I Am a Systems Freak

When it comes to daily life, I’m not just a creature of habit like everyone else—I’m a systems freak.

Childhood Clues

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this urge to keep things neat and organized. After playing with Lego, I had to put every brick back in its place. My Donald Duck comics? Always stacked in perfect numerical order. Even my clothes had to be folded and lined up in the closet just right.

Most people grow out of these little routines, but for me it never went away. I know now that not everyone feels the same way.

Why Systems Matter

For me, clutter equals stress. If my environment isn’t tidy—whether it’s the house, the dishes, or even the folders on my MacBook Air—I feel unsettled. Maybe that’s a touch of OCD, but I’ve rarely met anyone else who reacts as strongly as I do.

That’s where systems come in.

My Everyday Systems

I don’t just “do chores.” I’ve built systems for them. A method for cleaning the house. A routine for dealing with dishes. A clear structure for managing files and folders on my laptop.

Taken together, these systems take maybe 15–30 minutes a day. That’s it. But the payoff is huge: the rest of the day feels clear, peaceful, and free for the things I actually love doing.

The Lesson

If your daily life feels messy and stressful, it might not just be your workload—it might be your lack of systems.

Look at your habits. Where does clutter pile up? Where does chaos steal your time and energy? Start building small systems that keep those areas in order.

It’s a little investment of time each day, but the return is clarity, calm, and more space for the fun stuff.

So my advice? Don’t just build habits. Build systems.

Become a systems freak.