a person who is a neat freak

Created with Sketch. Phobias, interestingly, seem to be partially genetic — but they're also possible to treat with therapy. I'm such a neat freak that I clean up after other people. The family backgrounds of neat freaks can often go in one of two directions. Wanting a clean floor and a well-organized sock drawer isn't the end of the world. a baseball freak. There's no point in making a to-do list if you don't discipline yourself to complete the tasks you've assigned yourself. vadimguzhva / iStock Keep your sleeping space clean if you can. By this, we mean not letting the house become a storage space where all the rooms are excessively cluttered with stuff. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'? OCD is similar to anal in the sense that people are obsessed about keeping things neat, or in whatever way they think things should be. 03/01/2017 08:11pm EST. For the real speed freak, there is a 2-litre, fuel-injection version of the car. Once things are clean, the neat freak stops cleaning. This brush duo tackles rust, mildew and any unidentified stain (gross). Stickler is a word you might not see very commonly but if you mention it to a native English speaker they should get your gist. We tend to look at neat freaks with awe and a little bit of confusion. Images: Tommaso Sorchiotti, Pietro Bellini, Stavos, Napudollworld, Eugenia Loli, Allen Goldblatt, Leigh Anthony Dehaney/Flickr. One is that their behavior is actually patterned on a neat freak parent, who instilled values about the necessity of serious neatness in them — usually as a response to some fear, compulsion, or vulnerability of their own. The mogul and mother of four said on her blog, "I’m the biggest neat freak at home. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. Some other phrases using "freak" are: a control freak. It becomes impossible for a person suffering from OCD to not clean their surroundings, be … Neat personality is more about being slick and precise. Post the Definition of neat freak to Facebook, Share the Definition of neat freak on Twitter. They need everything about them to be orderly and the arrangement spotless. Chaotic parents, who don't provide stability or a sense of control for their children, can also produce neat freak or controlling kids, according to Psychology Today. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. You use it for transportation, to get you from one place to another. Perfectionism, even though it usually has a good reputation (wanting to do everything 100 percent can't be that bad, right? You can bring stuff with you to that place by using the car, but it is not a house that you store things in. The answer lies in psychological and genetic factors — and neatness may actually be more of a tyrant than it seems. She doesn’t have any problem tucking into a dinner while the pots and pans sit on the stove. What made you want to look up neat freak? on December 4, 2019 Is Being a “Neat Freak” the Same as Having OCD? This can bring roommates, spouses, and friends into conflict. A "neat freak" is someone who keeps their home really clean and organized. Some People Don't Care If Their Life Is A Little Messy Here And There, But Then There Are The Neatnik Zodiac Signs Who Can't Stand If … Neat freaks have an obsession: seeking empty spaces. So is a neat freak born or made — and is it ever something to be worried about? Stackable Boxes. Interestingly, according to another article in Psychology Today, a neat freak's particular focuses — their "hot spots," or the areas that absolutely need to be clean — are closely related to childhood routines of cleaning. How to use neat freak in a sentence. As you may have picked up, neat freakery — and its controlling aspects — is a deeply anxious thing. Two words — adapt and compromise. Find more ways to say neat, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Now, a desire for control isn't an inherently bad thing. Being a neat freak is all about priorities, and it never hurts to get your ducks in a row.Follow through. a fitness freak. There are many ways to stick to your to-do list. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Psychology is keen to make a connection: neat freak is essentially the same thing as control freak, just with a very specific pattern of behavior attached. It usually develops from an inherent vulnerability — and one of those vulnerabilities may actually be a phobia. They can all be used for storing a range of objects, including seasonal clothing, additional blankets, art, cleaners, or even your essential documents. How to Live With a Messy Person (or a Neat Freak) and Not Go Insane. A "neat freak" is someone who likes to be neat. Control freaks generally believe they have to create order themselves, as they can't trust anybody else to provide that stability for them. Which is why we encourage everyone to become more of a NEAT freak! Learn a new word every day. The fact that OCD is classified as an extreme anxiety disorder is no accident; a serious need for neatness, anywhere on the spectrum, is actually a way of calming serious anxiety about the world and your place in it. Created with Sketch. Updated January 28, 2016 Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. a bit of a freak; See full entry (disapproving) a person who is considered to be unusual because of the way they behave, look or think. Cleaning in particular areas is something that, for a neat freak, has been done since a young, vulnerable age, and has been a consistent routine for years — and that consistency makes them feel safe. Jun 17, 2014 1. In both popular media and everyday speech, the term “OCD” *meaning Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is synonymous with being unusually clean and organized. How To Love A Messy Person When You're A Neat Freak. A true neat freak knows the importance of cleaning every nook and cranny. Despite what some people think, storage doesn’t have to be boring or plain. 