For those of you who are very neat and organized: why do you think you are that way?

1. I take pride in my things (I’ve worked hard for them) and so, I do my best to take care of them (show them off)

2. I need to for my head. When things are neat and organized, I feel better (mentally). I’m a neat freak and, a good ol’ cleaning, for me, is therapeutic. Reduces any anxiety.

The actual cleaning, I enjoy it.

I like being organized because it helps me be efficient. I don’t think it’s a compulsive thing for me though because my organization often looks rather chaotic to most people. My desk looks like a mess, but I know exactly where everything I need is.

@Seaofclouds Interesting that you say you are organized, but things look a mess. I think the majority of “messy” people are organized, they know where things are. I think people like us don’t like to have things put away in a file in a drawer, we like to be able to “see” everything. I would rather have things organized in a binger on a shelf with a label on it, then in a folder filed away.

@JLeslie I agree. I’m currently doing a lot of research for school. When I print out research articles, I put them on my desk (in a specific order) instead of putting them away in a binder until I need them again. I’ve been doing this work for months, so there is a lot on my desk. I also have several books that I use for references and I keep them on my desk instead of the book shelf right next to my desk.

Because their parents made giving up their poopies during potty training a traumatic experience, they are now forced, for the rest of their lives, to walk around with their ass cheeks clenched, pursing their prim mouths in displeasure at any sort of creative disorder, and refusing to give up any of their poopies.

@SmashTheState <<-who is this f-ing sod?

Although I am no where near being a neat-nic. I can only wish. In my minds eye I am, but effecting it—it just won’t happen. The best I can do is, my house is clean but just cluttered/junky.

I like for my things to stay nice. They can’t stay nice if they’re balled up in the corner or are covered with spilled liquids and crud or are crumpled up on the desk.

I don’t like to clean, necessarily, but I know it’s what I have to do to maintain my things.

@aprilsimnel I consider neat differenet then clean. I consider myself clean, but not very neat. I would never leave something stained in a corner. I am more likely to vacuum, and clean the toilettes then to organize my paperwork in my office, or put away my folded laundry.

I’m with @jjmah and @aprilsimnel on this one. It keeps me clear-headed, and it keeps my stuff nice. I feel much more efficient when I’m organized, and everything is where it should be. I do like some types of cleaning (doing the dishes, vacuuming, etc.), but I hate others (most notably, laundry). As to why I am this way: I’d say it’s a mix of being raised that way, living with some roommates who were absolute disgusting slobs, and a bit of a compulsion.

Another question. I seem to get stuck at making a place for things. Is that effortless for all of you neat people? Once I have the place I can make the effort to put things away. If it is something that needs a new place created I avoid doing it.

When I can’t seem to find a place for a new category of something, I go over the stuff I already have to see if I need it anymore, and then it sorts itself out.

I believe that my desire for perfectionism and being a neat-freak go hand in hand. I really can’t explain why I’m this way, but having everything neat and tidy makes me relaxed. Unfortunately the ultimate need to be this way has elapsed into not only having to have a perfect house, but the cars have to be clean, as well as the yard being mowed with perfectly straight lines, and all of the landscaping has to be constantly groomed. Thank goodness I have an understanding neighbor because my pruners have been known to slip into his yard and trim back his shrubs a time or two.

@betterdays Do you like being that way?

I was taught the most efficient ways my grandparents knew and each aciton had it’s benefit explained to me. I learned to appreciate cleanliness, efficiency, consistency, found security and even beauty in it.

Living organized is a joy for me. I love being able to go into my own kitchen and know where everything is, everytime and have it set up to be the handiest for me. Same thing goes for cabinets, drawers, closets and such. Believe it or not but this system make maintanence, shopping, replacing and planning really easy.

I definitely think mine is a result of my environment growing up. My mother was always a very tidy person and put a lot of emphasis on “keeping things nice”, and I guess I learned it from her.

I don’t mind being that way too much, but it’s hard to totally relax because I constantly have a list of things that just have to be done. Now my husband on the other hand loves it because he doesn’t have to wash any car, mow the lawn, take care of the landscaping or help clean the house! The next door neighbor moved a few miles away and really misses me sneaking over and trimming his shrubs once in a while. However, I did get chewed out once from a lady from our old neighborhood (who was acting as a spokesperson for a few other ladies) about doing all of the outside work. I guess their husbands told them that if I could mow my yard and wash the cars then they should be able to do it too. It didn’t sit very well with them needless to say!

I find that being neat is more efficient and saves time. And less dust means fewer sneezing attacks.

It’s not natural for me, but I sure like the feeling I feel when things are nice…...but, the way I figure it, you gotta let it get messy before you clean, because then you really notice the difference and feel even better than you would if you had every thing nice all the time….. That’s my reasoning for letting thing go for a while, anyway!

I’m very neat and organized, I cannot stand filth or chaos. I’m also a very compulsive collection and completion freak in video games. I think both these traits are an element of balance which I’ve created for myself in a life where I’ve otherwise no control whatsoever over anything, or at least, the idea thereof.

But try explaining that to someone when you freak out because they move your pens or when they wonder why you spend 12 hours looking for a sword you’re never gonna use. I’ve also read an article in EGM that in video games, upgrading things and characters, collecting items and filling out percentages actually releases some sorta dopamine rush which acts as euphoria for the player. So I denno…I know your question ain’t about games, but I feel the same way about them as I do with organizing my movies or keeping my apartment spic and span. I’ve thought about it before, and it seems to match…at least so far, or until my slob of a roomie totally destroys my sanity by walking everywhere with her shoes on or littering my kitchen floor with bloody Rockstar cans.

@Symbeline Maybe it is like an addiction? As long as you focus or have your mind occupied on your organizing and other things you mentioned, you don’t have to think about the things that are bothering you. Kind of like an avoidance, or coping mechanism. Just guessing.

@JLeslie Shoveling dirt to clean up the mess my husband’s been making putting in a little pond is helping me take my mind off of the fact that I’m REALLY late with my house payment. (See Q I posted a bit ago!) Damn it’s hot out there…..

I like for things to be neat and organized, but I don’t freak if they are not.

@Dutchess_III It’s been really hot all over the US, not sure where you live. Bad week to be doing digging outside.

Saturday wasn’t so bad, but on Sunday the heat index was at 103, although the “real” temperature was 95. I didn’t do much Sunday! I’m in Kansas.

I use the extra time to do something creative. Searching stuff can be very boring and time consuming.