If you work from home, can you focus with clutter or mess around you?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I'm curious if this is my ADHD, or whether it's unrelated. I genuinely cannot cope with too much mess if I'm trying to concentrate. It produces the most horrible anxiety and makes me feel physically 'wrong', my skin crawls and it's like it doesn't fit - which sounds crazy.

Anyone else like this?

I think that’s fairly normal, ADHD or not.

My work is the man clutter and mess around me.

I don;t like it, but no other option.

Um, no. My living room (where I work) is constantly cluttered. If it bothered me, I'd never get anything done.

Not at all. Busy workspace means a busy mind for me. I need order, call and process.

I find it really difficult to work at home. I'm so distracted by dishes needing done or a load of washing etc

That's why my desk faces a window so I can't see the clutter around me. Until zoom starts...

No - luckily I have space upstairs as no way could work in the kitchen etc. as can’t work with mess. Had my own office at work, was lovely and kept pristine :). Was able to control that unlike at home.

Can't stand mess anywhere, at home or in office.

My job is working from home, even before Covid and I can't work unless living room and kitchen are clean, as I alternate between the two rooms to work in.

Most mornings I'll have a quick wipe down, brush the floor and put dried dishes away.
Makes me feel clear in my mind and concentrate better.

When I take breaks I'll tidy up a few things and before I go bed as i have 2 primary school aged children.

It's good as it keeps the most used rooms tidy, which makes me feel satisfied and affects my mood feel good for work.

My DH has ADHD and he is very much like this.

I don't wfh, but I know I need a calm and clutter free space to be productive and feel better.
I used to be quite a hoarder and the difference in the feeling of peace, and the ease of managing a home has been incredible.

I don’t have ADHD but still feel like this. I have 3 kids under 5 and one is a new baby, so find it hard to find time to tidy/clean at the moment, and it really affects my mood when the house isn’t tidy. I always read things saying ‘your kids won’t care if your house isn’t tidy, spending time with them is more important’ etc and whilst I agree in theory- it matters to ME that the house is tidy! I don’t mean spotless but there’s a certain threshold of tidiness and if it gets too cluttered I feel stressed. Once it’s tidy, I feel calmer.

No ADHD here but I can't stand mess of any kind.

Currently working at the dining table in the living/dining room and it has to be pristine! No ADHD, just like organised clean spaces.

I always keep the house tidy, so I guess I must feel the same to motivate me to do that. But I often tidy and make it lovely so I can enjoy the rest of the day in nice tidy spaces.

I don’t mind. I work in the dining room. Clutter doesn’t bother me. I just clear space from the table (piles of washing, bills, random crap) enough to get to the keyboard and mouse.

I can’t stand mess whether working or not. I clean and tidy before I start in the morning then again at the end of the day. I couldn’t relax in a messy room.

I cant work with mess around me. Its the worst thing about working at home. My husband can only seem to work in a cluttery pile.

It doesn't bother me, I can work anywhere

My husband is WFH. He's messy and it is causing me a lot of anxiety. And the intrusion into our home

I can't, but my husband has zero problems with that. I wish I could be like him, my life would be so much easier.

I can’t work (or relax) in a messy environment either. I whizz round doing a tidy and straighten before I start working in the morning. My house certainly isn’t spotlessly clean or perfectly tidy (toddler, dog, both DH and I at home) but I keep minimum standards.

I cant stand mess at all and certainly not when I'm working.