A team of scientists at the University of Minnesota (clearly inspired by their own cluttered desks) hypothesised that there must be some higher, more noble reason for our chaotic clutter – and, after a little hard work, they came up with the idea that messy people are far more likely to be creative and imaginative than those who are inherently neat.

Kathleen Vohs, who led the study, told Science Daily: “Prior work has found that a clean setting leads people to do good things: Not engage in crime, not litter, and show more generosity.

“We found, however, that you can get really valuable outcomes from being in a messy setting.”

Vohs and her team conducted several experiments, in which they asked participants to come up with new uses for ping pong balls. Some completed the task in a clean and orderly office, while others did so in a seriously messy one (think papers strewn everywhere, office supplies scattered across the floor, and dirty coffee cups all over the desks).

Messy people everywhere, scientists have incredibly good news for you…