Chaos Anonymous!

I've discovered that there is an actual, bona fide disorder for my what I've always simply considered "my scattered ways!"  Yes, it's true- it's called C.D.D. or "Chronic Disorganization Disorder." According to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, the disorder consists of:

·Having a past history of disorganization in which self-help efforts to change have failed.
·An undermining of your current quality of life due to disorganization.
·An expectation of future disorganization.


 At first, I thought that all of this was kinda tongue in cheek- but as I read more and more websites on the topic, I realized that this is dead. serious.

I've tried everything from flylady to drill sergeant-type books that yell at me to "Go- deal with your mail- NOW!"  Nothing has ever worked. I always slide back into my discombobulated jumble.
Now I can't help laughing- perhaps with relief- after all, I am freed of thinking of myself as a struggling sinner, and instead, can view myself as a "sufferer," one of a host of nameless victims of the dreaded C.D.D. I can now join the ranks of victims who are powerless to help themselves without spending thousands upon thousands on various profressionals who will attempt to get me out the mess I've gotten myself into.

Don't get me wrong- my disorganization causes me (and others) suffering- there is no doubt about that. And, there is also no doubt that it's not ALL my fault. I just fail to see how putting a psychiatric label on something I've always considered to be "my battle with sin" -will really help me to overcome it. I'm not saying it won't help- I just wonder how it can.

With all of this in mind- I am going to present herein, my 15 day challenge for myself, to see if I can make some progress in this battle, which until now, I had all but given up on fighting. It is this: I have 12 very small rooms that are used regularly in my home. Within these rooms reigns a certain type of chaos, all our own. We also have an extremely gross basement, attic, and back room area that are out of all control, and are thus, unused.  I homeschool my two kids, and things have gotten really out of hand. So for the first 15 days of January 2013, I plan to spend one hour a day doing basic organization/purging/cleaning. If I don't finish satisfactorily in one room, (which I won't) I will move on to the next. I'm keeping this as simple as I can. It will go, as follows:

Day 1: Office
Day 2: Front Porch area
Day 3: Back Bathroom
Day 4: Kitchen
Day 5: Dining Room/School Room
Day 6: Living Room
Day 7: Hallway/Coat Area
Day 8: Master Bedroom
Day 9: Son's Room
Day 10: Daughter's Room
Day 11: Upstairs Bathroom
Day 12: Upstairs Back Room
Day 13: Attic
Day 14: Basement
Day 15: Sundry Hallways, Stairs

Yes, I have left the three worst rooms for last. This is because I have C.D.D. Hah. That's gotta be good for SOMETHING, I figure.

The rules of the road are as follows:

Rule 1: Set the timer for One Hour, and when the timer goes off- I must stop what I am doing and pursue other needed activities, NO MATTER WHAT.

Rule 2: The One Hour must be continuous, focused effort, no wandering off. Get the kids busy doing something that will take one hour, (who am I kidding- this will entail videos, I can't see any other way around it!) and then- go to it!

Rule 3: Basic household chores are not to suffer just because of this one hour commitment. Laundry and dishes, meals, must be accomplished (as well,or better than they ever have been)

Rule 4: This will be the beginning of a room rotation. After 15 days, this rotation will continue back in room 1 again, until such a time that all rooms are reasonably organized, clean and comfortable. At such a time when a room should become "finished" and ready to move to a regular maintenance schedule, the party of the first part shall be entitled to purchase one item for said room as a reward for her efforts. This item must be useful, beautiful, or otherwise necessary, and will serve as a reminder to keep said room in order, by following the previous rotation on a cleaning maintenance schedule.

Rule 5: This rotation does not preclude doing necessary things in other rooms/areas. Those necessary things are not to be confused with the one hour of continuous, focused effort in the room of the day, however.

Let us see where I end up in 2014!! Let the games begin!

 http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/content/fact-sheets-public-0