Poll: Does Outer Order Contribute to Your Inner Calm?

One thing I've noticed in my study of happiness is that the positive-psychology literature on happiness largely ignores issues related to clutter and disorder, but pop culture is bursting with advice about mastering your stuff.

I've found that for myself, having an orderly, uncluttered environment greatly influences my sense of serenity -- so I have resolutions like Make my bed, Follow the one-minute rule, etc.

I wonder whether this characteristic is widely shared. Is having a well-ordered desk, office, and home is important to your happiness – or not?

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Comments

[Positively Present]

Outer order DEFINITELY contributes to my inner calm. I am a very (perhaps overly) organized person and I can't imagine living any other way. I feel very unsettled when things around me are disorganized so I strive to keep everything in order. Sometimes I can be a bit obsessive about this so, for me, it's more of a challenge NOT to organize everything and to just relax sometimes.

For those who don't know what the one minute rule is, definitely click on the link. I use that rule all the time and it really helps me keep things orderly and get little things done that I am tempted to put off. It's amazing how much you can do in a minute!

[Writer Dad]

Outer order always contributes to my inner calm, but I can function in a messy environment as well (entirely my mother's doing.)

[kat]

I'm weird about this one. I was about to just click "yes", but then I realized it's complicated.

I like outer simplicity and organization, I find it calming. I clean, declutter and organize (sometimes obsessively) when I start to feel out of control of my life. I think it soothes my subconscious to be able to be in complete control of ONE thing, even if that thing is only the kitchen cabinets or my bedroom closet.

On the other hand, when I'm working on a project, I go with the creative/disorganized route. My workplace is generally scattered with inspirations, to-do lists, papers of doodles and brainstorms, post-it notes to myself, and little objects that make me SMILE when I'm feeling stressed out.

So actually, both are true. But it's not that I don't care, because I care deeply and am very much affected by the state of my environment. I guess you could say that I work best in a messy environment, but when it's time to relax, I want order.

I think also that what looks organized to me may appear chaotic to others. As long as *I* can find what I'm looking for, I'm happy. :)

[Elizabeth Hosto]

I can function in my messy house (with two boys, 4 and 1, two large dogs and a husband nothing is orderly for long!) but I do notice I feel like I get more done and I am less stressed if the house is clean and in order. I do have a clutter-y house though, but that is by choice, lots of pictures and books and stuff and that does not make me less happy, quite the contrary, I love my stuff and I love seeing it when I am working as long as the house is clean and picked up!

[N]

Your question is posed in a rather leading manner. For the results to be really reliable, you need to pose the question in a more 'objective' way and without stacking the odds in favor of 'yes'. You might still find the same result, but if you are doing a poll, might as well do it right!

[Meghan]

It's a definite yes for me, but I think it's because I connect organization and accomplishment. If my desk is clear when I arrive at work in the morning, and then fills up throughout the day, and I am able to clear it by 5:00, then I have had a productive and successful day. Likewise, at home, organization reflects that I have put in the work to make it so, not to mention the sense of calm the inevitably comes from a clean home. Especially a clean kitchen and bedroom. Hoorah!

[Julie]

When I was in grad school, I found that if ever I had writer's block on a term paper, the best way to get the creative juices flowing again was to tidy up my room and workspace. Even now, I don't care if things are dusty, but if I've got piles all over the place, I find it very hard to get work done.

[Vi]

For me, it's complicated. My answer is yes and no.

Yes, I believe that outer order matters. It's nicer when things are clean and not cluttered. It does give me a sense of peace. Certainly, aesthetics matter. I love taking in all the beauty in this world. I love simple and clean designs. I love having a clean kitchen. It's pleasing to the eye and that makes me happier.

But on the other hand, I think that people can get carried away with this and become a tad OCD. I think that sometimes people stress out and don't feel "right" just because the bed is unmade. They feel that they HAVE TO make the bed. But does it really matter? I think that not caring about the fact that there is disorder also greatly contributes to my happiness. I can let go and not care about the fact that the bed is unmade. I don't have to get stressed about the messy kitchen, because well, it's not going to hurt anyone. No one is going to die because I have a messy kitchen. And it doesn't mean I'm a bad, terrible person if I don't make my bed.

[Sarah]

Yes! I simply cannot work in a cluttered space. My coworkers make fun of my neat cube, but I always say that a clear space leads to clear thinking :)

[Rose]

If the bed is not made or there's clutter or mess, it reminds me of things that I need to do, which makes me less calm. Having the bed made (it takes me less than two minutes to make it; I timed it) and things neat and tidy gives me a wonderful sense of freedom! The chores are done and my way is clear to do something creative, to connect with nature, to play piano ... anything I want to do.

[MJ]

OK, so your readers are neat freaks.

Maybe the INTP types are not bothered because they don't notice things. For example, I noticed last night that my desktop Christmas tree is still up in my dining room - I just don't see those things. Like the year I had the Xmas wreath up until Easter (forgot about it - stopped seeing it). They don't matter to me (other things that don't matter to me are pants too loose, a rust spot on my car, having a thyroid goiter (didn't notice that for months until doc did), having some peeling paint on a ceiling, etc. They don't make me unhappy because apparently to me they don't exist.

