Menu Lifestyle
My Home Is Always Neat (Just Don’t Peek Inside the Closets)
by Jenna Collins
Updated: June 2, 2020
Originally Published: April 28, 2017
Perhaps it’s because I grew up with a mother who had a penchant for cleanliness. Maybe it’s due to my Virgo nature, which craves order and becomes easily irritated by disorder. Or perhaps, as my partner and kids might argue, I just take delight in issuing constant reminders to “clean that up” and “get rid of this.” Regardless of the reason, my living space typically appears quite tidy.
However, there are a few hidden truths lurking behind closed doors (and I may be speaking literally — who really knows what treasures or disasters await in the depths?). Despite the neatness of my home’s public face, an avalanche of chaos is just a closet door away. My storage spaces, cabinets, and pantry are a chaotic jumble, and it’s a state that has persisted for far too long.
As a child, when my mom instructed me to tidy my room, I would shove all my belongings into a massive pile, bulldoze-style, into the closet, and shut the door. Voila! My room looked presentable, my mom was satisfied, and I avoided any reprimands for my messy habits. Sure, I often had to brace myself against the closet door to get it open and would lose items for weeks beneath the clutter, but my bedroom was, on the surface, clean.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself struggling with the same issue of disorganization. While it’s not quite as bad as my childhood closet, it’s still embarrassingly chaotic for someone who outwardly embodies the “everything in its place” mantra. Every time I open the kitchen cabinet to grab a pot or pan, it’s a gamble as to whether something will come tumbling out. My wardrobe is less organized hanging and more like items draped, tossed, or crammed in. And if you require a band-aid, brace yourself for a five-minute search through my first-aid drawer filled with nearly empty or expired supplies.
I don’t have a valid excuse for my messy closets (pun absolutely intended). It’s merely a matter of laziness, I suppose. I recognize that if I put in the time and effort to get everything sorted, it would be much easier to maintain. Yet, I can’t help but indulge in my guilty pleasure of chocolate, which sits in a haphazard heap within my underwear drawer.
If it were up to me, I’d have a pantry that would make Marie Kondo proud, with neatly aligned and labeled items, as well as a closet where clothes are pressed, hung, and arranged by season and color. I’d also have a cleaning service that meets my standards, allowing me the time to tackle the chaos behind closed doors.
But alas, I don’t have that luxury. Until I can magically afford a maid or a professional organizer (or discover a way to stretch the hours of the day, which seems unlikely), I’ll continue to focus my energy on tidying the spaces that are visible to guests. It irks me that my hidden spaces are not as tidy as the rest of my home, but I refuse to let it consume me. I simply don’t have the bandwidth for that.
I may share the same 24 hours as a celebrity, but I doubt they spend any of theirs sorting through cluttered closets.
This article originally published on April 28, 2017.
For more insightful tips and resources, check out this post on couples’ fertility journey or visit Healthline for excellent information on pregnancy.
Summary:
Keeping a tidy home can be a challenge, especially when hidden clutter lurks behind closed doors. While I strive for order in visible spaces, my closets and cabinets are a different story. Like many, I grapple with the balance between maintaining a neat appearance and managing the chaos that life throws my way. Despite the desire for a perfectly organized home, sometimes it’s about prioritizing time and energy for what truly matters.
SEO metadata:
Keyphrase: home organization tips
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]