I clean my desk regularly but I like it dense. It typically gets cleaned every Saturday morning and becomes a hot pile of mess by the following Friday. I like to have a lot of things on my desk — books, notebooks, lots of pens, household documents, delivery packages, sticky notes but within a week it collects stuff that I don't need there like delivery packages, temporary paper notes, messy wires etc.

I wrote this post 4 days ago after cleaning my desk as I found a few things I clean or maintain regularly.

First off, that pile of untouched papers is like technical debt — easy to ignore until it drags everything down. Workspaces don’t just reflect the state of mind; they amplify it.

For me, the workspace isn’t just a place to hold things; its purpose is to create clarity. And clarity is foundational. Imagine a startup trying to scale with poorly written code—it would crumble under the weight of its own inefficiency. The same applies to the desk. When clutter takes over, focus breaks down, and good ideas written on a note, paper, a post-it can’t surface.

Take wires. Indian homes are infamous for their tangled chargers and rogue cables. Every glance at a mess of wires is like encountering a broken workflow: frustrating and energy-draining. The fix is simple: use binder clips, cable organisers, or even Blu Tack to hide them. A desk without visible wires feels like a clean codebase—lean and efficient.

Most Indian homes rely on harsh tube lights, the fluorescent equivalent of an open-plan office: bright, impersonal, and exhausting. Good lighting is like good culture—it doesn’t just make work tolerable; it makes it inspiring. Swap the eye-piercing bright light for a warm desk lamp or smart bulb.You’ll see immediate results in how you feel about your work.

Then there are plants. A small 'lucky bamboo' or snake plant does more than look good — it’s a quiet reminder of how growth works. Like iterating on a product, plants thrive with consistent, small inputs.

Imagine a startup that tries to chase every opportunity instead of focusing. It gets overwhelmed, burns out, and achieves nothing. The same principle applies to your desk. Clear space isn’t wasted; it’s where ideas breathe. Resist the urge to fill every inch. A desk cluttered with pens you don’t use and gadgets you can’t part with is like a bloated roadmap—full of distractions that dilute focus.

Finally, personalise with purpose. A single framed photo, a well-designed notebook, or a small figurine adds personality without noise. Think of it as branding for your workspace. The goal isn’t to make your desk Pinterest-perfect but to make it unmistakably yours. The best startups don’t stand out because they’re flashy; they stand out because they’re authentic. Your workspace should do the same.

So,

• Hide wires and organise tools to eliminate friction

• Swap harsh lights for warm, focused illumination

• Use greenery to bring life and calm without adding complexity

• Add subtle objects that reflect your personality without overwhelming

Your workspace isn’t just where you sit—it’s where you think, plan, and dream. The best workspaces are like great co-founders. They don’t demand attention but quietly support you in doing your best work. Make small changes, listen to what your workspace needs, and see what happens. Like a well-run startup, clarity isn’t a luxury—it’s survival.