27/03/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | MAR 27, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Battle of functional workspaces

E VERY desk has its own personality, and some attract more attention than others, especially messy ones. With scattered papers, dirty mugs and tangled cables, their appearance is a shock to those who prefer order. And yet, judgements aside, studies showed this chaos could be detrimental to collective productivity. However tidiness or the lack of it can be a sensitive subject in the workplace. Because, there are two types of colleagues: those who are adept at meticulous tidying and those who are champions of creative chaos. The former have a desk worthy of an Ikea showroom, with impeccably stacked files on one side and personal objects discreetly arranged on the other. The latter, on the other hand, it is a completely different story. Their workspace is a merry jumble of crumpled papers, random sticky notes, tangled earphones, half finished snacks and that communal bottle of hand sanitiser that no-one can ever find. The untidy person seems oblivious to the mess that surrounds them. They work away unperturbed by their clutter. But for their office neighbours, it is a different matter altogether. Many of them find it hard to cope with the mess right in front of them. A survey of 2,000 British office workers by technology supplier Brother UK revealed a quarter of them feel that a colleague’s clutter is detrimental to their own productivity. This is because a cluttered space not only disturbs the eyes, it also overloads the mind. Every scattered sheet of paper, misplaced file and surplus object catches the eye, generating a visual cacophony that nibbles away at concentration. A study published in 2011 in the Journal of Neuroscience by researchers at Princeton University revealed physical clutter breeds mental clutter, making it harder for the brain to focus on important tasks. o Weighing benefits between tidy space, disorderly desk

When chaos bothers coworkers The question of tidiness in the office is not simply a matter of personal preference. It also relates to the codes of corporate life, particularly in shared spaces, where different perceptions and sensibilities coexist. What appears to be a logical organisation for one person may be perceived as a source of stress for another, sometimes feeding tensions and judgements. Indeed, a workspace says a lot about its occupant. Whether it is an executive’s vast, elaborately decorated personal space or a more anonymous booth in an open-plan office, the way it looks influences people’s perception of its owner. University of Michigan researchers highlighted the impact of clutter on professional image in a 2019 study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences . They found that a cluttered space is often judged negatively and its occupant perceived, consciously or unconsciously, as less agreeable, more neurotic or unconcerned about others. These preconceptions, however unfounded, can influence interactions and work dynamics, underlining the importance of the image that our professional environment conveys. Organised chaos So, is it imperative to keep things tidy in order to shine in the workplace? The debate remains open, but one thing is certain: the state of our desk has as much influence on our day-to-day as it does on how others perceive us. A messy desk can quickly earn us a reputation for being disorganised or chaotic, which is why it is important to tidy up regularly. There are several ways of doing this, including the Japanese 5S method, based on five essential principles. The first, Seiri , consists of ruthlessly sorting, eliminating the superfluous and keeping only the essential, classifying items according to their usefulness. Next comes Seiton , which advocates defining a precise place for each object in order to limit wasted time and unnecessary movement. With Seiso , the emphasis is on cleanliness and maintenance, as a tidy space encourages concentration. Seiketsu aims to

People with tidy desks are often assumed to be more organised. – PICS FROM PEXELS

standardise organisation so that it is clear and intuitive, even for another person. Finally, Shitsuke reminds us the key to success lies in rigour — by applying these principles on a daily basis, we can ensure our workspace is always functional and inspiring. What is functional for some is not necessarily functional for others. In the office, some people maintain a skillfully organised mess, where every object seems to be placed at random, but in reality responds to a meticulous and personal logic. In a study published in 2015, Journal of Environmental Psychology , researchers at the University of Groningen argued a disorderly environment encourages us to focus on the essentials. That said, it is no excuse to let things get out of hand. When it is time to wrap up a crucial file, a good amount of controlled clutter could well be a major ally. – ETX Studio

A tidy desk encourages concentration.

A cluttered desk has a reputation of being a creative chaos.