Cleaning vs. Organizing: Why Spring Cleaning Feels so Challenging?

It's that time of year again—spring cleaning season! You're probably seeing checklists, ads for storage bins, and reminders to deep clean your home, or maybe you're already thinking, 'Not this year—again.' Before you give up, read on. This might be the push you need to get started! 

People often use "cleaning" and "organizing" interchangeably, but they are quite different activities. Cleaning is about dusting, sweeping, scrubbing, vacuuming, and wiping away grime. Organizing is about decluttering, making decisions, and creating systems that align with your life. 

Cleaning is straightforward—you see dirt, you clean it. But, organizing requires tapping into your values, emotions, and relationship with your belongings. And that's where things can get tricky. If you struggle with chronic disorganization, ADHD, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, or someone who has experienced many failed attempts, you might find yourself avoiding the process altogether. Why? 

• Decision fatigue. Organizing means constantly deciding: Keep, donate, toss, or store? This can be exhausting. 

• Emotional attachment. Some items carry memories, guilt, or a fear of needing them "someday." 

• Overwhelm. When you don't know where to start, it's easier to do nothing. 

• Distraction and lack of focus. It is difficult to sustain your effort to focus on a task as organizing activities can be repetitive and mundane as your brain consistently seeks stimulation.   

• The perfectionism trap. If you can't do it "right," you might avoid doing it.—but done is better than perfect!"  

But here's the thing: You don't need to do it all at once. A successful organizing process aligns with your needs, wants, and goals. And the best part? An organized space makes cleaning so much easier! No piles to trip over. No lost items causing frustration. And your Roomba? It finally has the freedom to roam as it pleases. 

So, how ready are you for spring ORGANIZING? If starting feels impossible, you don't have to do it alone. My Accountability Group Coaching provides the support and structure to help you take action—step by step. Curious? https://www.myneatopia.com/accountability-group-coaching.