Can I be autistic but still be disorganised?
Yes, it is very common for people with autism to struggle with organisation. While the stereotype suggests that autistic people are neat and orderly, the reality is that many face challenges with executive dysfunction. This is the brain’s ability to plan, prioritise, and manage time. Even if you have a strong desire for routine and predictability, your brain may still struggle with the actual steps needed to keep your home, workspace or schedule organised.
This struggle often creates a frustrating "internal conflict." You might feel deeply stressed by clutter or a change in plans, yet find yourself unable to maintain the systems that would prevent that stress. This is frequently seen in people who are AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD), where the need for order clashes with a tendency toward forgetfulness and distraction. However, even without ADHD, the intense "monotropism" of an autistic brain—where you focus deeply on one interest—can lead you to completely neglect "boring" tasks like laundry or filing paperwork. This is not laziness; it is simply your brain prioritizing sensory or cognitive comfort over external organization.
If you feel like you’re failing at being "properly" autistic because your house is a mess, remember that your experience is actually very common in the neurodivergent community. Understanding why your brain skips these steps is the first step toward finding tools that actually work for you. To learn more about managing the chaos of Life on Hard Mode, sign up for the free newsletter below.