--- description: In Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation, Steven Johnson posits that “the more disorganized your brain is, the smarter you are”... title: Are You Disorganized? Research Says That’s a Good Thing image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc6f0821df82e568f/6987eefe2dce010b5f9e1bef/151081267-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Are You Disorganized? Research Says That’s a Good Thing by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 11, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Radiating silver metal puzzle, half assembled Radiating silver metal puzzle, half assembledGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 11, 2015 4:01 AM CUT In [Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594485380/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594485380&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"), Steven Johnson posits that “_the more disorganized your brain is, the smarter you are_” in reference to the results of a neuroscience experiment by Robert Thatcher. Across the board, in Johnson’s book and other sources it seems pretty clear that creativity is messy. Ideas need to be sloshing around or crashing in to one another to produce breakthroughs: * Johnson cites research showing that the volume of ideas bouncing about [make large cities disproportionately more creative than smaller towns](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-the-most-creative-places-in-the-worl "undefined"). * Having multiple hobbies allows your brain to subconsciously compare and contrast problems and solutions, [forming new connections at the margins of each](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-hobbies-the-key-to-creative-breakthroughs "undefined"). * Similarly, reading multiple books at the same time vs serially lets your brain [juxtapose new ideas and develop new connections](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-it-better-to-do-all-your-reading-for-the-y "undefined"). * [Wandering minds](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-a-wandering-mind-make-you-more-creative "undefined") are more creative. * Studying a field “too much” doesn’t limit creativity — it does the opposite. [More ideas banging about just produces even more ideas](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-studying-your-area-of-expertise-too-much "undefined"). * The “accept everything” mantra of brainstorming doesn’t work. Debate is far more effective. [Let those ideas fight](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-brainstorming-for-new-ideas-really-work "undefined"). * [ADD and bipolar disorder](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-creative-people-more-likely-to-be-crazy "undefined") are both associated with greater creativity. When you’re [drunk](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-you-more-creative-when-youre-drunk "undefined") or [exhausted](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-you-most-creative-when-were-exhausted "undefined") your brain is poised for breakthroughs. * Even with teams, it’s better to mix up experience levels, familiarity with one another and other factors [to keep things rough around the edges](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/would-your-team-be-more-more-creative-if-memb "undefined"). At the end of his book Johnson [recommends:](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594485380/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594485380&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined") --- > “” --- **Join over 180,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/is-a-more-disorganized-brain-a-more-creative/ "undefined")**_._** Related posts: [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") [The 8 Things The Happiest People Do Every Day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") ### 5 Horrible Habits You Need to Stop Right Now  Do Not Email First Thing in the Morning or Last Thing at Night “The former scrambles your priorities and all your plans for the day and the latter just gives you insomnia,” says Ferriss, who insists “email can wait until 10am” or after you check off at least one substantive to-do list item. Chris Pecoraro—Getty Images  Do Not Agree to Meetings or Calls With No Clear Agenda or End Time “If the desired outcome is defined clearly… and there’s an agenda listing topics–questions to cover–no meeting or call should last more than 30 minutes,” claims Ferriss, so “request them in advance so you can ‘best prepare and make good use of our time together.'” Sam Edwards—Getty Images/Caiaimage  Do Not Check Email Constantly Batch it and check it only periodically at set times (Ferriss goes for twice a day). Your inbox is analogous to a cocaine pellet dispenser, says Ferriss. Don’t be an addict. Tools like strategic use of the auto responder and Boomerang can help. Jetta Productions—Getty Images  Do Not Carry a Digital Leash 24/7 At least one day a week leave you smartphone somewhere where you can’t get easy access to it. If you’re gasping, you’re probably the type of person that most needs to do kick this particular habit. by nacoki ( MEDIA ARC )—Getty Images/Flickr RF  Do Not Let People Ramble Sounds harsh, but it’s necessary, Ferriss believes. “Small talk takes up big time,” he says, so when people start to tell you about their weekends, cut them off politely with something like “I’m in the middle of something, but what’s up?” But be aware, not everyone agrees with this one (and certainly not in every situation), and you may want to pay particularly close attention to norms around chit chat when traveling internationally. Reza Estakhrian—Getty Images _Read next:_ [_How to Overcome Creativity Roadblocks_](http://time.com/3842010/creativity-roadblocks-overcome/?iid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/autoplay/?xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3852042/disorganized-brain-good-creativity/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3852042/disorganized-brain-good-creativity/"},"headline":"Are You Disorganized? 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