It could be time to keep clutter out of government

Welcome to the governor's office, Pat Quinn. We hope you make good on your promise to clean up state government.

Maybe you could start with your own desk?

A recent photo of Quinn in his Chicago office revealed that his desk there was as messy as the state's finances. Loose papers, a wall of stuffed yellow file folders and bound sheafs of what look like receipts or invoices covered just about every inch.

Quinn is not alone in this, of course. Many of us - perhaps even most of us - work at desks that range from slightly cluttered to chaotic. And for some, that's just fine.

"If you can find what you need but the desk looks messy to others, that's perfectly OK with me," said professional organizer Jane Carroo, owner of the Clutter Coach Co. in Palatine.

Still, experts acknowledge that most of the time, messy desks hinder productivity and keep employees from doing their best.

"All those stacks and piles can stifle your energy and take away your focus," said Jackie Tiani, owner of Glendale Heights-based Organizing Systems Inc. "Getting rid of them does wonders."

The journey toward a clutter-free work space starts with decision-making, Tiani said. She tells her clients to make immediate decisions about every piece of paper that lands on their desks.

"When you put those decisions off, the piles start to grow," she said.

Carroo said the most important component to an efficient space is access - being able to get to your phone, your pens, even your state budget, without fumbling around.

"Not being able to find something quickly is an efficiency killer," she said.

The best thing about staying organized at work? It can lead to a calmer, brighter outlook away from the office, too, the experts said.

"With a job like (Quinn's), who could turn that down?" Tiani said.