Clearing the Clutter: Finding Mental Clarity in a Distracting World
There are two desks in my office. One is neat, organized, and intentionally minimal. The other is cluttered, layered with books, to-do lists, and unopened letters. One is supposed to be my workspace, the other my creative space. But lately, I’ve been wondering: which one is actually helping me move forward?
When I sit down at my clean computer desk, I expect focus. It’s set up to be free of distractions—just a screen, a keyboard, and the space to get things done. But here’s the irony: it’s too easy to get lost in “productive” distractions. Researching the perfect WordPress theme. Checking emails. Scrolling through real estate market updates. The very device I use to write pulls me into a vortex of busywork. The organization is there, but so is the mental clutter.
Meanwhile, behind me sits my so-called writing desk—actually, let’s call it my creative desk. Every time I glance at it, my body reacts. A tension in my shoulders. A weight in my lower back. It’s a physical reminder of unfinished intentions. A thoughtful I Ching kit from a friend, still unopened. A Ninja Selling book filled with notes on how to build the business I know I’m capable of, but haven’t fully implemented. A pile of tax bills reminding me of the cost of prioritizing my mental and physical health over my professional life. Each item holds weight, not just physically but emotionally.
So how did the clutter start? Slowly, then all at once. A brochure here, a stack of papers there, a meaningful book that I swore I’d read cover to cover. And then, one day, it was no longer a desk—it was a reflection of everything I wanted to do but hadn’t.
I used to think that getting organized required the perfect system—a new bookshelf, the right lighting, a dedicated space for everything. But the truth is, clarity doesn’t come from external perfection. It comes from taking action. Small, intentional steps forward.
Today, I threw out the unnecessary papers. Just a small step, but a step nonetheless. Because clarity isn’t something you find—it’s something you create. And sometimes, it starts with clearing a single surface and giving yourself permission to move forward, one piece at a time.