It takes a bit of practice, I'll admit. Start with some basic desk clutter items like a nice cigar that you can rest on a stately ash tray, something that's hard to knock off the desk and takes a while to enjoy. Have a puff between builds, nothing too serious. Once the ash layer builds up it makes things like a ramen bowl less prone to sliding off.
I can't just walk off without mentioning the importance of a tactical housecat capable of pre-cleaning the dishes so as to not attract vermin- the plus side being if said housecat is a subpar dishwasher, they're all too willing to take care of any enterprising houseflies bound for a meal.
Are you Charles Mingus’ ghost?
For more general desk junk buildup I have to neaten it up every week or two or it too will become a distraction.