Is it scientifically sound to think that tidying up your desk can reduce work stress?

Does a cluttered desk often make you feel frustrated? Recently, British researchers suggested that tidying up your desk during work breaks can reduce work stress.

British office worker syndrome research expert Nigel Robertson and researchers surveyed 2,000 people. Approximately 40% said they frequently felt angry due to the clutter on their desks; another 35% reported experiencing back and neck pain and were aware of their poor posture. Robertson advised office workers to pay close attention to the relationship between their work environment and health: tidying their desks during breaks can reduce stress; additionally, expressing oneself boldly and making one's desk reflect one's personality can also relieve stress.

Professor Chen Huichang of the School of Psychology at Beijing Normal University agrees with this approach. He says that although there are currently no studies on this in China, prolonged exposure to a cluttered work environment does indeed affect work mood. This is because the work environment can create a conditioned reflex, associating it with work stress. This stress then transfers to the work environment, causing people to become inexplicably angry at disordered office items. Conversely, a clean and tidy office environment can alleviate work stress through sensory experiences, thus helping to release emotions and relieve pressure. Professor Chen suggests that it's best not to have someone else tidy your desk. By making your desk pleasing to the eye through your own efforts, you can gain a psychological boost, believing that you can bring order to clutter and have the ability to change the current situation, thereby reducing current work stress.

To reduce work stress, Professor Chen Huichang also suggests maintaining correct posture, taking time to exercise to reduce the damage to health caused by fatigue, taking regular breaks to improve concentration at work and fully restore health, and decorating your desk appropriately to remind you of life outside of work, thus making it easier to cope with work.