Wow, it’s common!
Disorganization around the house is commonplace. The term relates to a state of messiness or an inability to plan. Being disorganized can affect the ability to live well. It can be physically and emotionally challenging for disorganized people to live calmly, meet daily requirements, and run an efficient household. For example, a disorganized person may lose basic things like their car keys, run late, or miss meetings, and fail to pack their child’s lunch or pick up the drycleaning. The good news is that a change in habits can fix it. To end the cycle of disorganization, one must first determine its root cause. Note that there are common reasons for disorganization. Being disorganized is different from hoarding disorder as described below.
Here are three typical reasons why some people have disorganized households:
- They are super busy. Busy people tend to fill their days with tasks. However, it’s important to differentiate being busy from being productive. Being busy means a person has a lot to do, but it does not translate into getting things done effectively or at all. It just means that much is on their schedule. People who are busy are not necessarily effective at home. They may procrastinate decluttering and organizing in favor of doing something else.
Per verywellmind.com, busy people run the risk of
- Burnout
- feeling overworked
- exhaustion
- feeling disconnected from social and family life
- work-life balance is off
It’s explained that people may numb themselves with busyness to avoid painful feelings, situations, or to increase self-worth and status. However, there may be underlying discomfort beneath the surface.
Being productive is more important. A productive person yields and reaps results, benefits, and profits by getting things done effectively and efficiently. They often profit by having less stress and a better work-life balance. And they aren’t afraid to say “no” to things they cannot do.
- They own too much stuff. Clutter is the term which refers to the overaccumulation of goods. People who over-accumulate things are generally nice people with a lot of stuff. They bring more items into the home than they get rid of, and it builds.
Persistent or severe clutter can lead to hoarding disorder; whereby a person is unable to part with possessions due to a perceived need to save items. Hoarding may be a symptom of emotional distress.
Hoarding can range from mild to severe, per Mayo Clinic. Those who hoard generally live in houses with cramped living conditions due to widespread clutter. This can be dangerous. People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, so getting them into treatment can pose a challenge. For more information on this condition, visit www.mayoclinic.org and search Hoarding disorder.
The overaccumulation of goods is considered “toxic” behavior as it interferes with safety, calmness, ability to focus, ability to find things, cleanliness, and productivity. Thus, having too many material possessions makes it difficult to properly manage a household. It’s important to note that material items do not necessarily deliver long-term happiness. Those facing difficulty removing unnecessary products from the home should seek professional advice.
- Lack of habits and routines. People who are disorganized tend to commonly lack habits and routines. Instead, unhelpful behaviors such as procrastination or lack of motivation may be exhibited. The mental attitude of pushing aside important tasks can take a negative toll. For example, someone who puts off laundry for an extended period may have no clean socks to wear. Or a person who fails to open their mail promptly risks failing to pay important bills such as automobile or homeowner insurance, the mortgage, or the water or electric bill. Establishing routines and schedules for doing laundry and setting up auto payments of important bills are easy and organized ways to troubleshoot these problems.
“Hidden” reasons for disorganization
Some people are disorganized for “hidden” reasons beyond some common ones listed above. Medical or mental-health issues may be present in some individuals as well. For example, they may have difficulties focusing which may prevent them from staying on task and getting things done around the house. Another reason why some people are disorganized relates to perfectionism. Per Lifesorted.com, a person may set unrealistic expectations and face insecurities or fear of disappointing others, which may lead to inaction. Procrastination is another biggie that stops people from getting things accomplished. They may intentionally delay tasks for fear of the unknown or other reasons.
The takeaway
There are many driving causes of disorganization. And it knows no boundaries. Note that many brilliant individuals, including Albert Einstein, exhibit signs of disorganization. In fact, the German-born theoretical physicist and most influential scientist of all time once asked, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” A splendid question indeed. Despite this ponderance, science seems to point toward clutter in a negative light, with research demonstrating that having too many material things is simply bad for our minds, souls, and bodies. To learn more about clutter, read our sister article entitled, The dangers of clutter.
