Are you messie, and why?

[nicsmom]

I've been reading a series of books by Sandra Felton. The first book I read was 'Messie No More'. She writes about the reasons some people have a harder time being neat and organized. I'm not terribly messy but I can definitely use some help in this area :). These books really hit home for me. My husband would never say it, but I know he thinks some of my 'messiness' is because of laziness. Reading her books confirmed that most messiness is caused by other factors. Maybe having alot of different interests (reading, crafts etc.) cause clutter in your home. Frugality can sometimes cause clutter (not throwing things away because you believe you'll find a use for it). Sentimentality (keeping things that remind you of someone, or gifts that you might not really like but you would feel guilty to get rid of). She writes about so much more. My reasons for having clutter and being less organized than I would like to be have alot to do with having alot of different interests and being easily distracted (sometimes I wonder if I suffer from adult ADD). I rarely sit and do nothing. When I watch TV, I'm usually also looking at cook books or gardening books...

If you are a 'Messie' what are your reasons?

Deb :)

[debbiepittman]

I'm a terrible messie. I guess my main reasons would be

1) lack of training. My dad wanted a genius so I was forbidden to do any housework growing up as it would cut into my study time. The last year of high school, I'd taken up penpalling and offered to do dishes each evening for stamp money. I got $2 every 2 weeks (that is back when stamps were 20c each instead of 37c).

I just go blank and confused not knowing what to do first, etc. I finally just tackle something. My churches magazine (one of the two) just put an article about housekeeping with some schedules in it. It is really good. I plan to post it in my house.

2) I get very forgetful. I've had mental/nerve problems and depression. I often just can't concentrate to finish a task.

3) I do have lots of interests, but have not done much of anything else lately.

4) I have 2 very messy kids. They trash the place just about 5 minutes after I clean it up. It is a never ending battle that I often just give up on while the kids are in this stage.

5) Laziness. I do have a bit of this. Of course, mixed in with feelings of futility and that what I do just makes no difference overall.

Debbie

[mom2knk]

Well I am not sure that I am a complete messie, my problem is I tend to hold on to everything and unless it has a home, it ends up wherever I drop it......I guess that does make me a messie. :(

[Kimberlina]

Oh yes, I'm a messie. I am a perfectionist and get overwhelmed- I want it all perfect right now, so none of it gets done. Plus I find it boring.

Right now, though, my DD is the main source of the messiness. Whenever I try to clean, she either has a fit, or makes an even bigger mess in another area. :(

OT: I had one of Felton's books "ordered" at my library. I was on the waiting list so long my request expired. I just don't get that- you've waited too long because it isn't available yet, so now if you still want it, you have to request it again and go to the end of the list. Ummmm, okay.

[homemaker carol]

I'm a messie when I bake and when I quilt. When I bake, pots and pans are everywhere, flour is everywhere and it takes quite some time to clean up.

When I quilt, thread is on the floor, material everywhere, pattern pieces everywhere and I can seldom find what I'm working on after leaving the room. It takes me forever to clean my sewing room and seldom is it ever completely clean unless I'm taking a picture. Heaven forbid that someone would see my messie sewing room. :D

[krasytopaint]

I am a messie. I do go on search and destroy missions on occation but the whole housekeeping thing is a bore to me. I would rather paint or garden.

I am moving into a new home soon and did a real search and destroy mission; I hope to get in on the right foot by having a place for everything, that is truly the real reason for messies I think. :confused:

[geniebird]

For some people what looks like disorganization is actually their filing system. Yep, those piles of papers on the desk, the sewing supplies in strategic places, the pans on the kitchen counter are all there for a reason. Now, only the person who put them there knows what the reason is, but there is a reason. That's my style.

Now Bob on the other hand is of the "a place for everything and everything in it's place" school. We currently live in a very tiny apartment, so there really isn't room to have stuff out, but every possible storage space is also full to overflowing. So, right now, neither one of us can find anything.