A clearer desk,
a clearer start.
The most useful part of clearing a desk is often deciding what deserves to stay on it.
Start with the next thing you want to do. Put the notebook, document or tool for that task within reach, and give everything else a place to wait. It does not have to be a permanent arrangement.
Leave a note for tomorrow
At the end of the day, write one sentence about where to begin again. A small, specific next step is more welcoming than a long list of unfinished work.
A good workspace does not need to look empty. It needs to make the next useful action feel simple.