Now that what will be known as “The Great Hosting Disaster” is over, things should return to normal around here.  Someday I’ll write about the disaster but for now I wanted to point you to what is turning out to be another great series of posts by Matt Perman over at What’s Best Next.  If you aren’t familiar with Matt, he writes “on integrating the big picture with everyday decisions so that we can do things better in life, work, business, and society.”

Matt’s just started a new series on “How to Set Up Your Desk”, which at first glance may make you go, “huh”.   Why is this important?  Here’s an excerpt from the introduction;

Why Desk Setup Matters
It makes sense to think through your workspace setup for several reasons.

First, when you have your desk set up well you minimize resistance to carrying out your work and thus can get more work done. That’s the key principle here: Set your desk up well in order to minimize resistance so that you can give your focus and energy to actually doing your work.

Second, you will simply work better if you have your desk set up well and know how to use it. Which is another one of my aims here: A desk is a workflow system. Therefore we ought to approach it with intentionality and purpose. We can be more effective when we know how to use our desks and are intentional, rather than ad hoc, because we deal with them every day and have to use them to get all sorts of important things done. The principle here is: Understand your tools and know how to make the most of them.

Third, when your desk is not set up well it creates drag and thus drains time, energy, and focus. I like how they put this in Organizing for Dummies:

You don’t need to be an efficiency expert, interior designer, or feng shui master specializing in the Chinese art of placement to know that the right work space can set you up for success, while a whatever approach to your workplace layout can sap your time, energy, concentration, and creativity” (p. 183).

Or, to put it another way: “Clutter sucks creativity and energy from your brain” (To Do Doing Done, p. 92).

Fourth, you use your desk about every day, and knowing how to use it is not hard to figure out. So the benefits you get from this are large, but the cost involved is small.

Fifth, it makes work more fun when you know how to use your desk. A well-run desk is a work of art!

I believe that if you follow the advice Matt gives and you’ll find yourself more productive and less stressed. Both of which should be goals that we all strive for.