By Meredith Carver

I’m a busy person with lots of interests. The upside to this is that I’m “well-rounded,” but the downside is keeping track of the items that come along with these interests. You know that pile of stuff that you can feel glaring at you as you walk past it? Maybe it’s a once-clear and inviting work desk, a bookshelf, or a table; whatever it is, it somehow turns into a dumping ground for unfinished projects, papers, and materials until it eventually just becomes a part of the room landscape – a “stuff” mountain, if you will. At some point, it bothers you enough to do something about it so that it stops calling your name. So, my friends, this is a story of (finally) organizing my desk at home.

My self-awareness led me to notice that the “frustration pattern” motivating me to intervene was not being able to find what I needed. I know that in the process of looking for something for a project, I can lose momentum to continue working and whatever organizational method I had could fly right out the window. So, I needed to visualize an ideal space. I asked myself a bunch of questions, including what does it feel like to feel comfortable and productive in this space? What do I need to do to achieve this? What are the functions and needs of the space? My desk is a place that should, ideally, help me to focus and complete tasks, so a more minimalistic look could be useful.

Before jumping into cleaning, I made sure to plan in advance when I wanted to tackle my desk. Cleaning can take more time than you think it will, and it can be difficult to return after leaving the project in an “in-between” state. I set aside time on a weekend, and then I got to work. First, I surveyed the items on my desk and noticed that they were mostly a mix of art and office supplies. I then looked for patterning in these items. Like-items (e.g., pens/pencils) were then grouped together as I took inventory and let go of what wasn’t needed. I also relocated items not desired in the space/that needed to go to a different room or location. After that, I bought some bookshelves and rolling carts with clear drawers. I now feel like things have a designated place, so if I maintain the practice of putting things back where they go, this should be sustainable.

But let’s be honest – when it’s a promise only between you and yourself to keep things organized, it’s hard to stick to the goal and see it through. My desk might be clean now, but who knows what will happen tomorrow. To prevent myself from sliding backwards, I sought accountability. I actually found a sense of accountability from writing this very blog! Now the whole world will know that I cleaned my desk, and if someone asks how the upkeep is going, I want to be able to proudly say that things are still organized. After all, it’s always worth it in the end. Once you finally clean and organize, it seems to quell a form of chaos in your environment and in your mind. You may find more motivation to use the space, as it’s now more inviting and has a sense of novelty.

Sticking to the system over time is the real challenge; maintenance is the real trial. I keep reminding myself that if I stick with this, there are tons of benefits. I can find art materials when I need them! No more digging around and losing steam! We don’t always realize the impact of changing a physical space until it’s made, and it’s always worth the investment of time and energy; make your future self proud and put in the work!

Now on to tackle a closet!