![office tidiness office tidiness](https://www.penielcleaning.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/office-cleaning-pantry3.jpg)
Sure, many companies are increasingly embracing working remotely - and many are currently working from home right now given the coronavirus pandemic.īut if you’re still having to go into a workplace that has an open office plan, it’s important to realize that your work style is often on display (whether you like it or not). Does having a messy or tidy desk matter?Īre people who have a tidy desk simply fans of giving themselves gold stars, or do they actually have a leg up on their messy colleagues? Turns out, it’s not that cut and dry.īut whether you’re a neat freak or your workspace is chaotic, your desk might say a lot about you in the work world, Dr. If clutter doesn’t bother a person, and they have a big deadline to focus on, they’re more likely to dive into the project without worrying about the neatness of their desk,” he adds. “I think the cleanliness or messiness of our desks or offices often says something overall about how people deal with stress and reduce tension.”Ī clean desk may also reduce tension for some people, he says, because they may not like staring at all of the work that still needs done.” “For some people, a lack of clutter reduces tension,” Dr. They tended to produce new or fresh ideas, and be more creative. The findings, at the very least, support the hypothesis that keeping your desk disorganized or orderly is a matter of personality.
![office tidiness office tidiness](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/66/06/39/660639f347406cbdc0ab198861862142.jpg)
The findings? Messy-desk people were more likely to break free of tradition. The management school experts looked at whether working in a messy or neat office had any influence on workers’ behavior. One study tried to get to the bottom of that excuse, er we mean question! Researchers have actually been curious about what these habits say about you. Is a messy desk a sign of a creative mind? “A person with a messy work space may just be very busy and engaged with their work and a little less so with cleaning their office,” Dr. Keeping your desk messy or tidy could just reflect a difference in personality. It really boils down to your level of personal comfort. PolicyĪ messy desk isn’t necessarily a bad thing, says clinical psychologist Scott Bea, PsyD. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.