What is your organizing style?

Have you ever considered that you have natural approaches to organizing your space? Have you ever wondered why certain people seem to be better able to get organized and maintain their organized spaces than others? Our personalities can definitely affect how we organize. We all have natural behaviors regarding the use of space and how we organize our living and working areas.

Here at Organizing-etc., we believe there are seven different organization personality types. You may strongly align with one type as dominant, where another person may display behaviors of several styles in different situations. Read the descriptions below, and see where you think your organizing style preferences lie.

1. Crammer Jammers.

Crammer Jammers houses look immaculate but don’t open a drawer or closet. This personality style feels organized as long as they cannot see the clutter. So while Crammer Jammers love a tidy home, they are also prone to shoving and jamming things into every nook or cranny they can find. The items are stored away but tend to be missing an effective storage system.

2. Everything Out.

The Everything Out organizing style maintains their flow by leaving things out in the open as visual reminders. They think that the only way they will remember that they have something is if it is out and on display. By leaving things out where (hopefully) they can easily put their hands on them again, they feel more organized and in control. When too many things are left out, however, it becomes difficult to find what they’re looking for. It doesn’t take too long before this style preference begins to work against people. Known as ‘pile-filers,’ Everything Out personality types may be fine with their own style preferences and piles as reminders, but others may not function well in this cluttered space.

3. Savers “just in case”

Savers think that virtually everything might come in handy someday, so they keep items that others might throw away. They don’t subscribe to the idea that the ‘value’ of things changes over time, and dislike wasting items and resources that others may have difficulty finding or accessing. Savers see their accumulations as insurance of something to come, and feel secure as a result of these tendencies. Savers often feel they “may need it one day” — and use this as a reason to save, store and stockpile items. An item’s possibility is a reason to keep “perfectly good” items they “paid good money for” even if they have no use for them now or in the foreseeable future.

4. Meticulous Minimalist

Minimalist organizing style types thrive on only having essentials. Excess causes Minimalists to feel out of control. They typically pass up “free” items and rarely pick up materials unless they have an absolute need. They prefer to live in the “now” and let go of past items if they’ve served their purpose. They appreciate the value of memories, but do not connect those memories to “things” nor keep things for sentimental reasons. Minimalist types typically do not struggle with clutter, and they love open space. They will often let go of items in haste to avoid storing them. It is not hard for them to let go of items, so sometimes they do it prematurely. The reason minimalists choose to live with less is because it helps them to feel in control of their space and their lives.

5. Straightener

Straightener organizing style types love the appearance of straight lines and tidy piles. Straighteners feel in control when items around them are aligned. They like neat piles even if they don’t know what’s in those piles, and will create neatness out of disorderly spaces by straightening items, even when there are no categorical distinctions within piles. They may be caught ‘tidying up’ spaces over which they have no authority or accountability, for instance, strewn items on a table in a public waiting room.

Because of the propensity for neatness, Straighteners may straighten to tidy up, yet fail to organize the items they’re straightening. Therefore, they sometimes “look” more organized than they actually are.

6. No Rules

No Rules personality types tend to look disorganized to others. Even though they may know what they have and be able to find it when absolutely necessary, this personality style typically struggles due to their lack of systems.

Their disorderliness tends to trigger others who may call them “packrats.” Because of this, this style personality more than others may deal with ridicule and the shame that results. This negative cycle may exacerbate their tendencies and make things worse.

No Rules personalities may actually have gaps in their knowledge and/or organizational skills. Alternatively, they may be nonconformists (or less mature), and may simply rebel at the idea of structure and control. Sometimes this style revs up when people experience sudden change, transition, illness, or overwhelm in their current (or recent past) life situation.

7. Perfect Perfectionist

This type of organizer is what we think of as the classic “organized person”. They may categorize themselves as a “type a” or “perfectionist. This type of person thrives on being in control of their lives and their space. They may have color coded binders, an over the top calendar, and detailed labeled bins everywhere. They find pleasure and calm in the process of organizing, sorting, editing, and having a clear system to their space.

Whatever your organizing style, realize that there are ways you can address organizing your spaces that can work for you. We are not all the same in how we feel about our things but you can be organized no matter what your style may be. Learn more in next month's blog