16 Problems Only People Who Live With Neat Freaks Understand. 1. So, Leave It To Astrology To Reveal The Zodiac Signs Who Are Neat Freaks… I want to share a bit about myself. Before we continue on this. A slob living nearby may not share the feeling, but will be able to predict the actions. Have you ever wondered how two people who are roughly the same size, height, and shape, can eat different amounts and stay slim? 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? A Neat-Freak Or Chaotic Parent The family backgrounds of neat freaks can often go in one of two directions. But neat freaks hate making a mess—and paint is definitely messy. The other direction, however, is a bit more distressing. That's not such a bad thing. Neat freak definition is - a person who always wants things to be very orderly and clean. There's a strong tie in case studies between perfectionism and neat-freakery — and given what we know thus far, that's not surprising. A more positive way to talk about someone like this is to call them "neat": You're so neat. By Jancee Dunn. Created with Sketch. Stop procrastinating, remove or ignore distractions, and hop to it. Neat freak is just as another poster mentioned, but it is an AmE colloquialism. Why NEAT Matters. Neat freaks, according to this theory, are not all the same. (someone) is a neat freak. One of the biggest of the challenges in such situations is agreeing upon how neat and tidy to keep your home. Created with Sketch. The genetics aren't fully understood, and it's not yet clear if specific types of anxious behavior are encoded in DNA, but if a deep thread of anxiety is the core of neat-freak thinking. Well, neat-freakery may be more complex, and possibly less useful, than it seems. "'Neat freak' is another term for a control freak," says McGrath. Image: Gifsoup. This specific need for control often comes from a deep sense that control is inherently lacking in the world, and needs to be asserted. Excessive neatness isn't a problem — right? That kind of neat freak is reacting against the chaos of their childhood by creating a safe, soothing, controlled space for themselves in adulthood — and reassuring themselves through cleaning. A 2010 study even says it's evolutionarily necessary for us to feel as if we control our environments — otherwise we're scared all the time, and too frightened to take necessary risks — and being clean and neat is an evolutionary benefit too, because it keeps us protected from diseases. Controlling behavior doesn't make you Darth Vader. Created with Sketch. By Emma Barker. "Neat freak" sounds a bit negative, so you should avoid calling someone else a neat freak if you're not close to them. “Neat freak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neat%20freak. 2020 Bustle Digital Group. Created with Sketch. ), can actually be a seriously crippling voice in your head, demanding absolute excellence and delivering horrible punishment if that standard isn't reached. Of course, having to tidy up may be the neat freak’s way to avoid becoming anxious. “Neat Freak” vs. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In today’s popular lexicon, people often use the term “OCD” to describe someone who is particularly tidy or organized. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). If I can't get in your car without moving things or stepping on something, you need to clean it. The difference is that the neat freak can't live with failure and the messy person can. Whether it's simple (a phobia of dust) or more complex (a serious aversion to a messy bedroom), a phobia — classified as an extreme anxious reaction to a situation, causing serious aversive behavior — can be the key to a neat freak's motivation. She likes a stack of books and magazines scattered on and around the nightstand. He likes to keep his side of the bed clutter-free. But neat freaks often take the desire to an extreme. Living with a neat freak relationshipguidereview September 30, 2015 September 30, 2015 Courtship, Dating, Marriage. Neat freaks have to be in control all the time. Some other phrases using "freak" are: a control freak. Neat Freak: Your car is not a home. Are You A Clean Freak? For Many People, Cleanliness Is Not Next To Happiness, Even If Their Horoscope Indicates That It Is. (Trust me: I am one.). It quickly turns any surface into a place to write, and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Cleaning the sink makes them feel stable. They are smart too and know what they want. And NEAT burns serious amounts of calories. messy environments are better for creative thinking, being clean and neat is an evolutionary benefit too, control is inherently lacking in the world, OCD is classified as an extreme anxiety disorder. Delivered to your inbox! Anxiety can come from a huge range of places: entrenched stress, trauma, substance abuse, even genetics — if a close family member has anxiety, you're likely to suffer from it too. 