Monday, September 23rd
I find it appropriate that this first blog post is exactly what blog posts originally were: a "web log" or log of sites or things one read on the web that connected. This weekend, I happened upon this article about the meaning of a messy desk and it really connected, so I would like to share it here:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/19/what-a-messy-desk-says-about-you/?_r=0
Something I have often rolled around in my brain is the relationship between a messy desk/office and a chaotic feel to my thinking, an enhanced confirmation of my "squirrelness" (subject for another post). I suppose it would be useful to first define what I understand as "messy." In this case, for me messy and chaotic are synonyms: lots of things/thoughts scattered everywhere with no apparent order, even if I can find everything... usually... Perhaps it also has to do with indiscipline (like writing this blog which was nowhere in my plans for this morning, but apparently is my first priority today.)
On the one hand, the messiness/chaos doesn't always bother me (as long as I can find things when I look for them), and I have always felt it had something to do with creativity. On the other hand, it does reach a point when there are just "too many open files" in my brain, all partially done, and all with deadlines... it can become oppressive. So, does a "messy" desk lead to chaotic thinking? Or does chaotic thinking beget a messy desk? I think it must go in both directions. Now that I think about it, rather than a cause/effect relationship it might be more useful to think of chaotic desk and mind as part of a system.
I have often noticed, that as more and more things fill my attention and thinking, the messier my desk and office get. I also notice that when I really really need to get some clarity and feel less chaotic, neatening the piles on my desk seems to help. This week I am working on "compartmentalizing" ... trying to put a little bit of order in the things I feel a need to do. How that will work, I am not sure yet. Calendars and piles seem to work... for a while, until piles get put on piles, or fall over....
I am not sure if the findings reported in this article are comforting, or inconveniently encouraging. Now back to what I thought I was going to do today.
I find it appropriate that this first blog post is exactly what blog posts originally were: a "web log" or log of sites or things one read on the web that connected. This weekend, I happened upon this article about the meaning of a messy desk and it really connected, so I would like to share it here:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/19/what-a-messy-desk-says-about-you/?_r=0
Something I have often rolled around in my brain is the relationship between a messy desk/office and a chaotic feel to my thinking, an enhanced confirmation of my "squirrelness" (subject for another post). I suppose it would be useful to first define what I understand as "messy." In this case, for me messy and chaotic are synonyms: lots of things/thoughts scattered everywhere with no apparent order, even if I can find everything... usually... Perhaps it also has to do with indiscipline (like writing this blog which was nowhere in my plans for this morning, but apparently is my first priority today.)
On the one hand, the messiness/chaos doesn't always bother me (as long as I can find things when I look for them), and I have always felt it had something to do with creativity. On the other hand, it does reach a point when there are just "too many open files" in my brain, all partially done, and all with deadlines... it can become oppressive. So, does a "messy" desk lead to chaotic thinking? Or does chaotic thinking beget a messy desk? I think it must go in both directions. Now that I think about it, rather than a cause/effect relationship it might be more useful to think of chaotic desk and mind as part of a system.
I have often noticed, that as more and more things fill my attention and thinking, the messier my desk and office get. I also notice that when I really really need to get some clarity and feel less chaotic, neatening the piles on my desk seems to help. This week I am working on "compartmentalizing" ... trying to put a little bit of order in the things I feel a need to do. How that will work, I am not sure yet. Calendars and piles seem to work... for a while, until piles get put on piles, or fall over....
I am not sure if the findings reported in this article are comforting, or inconveniently encouraging. Now back to what I thought I was going to do today.
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