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The document discusses whether being messy or tidy is better for creativity. It notes that while productivity experts say an organized desk is best, research has found that a disorganized physical environment can enhance creativity. Studies show those in messy rooms displayed more creative thinking and openness to new ideas, while orderly rooms led people to make more traditional choices. The document quotes Einstein's view that "if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" It concludes that an organized desk may be better for traditional decision making, but embracing messiness can foster exploring new avenues.

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Shah Rukh Khan
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64 views

Unpopular Opinion

The document discusses whether being messy or tidy is better for creativity. It notes that while productivity experts say an organized desk is best, research has found that a disorganized physical environment can enhance creativity. Studies show those in messy rooms displayed more creative thinking and openness to new ideas, while orderly rooms led people to make more traditional choices. The document quotes Einstein's view that "if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" It concludes that an organized desk may be better for traditional decision making, but embracing messiness can foster exploring new avenues.

Uploaded by

Shah Rukh Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unpopular opinion: Being super organized is a bad thing.

Messy or tidy – Which is better?

As our writer was on the tasks to write this post, he had 27 tabs open in the Chrome browser, two
notebooks and a rough pad.

Embarrassing? Noooo, that's his creativity spot.

A disorderly physical environment can enhance creativity.

Productivity pundits will tell you that a clean and organized desk is the best.

While several scientific research beg to differ:

- Wandering minds are more creative


- Disorganized people are more productive
- It's different for different people

Says research.

As Einstein so pointedly put it:


"If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?"

The patterns are simple.

Embrace serendipity; make generative mistakes; take on multiple hobbies;


Go for a walk; write everything down, but keep your folders messy;
Borrow, recycle, and reinvent.

If you want to make healthier, more traditional decisions, then, by all means, clean up your desk.
But if you want to explore new avenues,
Embrace the Mess.

So, we are, once again, asking,


Messy or tidy – Which is better?
Tell us in the comments!

The patterns are simple, but followed together, they make for a whole that is wiser than the sum of
its parts. Go for a walk; cultivate hunches; write everything down, but keep your folders messy;
embrace serendipity; make generative mistakes; take on multiple hobbies; frequent coffeehouses
and other liquid networks; follow the links; let others build on your ideas; borrow, recycle, reinvent.
Build a tangled bank.

If you want to make healthier, more traditional decisions, then by all means,
clean up your desk. But if you want to explore new avenues,
Embrace the Mess.
The psychology of messiness stats

But researches at

Productivity gurus will tell you that a neat and orderly desk is best. But as researchers from The
University of Minnesota found, it depends on your goal.

In their experiments, participants placed in an orderly room chose healthier snacks, donated more
money, and preferred conventional choices. While those in a disorderly room displayed more
creative thinking and were drawn to novel choices.

As Einstein so pointedly put it:

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

If you want to make healthier, more traditional decisions, then by all means, clean up your desk. But
if you want to explore new avenues, embrace the mess.

An unorganised physical setting can foster creativity.

The best desk will always be clean and organised, according to productivity experts. But as University
of Minnesota researchers discovered, it depends on your objective.

In their studies, subjects kept in a neat environment opted for healthier snacks, gave more money,
and preferred traditional options. While those in a disorganised space showed more original thinking
and were driven to other options.

As Einstein so incisively stated:

What does an empty desk indicate if a busy desk is a symptom of a cluttered mind?

Do clear up your desk if you want to make better, more conventional decisions. But accept the
disarray if you want to take new directions.

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