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The ‘Messy Drawer’ Mindset Rewards Your Brain With Mental Flexibility
The benefits of disorganized thinking
In my house, the ‘messy drawer’ is filled with various miscellaneous items that don’t have a home.
In one of my desk drawers, I have an old phone case, an unopened bag of spicy peanuts, some deep heat muscle cream, a plug, a deck of cards, and a lot more besides. I’ve made no attempt to organize it, but I don’t need to. I know where everything is — that’s the beauty of it.
As much as we like to plan and organize everything in our lives, we can’t have complete control. You might be financially sound, but a hospital bill sideswipes you, or a holiday itinerary goes awry after a car breakdown (I've been there).
Whatever the problem is, you can dump it in the messy drawer.
As I've named it, the ‘messy drawer’ mindset teaches us you don’t need to plan everything meticulously. Learning to let go of matters, particularly when they’re out of your control, can give you a sense of freedom.
Eventually, it will become your brain’s safety net, and you can overcome any fear of plans or schedules being ruined.
Most importantly, having fun becomes easier.
