Have you ever noticed how some of the most creative people you know have desks that look like they’ve been hit by a paper tornado? Or how their conversations jump from topic to topic in ways that somehow make perfect sense to them but leave you scrambling to keep up?

When I spotted that bumper sticker last year—”Creative minds are rarely tidy”—I felt an immediate sense of recognition. It wasn’t just clever wordplay; it was a validation of something I’ve experienced throughout my creative career. That messy desk, those scattered notebooks, the dozens of tabs open in my browser? Perhaps they weren’t signs of disorganization but rather evidence of an active creative mind at work.

The Science Behind Creative “Messiness”

Is there actual science behind this common observation? As it turns out, yes.

Research in cognitive psychology suggests that what we perceive as “messiness” in creative individuals often reflects cognitive processes that enhance creativity. Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive scientist and author of “Wired to Create,” explains that creative people tend to have something called “cognitive disinhibition”—they’re less able to filter out seemingly irrelevant information and stimuli.

While this might make focusing on a single task more challenging, it also allows for unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. This is essentially the foundation of creativity: connecting dots that others don’t see as connected.

A frequently cited 2013 study from the University of Minnesota found that people in messier rooms consistently came up with more creative uses for everyday objects than those in tidy environments. The physical messiness seemed to inspire mental departures from convention—exactly what’s needed for creative thinking.

Neurologically speaking, creative individuals often show higher activity in the default mode network (DMN) of the brain—areas that light up when we’re daydreaming or mind-wandering. This network helps us make unique associations and engage in divergent thinking, both crucial for creativity.

The Sacred Space of Daydreaming

Speaking of daydreaming, the late comedian George Carlin had a profound perspective on this that resonates deeply with creative minds. In one of his most insightful routines, Carlin lamented how modern parenting and education rob children of the vital mental freedom that daydreaming provides.

Carlin argued passionately that children need “empty time” to just stare out the window and let their minds wander. He observed that we’ve created a culture where every moment must be structured and productive—filled with lessons, activities, and screens—leaving no room for the fertile mental wandering that nurtures creativity.

“That’s the whole meaning of childhood,” Carlin once said about daydreaming. “To learn how to think and fantasize.” He believed these unstructured mental journeys weren’t wasted time but the foundation for developing imagination and creative thinking.

This perspective offers profound insight for adults too. The highly structured, productivity-obsessed adult world often treats daydreaming as a waste of time or a sign of laziness. Yet for creative minds, these moments of apparent “doing nothing” are often when the most powerful connections and ideas emerge.

Different Types of Creative “Untidiness”

Creative messiness isn’t just about physical space. It manifests in various ways:

Cognitive messiness: Creative people often have minds that refuse to follow linear paths. They jump between ideas, exploring tangents that may seem unrelated but eventually circle back to form surprising connections.

Temporal messiness: Many creative individuals struggle with conventional time management. They might work in intense bursts rather than steady, predictable schedules. They might also lose track of time when deeply engaged in creative work—a state psychologists call “flow.”

Emotional messiness: Creativity often involves embracing uncertainty and being willing to feel uncomfortable. This emotional openness can appear messy to those who prefer stability and predictability.

Navigating the Creative Chaos: Practical Strategies

While creative messiness can be a strength, it can also present challenges. Here are some approaches to harness this creative energy without letting it overwhelm you:

Create a “mess with a system”: Instead of fighting your natural tendencies, design systems that work with them. Maybe your desk looks chaotic to others, but if you know that the blue sticky notes are for client projects and the yellow ones are for personal creative ideas, that’s a system that works for you.

Protect your daydreaming time: Just as Carlin advocated for children’s right to mental wandering, protect time in your schedule for unfocused thinking. Block out periods where you’re allowed to stare at the ceiling, take a meandering walk, or just let your mind roam freely without agenda or expectation.

Practice time blocking with flexibility: Set aside specific times for creative work, but build in buffer zones. If your creative flow takes you in an unexpected direction, you won’t immediately stress about falling behind schedule.

Use external organizational tools: Let technology or physical tools keep track of details so your mind can wander freely. Apps like Notion, Trello, or even voice memos can capture creative insights without interrupting your flow.

Establish creative rituals: The paradox of creativity is that it often thrives within certain boundaries. Having rituals—maybe it’s making a specific cup of tea before writing, or taking a walk before brainstorming—can signal to your brain that it’s time to enter creative mode.

Embrace the “creative mess window”: Accept that certain phases of projects will be messier than others. The initial ideation phase might look chaotic, while the execution phase might require more structure. Both are valuable parts of the process.

Reframing the Narrative: From “Messy” to “Creative”

Perhaps the most important shift is one of perspective. Instead of seeing creative messiness as something to overcome or apologize for, we can recognize it as an essential part of the creative process.

This isn’t about glorifying disorganization for its own sake. Rather, it’s about understanding that what might look like disorder to others could be the perfect environment for your creativity to thrive. It’s about recognizing that your brain’s tendency to make unexpected connections—to be “untidy” in its thinking—is actually your creative superpower.

When we embrace this perspective, we stop wasting energy fighting against our natural creative tendencies and instead channel that energy into our work. We stop feeling guilty about not thinking or working in conventionally “tidy” ways and start appreciating the unique value our creative minds bring to the table.

The Creative Mind: Not a Bug, But a Feature

That bumper sticker speaks to something profound about creativity. Creative minds aren’t broken or deficient because they’re not always tidy. They’re specialized instruments designed for exploration, connection, and innovation.

So the next time someone raises an eyebrow at your creative process or workspace, remember: your “untidy” mind isn’t something to fix—it’s something to celebrate. It’s not a limitation; it’s the source of your creative edge.

And in a world that increasingly values innovation and original thinking, that creative edge isn’t just personally fulfilling—it’s professionally invaluable.

Perhaps Carlin was right when he championed the value of letting minds wander. In our rush to optimize and structure every moment, we might be sacrificing the very mental freedom that fuels our most original thinking. Maybe we all need to reclaim our right to stare out the window sometimes, to let our thoughts meander down unexpected paths, to allow our creative minds to be gloriously, productively untidy.

What aspects of your creative process might look “messy” to others but actually serve your creativity? Perhaps it’s time we all embraced a little more creative untidiness.