered in your quest for professional success and glory.
Anybody want to borrow my paper shredder?
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I’m like you. My desk needs to be clean and organized at the end of the day. It makes me more productive. I have a more difficult time doing that at my current job, because only the managers have real desks with drawers. But still everything is put away and organized every evening. I do have a picture on my desk, but that is the only personal item.
Loribeth, I agree that there are creative and decorative ways to stay tidy even when you have no desk drawers (though it is unfair that only managers have those — do they at least keep their desks free of clutter?) I do keep a personal item on my desk — a green plant or a potted African violet or petunia to add some color to the bland office surroundings. They last longer that cut flowers and don’t elicit puerile comments like, “ooh, somebody has a secret admirer…”
As an aside here: to keep organized I have recently discovered Evernote. Do you know it? Fabulous website for collecting and organizing all you millions of odds and ends, esp. for blogging! https://www.evernote.com/about/learn_more/