Posted by Joel Southerland

Ok, this isn’t going to sound flashy. It is not going to make for great conversation at the ministerial luncheon this Wednesday. It is not going to get you invited to speak on the platform at the next denominational meeting.

But, here is what it will do:

• It will take stress out of your life and off your mind
• It will give you a feeling of accomplishment
• It will be a first step to organizing your life and being more productive
• It will give you space to work unhindered

What am I talking about? Clean your desk!

So many pastors have a desk or office that looks as if a paper factory exploded inside of it. And the problem is that the mess is so big you don’t know where to start – so you don’t start.

Now, there is a process for getting organized that I cannot cover in this post alone, but I can get you started.

Hey, if by faith we can move mountains, why not start with this one?

Take a box (or boxes, depending on the size of the pile, your desk, or both) or some kind of makeshift inbasket and put EVERYTHING on your desk in it. Fill it up! Don’t take the time to read anything — just put it in the box or basket! Resist the temptation to route any piece of paper to any action or location other said container. You will find some things that you had forgotten about, thought you had lost, or just seem interesting. DON’T LOOK! Just put it in the box.

Next, wipe down your desk. Straighten up your pen and pencil holder. Take a picture for your wife to see. Now, dust your hands together in that I-just-did-a-big-thing sort of way and savor it. Now, standing erect, put your hand over your heart and repeat out loud, “I henceforth do determine to reset my desk to this state at the end of each working day.” You will be much more efficient when you work out of a clean area and off of a clean desk.

Oh yeah… the box. What do you do with that? Don’t worry. I’ll be hitting that topic next post. So come back… and bring your box(es). But for now, enjoy looking in the face of that old friend you haven’t seen in a long time – the top of your desk.

Is a clean desk the sure sign of a sick mind as they say? Only people with messy desks think so. You will discover as you get organized and increase your productivity that you wish you had gotten sick a long time ago!