Psychology says people who plan everything in life meticulously aren't necessarily more organized or more in control than others. Planning can help people manage work, money, travel and daily responsibilities. However, when every detail must follow a fixed plan, the behavior may have another purpose. Psychology connects this pattern with anxiety, fear of failure, intolerance of uncertainty and the need to feel in control. A detailed schedule can reduce stress because it makes the future appear predictable. But this sense of control can become a problem when a person finds it difficult to act without a plan or cope when life changes unexpectedly.
