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If you cringe when other people touch your perfectly organized space, then you may be considered an extremist. Photo: Post-it Notes Brand Removable Labels
If your closet is filled with shoe boxes in perfect condition, then you are just plain organized. But if your shoe boxes have gallery of the shoes taped to the front of each box and the boxes are arranged by shoe style...well, then you might be a "freakishly obsessed organizer," according to student-run blog, SparkLife.
"I have clients who are overly obsessed with becoming organized," says Julie Morgenstern, time management expert and author. "People are overwhelmed by so many things going on in their life, and so much information coming at them, they are hungry for organizing and feel the need to contain themselves. Organizing is a way to contain the overwhelming details." But there are those who take it too far, says Morgenstern.
And it's not healthy. Organizing extremists often become inflexible in other aspects of their lives -- and they miss out on fun events because they're always busy putting their life in order.
Morgenstern says there are three key indicators that you're becoming an organizing extremist.
"Hint number one is that you're too busy organizing to go out and have a good time," she warns. "You don't have to rearrange your bookshelves after pulling out a few books -- just put them back and go out!" She points to early adopters of technology (those who are first in line to buy the latest technological gadget) as a group susceptible to becoming overly organized because they gravitate to the next, newest, greatest organizing product in hopes that it'll be the perfect one.
Stores like the Container Store and Staples only feed the obsession with putting everything in its place. For those who embrace micro-organizing, the choices for organizational products, tools and applications are endless. "The organizing industry has increased dramatically over the past five years," says Morgenstern. "But there's no perfect bin or perfect calendar so stop searching, choose one thing, and stick with it."
Hint number two, she says, is that you are so orderly that you're inflexible. You're reluctant to add anything new to your closet or to your calendar. "The overly organized have tremendous inflexibility which means they are losing out on opportunities and relationships because they just can't 'fit it in,'" says Morgenstern, who points to a client whose children were so organized and regimented that mom zapped out all of the joy and spontaneity in the household.
Hint number three: You can't have anyone near your space because you can't handle the thought that everything may not be put back exactly as you like it.
"Whether you are highly disorganized or highly organized," she says, "you are a slave to that problem and you are not contributing anything unique to your life." In other words, being organized isn't always a good thing.
"If you're stuck inside looking for things you can't find, or overly organizing things so you can find them, then you are losing out on life," she says. Just be organized enough so you can get on with your life.
There's no law that says you need a special color-coded orange and black bin to store your Halloween decorations. Find any old box, tape it shut, slap on a Post-it Note (Morgenstern prefers Post-it Removable Labels for their full back adhesive so they don't fall off boxes) -- and move on.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
As an organized person living with 2 slobs ( husband and daughter) , I have to say that it is pschologically painful for an organized person to live in chaos. Of course, whenever they need to find something, guess who they come running to?
ReplyMaybe they come to you because you moved it from where they left the item "to keep the house neat."
I was married to an over-organizer for 30 years. I should have known to run the first year when the man actually folded his dirty socks before putting them in the clothes hamper. Over the years he got so bad that he freaked out over a blade of grass in the carpet of the car. I finally left him because he was psychotic over his need to organize. I went with our youngest daughter to look at the housing options for college this year and came back to finding my cats had been put down...because he could not stand having pets messing up his organized life. Which had really become a lack of a life. I am organized myself but people get out of control with control. Would not be married to an organization freak ever again.
ReplyI am well orgainized where it matters. My financial records are kept in impeccable condition. And while the rest of my things look cluttered and messy, I'm always able to quickly find whatever it is I'm looking for.
ReplyI Was so organized I labled His clothes as to their being Dress, Casual, work. I don't do That now because He is gone and I got a guy who can take care of himself. Life is sooo much easier now!
ReplyBeing Organized is a Gift..a talent- in today's world we need more organized folks. People who do not appreciate others talents- well, is because they LACK that themselves- it is easier to treat the person who is organized as the person who is crazy or wacky- however, the person who is organized keeps everyone else together. it you let things get out of sync - it will more than likely lead to other disfunctions. Being organized when I was a single Mom- allowed me to give my daughter structure and purpose. I say HATS OFF to those who keep structure and order!
ReplyI need help!!!! I am so DIS organized that I don't know where to start!!! And that is driving me insane. I used to be organized and 2 years ago something happened to my sense of being organized and neat....and my house is in chaos and.....oh someone help me!!
ReplyWho cares that you are a neat freak? Why does anyone want to work so hard at cleaning and cleaning? There came a day in my life that I cannot do what I used to do. So cleaning is not as important to me as it used to be. Just keep it picked up and try to keep it presentable when someone comes is a all day job for me. Being able to live in a house is just what I think. We need to be clean but not over kill. Enjoy life and try not to be so out of control when it comes to cleaning. life is way to short not to enjoy it.
ReplyCompletely agree! Being organized isn't about being organized with the organizing materials we buy at the organizing store. It's a mental effort that's much harder than buying the correct filing system. Kudos to all who keep it in perspective.
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