A Secret to Happiness: Clean Off My Desk

One of the big insights I’ve gained from my happiness project is that for me (as for many people), outer order contributes to inner calm. I feel more serene and cheerful if my apartment and office aren’t too messy.
Something else I’ve learned from my happiness project is to be wary whenever I have the urge to “treat” myself, because often my treats don’t make me happy in the long run. One of my “treats” is to let piles of papers, clothes, books, and dishes pile up – which does indeed end up making me feel less happy.
When I need to to calm myself, I take an hour and clean my office. I did this a few days ago. I'd been under some pressure, and I'd let it become a wreck, because I wasn’t taking the time to put anything away. I kept putting off little tasks, thinking, “It’s more important to answer my emails,” “I need to get this little piece written first,” “I need a break, I don’t want to deal with this now,” but finally, I got down to it.
I set aside an hour and tackled the mess. Methodically I entered reading notes, copied information, filed, wrote emails, tossed papers, took coffee cups to the kitchen, etc. One of my daily habits is to take notes on a scratch pad – mostly to-do reminders – and these pile up quickly. I worked my way through the items on those sheets so I could toss them out.
I even dusted.
This morning when I came into my office, I felt a shock of relief. All those clean surfaces! No more stacks of papers and books teetering on the edge of the desk! No more feeling harassed by uncompleted tasks! It gave me a real boost.
As Samuel Johnson wrote, “It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery, and as much happiness as possible.”
Or are you one of those folks who is oblivious to clutter? Take this quiz to find out.
If you want to read more about this, read The Happiness Project, chapters on "Boost Energy" and "Buy Some Happiness," and Happier at Home, chapter on "Possessions." (Can't resist adding: both New York Times bestsellers.)

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Eva P.
--
This is so familiar. Thanks for the references.
1h
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Jitendra D.
Owner, ARJ A S I A and Outsourcing/Offshoring AND Contract Manufacturing
There is a Whole Concept on D-Cluttering ones mind and workplace .Great Post ..!!
7h
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Jyoti S.
social worker
Good job and start with neat environment.
8h
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haroula B.
sales executive at vision enlight
sounds true and helpful
9h
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Susanne P. D.
Non-profit-Social work-Criminal Justice-Psychology
Gretchen you sound just like me, I do the same thing, let it pile up and write ton's of little notes, now I have started writing them on my calendar under my laptop. I have been looking at my pile and hopefully will now do mine, you made me feel better about my mess. Thanks
14h
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Moneca L.
Visual Artist,Facilitator/Presenter in New Thought/the3Principles Mind,Thought&Consciousness
I just wrote a forgiving blog on disorderly organization with humour as a wonderful ingredient .Thanks you for your writups.My blog is the3principles.wordpress.com. Moneca
15h
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barbara G.
Freelance Writer, Copywriter, Company Marketing
There is a lot of truth in what you have written Gretchen, indeed I find exactly the same thing myself that it is hard to relax and write when I am surrounded my papers and general clutter over my desk. Thank you for the reminder.
18h
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Roland T.
Epic Credentialed Trainer - Inpatient at Franciscan Health System
Very good points--I was reminded of a great book called 'Clutter Busters'. The author makes a living successfully helping people declutter their houses and lives. Toward the end of the book, the author shares his conclusion that 75% of what's in the average American household is, in fact, clutter. Recommended as a possible next step. One commenter here suggested that inner control rather than reacting to external things may be best in the long run. That may be so, but this is a great bootstrapping starting procedure. That is, the boost you get from cleaning off your desk could give you the energy to pursue inner reflection, etc. Just as working out gives you the energy to start doing other things...
18h
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Brian S.
Independent Writing and Editing Professional
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow
18h
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Marie P.
Published Author & Artist (Painter)
A good motto is "handle it once". This might work with general housecleaning, but for writers it can be a bit more difficult. I've added a file "Ideas and Beginnings" for all those little reminders we jot down on whatever is available, thinking they may come in handy someday. But alas, sooner or later that file, too, has to be dealt with. Cheers.
19h
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Marie P.
Published Author & Artist (Painter)
Great post, Gretchen. I'm dealing with the same dilemma. Happy writing.
19h
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MUKTIM M.
Independent Broadcast Media Professional
Appreciating you.
19h
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Minu M.
Independent Communications professional with 10+ years in Employee Engagement and Advertising.
Very true in my case too. Outer order directly proportional to inner calm. Given other circumstances favorable, a cluttered environment can even mar my thinking. Thanks for reminding, Gretchen!
21h
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Gina M.
Author at StressLessOrBust.com
So true, Gretchen, about the ambrosial effect of being organized. When I need to tackle an out-of-control mess, I implement the Out, Route, Doubt, Sprout strategy for clutter sorting. I want to make sure that I get the whole task done, so I sub-categorize into those four piles so as not to lose momentum. Some things get tossed out directly; some get routed to someone or somewhere else; some items need further noodling, and then there's the seedling gems that I really need to cultivate! Divide and conquer makes the chore less daunting.
