What’s On Your Desk… And What Does That Say About You?
Wed, Oct 8, 2008
According to psychologists, what’s on your desk can say a lot about you as a person. I was researching keywords this morning, and came across a few pretty cool articles about determining how to determine your personality traits by analyzing what you have on your desk.
One of these articles stuck out a little more than the others because of the way it categorized and named each type of desk. There was basically 5 choices and mine seems to land somewhere in the middle of a two of them. Here’s the 5 basic types that the article listed:
- The ‘Artistic Temperament’ Desk
This desk is often cluttered but in an interesting way with piles of books, photos, artwork, or other creative things of interest stacked throughout. Typically, this desk will also have a mad amount of post it notes as deadline and contact reminders, etc. - The ‘Self Expression’ Desk
This desk is more of a personalized extension of the person with cartoon pin ups, a joke calendar, a mouspad that has a picture of the family cat on it….you get the idea. - The ‘Control Freak’ Desk
You can probably guess what this desk looks like. It looks better than it did on display in the catalogue. If the pen holder has moved an inch to the left, there will be Hell to pay! - The ‘Trophy’ Desk
This desk isn’t so much cluttered as it is “full”, containing items that the person is proud of such as souveniers, collectibles, and maybe even an actual trophy (i.e.; from last year’s bowling tournament). - The ‘Show Off’ Desk
This desk is luxurious. It was imported from Italy and there had to be an extension built on the house in order to make room for it. It may even be for someone who doesn’t work at a desk, but needed to ’show off”.
Unfortunately, the “control freak” desk was pretty close to my set up which disturbed me and made me rethink my entire workstation. Who wants to be a control freak? However, after analyzing myself and my desk in detail, I came to the conclusion that I may also have a hint of the “artistic temperment” desk as well, which I could probably live with.
Check out the article for more details on each type of desk and see if your desk matches your personality!
Also, if you’re looking for more interesting (and wacky!) desk personalities, check out the What’s On Your Desk Flickr group.
What the article doesn’t mention is anything about “the inside of your desk“. Even though the top of my desk is extremely organized, I would classify the drawers of my desk as “the chaotic drawers“. So, maybe I’ll do a little research and write an article titled “What Do Your Desk Drawers Say About You?“.
What’s On Your Desk?
Tags: video
October 8th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I don’t think my desk falls into any of these categories. Although I have custom hand made desk from pine theres not to much too it. Just my computer, 2 monitors on a dual display stand, phone and speaker.
I don’t have no papers or anything. I do have an upper shelving until on my desk to keep spares stuff and a couple of pictures of my nieces and friends.
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October 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
@Bruno: So…your desk is completelt clutter-free, huh? Maybe you have a “control freak” desk and not know it!? lol
Cheers!
Jay
October 8th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I would say I have a mix between control freak and artistic temperament as well.
http://flickr.com/photos/jarretc/2925724302/
Picture for those interested
It used to be a lot messier but I cleaned it up about a month ago and trying to keep it that way.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Well with me I have two desks. One in my studying /working room and other in my bed room.
For my studying room I am gonna have to say The ‘Artistic Temperament’ Desk and one in my room yeh The ‘Control Freak’ type as I like to keep my bed room absolutely spot less.
Hey great video by the way. Keep them coming.
Salwas last blog post..Why You’re Not Blogging – and Why You Should Start Today!
October 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
@Jarret: Cool. Yeah, I need everything to be clean/clutter free to concentrate. What’s up with the snake, man? lol
@Salwa: Bedrooms definitely have to be clutter-free as well! hard to relax if it’s not.
Cheers!
Jay
October 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Mine probably is no.1… I am a book lover and my desk was about 75% books and magazines.
Melvins last blog post..You Always Have To Rotate
October 8th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hey, that’s real interesting.
I want to find out more about how to determine someone’s personality using these methods.
It’s weird, I don’t fall under any of them. LOL!
I’m closest to the “Aritistic Temperament”, but that’s only because of the clutter — the rest doesn’t apply to me.
I’ll categorize myself as the “Random soul”
I have so many different things, that have nothing in common, and nothing is in order or organized. It’s just there — LOL!
