Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go
Being surrounded by and having to work with large numbers of data files is a challenge many employees are facing in the increasingly complex world of work. The systematic organization of the work environment – that is, regularly sorting and deleting data files – is important to prevent distractions...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000612 |
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| author | Kyra Göbel Cornelia Niessen |
| author_facet | Kyra Göbel Cornelia Niessen |
| author_sort | Kyra Göbel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Being surrounded by and having to work with large numbers of data files is a challenge many employees are facing in the increasingly complex world of work. The systematic organization of the work environment – that is, regularly sorting and deleting data files – is important to prevent distractions and enable focused work. However, following the concept of distributed cognition, related thoughts and insecurities also need to be addressed. Using a combination of controlled laboratory research (Think/No-Think paradigm) and an experience sampling approach (NLevel1 = 1,476, NLevel2 = 158), the present study examined effects of the interplay between sorting/deleting files and the ability to control thoughts on mental effort, task focus, and work performance. Multilevel modeling results revealed several cross-level interactions: For people with lower thought control ability, deleting files resulted in higher mental effort and lower task performance. Sorting files led to higher task focus and work performance, but only for people with higher thought control ability. Overall, sorting and deleting seem to be beneficial when people are also able to successfully control thoughts. These findings underscore the importance of considering both external and internal factors in workplace organization, advocating for multifaceted interventions to support individuals in cluttered work environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f05a1e5f6a24e448a45f052dfc2fb23 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2451-9588 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f05a1e5f6a24e448a45f052dfc2fb232025-08-20T02:17:19ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior Reports2451-95882025-05-011810064610.1016/j.chbr.2025.100646Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let goKyra Göbel0Cornelia Niessen1Corresponding author.; Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstr. 49c, 91052 Erlangen, GermanyInstitute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstr. 49c, 91052 Erlangen, GermanyBeing surrounded by and having to work with large numbers of data files is a challenge many employees are facing in the increasingly complex world of work. The systematic organization of the work environment – that is, regularly sorting and deleting data files – is important to prevent distractions and enable focused work. However, following the concept of distributed cognition, related thoughts and insecurities also need to be addressed. Using a combination of controlled laboratory research (Think/No-Think paradigm) and an experience sampling approach (NLevel1 = 1,476, NLevel2 = 158), the present study examined effects of the interplay between sorting/deleting files and the ability to control thoughts on mental effort, task focus, and work performance. Multilevel modeling results revealed several cross-level interactions: For people with lower thought control ability, deleting files resulted in higher mental effort and lower task performance. Sorting files led to higher task focus and work performance, but only for people with higher thought control ability. Overall, sorting and deleting seem to be beneficial when people are also able to successfully control thoughts. These findings underscore the importance of considering both external and internal factors in workplace organization, advocating for multifaceted interventions to support individuals in cluttered work environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000612Distributed cognitionThought control abilityDeletingSortingOffice clutterExperience sampling |
| spellingShingle | Kyra Göbel Cornelia Niessen Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go Computers in Human Behavior Reports Distributed cognition Thought control ability Deleting Sorting Office clutter Experience sampling |
| title | Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go |
| title_full | Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go |
| title_fullStr | Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go |
| title_short | Deleting and sorting files is beneficial – But only when you fully let go |
| title_sort | deleting and sorting files is beneficial but only when you fully let go |
| topic | Distributed cognition Thought control ability Deleting Sorting Office clutter Experience sampling |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000612 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kyragobel deletingandsortingfilesisbeneficialbutonlywhenyoufullyletgo AT cornelianiessen deletingandsortingfilesisbeneficialbutonlywhenyoufullyletgo |