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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Break Room

The 8 Different Desk Personalities You'll See in Every Office

I’ll admit it: I like to be particular with my workspace. Everything has a place (and you can bet it’s in that place), and you can always find my laptop and to-do list sitting front-and-center in the whole operation. The pens are neatly organized, off to the side, and a cup of fresh coffee sits a safe distance from all the important things. I like to think of it as efficiency, but I’ve had a fair share of people call it over-organization, too.

If you look around your own office, chances are you can pick up on the kinds of personalities your co-workers have based on how they like to spread their things out. There are even a few kinds of most common, stereotypical personalities you can find anywhere, from meticulous people like me to the total tech nut with a million devices out.

Of course, there’s no shame in being really into your stuff—whether that’s an inspirational quote you have framed or that daily granola fix you need. So, be honest: Which one are you?