Metamorphosis of the digital unsavvy
April 10, 2023
Where is it again? I can’t find it! (sigh… with a frustrated smile). I often find myself working at a messy desk. During the day it’s a mix of electronic devices, notebooks, paper, pens and empty dishes. In my spare time when I create… paint containers, paint brushes / palette knives / sketch pens… are added to the mix. Is this a sign of organised chaos or does mess enchant my creative process?
What do the experts say?
The findings from this study suggest that working in mess can result in errors: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MD-02-2013-0084/full/html. Accuracy of work is thus achieved in a tidy environment. There is also the negative perception of mess… it’s not really seen as something to aspire to.
A middle ground, another study: here we see there are benefits to being messy or being neat: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/tidy-desk-or-messy-desk-each-has-its-benefits.html
On the flip side: mess! Einstein challenged working tidy he said “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign”. Laugh out loud! Those with OCD don’t take offence!
If you research this topic you also find other famous people such as Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Mark Twain also working in organised chaos, interesting no women here in names mentioned… hmmm.
I found a lady though, with an interesting view on this subject: Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva. She is a scientist, entrepreneur, and author specializing in "reinventing in the time of crisis". Dr Zhexembayeva says that “Chaos isn’t a lack of order. Chaos is the presence of more than one order”. Dr Zhexembayeva further states that “understanding chaos this way gives you the power to use chaos the way a sail uses the wind as a new and emerging reality rather than running or hiding from it". Interesting… It’s viewing things with a different lens, it’s looking for the opportunity, the learning.
What works for you?
In the middle of a creative roll, who is going to stop, freak out and clean the mess! Not me. When you are having fun in the art zone cleaning up is not an option. It’s rather a focus on the end result, keeping yourself centred and not sweating the small stuff / the chaos / the mess.
I must disclose, my creative process often results in some chaos, but that mess is cleared. I prefer to start my day in a neat environment.
If you can look at your mess after a productive day and see it as an achievement of what you created that’s great! If you can’t stand mess and need to keep everything in its place that is also perfect! It’s your space. It’s what works for you.
Next time you find yourself in a mess (whatever the type), don’t let it distract you!
There is sometimes method to madness and chaos, and sometimes you need to work through it to reach the end result.