22h
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Meriem J.
Director Formula Development Liquid Liners at Schwan-Stabilo Cosmetics
Outer order contributes to inner calm, sold!
22h
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MaryAnne L.
Teacher/ professor at Wilton Public Schools/Sacred Heart University
Hi Gretchen, teaching of its nature is a progression of"piles" . Friends were always amazed that I could put my hands on multiple pieces of informations so quickly... There was a method and system to my madness , but my desk always had to be neat and organized each day before I left so that the next morning was a treat to enter and find a clean start to eAch new day. Starting each day with a smile and a feeling of organization went a long way... That first cup of coffee helped, too to prepare for the incredible amount of energy that walked through my door each morning. Always a joy to Frisch the minds of students in a positive way . It set a good example for them, too.
23h
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Catherine M.
Medical Oncology Consulting, IV Vitamin C Creator (Bio-identical Hp Blends), Oxygen Therapy with VHC & VHC, LLC
Hi Gretchen My favorite Quote: A place for everything and everything in its place. While I'm not perfect at this I too, do take time weekly to keep my place in order. I taught my children and am teaching my grandchildren something fun and simple. When walking through the house or office and you see, or notice something out of place take a second and pick it up and put it where it belongs. If you are not sure, ask. "We call this simple act Teamwork" ! Helps everyone out. Then by the end of the week our weekly chore day is not as long and provides extra time for a quick walk to the park or dollar skating...
23h
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Ramon J.
Retired as PE in 2000 at New York City Transit Authority
To All: This is for your information and action. Remember the saying 'seek ye the truth and the truth shall make you free'. In this age of computers it is becoming very silly to use the approximate method even to this day worldwide. You may send your friends the attachments for their information. Sincerely, Ramon V. Jarquio, PE http://www.ramonjarquio.com ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... Update: We are now in the age of computers and there are no more justifications for approximate methods. Every engineer who has a working knowledge of basic mathematics and physics can now update his information in engineering accurately using the analytical method I started since 1980. My goal in becoming a member of linkedin is to inform my fellow engineers that it is now time to implement the analytical method in structural analysis because we have computers to do all our numerical calculations. Unfortunately, we have been buried for many years in copying existing literature and others in the approximate methods given to us by experts, well intentioned authors and professors that we thought expediency and practicality as well as credentials is the proof of the veracity of everything in our profession. Computers can now expose the truth in our profession and basic math and physics of a problem can produce the correct solution in anything that we do. We can no longer copy nor blame others or credentials for any mistakes discovered when we apply our basic principles and knowledge that we learned in college. The practice of expediency and practicality worldwide can no longer be relied on if the methods employed are approximate. Tests results maybe slanted or not following the correct theory of structures. We can now easily discover any mistake by analyzing the standard interaction formula copied worldwide. Use the Leonard Euler’s principle that any section is subjected to an axial load and a moment. This principle and basic mathematics will facilitate the calculations of the yield capacity of any given concrete or steel section for all eccentricity using Microsoft Excel. All that is needed by the analyst is the determination of the external load which can vary locally and compared to the yield capacity determined by Microsoft Excel. We can now determine the real factor of safety versus yield capacity of the material and not rely on what I call ‘factor of ignorance’ using the standard interaction formula and the principal axes. I am the only one in the world who has done the ‘rotation of axes’ to obtain the correct solution of a structural problem. If an engineer cannot do the free body diagrams or the required mathematics to solve a problem, he or she may refer to my books where the analytical method is illustrated and the required parameters considered in the solution. The discovery of the truth by the engineer may be shared with others to spare them the trouble of doing the math or thinking of the correct solution. Computers can remember all the equations and any shortcuts developed by the analyst can be stored for reference. Experts, authors and professors are welcome to comment and give a plausible reason for being silent all these years in the use of the analytical method in structural analysis. You may check the international proceedings of ISEC (Honolulu, Rome, Shunan, Melbourne and Zurich), SEMC (Cape Town, South Africa), ASCE (Cancun, New York, Nashville and Montreal), RILEM (Moscow 2005) Global Concrete, Scotland 2005 and HKIE 2005 Journal. These were my efforts in exposing the truth in engineering since I retired in 2000 from the NYCTA. I am not expected to solve everything in life but I have shown the way for the analytical method. You may follow my lead to discover other truths. You may visit my website at http://www.ramonjarquio.com to see the attachments.
23h
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Mary Ann J.
Independent Legal Services Professional
Reading your account of cleaning up your office, reminded me of my ongoing endeavor to keep my work space tidy, uncluttered. and organized. I now consider it an ongoing process and accept that as something that contributes to my happiness and contentment. But it is nice to know that I am not alone.
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