At some point in our lives, all of us are disorganized. This might be temporary due to unexpected events: death in the family, big projects or moving.
Many of us recover from these events. To chronically disorganized people, these events just add more challenges and overwhelm. Their struggle with disorganization is a lifetime challenge that negatively affects the quality of their life.
Reasons for disorganization
There are many reasons why some people struggle to get organized. It could be ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), trauma or any other health issues.
Canadian comedian Howie Mandel has struggled with chronic disorganization all his life.
“I didn’t let ADHD prevent me from achieving my goals, and neither should you,” he once said.
Whenever somebody mentions the word disorganization, we think of physical disorganization. There is very little written or talked about mental and emotional disorganization.
My challenge was never physical disorganization, as I managed to control everything in my home. However, my mental struggle with depression and overwhelm kept me lonely and helpless.
Perhaps that’s the reason why I chose my career. It saved me from chronic depression and unhappiness.
Don’t let that happen to you; get help.
Lost items
Even the most organized souls frequently lose the items they need. For me and most people, it only happens once in a while and does not impact our lives. If you are chronically disorganized, you’re always looking for something you need and often you’ve left it to the last minute so panic now sets in and chaos continues.
This can result in missed appointments, being late for work, lost opportunities and negative effects on your physical and mental health. If your workspace is disorganized and the quality of your work is compromised, the odds to be dismissed are real.
Neglected home
A visible sign of being chronically disorganized is the condition of your home. Even the most organized people will experience difficulty staying organized with kids and their toys, and extra activities you want them to attend to.
If you are chronically disorganized you might struggle with frustration and shame, living a life in isolation. If the condition is not fixed, your home could become hazardous and unhealthy to live in.
Just like Howie Mandel, many people achieve impressive success despite their diagnosis. The solution is to turn your struggles into passion, doing something creative and positive. It could be crafts, writing, gardening, photography, public speaking or sports.
Using your skills to help others less fortunate is an excellent break from focusing on your condition.
This is so important to remember. If you are chronically disorganized, it’s a condition and not a flaw in your character.
Dr. Gabor Mate, one of my clients, has ADD. He published the book Scattered Minds, where he reveals his struggle and success in dealing with ADD. He also published many other books on childhood trauma, ADHD and drug addiction.
Don’t let your inability steal your possibility.
Life coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company based in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter and becoming more organized. For information, go to solutionsorganizing.com.
