Organizing a Small Desk Top: Solutions for "Flat Surface Disease

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various personal experiences and challenges related to organizing small desk spaces, often referred to as "flat surface disease." Participants share their struggles with clutter and seek advice on effective organization methods while reflecting on their own habits and experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, describes their struggle with maintaining an organized desk due to limited space and shared usage with family.
  • Another participant recalls a previous thread with pictures that could provide inspiration for desk organization.
  • Several users express confusion about the relationship between desks and organization, sharing humorous takes on their own messy workspaces.
  • One participant shares a personal experience of consolidating piles of paperwork while on a phone call, finding it easier to focus on the task at hand.
  • Another participant mentions using post-it flags to evaluate the necessity of items on their desk over a month, which they found helpful.
  • Some participants engage in a light-hearted discussion about personality types and how they relate to desk organization, referencing a concept called "Psycho Geometrics."
  • One participant shares their ongoing struggle with organization at home compared to their ability to maintain order at work, highlighting the challenges of working from home.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding the effectiveness of various organization strategies, and no clear consensus emerges on the best approach to managing desk clutter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a range of personal experiences with desk organization, emphasizing the emotional and psychological aspects of maintaining a tidy workspace.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants within the consultant community who are facing similar challenges with desk organization may find the shared experiences and strategies discussed in this thread relatable and potentially insightful.

The_Kitchen_Guy said:
Dr. Susan Dellinger used to be the head of human resources at a very large corporation, ,and one day, decided she had enough and quit it all. As she says, she immediately became the president and CEO of Susan Dellinger & Associates.

Anyway, she created something called "Psycho Geometrics" which is like Meyers-Briggs but a lot more fun!

So, are you a box, a rectangle, triangle, circle or a squiggle? What your desk looks like might be a reflection of your geometric shape!

See Psycho Geometrics and take the test to see.
Leave it to KG to suggest this and then not tell us what he is!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #32
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
Poor Diane - her thread has been completely hijacked by squiggles.

I'm going to start a separate thread for this.


Please DON'T worry about me... I'm just teasing... and basking in the reflection of my desk top... which if I don't get help will not be seen for too very long so I better just sit here and enjoy! :)
However many others who don't understand DISORGANIZATION may never open this thread so it may be helpful to some to entitle a new thread about the circles and squiggles amoung us!
 
sfdavis918 said:
Leave it to KG to suggest this and then not tell us what he is!
Like you can't tell?

The whole idea of Psycho Geometrics is to learn to recognize the other shapes and adjust your communication style to best keep channels open.

For example, squiggles and boxes do not get along in the workplace very well. It's up to the box to try to see things from the squiggle's viewpoint although it's easier for most squiggles to understand the box.

And circles get along with just about everyone - that's why they make great diplomats.
 
OMGs, I just read the description about triangles and that's one of my old bosses to a T! He also enjoyed M/B type tests... even had us take an office version to find out who/what we were... it was a lot of fun and actually did help. I can be a lot more forgiving to someone who has a characteristic versus thinking someone's just doing something to get on my nerves. LOL... I even bought a book about figuring out your kids so they'll drive you less nuts but that was less successful. LOL...
 
lkprescott said:
OMGs, I just read the description about triangles and that's one of my old bosses to a T! He also enjoyed M/B type tests... even had us take an office version to find out who/what we were... it was a lot of fun and actually did help. I can be a lot more forgiving to someone who has a characteristic versus thinking someone's just doing something to get on my nerves. LOL... I even bought a book about figuring out your kids so they'll drive you less nuts but that was less successful. LOL...


"Never attribute to malice what can easily be explained by ignorance." --Anonymous
 
Insanity is hereditary - you get it from your kids.
 
I'm a circle! The part about wanting to work in comfort and preferring a big cushy arm chair to a desk is me to a T! (which is why I'm typing this sprawled across my bed. well, that plus my desk is currently covered in yarn.)
 
lkprescott said:
Well, it's not learned.. I AM a Virgo.. but my propensity to hoard (it's the dragon in me) overrides my space and the ability to keep things organized. Now at work? I had no problems but at home? A whole 'nother story and now that I work at home? Those worlds have collided. LOL... and I too am a mess desk-aholic... I struggle daily with the piles that collect... and I'm always putting off needing to file, store and properly take care of things. Yet, in the kitchen, my spices are alphabetized.... yeah... weird world I inhabit at times.

