First, I want to admit that I often make casual references to being OCD, but I recognize that this is a very real disorder that many live with. I don’t mean to take it lightly. I have always wondered, though, whether this disorder has a spectrum and whether I’m on the higher end of the OCD spectrum.

I’m not meticulous about being neat. Come to my house or take a look in my car, and you will immediately feel better about yourself. While I do have periodic cleaning spurts, they do not reach obsessive levels because I’m able to stop if further distracted by something else…which happens often.

But when it comes to washing my hands, I don’t mess around. I probably wash my hands no less than 15 times a day. If I pour coffee and some gets on my hand, I wash them. If I go outside and get the mail, I come back in and wash my hands. If I play with Lexi’s hair, I wash my hands. I don’t even think about it. It’s just automatic for me to wash my hands after I touch…anything that has other people’s germs on it.

But I’m not a germaphobe-I don’t think. I can function in every day life. I don’t avoid places that have germs. You will find me out and about, but if there isn’t a restroom handy to wash my hands, I do think about it until I can get home. This habit recently became even more noticeable in our house when my husband commented on the sheer number of paper towels that he finds lying around the house-on the kitchen table, on the living room side tables, on the bathroom counters, in the car, etc…Once he commented on it, Lexi had her radars up and started finding paper towels all over the place, too. It’s just the running joke around here.

But I have good reasons to wash my hands! I worked in restaurant for almost 10 years. Enough said. I know there are signs that now ask employees to wash their hands before leaving the restroom. What?!? The idea that people leave the restroom without washing their hands makes me crazy. I used to work in the kitchen of restaurants, too, and I’d go from cooking calamari, to making salad, to garnishing a chocolate cake. You not only need to change your gloves regularly, but you need to wash your hands all the time! For the past six years, I’ve worked in mental healthcare, and the words “infection control” became as common as my first and last name. Those of you in the healthcare field know what I’m talking about.

During the month of April, the Hurst family has committed to the SCOTT Naturals 4-Week Test Drive to use hybrid paper products and reduce our negative impact on the environment. The conundrum for me is that I use a lot of paper towels because of this habit of mine. A lot-and I can’t imagine that’s good on the environment. Right about now, you’re asking why I can’t just clean my hands with a towel instead of paper towels. Ummm…I don’t know. That’s why I’m wondering whether I have OCD tendencies. This last week, we switched over to the new paper products. That was easy. For the next week, we’re going to work on reducing the amount of paper products we use as another small step towards being environmentally friendly. Even if you missed last week, join me in the SCOTT Naturals 4-Week Test Drive at www.scottbrand.com.

GULP…let’s see how this goes for me.

How about you? Any OCD tendencies or neurotic behaviors? (If you answered, “no,” go ask your significant other or children. They’ll tell you!)

This Earth Month, I’ve partnered with Scott Naturals™ in conjunction with their 4 Week Test Drive to help spread the word about how small steps can lead to big changes. I have been compensated for this partnership, however, all opinions are my own.