Linking Neatness and Creativity

When we started this blog assignment, my professor let the class know that our blogs would likely evolve over the course of the semester. Now that we are almost into December, I realized I wanted to hone the focus a bit more, specifically investigating the relationship between being a neat freak and being creative. Both are qualities that define who I am, and I realized there are many links between the two. Below is a mind map I did and wanted to share some of the main takeaways.

As a self admitted "Neat Freak" and a creative person, I realized being unwilling to settle for the status quo is an important shared quality for both traits. Neither a neat nor creative person is ready to accept what is presented to them; they look to improve the situation in one way or another. A neat person would look at a messy drawer and imagine organization methods to tidy it up while a creative musician might hear a simple chord progression and imagine a way it can be the foundation to a grand symphony. In this way, I think both are perfectionists as well. They are often relentless in their pursuit to improve what they are working on. 

Maybe the most important link between neatness and creativity is the methodical nature of each venture. Whether I am writing a paper or cleaning dishes, both activities involve a ritual-like set up and execution. Dishes begin with rolling up my sleeves, adjusting the water to just the right pressure and temperature, adding soap to the sponge, and then starting with cups and silverware before getting to the bigger plates, pots and pans. With a paper, the methodology is quite similar. Making sure I have proper lighting at my desk, opening up all the programs I will need on my laptop, taking a deep breath before gathering my thoughts and beginning to type; this is the sequence that leads up writing. Both methods are habitual, constant, and helpful in focusing my mind for the task ahead. In this way, being methodical is shared in my being both neat and creative. 

This mind map helped me see the links between being neat and creative, and I will continue to consider these connections as I add to the blog and analyze more of today's advertising.