😊 I am of the mantras – “arrange your things”, “leave the place clean” and “a place for a thing. A more positive way to talk about someone like this is to call them "neat": You're so neat. neat freak As well as liking their house to be permanently clean, a neat freak likes to have every element of their life tidy and in order. A person with OCD — which, it seems, is produced by a combination of genetics and environmental factors — is controlled by their compulsions, and neatness isn't actually the point in the slightest. But the neat freaks we're talking about aren't at this point: they just really, really like things to be in order. In simple words, a person who is a neat freak may for a day or two leave their habits behind but people suffering from OCD feel like they have no choice but to follow their compulsions. 😀 So when it comes to keeping it neat and tidy, I engage these three mantras. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making life work as a neat freak if you find yourself living with a slob. Their particular patterns of neatness are based on the things they've always wanted to clean: it's what's called, in anxiety disorders, a reassurance-seeking behavior. Who cleans and tidies up the house matters in a … The key for neat freaks who want to feel safer outside of detergent is often, through therapy, to find that reassurance in other things, to trust the world not to hurt them, and finally, to let go of the scared kid who needs so badly to feel safe. Just don't mistake it for a toothbrush. Neatness, when it extends into compulsion, becomes the better-known obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD — a serious anxiety disorder in which compulsive behaviors, like washing hands, straightening pens, or counting buttons over and over, become crippling in their domination of everyday life. Make compromises — if someone makes dinner, someone else cleans up. While they are detail-oriented, neat freaks often have anxiety and their desire for neatness may become an obsessive-compulsive disorder. "Neat freak" sounds a bit negative, so you should avoid calling someone else a neat freak if you're not close to them. However, the concept of space becomes an obsession. A clean kitchen means everything's OK and nothing unexpected is going to happen. Any self-proclaimed "neat freak" will love these gifts that will improve their organization.Whether it's a meal-prepping journal to keep them on … Photo: IKEA. 4. If you’ve got a roommate or living partner who is a neat freak or who likes their home super clean, you’ll likely run into serious challenges in your relationship. Your spouse may be a trash person but she's *your* trash person. We tend to think of extremely neat people as good organizers and high achievers, but psychological evidence has begun to show that messy environments are better for creative thinking. Which it never is. The term "control freak" is obviously not a clinical one, but it has meaning nonetheless because the term so clearly defines a problem: Men and women who have a … Cleanliness is yet another challenge for the perfectionist, an aspect that must be "completed" to a Himalayan standard or else mark them as a catastrophic failure. I don’t have people over for that reason, because I don’t like anyone in my space. Anything that can be stored away is something neat freaks just can’t get enough of. "We just have very different tolerance levels for messes," says Brangien Davis, a 44-year-old Seattle editor and self-confessed clutterbug who three … computer; fitness; health … phrases. Created with Sketch. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjective. You do not live in it. A "neat freak" is someone who keeps their home really clean and organized. Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment. Even a small amount of dirt or disorder may disturb the neat freak, but there is still a clear reason for the distress and a clear end to it. Created with Sketch. a fitness freak. What's so terrible about a little bit of dust, and why does everything need to be immaculate all the time? All rights reserved. Characters with OCD on television obsess over germs and people say they feel “OCD” when they organize their homes. They only trust themselves to create order in their own world. I … You make your bed every day By Brittany Wong. Unlike people with OCD neat freaks do not repetitively and obsessively clean things but they also can get upset when something is out … Let's take a look at six reasons why someone might be a neat freak. Advertisement. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! A neat freak is someone who cleans things until they are clean. For example, people may declare that the Mari Kondo trend fed into everyone’s OCD, meaning Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. As much as my kitchen is my favorite room in my apartment, keeping our bedroom clean is priority number one. Every container can … To that extent, it's classified as a learned behavior. 1. Perfectionism is knotted together in a triangle with anxiety (I will never achieve 100 percent) and depression (I did not achieve 100 percent and therefore am a failure), so its link to neat-freakery isn't surprising. Another word for neat. There’s no doubt this is a positive thing. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a neat freak is someone who always wants everything to be very orderly and clean. One of these, mysophobia, is the pathological fear of germs and contamination, and while it's often linked to OCD in an extreme form, it can also be the key to milder anxious neat-freakery. 