Computer Desks – Do They Contribute To Your Productivity?

Have you ever considered your effectiveness in terms of the type of computer desk you use?  The type of desk you end up buying and using can be a very important factor in determining how effective you are in your work.

With the increased use of computers in our lives, where we spend literally hours each day at the computer, selecting the right desk is important.  Computer desks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials.  A desk by itself used to be considered as just another piece of furniture.  All that has changed today with aesthetics, color schemes, ergonomics and so many other factors coming into play; the humble desk has risen in status.

What I want to explain in this article is how the computer desk you spend many hours at can impact your work either positively or negatively.

Slackers who feel important just by having a desk believe that if they pile large quantities of paper and files on the desk, it gives the impression of someone who is hard working and under pressure.  Well let me disabuse you of this notion; bosses are wise to that old dodge and it only goes against you.

On the other hand there are people who are dedicated workers, who enjoy sitting at their desks and working honestly.  When your desk is organized it means you are efficient.  When you have everything laid out within reach and have a system in place to put things away when you finish with them, you are definitely going to be more productive.

It is common knowledge that a messy work place stems from a messy mind, and at the risk of veering off into the realm of psychology, it definitely applies to the workplace.  Whether you work out of a business office or a home office, maintaining your computer desk in a tidy and organized fashion means you will be that much more productive.  Imagine a scenario where you spend simply ages looking for something as insignificant as a stapler that has gotten lost under a pile of junk on your desk, what a colossal waste of time!  If it took you an hour to find, consider all the tasks you could have accomplished in that time.

Another reason for maintaining a clean computer desk is that mentally it gears you up to go in to work.  If the thought of an untidy, crammed desk awaiting you the next morning doesn’t send shivers up your spine, I would have to wonder!  The flip side of the coin would be going in to work to sit at a beautifully tidy desk with everything in its place.  Believe me it sets the tone for getting on with your work.

There’s one very curious fact that has emerged from the research on computer desks and people’s effectiveness and it’s called a stand up desk.  Yes, that’s what I said, a person stands and works because there is no chair, and the desk surface is too high for anyone to be comfortably seated at the desk.  Apparently after the initial discomfort faced by people, effectiveness and productivity levels jumped sky high!  If this is not a prime example of the powerful role your humble computer desk can play in your effectiveness, I don’t know what is!

Tags: Computer desks, productivity
Posted under: General, Tips & Tricks