Costco’s Connection magazine this month contains the article, “Is Being Neat and Organized Overratted?”  (Once linked, click  “Pages” on the top bar and then scroll down to the 4th or 5th row, depending on your browser.)  It features contrasting opinions by David Freedman, author of “A Perfect Mess:  The Hidden Benefits of Disorder” and Standolyn Robertson, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers.  They are asking you to vote your opinion.

If you have read any of my previous posts, you will know how I voted.  In my life, with so much going on, I need to be able to find anything I need quickly, I need to be responsive to my clients, and I want to be comfortable in my surroundings as I work.  All of those add up to “organized.”  I do not find anything negative about being organized.

I disagree with David’s arguments on:

• Stifling creativity.  When I have a clear surface and can find my materials quickly, I can be very creative.  When disorder surrounds me, it blocks me with its distractions and makes me feel guilty about doing the “fun” and creative stuff.
• Missing surprises.  Since I have a schedule, I can book in vacations and family visits.  Because I do not let things pile up until the last minute, I find I have great flexibility.  I have never had to decline a last-minute invitation because of a looming deadline. 
• Constant work.  Yes, it does take time to hang up your clothes or put something away in a drawer, but the payback is that I do less ironing since clothes are hung up, and I know where to retrieve an item versus spending extra minutes (or hours) hunting for something that was buried and then shifted around by others.

When you hear a business person boast about not being organized and still being successful, chances are that they have a team behind them, including a spouse, who manages their calendar and their paperwork, ensuring that they sign the correct contracts on time and that they show up for the appropriate meetings.  The team’s organization leads to the success.

One reason that I buy so strongly into the benefits of an organized life is that I can see it from both sides.  My individual clients and audiences in my time management seminars know there is something missing.  They are overwhelmed and desperately seeking a solution that will help them manage their time.  From our “8-Hour Miracle” sessions, the relief and joy that a person feels at the end of a day after we have set up an efficient, effective office is palpable. 

The claim that disorder is beneficial sounds like one more excuse for procrastinating.  What is your opinion? Don’t forget to vote.