Lateral Action: Is Disorganisation Stifling Your Creativity?

Artists and other creative people are not renowned for their powers of personal organisation. “A cluttered desk is a sign of genius,” we like to say, when challenged about our working conditions. And plenty of us can relate to Albert Einstein, whose wife had to chase him down the street to remove the coat hanger from the coat he was wearing, as he was too preoccupied with higher thoughts to notice such mundane details. 

There’s an old saying that actions speak louder than words. While many artists and creatives scoff at the idea of organisation and time management, experience suggests that there are plenty of people out there who are frustrated to discover that being disorganised can seriously damage your creativity.

Maybe this is one of the dirty little secrets of creativity. Maybe it’s not so romantic and exciting to be overwhelmed by an overflowing e-mail inbox, or to be perpetually anxious that you’ve forgotten something important. Maybe a little more organisation could actually make you more creative.

The biggest barrier many creative people face isn’t getting organised — it’s getting over the resistance to getting organised. Once you deal with that, the actual process is pretty straightforward.

Mark says: "I’ll leave the last word to the novelist Gustave Flaubert, who knew a thing or two about producing amazing work:

'Be regular and orderly in your life so that you may be violent and original in your work.' "

 Read the tips and advice from Mark McGuinness to help you get organised