When Being Organized Goes Too Far (And What to Do About It)

Is there such a thing as being too organized? There actually is! But how do you know when being organized goes too far? And if your organization does go too far, what should you do about it? Today I have some answers that should hopefully help you find a happy medium.

Are you too organized?

If you are hopelessly worried about appearances and having nothing out-of-place, especially to the detriment of other things in your life, the answer may be yes. And likewise, if your organization level is a façade, that’s also a problem. What do I mean by a façade? Essentially this–if your home is immaculate on the surface, but open the wrong closet door and Bam!, that’s a problem. You need to work on being organized so that you can live comfortably.

Why is being too organized a problem? Simply because you can try so hard for everything in your home to be perfect that you miss the point. Number one, nothing will ever be “perfect.” Instead, focus on “good.” Let go of unrealistic expectations and feel the stress in your life decrease!

How to avoid being too organized

1. Simplify! Many of those who are too organized have too many categories in their labeling and filing systems. The point of an organized filing system for all those important papers is to find things quickly and easily. When your system multiplies into categories and sub-categories and sub-sub-categories, you have a problem. It is no longer quick or easy to find anything. Don’t make it harder or more involved than it needs to be!
2. Ironically, people who are too organized often hang onto too much stuff because they think it’s “organized” so it doesn’t matter. But in reality, too much stuff is still too much stuff. A professional organizer can help you wade through the stuff and cut out what’s really not essential.
3. Don’t do too much organization at once. You might think you can handle the whole house in a day, but that’s risky. Instead, break it down by room or by zone so you can really be thoughtful about what stays and what goes.
4. Don’t cram so much into your day! Many people who find themselves too organized are the same people who can’t sit down for one second because they’re constantly on overdrive. Focus on why you do the things you do. Do you really want to spend so much time on that project that isn’t really necessary? Are you wasting time on something that is just stressing you out? Cut out the stuff that isn’t doing you any favors. Take care of your mental and physical health.

And try this habit from Psychology Today: instead of pushing yourself to be more organized, focus on the stuff that you’ve accumulated and don’t even need or use. Once you get that stuff out of your living space and out of your life, you might realize that your current level of organization is actually pretty good.