And yes, I do my "work" work very well, and my writing very well, it is just the tangible stuff I don't care about that I can't see.

[Ary]

Yes, it does! I just organized my clothes/shoes closet last Sunday and it was amazing how much happier I felt the past couple of mornings. Stepping into it now actually has a calming effect (it does not spike up my stress level because I can't find things easily).

[The Healthy Librarian]

It's a fine balance. I'm calmer when at least 3 things are taken care of:

The sink & counters are clear. The family room is picked up & the bed is made.

If I get too nutso about "outer order" I'd never get important things taken care of.

I've posted this before & people tell me it's helpful. I apologize if you've seen it before.

Fighting Entropy With New Habits - Why I Vow to Make My Bed Every Morning

http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/05/fighting-entrop.html

But today I was too busy to make my bed & frankly, I'd feel better if I knew I was coming home to a made-up bed!

[Kathryn]

I came to the realization that one reason I value having some semblance of order in my surrounds is that there is so much in my life that I feel is not completely (or even partially) under my control. I'm about as far from OCD about it as you can get, but it still MATTERS--which is something I'm having a hard time getting my husband to understand.

[Diana]

It's a yes for me too. But I can't seem to maintain the order for very long! My studio right now looks like I'm sharing it with squatters, LOL.

Where did all this stuff come from and why didn't I put it away? Definitely makes me not want to go in there.

[Paul N]

My work area is sometimes a "creative mess," but that's an exception. Being surrounded by disorder makes me feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and depressed, and straightening things up even a little bit makes me feel more in control.

[Susannah]

I love a calm ordered home. However, I do not want to be the one to do the cleaning and putting away. I loathe housework! It never freaking ends and I can easily become stressed and resentful about the whole thing. I believe I need to work on this, lol.

[Mary Ellen]

Disorder is not an absolute, and it does not have the same effect under all conditions.

For me, having the bed made and the sink clean are not a matter of creating order, but of keeping my tools clean and ready for use. When the bed is clean and made, I can fold clothes on it, I can sit on it, I can sort papers on it, I can store party guests' coats on it. When the sink is clean, I can wash dishes in it. But that doesn't mean that the kitchen and the bedroom are sparkling havens of order.

I find that when I'm doing a big project, things tend to get messier before they get tidier. No matter what sort of project it is, there is a stage when all the resources are getting pulled out and examined and sorted into piles. Everything has to be pulled away from the walls. Once it's a complete mess, then the structure of the finished project begins to form, and the boxes and baskets get put into their proper places, rearranged and sorted one more time until it finally comes together into a organized system.

[STL Mom]

It makes no difference to me. Once an item sits unmoving in place for a day or two, I don't even see it.
My husband, on the other hand, feels much calmer and happier when he is in a clear, uncluttered environment. Since it matters to him, I try to keep things fairly neat. I don't always succeed, but he appreciates that I try.

[Christopher]

I think about my wife and how happy she is just to clean. I honestly think the "process" of making things nicer and better is happiness for her.

[venaru]

The answer is yes and no. Rather than order itself, I think, it is the acting of restoring order that contributes to inner calm ( and in turn, towards happiness?). Order initself, while sometimes necessary, may not be sufficient to achieve either calmness or happiness.

[MildlyCrafty]

My husband is just like STL Mom above, he doesn't even see the mess! I on the other hand do get grumpy and bothered when the house is in chaos.

I love your "one minute rule", it often makes me stop and do something that I might've otherwise let slide. And I never used to make the bed but recently I have been and it's really surprising how happy it makes me. Strange.

[Liz]

For some reason this post really hit a nerve. Yes, it's lovely to have a well-ordered home or office. But if I spent my time on this I wouldn't make progress on my other goals that are more important.

I find that there is the temptation (and many people do this) to put the order BEFORE the "thing" that might actually be the "thing" that will make you really happy in the end.

Know what I mean? It's the "setting aside time to write everyday thing" or the "helping your kids make a mud pie thing" or "calling your brother just to laugh thing". Those are the things we remember about our days and that really make us happy -- but sometimes we hide in ourselves behind the veil of laundry. It's easy to look at your day and say, "No, I don't have time to start a book. I have to clean."

It's all a matter of priorities. The clutter will still be there after the things that will make you happy are done (or at least started). :-)

[HP van Duuren]

Thanks for asking your question,

Maybe you have noticed that I sometimes offer surprising new perspectives, possibly even can expose.

'Un-Questioned Assumptions?'

(atleast I have the unquestioned
assumption that this is one:))

For example 'Un-Questioned Assumption'

Nr.1: "Clutter = Dis-order?"

Although I must admit that I thought about this to be true, because I was not very inclined to associate 'Clutter' with 'Order' or with being 'Organised'.
I thought that 'Order' was needed to be 'Organised'.

