We’ve all heard Albert Einstein’s famous quote about a messy desk (see below). He was getting at the fact that people with clean desks have just that, a clean desk. They aren’t knee deep in work, they don’t have a plethora of projects happening all at once, and they don’t even do any work! The wheels just aren’t turning. At least, it could be seen that way.
The real truth is that different types of desks produce different results.
In a study by University of Minnesota researchers Kathleen D. Vohs, Joseph P. Redden and Ryan Rahinel, they determined that “order and disorder are prevalent in both nature and culture, which suggests that each environment confers advantages for different outcomes.” That quote appeared in their abstract which was titled Physical Order Produces Healthy Choices, Generosity, and Conventionality, Whereas Disorder Produces Creativity.
So basically if you are looking for an organized and healthy work environment then by all means keep your desk in order, but if creativity and a free-spirited workspace is more important, then let the clutter run rampant!
That’s why there are so many successful people with messy desks. You’ll notice this list of famous successful people’s messy desks is full of creative types, innovators and rule breakers.
Are you one of the creatives with a messy desk? Or do you prefer neat and tidy order? Which helps you produce better results? Let us know what your desk looks like in the comments below!
can’t help but notice they’re all men. Are the ladies not creative and/or brilliant?
Maybe they’re just not messy…
No reason for not including women. If you have some examples, I’d love to include them in this post.
How refreshing. If you’re looking for a messy profession female, I’m your gal. 😉
Indeed, I was thinking about Agatha Christie’s desk, but it was quite organized. Also thought about Clarice Lispector but there are no pictures of her desk.
Until I retired, I almost always had a messy desk. The key was that I knew where everything was.
Glad to have come across this- my desk at work is horribly messy…
My desk is constantly messy. My boss doesn’t appreciate it, but I am constantly trying to find way to get everything done with the time I have at work. That usually requires some creativity and flexibility
I get so much crap for having papers everywhere on my desk and cupboard. It’s reached the point when I’m applying for other jobs. My work place has no vision or creative flare. I’m stifled beyond belief. Thank you soooo much for this. So lovely to take inspiration from these awesome thinkers!
Both my computer desk and my sewing machine desk are messy. My best stuff comes from these two places in my home and life.
How about Susan Sontag?
There are surprisingly many messy-desk/room owners who are female.
Anne Sexton had a messy writing room.
Sylvia Plath wrote in various locations
jk rowling wrote on the go in hotel rooms, cafes etc.
George Sand and George Eliot were in a kind of Victorian style office, though Eliot was tidy, Sand wasn’t.
Virginia Woolf’s desk googled is “tidy” but Annie Leibovitz says in an interview for a newspaper that she was actually kind of messy and spilled things everywhere.
Doris Lessing (winner of Nobel prize) had a messy room/desk.
Toni Morrison as well from what I found online.
I’m a creative genius, when judged by my super messy desk ;-). Actually, I’m a creative problem solver.
I don’t work at a desk, haven’t for over 20 years. I work mainly on a chaise with a large armrest. Necessities: place to put the laptop away (time free from the computer), place for the cat to sleep in touch with me, a view of water and boats, fresh ocean breeze.
I am a hairdresser and my nickname at work is pig pen!!!
Given the amount of great creative women out there, there definitely should be some examples. You can have pics of my desk. I’m a straight A MBA student if that counts? 🙂
Google Gloria Steinem’s desk.
How about this for more nuance. I am disorderly while I am working on several projects at a time, but when they finish and there seems to be somewhat of a breather in between I tidy my desk and create order again. I like the ebb and flow of order and disorder, like the tide and so many things in life. Is it a female thing ?
The news that a messy desk may be okay has not reached Corporate America, with the last two offices I have been in preaching the gospel of the perfectly clean empty desk. And every review I have ever had marked me down for my apparent lack of organization. TEHO.
I am an artist and was just accused of having a messy studio after posting a picture on FB. When searching for a perfect comeback quote, I cam across this site. Let me know if you’d like to post the photo and I will email it to you. Thanks!
Ah… the messy desk is uber cool. unless you have coworkers who actually have to find something you’re working on while you’re out on leave…or… doing whatever else you do.
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d
without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog!
I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward tto fresh updates and will talk about
this ssite with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
I didn’t get a promotion because I have a messy desk. I’m glad I’m not alone.
I definitely fall into the messy category. I worked for a wonderful supervisor who was very structured and neat. When we cleaned my desk, I forgot projects, invoices, all manner of things. Once I was allowed my desk calendar back, neatly stacked piles (instead of hidden files) problem solved. Some brains work differently.
My desk is also messy. Bad for a teacher, right? In a staff room predominantly female, it’s interesting to see how tidy and untidy out desks are and how it reflects our teaching style and curriculum design
I’m a woman. My bookshelves look much like Steve Job’s bookshelves. Would you like me to send you a picture? B-) I see nothing wrong with how his are laid out. Only a ‘born organized’ person would think his book order was ‘wrong.’
-Tricia
Seriously?
Mine even has a stray cat I found haha! Everyone is so neat at my office. Then there is this…..
Georgia O’Keeffe’ working desk
I am continuously reminded by my wife to clean up my desk. Is it messy? Yes. It always has been. Is there a relationship to “smart”? I don’t know. However, having scored 153 on the Wechsler many years ago, and heaving been beaten only by Stephen Hawking at 157, I must admit I am tempted to relate “messy desk” to some parallel of “smart”.
Just love this article…only broad minded people could understand this.. If you are messy and disorganised doesn’t mean you are slow. ..One could be a creative genius…and one day I will be one too…
Every time my desk is clean I spend more time trying to find things
Really!? A stray cat?!