Structure Helps Creativity
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
When we try to imagine the most creative people, it’s common to think of an artsy person in a messy space full of all their different ideas. Someone working in a tidy and well-organized space is often stereotyped as very conventional and analytical, maybe even a bit boring, but certainly not creative. Interestingly, being well organized can not only facilitate creativity, but also provide an environment that enables deep focus; a highly creative initial idea doesn’t get anywhere without the ability to sustain focus and think through all the details needed to support the idea’s real-world success. While overly rigid procedures and thinking can stifle creativity, too much clutter, either physical or mental, creates so much noise that it’s hard to stop jumping between things long enough for a good idea to emerge.