What a Desk Is by Meggin McIntosh, PhD

Surely I don’t need to tell you what a desk is, do I?  Well, just in case…. A desk is….

1. A place to work (accounting, grading papers, drafting agendas, and so forth).
2. A place to think (muse, wonder, goal-set, strategize).
3. A place to read (mail, letters, articles, essays).
4. A place to create (plans, presentations, lessons, calendars).
5. A place to write (thank you notes, speeches, lists, ideas).
6. A place to sketch & mindmap (ideas, plans, directions, workshops).
7. A place to process (what you’ve read, what you’ve heard, what you have in your in-box).
8. A place to hold meetings (with one–or more than one–other person).
9. A place to listen (to someone in your office or someone on the telephone).
10. And just in case the previous listing didn’t help, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, a desk is “1. A piece of furniture typically having a flat or sloping top for writing and often drawers or compartments. 2. A table, counter, or booth at which specified services or functions are performed.”

Can you describe your desk using these definitions?  If not, why not?  Let me pose this question: “Does being peacefully productivity frighten you, just a little?”  Don’t worry. Both your reputation and your self-esteem will benefit from improved organization. And you might enjoy your job even more, too!

And if you liked these tips you may be interested in the Get a Plan! Guide® to Ridding Your Workspace of Clutter part of the Get a Plan! Guides® series designed to give you the ideas and inspiration to do your work easier, faster, and in a more focused fashion.