Dude, I feel left out! What’s my profile?!?!?!?!?!?
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October 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Hey buddy, remember me?
I’d say my desk is currently the artistic temperament sort, but I’m striving for the control freak. I know, I know…sounds bad, but for me that shows organization. I hate clutter, but I seem to be a generator of it nonetheless.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
there are six things on my desk
light, picture frame, three hole punch a cup (for pens) and a big green bowl for everything being paper-clips to remotes. apparently I have no personality or desk family…
October 8th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
My desk is none of the above - it’s just really messy with pretty much my whole room piled onto it, with about a 3 inch space around the computer
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October 8th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
My desk moves all the time! I carry my laptop all around the place: Sometimes I work in my office or sometimes I work in front of the TV, just to pretend I’m spending time with the girlfriend…Just kidding
Seriously, when I’m being more serious and working in the office there’s not much in there. Coffee is always there, food is also a must and some paper to write some notes. I also always have my Rubik’s Cube, just to do a little something when I’m sick of working 
Ben - frogstr.coms last blog post..Your titles as traffic generators (I ate chicken)
October 8th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Gosh, I’m ashamed that I belong to none of the category but pretty close to #1 without all the reminder notes or stuffs like that. It’s messy as always…though I keep telling myself to be organized, I’m good at failing to be one..
Yan
October 9th, 2008 at 1:14 am
You have a nice chilled out musical intro to your videos and your and Alice fan, eh? That’s some heavy tunes you got on your 1 gig’s worth!!!
On My Desk:
1. Coffee/Beer/Wine/Water - depending on the time of day/night.
2. My Laptops - becuase one is just not enough!
3. A mountain of books, magazines, paper and such like.
4. Notepads - I am such a junkie when it comes to writing down thoughts, ideas and concepts.
5. Munchies - Normal Joe Videos make me hungry!!!
Thats about it, no distractions for me, it’s all work related. I put myself whole heartedly into category numero uno
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:17 am
*SP* - YOU ARE AN ALICE FAN! D’oh
Nota Bene Consultings last blog post..Monetizing Your Blog
October 9th, 2008 at 2:24 am
@Melvin: Cool. I always have books/mags lying around as well. I used to be a major magazine junkie but I’ve tried to cut down.
@Luis: I don’t believe you. You either have the control freak desk or the show off desk and you’re just too afraid to admit it!! lol
@Mark: Hey, where have you been??? Yeah, control freak is good i that way I guess (organized). lol
@Booker: Nah, that means you’re striving for the control freak desk like Mark. lol. Thanks for stopping by man!
@Simon: LOL @ only a 3 inch space of cleanliness. As long as you can squeeze in and onto your chair with ease and there’s elbow room to type comfortably.
@Ben: Ahhhh! You don’t even have a desk, and you move around constantly?? So, you have the “Fear Of Commitment Desk”!!
@Yan: Oh you fit into one…you’re just not coming clean. The first step is admitting it buddy…c’mon…which desk you got???
@Nota Bene: LOL @ Joe’s vids making you hungry. I often have M&Ms peanuts on my desk. yeah, huge fan of AIC. LOL @ the mellow music on my video. Elijah actually made that beat. But I love all kinds of music. Way more than what could fit on a 1G Nano. lol
Cheers guys!
Jay
October 9th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Man, I don’t have a desk! I’m a nomad, working where I please….I want a desk…my music production desk in the basement would definitely be artistic/control freak!
But, I have yet to get a work desk, it consist of the kitchen table, and my notes, maybe a book…a cup of water, and the occasional sammich.
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October 9th, 2008 at 3:00 am
My desk would be clutter free but my co-workers always put their crap on it because theirs is full!
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October 9th, 2008 at 4:51 am
1GB?!!111oneoneity!11
I think my desk would fall under “completely disorganized and very, very odd.” But since that’s not up there, closest I could come to would be Artistic.
M. Pences last blog post..Tips & Tricks to get the Most out of your Camera and Photography II
October 9th, 2008 at 5:57 am
It looks like a recycling bin crapped on my desk. I have stacks of notebooks that I write my posts on, scrap paper to jot things down, articles I have printed off, books, pop cans, business cards.
