Tidiness is not a trait many people aspire to, but a bit more clear space on your desk can only be a good thing. It signals there’s space for things to happen in your life and work and will make you feel more positive.

‘Tidy desk, tidy mind’ is not just an old wives’ tale - there’s a correlation between desk tidiness and a personality trait called conscientiousness. “People who display this are generally diligent, hard working and organised, says Dr Rob Yeung, business psychologist with Talent Space.

Don’t overdo it though. A splash of disorder - an anarchistic pencil holder, perhaps - will remind you and the rest of the world of your creative side.

Keeping your desk clear doesn't have to be hard work once you get the hang of a few basics. Try these techniques for clutter busting your desk, PC and work space:

Think paperless

Chuck out unnecessary files and documents on your desk and PC. Start a new filing system today and work backwards, adding your old files to it in any dead time.

With Google and your company intranet at your fingertips a lot of reference material is history. Junk it. Your clear space will let you concentrate on the job in hand and you can look forward to more pleasant vistas. Ahhh.

Go mystical

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of living harmoniously with your environment has some helpful dos and don’ts.

I can hear you sniggering from here, but a lot of this stuff is common sense. Like not plonking a huge rubbish bin next to your desk. “It can create the unfortunate association that everything you do, ends up in it,” warns Raymond Catchpole, Chairman of the UK Feng Shui Association.

The wrong kind of clutter

Some clutter is worse than others and there is such a thing as the wrong kind of clutter, according to Catchpole: “Make sure there are no documents relating to failed projects or ex-customers lying around because they'll end up getting you down.”

RAFT it

Once you’ve got a few ‘tidy’ systems in place, keep up the good work by remembering to RAFT. It’s an acronym to remind you how to deal with paperwork.

Every time you receive a new piece of paper, you either: refer it on to someone who can deal with it, action it immediately, file it for safe keeping, or throw it away.

Remember, the average working Brit spends over a third of their waking hours at the office. Give your desk and working space a little tender loving care and it’ll pay you back in spades.