Ducks in a row

2009 November 2
by E.P.

It boggles my mind how some people can be so terribly disorganized.

I am a planner and a list maker. I enjoy plotting out my day and exactly what I will be doing. When I leave my house for the day, I plan exactly where I need to go and in what order so I don’t waste gas or backtrack. When I go to the grocery store, I have a categorized list to help in choosing my food for the week.

I think about the future more than just one day in advance.

And I plan, plan, plan, even though I know some of these plans will be scrapped as their time draws closer.

I don’t understand disorganization, but doesn’t necessarily bother me as long as it doesn’t affect me. And it affects me way too often.

Surprise, surprise.

It’s official: I’m ready for Saturday.

from → all about me, annoying, drama, grown up things, i will whine if i damn well please, truthiness

  • I usually feel very organized. Until I see someone like you. Who promptly makes me feel like a disorganized mess. hahaha. I know what you mean about being organized, though. A friend used to say that stupid people should walk around with big headaches all the time just so they know what a nuisance they are to smart people. I kinda feel the same way about the disorganized.
  • Nah. I'm sure you aren't a disorganized mess at all! And I feel the same way about majorly disorganized people. While it doesn't bother me if it does not touch my life, I get SO aggravated whenever it affects me.
  • Ben
    I could make a categorized list of all the reasons I'm ready for Saturday too.
  • I like that. And I like you. A lot.
  • Nora_L
    Amen to this, friend.
    I can't stand disorganization, particularly on a Monday and particularly when it interferes with MY job.
  • Heh. Amen to YOUR comment. Disorganization at work (especially on a Monday) is the WORST.
  • lol Oh man, I'm the same way. I spent way too much time stage managing at an early age to ever recover fully.
  • I don't think there's anything wrong with that, though I'm not sure where my organization came from. I was never a stage manager, but I can only imagine.
  • While yes I will make a list when I need to go grocery shopping or when I have a tone of work to grade, plans to me are pretty much used solely on vacations.

    No my OCD comes out in other ways.
  • Nothing wrong with planning ahead on vacations. I wish I had more time off, or I'd spend a lot of my time daydreaming about that. Unfortunately, I have 2 weeks off every year and I've used almost all of my time. Sigh.

    How does your OCD come out in other ways?
  • It boggles my mind how some people can be so totally organized. I lose lists, don't know what I'm doing from one hour to the next, and am quite happy that way. I'm more an "in the moment" kind of gal. =)
  • I wish I were more like you... "in the moment." That sounds way more fun than being so organized all the time. (:
  • oh i am such a planner too it's a little ridiculous. and yeah saturday would be nice already.
  • How is this planner-ness helping you with your wedding planning? Because I've found my organizational OCD is coming in handy...
  • Ugh. Story of my life. Good luck getting thru the week, girl.
  • Thanks! I, obviously, made it through.

    I just have to remind myself that a lot of times, people at work don't plan ahead and even though their lack of planning affects me, I can have a better attitude about it. And I'm trying.
  • I'm somewhere in between. I love, love, love making lists. Now completing everything on my list - that doesn't always happen.

    One of my favorite things is to go back through an old list that I've written in a notebook and put checks next to multiple things I've accomplished and forgotten to mark off along the way. (Wow! I just sounded like a SUPER DORK).
  • Sometimes it doesn't happen for me, either, but I also really enjoy making lists. And it makes me smile that you'll pull out an old list and mark off things on it. That's awesome!
  • Honey you deserve several Saturday's in a row. you and lucy just having girl time
  • You're too sweet. And I've got a few Saturdays off in a row now, so yay!
  • I couldn't agree more. I am also a very organized person and people who are unorganized really annoy me. Especially when I'm forced into doing group projects with them!
  • Oh. I was the SAME way in school. My last journalism class required group projects for every story, and I wanted to strangle two of the three of my teammates. It was really bad, but I made it through. So will you.
  • I second that.
  • Glad I'm not the only one.
  • I HATE disorganization. Almost as I hate that professional communicators can't seem to, well, COMMUNICATE.

