Why do we always hear that a cluttered environment equates to a messy mind? We are taught from infancy that order is to be commended while disarray is to be condemned. that order is key to success and that chaos shows sloppiness.
Contrary to common opinion, disorderliness does not always indicate mental disarray. Additionally, being messy doesn’t seem to be a barrier to creativity; some of the most innovative and productive individuals are chronic slobs.
In actuality, messiness may not be a terrible thing. For many people, it may even be a sign of intellect and effectiveness. We ought to say “yes” to the chaos more frequently for people who detest organizing and cleaning.
Numerous research and assertions support the idea that people with untidy desks are frequently more productive, creative, and inspired than others. We shall discuss a variety of arguments in favour of this contentious idea in this post.
Why Are We So Obsessed With Being Orderly?
We are indoctrinated—more accurately, coerced—from an early age to constantly clean up after ourselves and our rooms. A messy desk is a symptom of a cluttered mind, society teaches us as we get older. We are conditioned to feel horrible about our messiness or disorganization.
We are expected by society to uphold order in all spheres. People who lack order are seen as indolent and poorly bred. But the tidy, organized society we aspire to is really a fantasy. We use organization as a trick to deceive ourselves into believing that life isn’t the chaotic, chaotic, unorganized disaster that we secretly know it to be.
Consider that for a second. We frequently end up with greater chaos when we try to achieve order. Your closet will surely start to overflow if you purchase new shoes and clothing for every occasion and season of the year in an effort to look fashionable or socially acceptable.
It becomes a problem when you clean up your desk to avoid being accused of having a “uncluttered mind” at work. Even when you organize your desk by getting rid of those annoying mounds of papers, pencils, and clips, the clutter is still there two weeks later.
We are all attempting to maintain order and cleanliness, yet we will all ultimately fail. No matter how hard we work to maintain order and cleanliness in our area, chaos always returns. You see, disorder is caused by the universe’s inclinations, not by your organizational talents.
Here’s Why Messy People Are Actually More Productive
1. It’s all about freedom!
Contrary to what conventional wisdom may have us believe, embracing chaos is the way to creative freedom and mental liberation. Since you are now residing in tune with the cosmos, embracing chaos may bring spontaneity, immense joy, and immense happiness into your life.
You might be concerned that being disorganized and messy would prevent you from being productive at work, but this is not always the case. Genius is frequently equated with disorganization. Numerous well-known figures, like J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, Alan Turing, and Albert Einstein, excelled despite their messiness. We may even say that their messes contributed to their success.
Naturally, there is nothing improper about organization. Just that we must also acknowledge that being unorganized has nothing to do with anything. The default situation is one of disorganization. It’s a lovely thing.
2. They Find Inspiration In The Chaos
Mark Twain was a remarkable creative genius who was known for his chaotic yet extremely effective work environments. His desk was often overflowing with books, papers, and what appeared to be disarray. A messy desk may serve as a source of divine inspiration for him and many others.
People who live in less-than-ideal circumstances tend to avoid tradition and conformity while pushing the envelope in terms of exploration and attempting new things.
3. Messy People Are More Focused
Some people are immediately put off by a cluttered surroundings. It may lessen their capacity for optimism and interfere with their ability to focus. It may make them anxious, which would reduce their productivity.
However, some people can tune out all that commotion and continue to live and prosper in a chaotic atmosphere. They are hardly aware of the chaos around them. This indicates that, generally speaking, these allegedly disorganized individuals are able to keep more concentrate despite more acute interruptions.
- Basically, these individuals have a higher threshold of tolerance for distraction.
- If you find this puzzling, consider how individuals with a larger pain threshold would approach it.
- While those who scarcely notice clutter may be able to do more before being overworked or requiring a break, those who can’t bear clutter will become more stressed out more quickly.
Not all of them, though, directly profit off their unkemptness. According to research, people who were given difficult jobs or puzzles to do gave up more quickly than those who were in an ordered environment.
4. They Are More Spontaneous
Additionally, it’s thought that those who lack organization utilize the time they would have spent cleaning to be spontaneous. Unorganized people have a reputation for being able to “go with the flow” and are less anxious when things don’t always go as planned.
5. They Are Faster Decision Makers
In addition to being a very large dreamer and quick thinker, Mark Zuckerberg is renowned for his slightly disorganized workplaces.
Haltiwanger dispels another another myth about messy people. He claims that they can make decisions more quickly and handle difficult circumstances more effectively. When faced with challenging circumstances, they are more inclined to take the initiative rather than use a sneaky tactic.
This is because they focus on the big picture before making judgments and are less interested with the small particulars. Even more daring and nimble than organized people, they have been shown to be.
6. They Can Still Be Organized
The authors of A Perfect Mess, Eric Abrahamson and David Freedman, assert that messy individuals may be just as organized as tidy ones, if not more so.
Not all mess indicates a lack of order.
A disorganized desk may be a very powerful strategy for accessing and setting priorities.
It makes perfect sense that the safer ignorable tasks end up towards the rear or at the bottom of a cluttered desk while the more urgent and essential tasks remain nearby and close to the top.
7. They Are More Creative
A cluttered and disorganized atmosphere fosters creativity. People with disordered thinking patterns do not reason clearly. They don’t have linear mental processes. They frequently use their right brains, which are where creative thought is centered.
This makes disordered minds more likely to come up with original ideas and think beyond the box. This encourages greater creativity, better concepts, and insights that few people have previously had. They are fast to connect apparently unconnected objects and are adept at seeing patterns. It’s how fantastic discoveries and creations are produced!
8. They Devote Time And Energy More Carefully
People who are messy by nature save valuable time and mental energy by putting off cleaning up clutter. These folks are aware of the opportunity cost and avoid typical distractions that might suffocate clean freaks. Cleaning up your workstation might occasionally even turn into a way to put things off.
Keeping a workstation neat is sometimes the last item on the priority list for individuals who are completely focused on attaining goals or working to reach a target. Francis Bacon, like many well-known artists, may have had a disorganized workspace, but he was just focusing all of his creative energy on producing excellent paintings.
9. They Always Want To Learn More
People who are messy by nature save valuable time and mental energy by putting off cleaning up clutter. These folks are aware of the opportunity cost and avoid typical distractions that might suffocate clean freaks. Cleaning up your workstation might occasionally even turn into a way to put things off.
Keeping a workstation neat is sometimes the last item on the priority list for individuals who are completely focused on attaining goals or working to reach a target. Francis Bacon, like many well-known artists, may have had a disorganized workspace, but he was just focusing all of his creative energy on producing excellent paintings.
10. They Are Occupies With Things They Genuinely Like
You won’t continue to do things you don’t enjoy if your thinking is chaotic. On the surface, this doesn’t appear to be a particularly good offer.
However, this implies that individuals with disordered brains will only work in professions they find personally fulfilling and will only follow their hobbies. Usually, when someone really enjoys something, they excel at it much more. Therefore, chaotic people are more likely to adhere to their passions and achieve more success in their chosen industries.
Bottom Line
It’s not an indication of low intelligence to be disorganized. On the other hand, it does not demonstrate a disorderly lack of production. And no one should be able to use that as the basis for judging your entire existence.
In the end, if messiness suits you, there is nothing wrong with leading a somewhat chaotic life. If being surrounded by chaos stresses you out, tidy up. Continue if it doesn’t upset you and feels okay.
To be knowledgeable, to think positively, or to demonstrate your efficiency, you don’t need to keep your surroundings immaculate. It all comes down to whatever approach suits you the best!