The Link Between Perfectionism and Chronic disorganization

Perfectionism is not necessarily a term you’d expect to hear when it comes to clutter and chronic disorganization, although the two go hand in hand a lot more often than we realize. Perfectionism is often socially tied to minimalism and beautifully organized spaces. And while it’s true, many perfectionists are tidy and organized at all times, others keep their common spaces ready for company but have secret catch all spaces, and some have nothing in order. 

The honest truth? We can tell almost immediately if this is you. Our perfectionist clients have things one way or the other only: “perfect” or a complete mess. As a perfectionist myself, I experience this in all aspects of my life. If I’m not certain it’ll turn out perfect, I’m quick to avoid it. It’s no secret that perfectionism is tied to procrastination. A study titled “Multidimensional Models of Perfectionism and Procrastination” found that perfectionism was consistently associated with procrastination.

The hardest part about perfectionism isn’t the standard itself but the pressure that comes with it. When it all feels like a test you might fail, it’s just easier not to start at all. Over time, that pressure builds into shame: “I should be able to handle this,” “I should have fixed this by now.” What I’ve learned? Perfectionism doesn’t protect us from failure, it keeps us in it. That cycle of avoidance and self criticism is exhausting and often, the clutter around us becomes a reflection of that mental overload.

That fear of failure, or not being able to do it right can easily keep us stuck. Here’s one thing we want you to know; there’s no right way to do it. And even if you get it “right”, the system will eventually need to change anyway. Organization is fluid, just like our clutter, and there’s no one size fits all. What works for you now, or did last year, won’t forever. One of the most important aspects of organization and maintaining your space is recognizing errors in the flow, and making tweaks until the system fits your current set up. For many of our clients, learning this has been a big stepping stone over that fear. 

Being a perfectionist, I have to constantly remind myself that “good enough” is actually good enough. And that there is no right or wrong way to organize, but multiple ways I can create and adjust as I learn what works for me. Remember, every organized space you’ve ever admired started as a mess, you’ve got this. 

Xo, Chloe