on organization

[low_delta]

I'm wired for organization. Sort of. I need it. I don't always do it. Actually, it's about efficiency. I must keep my work spaces organized so I can function. For the most part they are kept so. Some places that should be workspaces are storage spaces, so are not kept tidy.

In some areas, efficiency loses out to aesthetics. Like the bedroom. I like to have my clothes out on top of the dresser, for easy access. I hate searching through drawers looking for a certain pair of pants or a sweater. Although the bedroom often looks like that, it's not supposed to, because it looks messy.

But back to the organizing... I need it organized, but it's tough keeping it that way. You have to keep at it. As soon as you let it slide, you can't get it back - not without a huge struggle. I bring a stack of papers back to the office from the kitchen, file some, discard others, and drop the last few on my desk... where they stay. *sigh* The toughest part, for me, is finding a place for everything. I can get things where they belong, if they have a place to belong in. Currently, things that don't have a place end up in a pile or another in the office, or in a pile or another in the basement. There are too many piles that never get cleaned up because there's no place to clean them to.

Comments

[https://users.livejournal.com/-foryoublue/]

i feel your frustration. i am currently sitting amdist a very very very messy room, and it is making me very very very anxious (for reasons as you have described). we recently built a loft-bed against my wall, which required taking everything out of my room (which in turn required moving all those miscellaneous piles of homeless crap). now that my bed has been installed... i have even more piles than before. ugh.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

When I was a little younger, my room was always extremely messy. Just piles of crap everywhere. Partly due to laziness, partly due to having too much stuff to go anywhere with it.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

". .homeless crap. ." A perfect descriptive phrase.

[waning-estrogen.livejournal.com]

I hear you.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

Somehow disorganization breeds disorganization. At least for me.
When I was working my cubicle was always well organized--desk drawers and all. In fact, if I had several things going I would stop periodically during the day to straighten up and sort out or it would affect my thinking ability.

Home--that's a different matter. For one thing, I only had a cubicle full at work, and a drawer in another area. Here I have a whole apartment's worth. The only thing that saves me is what my family has always described as "being ruthless". When we moved I would tell the kids to go through their own rooms and dispose of stuff. "Be ruthless!" And they were, and I was, and it felt SO GOOD when it was done. I remember that feeling, even as I'm not practicing it, and it keeps me from being entirely mired.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I used to have a neat workspace and a messy home. Over the years I've gotten better at having a neat home. This last time I moved, of course was different. One, I had someone else looking over my shoulder to make sure it didn't get messy, and two, I have a basement big enough to hold all the excess until I can figure out what to do with it.

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

I immediately organize and file things away.
On the other hand, Stan spreads his work out.
All over the couch, floor and kitchen table. He hates it when I try to clean up and I hate that I have to wade through paper work just to get to the sofa. I can't tell you how many times I've stubbed my toes on his brief case.
It drives me nuts.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Spreading your stuff out while your working is one thing, but leaving it there when you're not working is another.

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

But that's what he does. It's irritating!