We all struggle at times with too much stuff in our homes or too much on our to-do lists.

A pile of paperwork that needs to be put away. A wardrobe waiting for a clear-out. Some vintage vegetables festering in the fridge. These might be due to a particularly busy time at work or disruption to your household routines. But disorder that is neither situational nor short-lived is something else entirely: chronic disorganisation.

What chronic disorganisation is

Chronic disorganisation can show up in different areas of life at once: a home where surfaces disappear under randomly strewn objects, a work desk where letters or forms get overlooked because paperwork goes astray, or a digital life of thousands of unread emails and duplicate files.

The term was coined in the early 1990s by Judith Kolberg, founder of what became the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), a non-profit association that provides education, training and research. ICD defines chronic disorganisation (CD) as having three key features:

  1. It persists over a long time, possibly years. For someone affected by CD, habits may be so ingrained that they struggle to imagine living any other way.
  2. It can undermine quality of life, impacting various aspects of physical and mental wellbeing. Physical clutter may inhibit daily activities, causing tension with other household members, and giving rise to a constant sense of overwhelm.
  3. It resists independent efforts to change. People affected by CD tend to perceive the solution as self-improvement; they try self-help courses, books and podcasts, apps and organising products, all to no avail. But repeated failure leaves them feeling demoralised and despondent.

 

What chronic disorganisation isn’t

It’s worth decluttering some myths and misconceptions about CD.

  • Not a medical diagnosis. Chronic disorganisation isn’t a condition a GP or psychiatrist would diagnose; it’s a descriptive term used by professional organisers and coaches, not a clinical one. It can coexist with diagnosable conditions such as ADHD or hoarding disorder, but it isn’t one itself.
  • Not a personality flaw. CD doesn’t reflect character or capability. It’s a set of behaviours that stem from lack of skills or systems, and is often associated with brain-based conditions that impair executive functioning. Yet people living with CD sometimes regard their inability to manage workflow or household tasks, for example, as a personal failing.
  • Not always visible. For many individuals, CD is a well-guarded secret. They might give the impression of being organised at work, for example, but are heavily dependent on a personal assistant to manage their diary.
  • Not a lack of intelligence. There’s no correlation between cognitive ability or IQ, and CD. Some of my clients are successful writers and scientists whose intellectual curiosity knows no bounds; in some cases, the same ADHD traits that make organising harder are also part of what drives the energy and enthusiasm behind their work.
  • Not laziness or apathy. People affected by CD often invest time, money and effort in trying to organise their space and their schedule. When I worked with clients on-site, I would often spot bookshelves laden with self-help manuals and half-completed workbooks. They were familiar with all the gurus, from Martha Stewart to Marie Kondo, but struggled to implement or maintain their methods.
  • Not a lack of motivation. Most people with chronic disorganisation are eager for things to be different. They often have a clear vision of what their space, and their life, could look like if only they could get on top of their to-do list. But repeated failure can chip away at determination, sometimes leading to prolonged bouts of procrastination.
  • Not “just” typical teenage behaviour. It can be difficult to distinguish commonplace chaos stemming from a still-developing teenage brain from features of chronic disorganisation. Both can give rise to a “floordrobe” of discarded clothes on the carpet, for example. But while young adults might learn to manage their laundry when they head off to university or live independently, someone affected by CD may continue to struggle.
  • Not synonymous with hoarding disorder. Chronic disorganisation isn’t the same as hoarding disorder, a complex diagnosable mental health condition, though the two can overlap. For many people affected by CD, the challenge isn’t deep-seated emotional attachment to material belongings; the struggle is more likely to be with decision-making and systems rather than an inability to let go.

Who it affects

Chronic disorganisation affects people across every age group, profession and background. It often coexists with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity, including specific learning differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. People process information, sequence tasks, and approach time in myriad different ways so conventional organising hacks don’t work for everyone. CD can emerge or worsen after trauma or after a major life change such as bereavement or divorce.

In my own practice, CD shows up across a wide range of clients: secondary school and university students trying to keep coursework under control; professional trainees juggling qualifications alongside a demanding first job; and older clients who have spent the better part of a lifetime trying to make sense of frustrating behaviours.

Why it’s so problematic

The main issue is that chronic disorganisation doesn’t stay contained. A missed bill becomes a late payment fee. A lost form becomes a missed appointment. A cluttered desk becomes a source of daily low-level stress. It can also add tension to relationships, between partners or housemates at home, or between colleagues at work.

Over time, the emotional costs take their toll: shame, guilt, embarrassment and an inordinate sense of failure. Ongoing self-criticism chips away at self-esteem, confidence and both physical and mental health. Clients who approach me for help often believe they simply need to try harder or search more for an elusive new tool or technique that will magically restore order to their lives.

Where to go from here

Understanding what chronic disorganisation is, and isn’t, is the first step. Clients are often immensely relieved to recognise CD as a pattern rather than a personal failing. This opens the door to the right kind of support, one that focuses on strategies, skills and systems suited to how they think and work.

If this resonates, learn how ADHD and Chronic Disorganisation Coaching and Virtual Organising and Declutter Coaching can help.