I never considered myself to be a neat freak or even obsessive over cleaning and organizing certain spaces. I grew up being taught how to clean and be organized for myself and my room. However, once I moved to college I realized that not everyone was taught the same lesson.

This bothered me because my friends would start to point out the little things I was over obsessive. They would explain how I was too obsessed with how my bed should be made or where the carpet or furniture should be placed.

Yet, through it all, they never complained about me ever being too messy. Then my room became the place where they would always go to hang out. When we put labels on people for having OCD (Obsessive Cleaning Disorder) it seems like it is a bad thing, but never have I looked at in that light. In fact, there many benefits to be a neat freak, clean freak, or even OCD.

How I see it, I am programmed this way just like how people are programmed to brush their teeth or shower. I find cleaning and keeping things in order as necessary. Personally, this has helped me become a more organized person, which has aided me with school and work.

I feel so much better walking into a clean space than a messy one because I have more to stress about. By practicing this so crucially on daily basis, I can tell where exactly I kept something in my room even if I was gone for a long period of time.

I know it's drastic, but I can walk into my room and know when something has been moved out of place. I just know. My roommate was forced to know the same thing when I realized she allowed someone to stay in my bed overnight.

As soon as I walked into the door, I could point out exactly how the pillows were angled and noticed that the blanket was folded the wrong way. If it she did not tell me a friend was in my room, I would have thought the worse. Having that knowledge prepares me for future situations like that one.

Also, if you don't clean as frequently, you will realize how much more that you will have to do every time you clean. I don't have to dedicate one day to cleaning or my weekend to staying in just to clean my room or to do laundry because it's either done and not much of a hassle.

I feel as though we make it more of a hassle on ourselves to do the simple things such as moving shoes out of the middle of the floor or hanging up a coat. I am able to spend so much of my time and energy somewhere else. Additionally, no one can complain about my appearance because it is always taken care of.

This includes my hair, how I dress, smell, and look overall. Our appearances tell a lot about us and how well not only we keep ourselves but, also how we keep our home. I'd rather appear that way compared to someone who couldn't find matching socks because their laundry was not done.

I think you could relate, if you would rather have more time on your hands, were organized, functional, and seen as suitable by others. But it's up to you.