Maintaining Organization

by Tiffany
(Cleveland, Ohio)

My husband and I are really struggling. This is really the only area but it causes so many arguments.

I have ADD, my brain just does not function like his. I'm messy, unorganized, and then I can hyper-focus where I will clean and organize a room for hours. I love how it it turns out, but then in a couple days it's a mess again. It's like I like the challenge of completing a task but then that excitement is gone and I'm off to another project. How do I create organizing habits?

My husband is just plain great at organizing. He doesn't understand why I can't just put things back in their place. Well, if I had an answer I would be okay. I have tried. I set timers, look up organizing ideas, ADD sites, I've taken medicine, read books, lots of prayer, made small goals so I don't crash. I just don't no what else to do.

I know there's no magic but anything would help.

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Maintaining Organization

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Sep 05, 2010
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Staying Organized NEW
by: Tracy

This is a great question and the good news is that it sounds like you are off to a great start. You already know how to get organized and you already recognize where you struggle as far as staying organized. You need to change your habits and that is no small task. It certainly doesn't happen overnight.

Here is what I suggest for you...start keeping a habit list. Keep a notepad handy and each time you recognize a habit that leads to your home becoming disorganized after you have taken the time to get it organized, write it on your list.

For example, if you realize that every time you walk in the door you toss your coat on the back of a chair rather than hanging it in the closet, that is a habit for your list.

As soon as recognize the first habit, work to make a conscious effort to choose the appropriate behavior. Work only one habit at a time. Even if it takes you weeks to turn that habit into second-nature behavior, do not move on to another habit until the first one is mastered. In the meantime, add any new habits that you recognize to your list.

Every time you walk in your door say to yourself "I will take the time to hang up my coat." Force yourself to do it every day. Keep working at it until you realize that it has become an automatic response to hang up your coat, just as it used to be an automatic response to toss your coat on the chair.

Once the first habit is mastered, move on to the next habit on your list.

Continue in this manner until you have changed enough of your bad habits into good ones and you find it much easier to keep your home organized.

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