Live with a roommate or partner with a very different tolerance for mess?
Organizing experts share advice for finding a middle ground.
The bigger the difference between those thresholds in two people, the more conflict theyll have.
Its also the case that these two people are having very different lived experiences in their home.
(As in, Wow, they didnt take out the trash again?
They must not care about or respect me at all.)
clinical psychologist
Here are some tips to help you get started if youre in this situation yourself.
How to address organizational differences with a partner or roommate
1.
But thats precisely what youshouldntdo, says clinical psychologistAbby Medcalf, PhD.
or After you cleaned the bathroom, did you realize that the toilet was still dirty?
From there, you might suggest that they askyousimilar questions on your view of the homes cleanliness or organization.
Its a way of talking about the situation without being accusatory.
That way, you wont accidentally dig yourself into the hole of owning that chore for good.
With a romantic partner, of course, those benefits could be just as great or greater.
Think: Color-coded boxes, drawer dividers, bins within bins.
clinical psychologist
Consider, for example, a laundry hamper, which can exist with or without a lid.
The same principle applies for various containers and dividers within a fridge.
This system also helps mitigate the would-be power struggle of home organization.
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