It’s no secret that many people prefer a tidy and organized house. But a growing body of research indicates that living in a messy home may have some surprising benefits, from helping you stay creative to boosting your mood. Despite the negative connotations associated with being a messy person, living in a messy house may be more beneficial than you think.
To begin with, living in a messy house can help you stay creative. A recent study published in the journal Psychological Science found that people with cluttered homes were more creative than their neat counterparts. The researchers conducted two experiments in which participants were asked to come up with creative solutions to various tasks. The results showed that individuals with messier homes were more creative than those with tidier homes.
The same study also found that living in a messy environment can help boost your mood. The researchers found that participants with messier homes were more satisfied with their living environment than those with tidier homes. They also had higher levels of life satisfaction and felt less stress and anxiety.
Living in a messy house can also help you focus. A 2020 study published in the journal Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics found that working in a messy environment can help you stay focused and improve your performance on attention-demanding tasks. The researchers conducted two experiments in which participants were asked to complete various attention-demanding tasks. The results showed that people who worked in a messier environment performed better on the tasks than those who worked in a tidy environment.
Finally, living in a messy house can help you save money. Tidying up your home can be expensive, as it often requires buying new furniture, decor, and storage solutions. If you live in a messier house, you can save money by not having to purchase expensive items to make your home look organized.
Living in a messier home may have some surprising benefits, from helping you stay creative to boosting your mood to saving money. While it may seem counterintuitive, living in a messier home may be more beneficial than you think. It’s important to remember, however, that everyone has different needs and preferences. What works for some may not work for others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed by the clutter in your home, it may be best to take steps to reduce it.
