Boost Your Creativity With a Decluttered Desk
If sitting at your desk no longer inspires creative and productive work, seize the day and clear the clutter
Amy Revell
4 September 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering. I'm based in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and work with women to help them create the beautiful homes they've always dreamed of. As an author, speaker and podcaster, I love all things decluttering and embrace the freedom that minimalism brings.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering.... More
Whether you work from home or in a corporate space, the state of your desk often reflects the state of your mind. Papers, files, stationery and personal items pile up on our desks and the result of this clutter is unproductive work time. And as for your creativity, it’s hard to be creative when you’re surrounded by chaos. Here are some great ideas on ways to clear the clutter and increase your creativity.
Clear the clutter
You may have heard it said, ‘Your desk is a reflection of the state of your mind’. I like to say, ‘Cluttered desk, cluttered mind’. Suffice to say that if you have a cluttered chaotic desk, it’s unlikely you’re going to be working at your full capacity or experiencing the kind of creativity and productivity you’d like.
You may have heard it said, ‘Your desk is a reflection of the state of your mind’. I like to say, ‘Cluttered desk, cluttered mind’. Suffice to say that if you have a cluttered chaotic desk, it’s unlikely you’re going to be working at your full capacity or experiencing the kind of creativity and productivity you’d like.
Having a clear desk isn’t just about sweeping everything into a drawer; it’s about deciding what you would like your work space to feel like, and setting up systems to support that vision. This office has the storage system behind the work space, which means everything’s there when you need it without it being on the desk.
Identify the basics
Ask yourself; what are the few essential items you must have on your desk? Your occupation will partly determine what the essentials are to have on your desk. If you’re a fashion designer, you’ll probably need a computer as well as your design tablet, and maybe a range of pens and paper for sketching. If you’re a web designer, you may have a need for running dual monitors, but you don’t need much else on your desk.
The Bad Habits That Actually Make You Messy
Ask yourself; what are the few essential items you must have on your desk? Your occupation will partly determine what the essentials are to have on your desk. If you’re a fashion designer, you’ll probably need a computer as well as your design tablet, and maybe a range of pens and paper for sketching. If you’re a web designer, you may have a need for running dual monitors, but you don’t need much else on your desk.
The Bad Habits That Actually Make You Messy
Consider the essential items you need to keep within arm’s reach, and store all other things off your desk. You may choose to have some organised drawers or shelving for storage, just remember to keep these organised, otherwise you’re just transferring the clutter.
Create space
Having a large area of clear space on your desk will help you stay focused on your work. If you’re anything like me, you’re easily distracted. I need to remove any distractions in order to work productively.
Having a large area of clear space on your desk will help you stay focused on your work. If you’re anything like me, you’re easily distracted. I need to remove any distractions in order to work productively.
I work with lots of creative people, and they all report back after we’ve decluttered their desks and offices that they’ve been more creative than they have in years. This is because the clear space sparks creativity. Our minds love empty space to create in, while clutter is both visually and energetically disruptive to our creative flow.
Spark creativity
Once you have cleared your desk completely, I recommend sitting for 15 minutes with just a pen and paper in front of you, and write down any ideas that come into your head. Oh the places your mind will take you. I find this really helpful when I’m feeling a creative block in my mind, and each time I come away with gold that was inside me the whole time, but I was too busy to listen.
Read more stories about home work spaces
Once you have cleared your desk completely, I recommend sitting for 15 minutes with just a pen and paper in front of you, and write down any ideas that come into your head. Oh the places your mind will take you. I find this really helpful when I’m feeling a creative block in my mind, and each time I come away with gold that was inside me the whole time, but I was too busy to listen.
Read more stories about home work spaces
Set up an in-tray
Create a really simple place that you can drop papers/mail into and deal with daily. Rather than having piles on your desk and papers floating around, having a single place they can land when they come into your office will reduce the clutter.
Create a really simple place that you can drop papers/mail into and deal with daily. Rather than having piles on your desk and papers floating around, having a single place they can land when they come into your office will reduce the clutter.
Avoid piles
Another suggestion is: don’t pile anything on your desk. Anything at all when piled becomes overwhelming. And piles tend to bring with them a feeling of avoidance – no matter how big the pile, it always seems like such an effort to sort through. Use an upright filing system so you can access everything quickly and nothing gets lost at the bottom of an overwhelming stack of stuff.
Another suggestion is: don’t pile anything on your desk. Anything at all when piled becomes overwhelming. And piles tend to bring with them a feeling of avoidance – no matter how big the pile, it always seems like such an effort to sort through. Use an upright filing system so you can access everything quickly and nothing gets lost at the bottom of an overwhelming stack of stuff.
Introduce calm
For many people, work is tiring and on occasions uninspiring. Change the feel of your desk space by introducing a few beautiful items that both calm you and remind you of why you do what you do.
De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
For many people, work is tiring and on occasions uninspiring. Change the feel of your desk space by introducing a few beautiful items that both calm you and remind you of why you do what you do.
De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
On my desk I have an inspiring quote as well as a photo of my kids. I often have a candle burning because these things bring a sense of calm as well perspective.
It may take you a few hours to declutter your desk initially, but by putting some boundaries and systems in place you’ll be able to keep it organised.
Tip: Each night before you finish for the day, take one minute to tidy your desk so you can start each new day with a clear desk ready for an influx of creativity and productivity.
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Tip: Each night before you finish for the day, take one minute to tidy your desk so you can start each new day with a clear desk ready for an influx of creativity and productivity.
Tell us
If you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Browse inspiring home offices
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Love the use of colour in the A. Jennison image. Not that a small desktop with all those pretty, non-useful items on it would be functional.
Could not imagine working at a desk like those featured - wish i could but when you have several projects on the go at one time , invoices to track, files to update, meetings to attend, plus any number of other chores or interruptions then the desk face gets messy and sometimes there is not the opportunity to "declutter" . The desks featured are probably fine if facebook and other social pursuits are all you do and some do look nice when you have guests and there is not a door to lock away the view.
I always use that old line/excuse " if a cluttered desk shows a cluttered mind then what does a empty desk show!"
I immediately got rid of a pile of papers on my desk! Thanks for inspiring me to do so. Now to work on the bookshelf.