    Ugh. Have a drink and forget about it, girl. :)
  • A-freaking-men. I hate them both equally. And I deal with both pretty much on a daily basis. Sigh.
  • I like to be organized, I just don't have time. Which typically then slows me down since I'm NOT as organized as I like. So yeah, vicious cycle ensues.
  • Ouch! If I were in LA, I'd totally help you with the organization thing to make things easier. Because I'm the same way.
  • Caz
    This is SO me! I may look disorganized on the outside sometimes (my room is a bit messy, I have piles of paper) but everything has a logical place (I know where EVERYTHING is), my days and weeks have plans, and people trying to F* with the plan occasionally makes me anxious.

    1. Writing this totally made me realize that 1- I am exactly like my dad and 2 -i'm curious about your categorized grocery list.
  • Too funny! It really surprised me there are so many crazy organized people like me. (It kind of makes me feel better... heh.) Whenever my plans get messed up, it makes me anxious, too.
  • sleepyjane
    I'm not big on lists. I write down the important dates on my desk pad, but I don't have a planner. I think I need to rectify this. :)
  • I'm a big fan of a planner. Personally. (: But if your system already works for you, keep it up!
  • ria
    i'm totally ready for saturday too! i don't like when other people's 'stuff' gets in my way, whether it be being disorganized or just a bad attitude hehe
  • Agreed!
  • Jealous about the grocery shopping. I make lists, I write down what I need, and yet I always forget something or remember something last minute and have to backtrack. This is why no matter how hard I try to make lists, some the habits of disorganization die hard. Sigh.
  • Aww, that's not good. I actually went to the grocery store last night without a list, and I forgot about half of it. So list making for me? A necessity because otherwise, I'd forget everything. :/

    At least it's only one or two items for you.
  • Pam
    I'm the same way. I have to have a list before leaving the house for errands (I even plot out my route) and I also have my planner with me at all times. I think I would loose my head if I didn't have it with me.

    Disorganized people confuse me sometimes. I don't know how they function.
  • I use my phone as a planner, and it is a God-send. Love it SO MUCH. And I don't leave home without it, either. It makes my day easier.
  • AMinDinMoTown
    I'm not as much of a planner as you seem to be, but I definitely am to an extent. And I'm dating a boy who loathes planning and prefers to live his life from moment to moment. Drives me nuts!!!
  • I cannot imagine dating someone who lives life from moment to moment if you are a planner. My boy, luckily, is generally pretty organized. But, even though it drives you crazy sometimes, y'all are still together. So other things must outweigh the messiness, no?
  • walkingonsunshine18
    I work with someone who is extremely disorganized and it's so frusterating because it ends up holding me back! UGH!
  • Ack. I completely and TOTALLY know how you feel. That's the story of my life.
  • LaVieDeRose
    I'm a planner and a list maker too.
    And while it's ok to cut loose and go with the flow sometimes, the full disorganization of many people and groups of people is not only unprofessional, it's tacky and flat out terrible.
    I'm also ready for Saturday... though for a slightly different reason. LOL
    However, I am very excited for your Saturday plans and how they pan out the way it should.
  • It makes me smile because you know exactly what I'm talking about. That makes me sad, too.

    I want it to be the weekend again, too.
  • Caz
    I linked to this post on my blog today!
  • Cool! Thanks! I'll have to go check it out.
  • awww.. ep. i hear you. i'm super organized like you and i hate when other peoples disorganization ruins my whole schedule!
    hey- can you send me the grocery shopping list you use? that is one thing that i am never organized with AT ALL! and i always use coupons so having a bunchof post it notes with things i need to get and a bunch of random coupons. so yeah if you dont mind sharing your list that would be great!
    but lately things have been so messy that i simply am disorganized and can't tell right from left!
  • I'm glad I am not the only one. Disorganization that messes up my organization drives me crazy! And sure, I can send you my grocery list. It's nothing special, but it works for me! I learned it from my mom.
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