10 Tips That Take a Bit of OCD

Sometimes I feel as though I have a small bit of OCD. I think it is helpful to stay organized. The repetition seen in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, on a small-scale is putting things in their place. If you continually put things away you are probably organized and maybe have a bit of OCD. It is a bit compulsive to feel the need to do something every time, but that also is a definition of being organized.

If your life is in disarray maybe you need a little OCD too.

  1. Put everything in this place. This is the be-all and end-all rule.
  2. Create routines. Follow them to stay organized.
  3. Clean as you go. Never have to do a big overhaul again.
  4. Put all information in one place. Have only one place to look.
  5. Put it away now. If it will take less than 10 seconds do it.
  6. Use one in box. Put everything in it.
  7. Create a filing system. Every piece of paper you keep lives here.
  8. Use a calendar. This is the best way to organize your time.
  9. Create a landing strip. Locate everything you need when you are walking out the door.
  10. Make it simple. The easier the more likely you’ll have success.

These are tips for someone who likes things in order, not for people who truly have OCD. If you have or suspect you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, here are some self-care tips from WebMD.com.

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Janet Schiesl

Janet Schiesl

Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.

She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.

Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

Janet Schiesl

Janet Schiesl

Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.

She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.

Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

16 Comments

  1. Diane N Quintana on November 23, 2020 at 9:08 am

    These are fabulous, Janet. I do all of these things almost all the time. When you keep it simple and have good routines to follow you DO stay organized.

  2. Seana Turner on November 23, 2020 at 9:30 am

    I often joke and say I have OCP “Obsessive Compulsive Personality,” much like your little bit of OCD. I’m perfectly happy with the way I am, but I can drive other people crazy. I’m trying to lighten up a bit and be more tolerant of disorder (especially temporary disorder), while also allowing myself to put things away if that makes me feel better.

    • Janet Schiesl on November 23, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      I’m with you. I tell clients that my family is very happy that I leave our house and go organized others, because I leave them in peace and stop insisting on putting everything away.

  3. Linda Samuels on November 23, 2020 at 10:25 am

    I’m a regular participator in #1-10 activities. Those are very much the tenets of getting organized. Doing these activities feels comfortable and natural, but I know they aren’t as easy for some. The good news is that they are habits that can be developed. But I also recognize that not everyone sees these as necessary or a priority, so it’s a matter of figuring out what is possible and what will work for the individual.

    • Janet Schiesl on November 23, 2020 at 6:04 pm

      I agree Linda. I feel that the repetition of these tasks can keep you organized.

  4. Sabrina Quairoli on November 23, 2020 at 10:25 am

    Great tips! I do not think these are OCD at all. =) Just putting stuff away after you use it cuts down the clutter by 50% from my experience. So, it is a great one to do if you want to keep a tidy home.

    • Janet Schiesl on November 23, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      I think just using repetitive nature of OCD can keep things organized.

  5. Melanie on November 23, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    I definitely have OCD and these are like my 10 commandments, hahaha. Great post!

  6. Amy on November 24, 2020 at 10:40 am

    Awesome list. My landing spot and one inbox save time and create organization.

  7. Janet Schiesl on November 24, 2020 at 11:31 am

    Sounds like a good plan Amy.

  8. Julie Bestry on November 25, 2020 at 1:20 am

    I’m a huge fan of all ten tips, though I think of it less as OCD and more as ITLTS (I’m Too Lazy To Search). If I have one specific place where something should be, and it is there, I don’t ever have to go spelunking! The key to almost all of those tips is the word “one” — one home, one calendar, one in-box!

  9. Janet Schiesl on November 25, 2020 at 8:20 am

    This is a concept that if most people used we’d be out of work. HA HA! I teach this to all my clients. Everything needs a home. If you put things in their place then you don’t have to look for it when it’s needed again.

  10. Ronni Eisenberg on November 25, 2020 at 11:17 am

    I’m OCD in with all 10. Each one is relatable, I am definitely partial to a place for everything, having a landing strip, and do it, put it away now!
    I think I’ve loosened up just a bit as I’ve gotten older, but not enough to make a huge difference. My family don’t always love my systems except, perhaps, when they can’t find something or when I become their backup verification; “Did you remember to call Uncle Mike to wish him Happy Birthday?”
    Organizers think alike in many ways. It’s the club you love belonging to for validation, education
    and inspiration.

  11. Janet Schiesl on November 26, 2020 at 8:42 am

    Yes Ronni. I’m a happy club member.

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