Sounds just like me, too! People at work are down right stunned to learn that my home is a mess... although, my spices are organized and I get really upset if someone puts away the kids clothes in the wrong place. My own closet is a disaster, but my kids closets (not the rest of their rooms, just their closets) are VERY organized. Very weird world...
 
katie0128 said:
Sounds just like me, too! People at work are down right stunned to learn that my home is a mess... although, my spices are organized and I get really upset if someone puts away the kids clothes in the wrong place. My own closet is a disaster, but my kids closets (not the rest of their rooms, just their closets) are VERY organized. Very weird world...

Lisa and Katie! I've found others like me! This is so exciting to know I am not alone.:)

I love to organize - one thing at a time, that is. Right now, my son's toys are extremely well organized, and so is my stoneware, and my spices. Actually, my spices usually are, unless I get in a cooking frenzy, and then it all gets destroyed. I'll get one thing organized, and then I always say to myself that THIS TIME it's going to stay this way - and it does for a while. Usually until I get something else organized. And when I clean. I start from the inside out. If my closets and cupboards are clean and organized - THEN I can start working on the outward stuff. Now - if I could just figure out a way for it to all happen at the same time!
 
quiverfull7 said:
Yes... I remember the thread.... I'll see if I can find it. I'm very interested in what kind of desktop organizer system others here have found helpful.

I remember early part of this year we had a huge chat about organization of our desks and our work areas. I used alot of those suggestions including binders, and small covered file boxes. Although I don't use them for my PC business as I put my apron up, I now use them for my quilt teaching/pattern business I started up this year and I must say they are working out great. I have a few more things I want to do in the new year to make me all the more organized, but right now I am up to my eyeballs in getting classes ready for January and finish making my Christmas gifts!! I did start a new book to organize myself with all the gifts I have made over the years and who got what each year so I know not to make and give the same thing twice!! LOL.
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
Dr. Susan Dellinger used to be the head of human resources at a very large corporation, ,and one day, decided she had enough and quit it all. As she says, she immediately became the president and CEO of Susan Dellinger & Associates.

Anyway, she created something called "Psycho Geometrics" which is like Meyers-Briggs but a lot more fun!

So, are you a box, a rectangle, triangle, circle or a squiggle? What your desk looks like might be a reflection of your geometric shape!

See Psycho Geometrics and take the test to see.


I'm a circle too!! hee hee
 
[mini hijack]Aggi - where ya been? Nice to see you posting again![/mini hijack]
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
[mini hijack]

Aggi - where ya been? Nice to see you posting again!

[/mini hijack]

Kitchen Guy I have been up to my eyeballs in threads, fabrics and lesson plans!!! I started up my own quilt teaching and pattern business. That has always been my first love. The PC apron had to be placed on the back burner for a bit. I still dabble in the recipes and play in the kitchen with my PC products every day!! I haven't been to this site in AGES... I thought it was due time. I also started a new job back in July and have been involved with several things with the organization too. I love my job and I love my business.. I have missed you all and hope to come in here again to keep chatting.. I just hoped I wont' be shunned for not being a PC Chef anymore :(

Cheers
Andrea
 
No one would ever have known if you hadn't told us. ;)Welcome back!
 
Bet you can't guess what I am.
 
Jilleysue said:
Bet you can't guess what I am.
Jilly good to see you pop in around here, if even for a sec!;)
 
Jilleysue said:
Bet you can't guess what I am.


Strictly personality, I'd say squiggly because it is such a fun shape.

But, knowing your organization, you are such a box!
 
Hi Diane,

I just had a conference call with my team and you may like what was mentioned. They use a shoe organizer... that hangs from a door... with all the pockets... to put alot of the PC stuff in, business cards, postcards, stickers, all sorts of odd-and-ins, etc. Thought you may find this useful!
 

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