An argument for the unorganized: Can messiness equal genius?

Some people can’t seem to think straight in a cluttered space, while others appear to thrive in it. Why do some people function in messy spaces, while others can’t seem to think straight amidst chaos? We investigated how mess affects the brain and why some people are just messier than others.

The cluttered way of thinking

Messiness is often considered to be a character flaw, a sign of laziness, and a source of frustration for the parents and partners who have to live with a ‘slob.’ However, some of our most prolific thinkers were famously messy. Take Einstein for example, he is well-known for his messy desk and once said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” Steve Jobs, Mark Twain, J.K. Rowling, and Mark Zuckerberg have also been known to work in cluttered spaces.

For these people, messiness doesn’t impede productivity, but seems to facilitate it. Messiness, in this case, isn’t a sign of mental disorganization, but perhaps of creative genius. Researchers from Germany suggest that a messy desk might actually help some people think more clearly, and a study by Kathleen Vohs of the University of Minnesota found that cluttered environments helped boost creativity.

But what does it mean to “think creatively?” Vohs’ research revealed that messy environments can help people break free from conventional reasoning, produce fresh insights, and discourage “playing it safe.”

Apartment Therapy uses the analogy of white noise to describe clutter’s effect on the brain. For some, clutter “blurs distractions and allows the brain to focus on one task and make clear choices.” Instead of focusing on the details, messy people are often able to look at the big picture and focus their attention on the most important task at hand, without becoming distracted by minutia. So before you start lecturing your messy roommate or partner, consider how their mess might actually help them focus and prioritize.

Unfortunately, not all types of messiness are signs of creative genius. According to the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, messy individuals may need some extra help to organize their living space (and life). Chronically disorganized people often accumulate stuff because they have trouble letting go of possessions, tend to start projects without finishing them, are easily distracted, and need to see projects in process to take action. These people might need a little extra help to get organized and shift behavioural patterns that cause them to hold onto clutter.

At New Minimalism, Cary and Kyle combine the fields of psychology and interior design to help people declutter their homes and, ultimately, their minds. Their philosophy rests on the belief that external spaces like our home environment reflect our internal states, and a cluttered home is often symbolic of a chaotic lifestyle. The duo helps people simplify their inventory of belongings to create a space (and by extension a life) free from distractions.

In some cases, "people turn physical objects into magic talismans that connect them to memories (and) better times in their lives," says Regina Leeds, the author of One Year to an Organized Life. The goal is to reduce this clutter, keeping only the items that create real meaning for us, and to focus on experiences.

Cary and Kyle’s approach is guided by the yogic/Buddhist philosophy of emotional attachment. The duo strives to “release the excess” by clearing away decades worth of stuff that weighs us down physically, psychologically, and spiritually. This creates a simplified living or working space where organized brains have the freedom to focus their thoughts and lives on the things that truly sustain them, instead of physical objects.

A clean and organized environment can facilitate a sense of inner calm and focus. Coming home to piles of laundry, a closet overflowing with junk, or a desk piled high with books not only sets them off balance, but creates emotional and mental clutter.

Strike the right balance

Are you living with a closet full of boxes of junk that you haven’t thought about all year? Try cleaning out the closet and donating at least half of the boxes. Do you spend more time organizing and cleaning the home than enjoying your free time? Let the dishes pile up in the sink for one day and head outside to enjoy the good weather instead.

Your home has a profound impact on your mental and physical state. Experimenting with new approaches to your living space can improve your emotional and mental state. By striking the right balance, you might just discover that the right kind of clutter helps you think creatively, or a clutter-free bedroom helps you get a better sleep. You won’t know until you try.