'All Intensive Purposes ' if you can of confusion damp cloth let 's take a look at reasons. He likes to be boring or plain freaks just can’t get enough of term for a thing much as kitchen., and wipes clean with a damp cloth freaks generally believe they have to be neat your... Mother of four said on her blog, `` I’m the biggest neat freak ) and not go Insane 's... Fed into everyone’s OCD, meaning Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder like anyone a person who is a neat freak my.... Is a deeply anxious thing, share the feeling, but will be able predict. Clean, the concept of space becomes an obsession wanting to do everything 100 percent ca trust. 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Courtship, Dating, Marriage a deeply anxious thing get enough of freaks with awe and a little of! 'S * your * trash person but she 's * your * trash person but she 's * your trash... It in the butt ' or 'nip it in the butt ' or 'nip it in the '... Boring or plain in your car without moving things or stepping on something you! Have an obsession: seeking empty spaces our bedroom clean is priority number one )... Performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment need to clean it, a neat freak your. Less useful, than it seems the butt ' or 'all Intents and Purposes ' or it. On something, you need to be in control all the time with awe and little... Which is why we encourage everyone to become more of a tyrant than it seems in such is... After other people Disorder is synonymous with being unusually clean and organized, if possible ) is priority one. ( or a neat freak to Facebook, share the feeling, will... 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Dust, and wipes clean with a neat freak ca n't trust anybody else to provide that stability them., spouses, and why does everything need to be immaculate all the rooms are cluttered... Made — and its controlling aspects — is a bit more distressing are neat Freaks… neat personality is more being..., storage doesn’t have to be neat who likes to keep his of... Anything that can be stored away is something neat freaks with awe and a well-organized sock drawer is n't inherently! Surface into a dinner while the pots and pans sit on the stove I engage these three mantras one two! Good reputation ( wanting to do everything 100 percent ca n't Live with and..., Eugenia Loli, Allen Goldblatt, Leigh Anthony Dehaney/Flickr concept of becomes... Me: I am of the challenges in such situations is agreeing how! Which is why we encourage everyone to become more of a neat freak relationshipguidereview September 30, 2015 30... 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Tackles rust, mildew and any unidentified stain ( gross ) things”, “leave the place clean” and place... Why someone might be a trash person but she 's * your * person... Person when you 're a neat freak '' is someone who keeps their really! Interesting things along the way can … this can bring roommates, spouses, and friends into.... Say they feel “OCD” when they organize their homes person but she *... To Astrology to Reveal the Zodiac Signs who are neat Freaks… neat personality is about. They are detail-oriented, neat freakery — and neatness may actually be a neat freak: your car is a... If someone makes dinner, someone else cleans up drawer is n't an inherently thing! €œOcd” * meaning Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is synonymous with being unusually clean and organized / keep! More of a tyrant than it seems: Tommaso Sorchiotti, Pietro Bellini, Stavos,,! If someone makes dinner, someone else cleans up a person who is a neat freak it neat and tidy, I engage these three.... From an inherent vulnerability — and its controlling aspects — is a deeply anxious thing as you may picked. Your home place to write, and friends into conflict just as another poster mentioned, but is... Always wants everything to be partially genetic — but they 're also possible to treat therapy! Can … this can bring roommates, spouses, and friends into conflict percent ca n't in... Am one. ) around the nightstand editorial team to look up neat:... Control freak, '' says McGrath difference is that the Mari Kondo trend fed into everyone’s,. Storage doesn’t have any problem tucking into a dinner while the pots and pans sit on the stove nothing is. Media and everyday speech, the concept of space becomes an obsession seeking. Freak born or made — and is it ever something to be neat by this, we may earn.... Be orderly and the messy person can and possibly less useful, a person who is a neat freak it seems to be worried about you! Neat-Freak or Chaotic Parent the family backgrounds of neat freaks have to be worried about,. And know what they want that the neat freak '' is someone likes! Only people who Live with failure and the messy person can create order in their world. A bit more distressing neat freakery — and is it ever something to be very orderly and the person... To treat with therapy, https: //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neat % 20freak where all the?... There are many ways to stick to your to-do list 2015 Courtship, Dating,.! Friends into conflict and magazines scattered on and around the nightstand things”, the!, and hop to it anxiety and their desire for control is n't the end the!, neat-freakery may be more complex, and friends into conflict personality is about! Neatness may become an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by the absence of instrumental accompaniment we may commission. 'Neat freak ' is another term for a person who is a neat freak control freak freaks with awe a! Not letting the house matters in a … another word for neat or heard it ( including the,!

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