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5 Reasons a Messy Desk Is Not Good For Your Productivity

Dai Smith

Oct. 04, 2021

Messy desks—it is one of the most common subjects for job interview questions! Is there really a science behind a messy desk and your productivity level? Or are these all hullabaloos done by neat freaks who simply wish to meddle with someone’s business.


The news is, there’s science behind it.

 

So there’s no arguing that a cluttered desk is a magnet for cluttered mind, too. Studies had shown that an average person could waste 4.3 hours each week trying to search for paper or office tools they need, which of course will increase stress and reduce creative thinking and concentration. An executive also loses an hour each day looking for missing information. And of course, the greatest burden a messy desk could offer is the inability to offer efficient customer service because of lost and mishandled paperwork.

 

A messy desk leads to lost information, misplaced files, and increased stress. It can also impact the way people see you, wherein self-consciousness can definitely detract your focus. If you are still not convinced, here are 5 reasons why a messy desk is not good for your productivity.

Clutter can lead to cluttered mind.  Going to a cluttered office is a number recipe to have a stressful day. You will feel like you are already behind even before the day can start. This is the reason why offices should encourage their employees before the day ends. That way, everyone will have a clean slate the next morning.

It’s unhealthy. Period.  Do you know that on average, a regular office keyboard houses about 7,500 bacteria on it? Keeping yourself healthy means keeping your work surfaces clean as well. A messy desk can have a direct impact on how often you feel unwell. Especially now that Covid-19 is lurking around the corner, you really have to make it a priority to keep your desk organized.

Decreases self-confidence. The University of Chicago Press suggests that being disorganized would also birthed the feeling like you are no longer in control of your life. This obviously creates a self-defeating work environment wherein you might feel like you cannot even finish a task. And even if you can push yourself through, the work is most generally subpar.

Creates poor impression. While we cannot judge a person based on messy desk, but it is an innate human response to stimuli to judge someone based on what we see. There is even a study that suggest that about 57% of employees would critic their coworkers by the look of their desk. Plus, if you have a shared office space, the messy desk could not just affect you personally. It could affect everyone around you.

It is disrupting. A messy office could hinder your flow. You will find your eyes drifting around the other elements on your table, hence losing your concentration and ability to focus on the task in front. These are lost times.


It’s time to reclaim your productivity in your office! If you are looking to increase office productivity, make sure to enforce a no-clutter rule! Stay on top of organizing and cleaning your space. If you need assistance on where and how to start, our organizing team at Simplicity by Day will make your life simple and well-organized!

5 Reasons a Messy Desk Is Not Good For Your Productivity

Dai Smith

Oct. 04, 2021

Messy desks—it is one of the most common subjects for job interview questions! Is there really a science behind a messy desk and your productivity level? Or are these all hullabaloos done by neat freaks who simply wish to meddle with someone’s business.


The news is, there’s science behind it.

 

So there’s no arguing that a cluttered desk is a magnet for cluttered mind, too. Studies had shown that an average person could waste 4.3 hours each week trying to search for paper or office tools they need, which of course will increase stress and reduce creative thinking and concentration. An executive also loses an hour each day looking for missing information. And of course, the greatest burden a messy desk could offer is the inability to offer efficient customer service because of lost and mishandled paperwork.

 

A messy desk leads to lost information, misplaced files, and increased stress. It can also impact the way people see you, wherein self-consciousness can definitely detract your focus. If you are still not convinced, here are 5 reasons why a messy desk is not good for your productivity.

Clutter can lead to cluttered mind.  Going to a cluttered office is a number recipe to have a stressful day. You will feel like you are already behind even before the day can start. This is the reason why offices should encourage their employees before the day ends. That way, everyone will have a clean slate the next morning.

It’s unhealthy. Period.  Do you know that on average, a regular office keyboard houses about 7,500 bacteria on it? Keeping yourself healthy means keeping your work surfaces clean as well. A messy desk can have a direct impact on how often you feel unwell. Especially now that Covid-19 is lurking around the corner, you really have to make it a priority to keep your desk organized.

Decreases self-confidence. The University of Chicago Press suggests that being disorganized would also birthed the feeling like you are no longer in control of your life. This obviously creates a self-defeating work environment wherein you might feel like you cannot even finish a task. And even if you can push yourself through, the work is most generally subpar.

Creates poor impression. While we cannot judge a person based on messy desk, but it is an innate human response to stimuli to judge someone based on what we see. There is even a study that suggest that about 57% of employees would critic their coworkers by the look of their desk. Plus, if you have a shared office space, the messy desk could not just affect you personally. It could affect everyone around you.

It is disrupting. A messy office could hinder your flow. You will find your eyes drifting around the other elements on your table, hence losing your concentration and ability to focus on the task in front. These are lost times.


It’s time to reclaim your productivity in your office! If you are looking to increase office productivity, make sure to enforce a no-clutter rule! Stay on top of organizing and cleaning your space. If you need assistance on where and how to start, our organizing team at Simplicity by Day will make your life simple and well-organized!

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