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A cluttered desk isn’t just an eyesore—it’s actively sabotaging your productivity and mental well-being. Research reveals that messy workspaces increase cortisol levels, leading to heightened stress, poor decision-making, and decreased job satisfaction, while organized environments promote focus and efficiency.
Keep reading for insights by organizational experts like Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein in Joy at Work, as well as Rachel Hollis in Girl, Stop Apologizing.
Why a Clean Workspace Is So Important
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at work, whether by the clutter in your office, the never-ending flood of emails, or back-to-back meetings that eat up your workday. According to Marie Kondo and organizational psychologist Scott Sonenshein in Joy at Work, tidying has the power to transform your work life, leading to greater productivity, joy, and job satisfaction. (Shortform note: Studies suggest that feeling overwhelmed by work has become the norm. According to the American Psychological Association, 77% of Americans reported being stressed out by work in 2025, with about six in 10 (57%) indicating they experienced burnout due to work-related stress.)
The authors point out that clutter, both digital and physical, overwhelms your brain and makes it harder to enjoy your work. Research shows that messy environments affect both individuals and organizations. On an individual level, clutter increases cortisol (your body’s stress hormone), which can lead to depression, stress problems, and poor decision-making, resulting in a decrease in both productivity and happiness. Consequently, organizations bear the cost of wasted time when employees work inefficiently. Therefore, tackling clutter can increase workplace well-being and productivity.
(Shortform note: While Kondo and Sonenshein emphasize the negative impacts of clutter, some research suggests chaos can help boost creativity by shaking up our usual way of thinking and encouraging new, unexpected ideas. When things are a bit messy or disorganized, it can make our brains connect different thoughts in unique ways, leading to creative “aha” moments. However, this doesn’t mean that too much chaos is good; if things get too overwhelming or stressful, it can make it harder to focus and be creative.)
The authors stress that the goal isn’t achieving a stereotypically tidy desk or empty inbox, but creating a personalized space that encourages you to focus on meaningful work and restores purpose and satisfaction in your professional life. The authors emphasize that tidying goes beyond mere organization—it’s a reflective dialogue with yourself that helps you rediscover your values, aspirations, and preferred working styles.
(Shortform note: Beyond physical tidying, several reflective practices can deepen self-reflection in professional settings. The “values card sort” exercise helps identify core values by having you rank values like “creativity,” “leadership,” or “security,” revealing what truly matters in your work life. Documenting daily achievements, challenges, and emotional responses to your work provides an opportunity to process workplace experiences and recognize patterns in what brings fulfillment.)
Cleanliness and Habits
In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis states that your environment is often a reflection of your internal life, and she believes that if you want to feel in control of your life, you should start by controlling your space.
Hollis believes that your space should be clean and organized, as well as reflect your goals and vision.
She notes that your space might be an entire house, or it could be as small as your desk at work. Whatever your situation, she instructs you to find the space that belongs entirely to you and make it extraordinary.
In addition to a clean working environment, Hollis advises you to visually display your dream somewhere in your space as a daily reminder of what you’re working to accomplish. This could take the form of images, words, vision boards, and so on.
(Shortform note: Vision boards speak to the idea of the law of attraction (also known as manifestation). The theory is that thinking about something enough will eventually draw it to you. Perhaps the most well-known book on this subject is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.)
Dive Deeper
Do you want to know more about how clean and organized workspaces can affect your life and career? Check out the full guides to the books mentioned above.
