Having an organized workspace is directly related to daily productivity. Maintaining an organized space makes us feel much more comfortable and relaxed, greatly impacting our stress levels and allowing us to concentrate better.

Conversely, according to studies, working in a messy environment affects our mental health in general, making us feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, and therefore less motivated to work and blocked.

If you're experiencing the latter, here's a list of prohibited items that will help you keep your desk tidy so you can put them into practice.

What you should never have on your work desk

Food

We often tend to think that if we eat while working, we are being more productive because we are eliminating unnecessary breaks. However, this is not entirely true because by not allowing ourselves to disconnect, we inadvertently block our creativity. Additionally, having food on your desk, of any kind, poses a significant risk to important documents we handle, as they could get stained and create a bad impression.

Piles of documents

It's logical to have books and documents related to our work on the desk while working, but ending the day with a desk full of them doesn't help your organization at all, as you waste time looking for what you need and have less and less space. Use file organizers and tidy them up once you've finished using them.

If you work in a shared space, never leave any documentation about ongoing legal processes on the table, especially if it includes personal or confidential information, as there will be a risk of it disappearing or being misplaced. Avoid that stress.

Electronic devices unrelated to work

If it's not essential for your work, never have screens, tablets, and speakers in plain sight. Any of these devices could be a great source of distraction, reducing concentration on our tasks; likewise, avoid using applications like WhatsApp and social media as much as possible.

Personal hygiene and beauty items

Having personal hygiene or beauty items on our desk will always give a bad impression. It's one thing to have a box of tissues, disinfectant wipes, or hand sanitizer, but you should never go so far as to have cosmetics, toothbrushes, or nail clippers visible. This will undoubtedly affect your image with colleagues and superiors if you work in an office, or with clients if you work for yourself.

Remember that your workspace should provide you with tranquility; it's up to you to make it more pleasant and organized. Establish a system that makes you faster in your tasks, for example, having a pen and notebook to your right in case you need to make a note.

Photos: Pinterest, The Yellow Clip