I wonder if this is right, when I took a look at:

http://www.organizedr.com

You will see a picture with Genius Albert Einstein sitting behind an incredible messy desk. Although the 'Outer Order' does suggest an 'un-organised' person, this probably isn't the case.

(BTW you can find more about the 'History of 'Genius'' at:http://hpshappywriting.blogspot.com/2009/02/great-encouragement-for-creative-souls.html )

Nevertheless I don't think that you can call Albert Einstein 'Dis-organised'
at all!

Although I do think you can expect a Genius to be organised a little 'differently'

(BTW according to the Chaos-theory, Chaos is an Order that can be described, but not be controlled or be predicted.)

Possibly I am organised a little different also because I dislike your survey forcing me to only think in 'Yes' or 'No' terms.

And although this kind of 'Greek' (Academic) Logical way of thinking is almost alway's very practical and usefull, sometimes I prefer for example a more I guess 'lateral?' way of thinking.

Because I don't think that I can give you a simple 'Yes' or 'No', because I do think that I see a lot more variables involved.

Nevertheless I do think that I am inclined to favor a certain 'Outer Order' so I do think that it does matter.

I do think that the 'Outer Order' or 'Mess Free-ness' are variables that - on their own - can have a positive effect on my Happiness, from a 'Cosmetic' point of view, when my envirorment is more 'Estetical' I usually prefer it.

(Also prefer blue sky's
and enough sunlight!)

'Organised-ness' is something that has to do with my 'inner calm' but this might not be as directly related to 'Mess Free-ness' as it looks.

In general I do think that I can pretty much decide myself if I want it to have an effect on my Happiness 'Yes' or 'No' and I don't think that it really is that important for my Happiness.

That it rather is something 'Dynamic' but can be a 'component' in a Big Mix of all kinds of 'Variables' that can have an influence on my Happiness.

All the Best,
To your Happy Inspiration,
HP

[Tracy Talbot]

I think many Type-As need an orderly environment to be happy. Maybe we control freaks realize we can't control chaos?? A "no control:no happy" sort of thing.

On the flip side, my partner is the antithesis of Type-A and I have seen first hand that he can be amazingly happy living in an apartment that is crazy messy (the typical youth bachelor pad).

Now that we live together, our home is clean and orderly (mainly my doing)...but it doesn't add to his happiness, where it is essential for my happiness.

We're about as different as can be when it comes to our intrinsic motivators. His goal is to feel good and be happy. Interestingly he makes a fantastic living doing what he loves (I'm turning a fine shade of green as I write this). My goals are soooo much more complicated than that. He IS far happier than I am. Happiness is very elusive for me. An uncluttered environment helps me but I'm nowhere CLOSE to the level of happiness he maintains on a daily basis. I come here to your site, Gretchen, daily in search of insights into why that is.

[Barbara Harrison]

If I put it out of sight, I can never remember where to look for it. I do much better remembering which pile I put it in. And I do seem to be able to answer those "where did I leave my___" questions people are occasionally throwing at me.

[Meream]

Definitely! I've cried one too many times because of clutter. It just suffocates me.

[Chloe]

I find this is especially true when it comes to dishes. I hate to do them, but I almost always feel better when they're done! Something about not seeing all the dirty dishes in the sink and dreading having to wash them. Knowing that task is complete makes me feel much more calm.

Great blog btw. I've never commented before - but your writing and tips have really made a positive effect on my life. Thanks! Keep up the good work! :-)

[Alison]

Thanks for opening the conversation on this great topic, Gretchen! I agree with other posters that this question is a bit more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no" answer, though I lean towards a yes. When I need to need to address a particular task or series of tasks in a logical and systematic way, I find it very helpful to be in an orderly environment. I tend to be more focused and efficient. When I am generating raw creative material or new ideas, I don't mind a bit of chaos. In fact, I enjoy it. When it comes time to relax, enjoy a meal, or be intimate with my partner, I STRONGLY prefer a clean and orderly environment. For me these activites are much less pleasant if the surrounding space is messy, chaotic, dirty or cluttered.

[Tracy]

I tend to work messy within a project, but clean up my art studio before I begin any new project. I also tend to clean and organize my space when I get artistically stuck. The restoration of order often clears the way to new ideas. I must have my house in pretty good order in general or it makes me crazy.

[Albert@Nextsmallstep]

On one level external order helps. But if I close my eyes for a few minutes and calm myself down, I can focus in mosy situation - ordered or not

Albert@nextsmallstep

[Christina Bentley]

I think perhaps your results are so dramatic because your loyal readers tend to be like you. I'm always telling people when I recommend your blog that I feel a personal connection to you--your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. I wonder if a broader audience would be quite so "ordered."

[Lori Lake]

It's comforting for me to learn that others struggle with this need to be organized in order to feel an inner calm. I thought it was some form of OCD that was plaguing my life. I've had this need for order as far back as I can remember. It usually manifests when I have some type of problem or stress in my life. I figured that it was my way of gaining some control in a no control situation. Not sure if this is a healty reaction?