Does it feel like no matter how hard you try, staying organized just isn’t in the cards? Maybe your to-do lists end up buried under a mountain of papers, or your closets seem to have a life of their own. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with chronic disorganization (CD)—a common challenge that can feel overwhelming but is manageable with the right approach.
Let’s dive into chronic disorganization, what causes it, and, most importantly, how to tackle it in a way that works for you.
What is Chronic Disorganization?
Chronic disorganization isn’t the occasional messy room or missed deadline; it’s a persistent struggle with organization that disrupts daily life. People with CD often experience:
A Long History of Disorganization: It’s been an issue for years, not just a phase. It is more than just the temporary overwhelm of a new home or baby. Disorganization has been ongoing for years, even as far back as adolescence.
Real-Life Consequences: It undermines the quality of life daily. The consistency of the disorganization eventually affects relationships, work, and overall peace of mind. Missing appointments and forgetting to pay bills are commonplace.
Difficulty Finding Lasting Solutions: Typically the individual with chronic disorganization has tried many, many times to get organized. They’ve bought the books, the bins, and the planners, but to no avail. The cycle of try and fail continually repeats itself resulting in a defeatist attitude of why try, which only adds to the clutter and disorganization.
The key thing to know? Chronic disorganization isn’t about laziness or lack of effort. It’s truly a real challenge for those affected. But with the right support and tailored approaches there is hope for an organized life.
Why Does Chronic Disorganization Happen?
There are many factors associated with chronic disorganization, but here are some common reasons:
Neurological Factors: Conditions like ADHD, autism, traumatic brain injuries, or other conditions with executive functioning challenges can make organizing harder.
Emotional Blocks: Anxiety, OCD, depression, or big life transitions (like moving or divorce) can create mental roadblocks.
Beliefs about Self and Things: Attaching self-worth and sentiment to items is very common. Discarding something a deceased loved one gave them, in their mind, means discarding the love with the item. It is also very common for those with chronic disorganization to associate a thing with their identity. Keeping an abundance of art supplies must mean I’m an artist.
Physical Challenges: Impaired mobility, poor vision, and physical conditions that cause fatigue or chronic pain make it difficult to get organized, and then keep it up.
How to Tackle Chronic Disorganization
Organizing, whether you have chronic disorganization or not, is a process. It didn’t happen overnight and it can’t be fixed overnight. However, if organization is challenging for you, know it will take longer, but can be accomplished. Here’s how to get started:
1. Set a Clear Goal
Once you’ve set a goal, you’ve already indicated a willingness to try to change. Come up with what you want to achieve, what you want the space to look like, and why this goal is important to you. Then come up with well-defined steps laying out what needs to be done each step of the way. Write it all down, whether on paper or electronically. Many people with chronic disorganization are visually oriented, so documenting your progress keeps you motivated and accountable.
2. Get Some Support
People with chronic disorganization tend to get easily distracted and have a harder time with change. Enlisting the help of a family member or friend will keep the project on track and help you work through the inevitable stumbling blocks such as when discarding sentimental items or holding onto things “just in case.” Hiring a professional organizer, especially someone trained to work with the chronically disorganized, can be a game-changer. A professional organizer will bring fresh eyes, helpful systems, and a lot of compassion. The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) is a great place to look for resources or find an organizer near you. If anxiety or other mental health concerns are present, consider reaching out to a therapist. Addressing these challenges will help ensure a better long-term result.
3. Start Small
Becoming overwhelmed is very common for the chronically disorganized. If your goal is to organize the garage, trying to tackle it in a single weekend is not realistic and will only lead to the cycle of try and fail. This is why an action plan for your goal is so important. Refer back to your steps. Begin with something manageable, like clearing one shelf. Have supplies handy to prevent getting sidetracked when gathering them. Small wins build momentum and positive feedback.
4. Decluttering is Difficult
Less is more, and this is especially true for the chronically disorganized. The fewer items there are to organize, the easier it is. However, since items and identity are so intertwined, along with the other factors that contribute to chronic disorganization, clutter can build rapidly. Not allowing clutter into the home in the first place is crucial. Asking “Do I need this” before purchasing and staying away from stores or online shopping sites are hard but necessary habits to form. Methods like “one in, one out” can be effective for some people.
For existing clutter, keep in mind the “less is more” mantra and your goal when letting go of items. Donating items is very important to those with chronic disorganization. Knowing that these items will be used by someone else gives them a second life in their eyes. When the inevitable stumbling block to discarding comes up, ask yourself why you are holding onto the item, will you really need it in the future, and when was the last time you used the item. Having someone to work with you during the decluttering process can be extremely helpful.
5. Find Tools That Fit Your Style
Not all organizing methods work for everyone, so experiment to see what methods work with your style. And if one doesn’t work, try another, or combine two! There is no right or wrong way to organize.
Love Visual Cues? Try open shelves, hooks, clear bins, bulletin boards, or sticky notes. Visual learners need design to meet function.
Listening Over Writing? Auditory learners will especially benefit from working with someone when organizing. Strategizing and talking through what is being done reinforces what they are learning. Having music on while tackling an organizing task can also help with focus and attention.
Tech-Savvy? Apps like Trello or Google Calendar can keep tasks and deadlines on track.
6. Build Simple Routines
Use Timers: Stay focused by allocating a certain amount of time to a task and then using a timer to stay on track. Give yourself a small break before starting the timer again.
Daily Maintenance: Spend time every day, even 10 minutes, to tidy up, or plan tomorrow’s schedule. These habits add up!
Avoid Overcommitting: Many chronically disorganized individuals have a lot of interests and tend to take on too much. Keep enough open space in the calendar to ensure that there is enough time to complete the goal, and then to maintain it.
Living with Chronic Disorganization
People affected by chronic disorganization often feel that they will just have to live like this forever. And that is simply not true. With the right support, tools, and mindset you can create spaces and systems that truly work for you. Getting, and staying, organized won’t be easy, but it can be done.
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