Is it true that people with messy rooms have a higher IQ?

Author: Arnold Batz  |  Last update: Thursday, July 10, 2025

What do messy desks, late nights, and profanity have in common? According to recent research, they are all surprisingly connected to intelligence. Specifically, studies have shown correlations between messiness and IQ, late bedtimes and IQ, and cursing and vocabulary size.

Do high IQ people have messy rooms?

A messy house doesn't necessarily mean a lack of intelligence or discipline, but rather it could be due to other factors like time management, priorities, or even creativity. Highly intelligent people may have messy houses due to their focus on complex tasks, leading them to overlook tidying up.

What are physical signs of high IQ?

Eight body language signals of smart people
  • They maintain good posture. ...
  • They listen with full attention. ...
  • They are not afraid of silence. ...
  • They are thoughtful with gestures. ...
  • 5) They mirror others' actions. ...
  • They are expressive with their facial features. ...
  • They maintain eye contact. ...
  • They show genuine smiles.

What does psychology say about messy rooms?

Psychologically, a messy room can mean several things.

A messy room can be a sign of depression or another mental health issue. Clutter affects your mood and can cause more anxiety or stress. Your child can get caught in a cycle of messiness that worsens their mental health and vice versa.

Are people with messy rooms more creative?

In fact, a 2013 study published in Psychology Today shows that a messy space encourages creativity and outside-the-box thinking. On the flip side, a clean and tidy environment makes people more likely to ``play it safe'' and avoid new ideas.

Messy Writing or Room Are Signs You're Really Smart

What does science say about messy people?

It may seem like some people are natural born neatniks and others are hardwired to create clutter. But experts say that's just not true. Far from innate, these tendencies are largely acquired over time. “We are the products of our learning environments — you're not born to be tidy or messy,” says Joseph R.

Is a messy room healthy?

Bursting cupboards and piles of paper stacked around the house may seem harmless enough. But research shows disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains. Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus.

Does messy room mean genius?

Messiness and Intelligence

Once you have ruled out mental health issues, the science is pretty clear. Messy people tend to be more creative which is a common trait among genius people.

What does it mean if a girl has a messy room?

Messiness can actually be a sign of creativity and freedom. Or it may mean a teen is busy with school, hobbies, and socializing, and hasn't made time to clean their messy bedroom. However, a messy room can also be an outward sign of feeling disorganized or overwhelmed.

Is being messy a personality trait?

Is your messiness habitual? Some people simply do not place a high priority on having everything clean, organized, and in its place. In this case, messiness is simply a normal state of affairs. If the house is cluttered and it's just fine with you, then it's probably more a sign of your personality and preferences.

What is Elon Musk's IQ?

In summary, Elon Musk is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. He is the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and several other companies. He is also known for his high IQ. Estimates of Musk's IQ range from 155 to 160.

How to tell if someone has low IQ?

Intelligence-related symptoms
  1. Delayed or slowed learning of any kind (such as in school or from real-life experiences).
  2. Slowed reading speed.
  3. Difficulties with reasoning and logic.
  4. Problems with judgment and critical thinking.
  5. Trouble using problem-solving and planning abilities.
  6. Distractibility and difficulty focusing.

Do ADHD people like messy rooms?

Children with ADHD tend to have messy rooms because they struggle with executive functioning skills, which enable us to plan, prioritize, manage time, and get things done. Cleaning up may seem simple but kids with ADHD have trouble deciding what to do first, estimating how long things take, and staying focused.

Do people with higher IQ stay up late?

Our results indicate that later sleep timing in those with higher IQs is not due to physiological differences, but rather due to later work schedules. Later working times and the resulting lower social jetlag may be one of the reasons why higher IQ is associated with lower prospective morbidity and mortality.

Is it normal for a 12 year old to have a messy room?

Tweens having messy rooms is not unheard of. In fact, it's pretty common.

What does messy mean for a girl?

adjective. dirty, confused, or untidy. Derived forms.

What does a depression room look like?

This is when your adolescent's depression causes them to either lack the energy or the willpower to clean up after themselves, causing them to live in a messy and disorganized environment – even if they want to make a change.

What is the psychology behind messy rooms?

The Mental Health Connection

It's interesting to note that mess and clutter can also be indicators of mental health. Disorders like ADHD, anxiety, and depression can show signs in one's surroundings. It could be challenging for those who are dealing with these issues to find the drive or energy to clean.

Are geniuses untidy?

A messy desk and intelligence go hand in hand.

A study by the University of Minnesota suggests, that the messy desk of geniuses is actually linked to their intelligence.

Do geniuses have messy desks?

A Messy Desk Is a Sign of Genius, According to Science. Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs had messy desks, just like most other geniuses.

What does a messy room say about a girl?

'Mess can mean different things to different people. A messy space could indicate creativity or someone who is too busy but a messy space could also indicate further issues like anxiety or ADHD.

Does clutter make ADHD worse?

Messy Homes and Offices

Research suggests it may signal creativity. But a messy nest could make some symptoms worse. Those piles of papers, books, or laundry remind you of all the stuff you need to do. Sometimes it can be too much.

Are you smart if you have a messy room?

A Little Clutter Means Innovation and Creativity

We often hear sayings like “organization is key” or “a clean room is a clean mind.” But how much truth is there to these sayings? Well, according to recent research, tidiness may not necessarily be beneficial for creativity.

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