NAPERVILLE, Ill., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If your desktop is covered with stacks of paper, used coffee mugs, and sticky notes, you may find your career faltering. According to the OfficeMax® Workspace Organization Survey(1) conducted by Kelton Research in January 2011, over two-thirds of Americans admit their organizational skills are lacking. To make matters worse, their messy workspaces at the office may be shaping the way their coworkers and supervisors perceive them.

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"If you are wondering what's holding you back from that promotion or why you weren't asked to be a part of new project team, take a look at your desk," said Peter Walsh, world renowned organizational expert and creator of the Peter Walsh you-organized line of organizational tools. "If you have piles of paper and a to-do list filled with items that keep getting perpetually pushed back, think about how these examples of procrastination impact your productivity and your self image. If you want to change your situation at work, you need start with getting - and keeping - your desk in order. It is the key to increasing your productivity and your image as someone who can handle more responsibility."

The study reveals that many Americans are ashamed of their disorganization and worried about people dropping by their office or home for fear of witnessing their messy habits. The areas people are reportedly most ashamed of anyone seeing include their desk or workspace (35%), bedroom closet (28%), or desk drawers (12%). Perhaps even more alarming is the image you convey to others. With performance evaluations common at the start of the year, professional appearances really matter. "The condition of your desk can shape your boss's and co-worker's perception of you and your work habits," said Walsh. "If there's no semblance of order and purpose, it's easy for people - particularly your boss - to think that you are not on top of projects and that you're overwhelmed."

Not only do professionals judge their own organizational habits, but over half (53%) surveyed admit to thinking negatively of their coworkers with messy desks. In fact, professionals who see a colleague's cluttered workspace reportedly assume that person must be lacking in other aspects of his or her job (40%) or take it one step further and have a lower overall opinion of this colleague (13%). However, some are more forgiving and believe the coworker is simply overworked and doesn't have time to clean up (33%).

It seems a disorganized desk not only shapes the opinion your colleagues have of you, but it is also affecting your attitude. Nine in ten (90%) Americans admit that disorganization at home or work has a negative impact on their lives. Their productivity (77%), state of mind (65%), motivation (53%) and happiness (40%) are negatively affected when there is disorder. Moreover, 20% of Americans report that clutter also harms their relationships with other people.

However, a new year brings new hope. Almost half (46%) believe they will be more mindful of office organization this year than they were in 2010. What's the inspiration? Close to seven in ten (69%) say maintaining their sanity or peace of mind is what typically motivates them to get organized. Having visitors (38%), feeling stressed or out-of-control (28%), and new beginnings, such as a new job or New Year (23%) are additional motivators.

While people are feeling more motivated to de-clutter this time of year, there are still some strong reasons why people delay or avoid organization. In fact, Americans have the best of intentions to organize their desk or workspace (45%), computer files (36%), or email (28%) but for various reasons never get around to it. The biggest challenge seems to be deciding what goes and what stays. Nearly half (46%) have struggled with prioritizing what should be saved or thrown away, while others claim finding the motivation to get the job done (43%) or having the right organizational tools (27%) such as labels, binders, or desktop organizers prevent them from organizing their workspaces.

Fortunately, Americans understand the value of being organized and admit it helps them feel more accomplished (71%), in control of their lives (68%) and relaxed (43%). While we have all experienced being overwhelmed with clutter, it's out with the old and in with the new organized you in 2011.

About OfficeMax

OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office equipment. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and office furniture to consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax customers are served by more than 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and approximately 1,000 stores. For more information, visit OfficeMax.com.

About Peter Walsh

Born in Australia, Peter Walsh moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to launch a company to help businesses improve their employees' job satisfaction and effectiveness. He considers himself to be part-contractor and part-therapist in his approach to helping individuals attain their goals. When not wading through clutter and large-scale disorganization, Peter's passions include mid-century architecture and design, home renovation and transforming chaos into order. Peter is a New York Times bestselling author and undisputed expert on organization. He has frequently appeared on TLC's Clean Sweep and The Oprah Winfrey Show to share his organizational expertise. Most recently, Peter launched a new show on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) called Enough Already! and released a new book titled Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less. To learn more, visit peterwalshdesign.com.

Research Methodological Notes:

OfficeMax's 2011 Workspace Organization Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between December 30, 2010 and January 4, 2011 via email invitation and online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.


    OfficeMax Media Contacts                    Investor Contact
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SOURCE OfficeMax