Writing is quite a solitary call, and a great deal of time is spent leaning on a work desk. That piece of furniture feels like it is our only support in the world, and yet we often neglect it, taking it for granted. If nothing else, this could have a detrimental effect on your ability to accomplish your goals. This is due to the fact that disarray on the desk has this unnerving habit of spilling over to your mindset. The bad news is that clutter is also able to creep up in all shapes and sizes.
Writings on the wall
A disorganized workplace always impacts your productivity in a negative way. When you need to translate your creativity and deep thoughts into words, the last thing you need are hurdles on the road. Many are the ways and means writers use to produce results, but you do not have to make it harder for yourself, do you? Alas, we humans are eager hoarders, amassing clutter in the form of paper, pens, mail, takeout boxes, wall art, paid bills, notes, office supplies, etc.
Well, the desk where we write should be an impeccable zone of productivity, not a haphazard area teeming with frippery. Thus, go over it with a fine-tooth comb and pinpoint anything that serves no clear purpose. You want to keep only the things that help you get the job done around. Get rid of the rest, store it, give it away, or find some other role for it in the household. Do not forget about digital clutter as well: deal with unused files, odd folders on your desktop, and annoying pop-up notifications.
Fragile workings of focus
I must admit I was not always versed in keeping clutter at bay. But, you know, when your mouse is trapped between a coffee mug and a pile of books, and you constantly get entangled in a cable mess, you realize you are doing something wrong. I found out the hard way that your ability to concentrate is inhibited whenever faced with an external muddle. In that sense, writing is a job just like any other that people perform in offices. Furthermore, items have sentimental and personal value to us.
They carry an emotional burden and remind us of past situations. So, in my experience, putting personal photos all around is not such a great idea. After all, going down memory lane does impede your focus. Instead, a special spot is reserved for a table lamp I have found at Peter’s of Kensington. Of course, it is not just there to act as a décor piece, but also to provide functionality even in the dead of night. On the other side of the desk, I have a potted plant, a silent and sympathetic fellow that does not interfere with my workload.
Remember that every time you get distracted, you have not lost just a few seconds. Namely, your brain needs some extra time to readjust and I cannot even count how many thoughts I have lost to the oblivion of forgetfulness. Even if you do not notice many of the surrounding items, rest assured that your subconscious does pay attention. This makes it a daunting task to achieve an interrupted flow of productivity and unleash full creative potential.
Free your mind
So, get your act together and assemble a work-friendly desk. Cut down on things and bear in mind that your desk reflects your inner state of mind. Even one empty coffee mug can be a productivity blocker, yet alone a pile of clutter. So, you should embrace an “out of sight, out of mind” policy and prevent unimportant things from diverting your focus. Therefore, if you ask me, it is high time to get organized and feel the healthy boost of creative energy empowering you.