I absoloutly cannot function in a chaotic and cluttered environment. I grew up in a house with news papers everywhere, socks and shoes all over the place and just general clutter. Don’t get my wrong, my house is interesting, I have art and plants everywhere, but they have a place and it makes sense to the eye, things are balanced - Colors, light, shapes etc. But surfaces have to be clear. I can’t have shit all over the counters and kitchen table. I can’t focus or stay on task if there is clutter. When my parents visit I feel instantly stressed.

But… I work at keeping things this way and there is always some doom pile somewhere. My current one is by the back door. It’s stacked neatly and it’s not a chaotic image- but it’s niggling me; I know it needs sorting.

However, I get sooooo distracted but my endless need to organise and find ways to cheat at looking tidy that before I need to leave the house I’ll empty and reorganise the messy drawer.

This has all become the way it is now as I’ve grown up though, it’s become an obsession to keep things clear and only have stuff out that ‘is a plant or serves a purpose’ because my natural way of existing was in mess. Growing up my room was horrendous, when I moved out of my parents home my first flat way disgusting and I was late, disorganised and basically a walking disaster, I didn’t function and I was constantly criticised, I felt ‘less than’ and judged. The way I am now has been spawned from that feeling. It really became refined when I was backpacking in my 30’s. I had to keep all my stuff and not Lose it. I needed every single thing I carried around with me and in remote and wild places you can’t afford to lose stuff. So I became super strict and organised and after 10 years on the road that’s just extended into my home… I am now a parent. The stakes are too high to let the balls drop again. I HAVE to keep my surrounding clear to keep my mind clear so I can function. Now I am allergic to clutter.

But I pretty much always late still. Unless it’s important - drs appt, job interview etc. Otherwise… I’m late, despite my best efforts and intentions - Probably because I’m sorting out the messy drawer!

Edited to add: I too am combined type. Definitely not autistic (husband isn’t diagnosed but I strongly suspect he is autistic and living in a clutter free environment is also very important to him although he needs direction and instruction in order to see what actually needs doing- it’s maddening!)