The strange thing is the open bag of oyster crackers.
Adam - Creadivs last blog post..Link Building For Beginners
October 9th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I’m definitely #1, with zero hints of #3. As i type my desk has exactly 3 piles on it. The piles contain paper, lotsa notes, and magazines.
If i had a video cam. i totally would have done a video and showed it to you guys.
On the center of the desk, is my laptop perched up on a poker case. The poker case serves as the laptop placeholder. LoL. To the left of the laptop is a pic of my nephew and a fake flower bud.
I have a copy of the Problogger book. It’s been on my desk ever since it came in the mail. I won it in a contest like 3 months ago. I have NOT finished reading it.
My mouse sits on a calendar, because i NEVER know what freakin day it is. I’d be lost without it.
All in all, my desk is a neat mess. Yes, a neat mess. There are 3 beautifully laid out piles. Hmmmn, maybe this means im a closet control freak. Yes, it could very well mean this.
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October 9th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Hey Jay I would say I have an “Artistic Temperament” desk, lol I have my computer in my bedroom ( As we only have a two room apt.) Included in this room is my Computer and the desk, my Bed, with my TV, My stereo, all my perefials - Printer , scanner, etc. I have papers everywhere - 2 notepads for all the things I want to get done. And for jotting notes. LOL guess what the funny part is? All my drawers and storage space for my computer books and all my Software, music Cds, is absolutly clean and very organized.
Scotty
October 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
OK- so to be successful, I need 37 beers, a bottle of rum, a picture of SuiteJ’s wife and kids… Anything else?
Right now, I’m using my laptop on the bed to work on. I don’t have a proper desk or office chair, so it’s the only place comfortable enough for long periods of time.
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October 9th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
@Joe: So, you move around a lot as well, do you Joooooe? So, you also have the “Fear Of Commitment” desk??
@Danny: LOL. My “co workers” do that sometimes as well (wife and daughter)
@M.Pence: You makin’ fun of my 1GB Nano??? LOL, an odd desk is good. Boring is bad.
@Adam: That’s cool man, but the oyster crackers and the pop cans have to go! Now!
@Missy: LOL@ Poker case propping up your laptop. You play poker, or that just happens to be what you had lying around the house to use?
I’d have guess you had the control freak desk…not sure why. lol
@Scotty. LOL, I’m the opposite. spotless on the outside, chaos on the inside.
@WordVixen: 37 beers will do it! The bed, the chair, the bathroom…..Another “Fear Of Commitment” desk! That’s three of you!
Cheers!
Jay
October 10th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Sorry Jay, but my blog is sponsored by oyster crackers and pop cans. But it isn’t all bad, the oyster crackers are low sodium and the pop is diet coke.
Adam - Creadivs last blog post..Answer Session 1
October 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I’m a hybrid control freak. You know the web 2.0 variety. Half messy, half not.
October 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Im With Joe on this one… (you like how I did that, I know..)
My desk is everywhere.. usually on the couch with my legs kicked up, listening to jazz on the radio… Occassionally I steal Veronica’s desk and actually have a surface to work on.. We don’t have a dinning room/table either so that’s out of the picture…
I’ll be answer your question “what’s on your desk?” this upcoming week… You already know what’s about to go down..
Elijahs last blog post..Friday Update With Veronica
October 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am
This is an awesome post! I tend to read lists from the bottom-up, so of course I found my desk last: artistic temperament. My desk is just as described: post-its in different places, photos, a collection of books, and other little “creative things!” Thanks so much for posting!
October 29th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
@Adam: LOL@ oyster sponsorship.
@Missy: Hybrid Control Freak? That could be it’s ow category I guess. I think that’s what I am.
@Elijah: I roam around the house with my Macbook now and then as well, but I don’t know how you guys deal without having a “spot to call home” as your workstation. lol. You also officially have the “Fear Of Commitment” desk.
@MLRebecca: Hey Rebecca! Glad to see you make it over here! LOL@ reading from the bottom up. Is that just something you’ve always done? Books from the back page first? Sit in an empty tub, and THEN run the water? That might say a lot more about you than your desk does!
Hope to see you back soon!
Cheers guys!
Jay