Why do I have problems tying my shoes?

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Anyone else have poor hygiene, unorganized, etc.? Why can I do my special interests really well (like math, video games, academics), but suffer with basic tasks? My dad keeps hounding me about this. He doesn't understand this. It's more like I have come to terms with this new identity. When I was younger I was very unorganized and very organized (almost like a split personality). I learned that my special interests override my other concerns. For instance, if I'm studying for a problem set or midterm, I throw everything on the floor, don't worry about showers, etc. because all my thoughts are about math. When I'm done I used to love organizing and cleaning. But now since I'm not in university, I feel too lazy or medicated (or I just don't care) about organizing.

Do I have brain damage or could this be an aspie thing?

I can't tie good knots, in laces in my shoes, so I can sympathize!

It took me years longer than my peers to be able to tie my shoes at all. And to this day, although I have the basic idea of how to tie a shoe, I have a hard time tying them in a way that they can stay tied for a long time. I find myself having to re-tie them numerous times per day.

I was unable to learn to tie my shoes in kindergarten. However, the summer afterward my older cousins taught me to do it using the "bunny ears" method. To this day, that is how I do it. I couldn't tie my shoes like most people do if my life depended on it.

I couldn't tie my shoe laces untill I was 12 years old even now I can't do a double knot I wouldn't be able to undo it if I did.

Mine always come untied. I usually don't tie them. I just put the laces in the shoes and wear them like that. They slip on/off easier that way. If I am doing something that would actually require my shoes to stay on (hiking, running, whatever), then I have to do a double-knot... and I don't use a "real" knot, but the basic one (that I didn't learn until seventh grade!).

Sounds like you have a fair amount of company.

for sneakers I tie them once and slip them on and off, but for boots I like to tie them every time because I like them to be tight on my feet

I was maybe around 9 by the time I finally learned to tie my shoes. Although no one had a clue about Asperger's or that I had it back then my mother had realized that whenever anyone showed me how to tie shoes they showed it from their perspective and not mine which confused me because everything would be reversed. it also took me longer than most kids to tell left from right and how to tell time with a non-digital clock. I used to be very confused by the reverse of other people's left and right and my own left and right, if you know what I mean, and my mother would often say half-past three instead of 3:30, which confused me more.
I think I officially understood left and right in other people at around 12, when I once received a Cabbage Patch doll that had a wire in one hand so she could hold things with it, and the instructions told you to stand the doll with its back toward you to find out if it was a lefty or right-handed.

Well, I can, but I won't be able to untie them!

I couldn't tie my laces until I was 11. I had someone mock me because most people knew how to do it when they were young but I didn't. I ignored her because she was a b***h.

I didn't have problems tying shoelaces but some problems tying a tie (I can also do that now). Just get someone to show you and then practice it over and over and over again until you remember, then the next time you should be able to do it by 'muscle memory'.

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I turn 20 in a couple of months, and I am no closer to being able to tie my shoelaces. I just wear Velcro instead.

I could never learn how to tie shoelaces, and in the end I learned my own technique which was different to other peoples', and which I still use today.

I am tidy, even my mess/clutter is in tidy piles. I like things to be clean, however I have executive dysfunction so when there is too much to do I lose the ability to stay organised very quickly and to stay on top of tasks.

I do not have problems with personal hygiene. This is one aspect I have found surprising the hear other Aspies do have issues with. I could never allow myself to be dirty or smelly.

It's an Aspie thing.
Aspie brains are wired differently to NT brains. Making us able to easily do things that NTs find near-impossible, and unable to do things that NTs find pretty easy.
Einstein couldn't tie his shoes.
I can't tie a tie, and doing shoe laces requires me to concentrate a fair bit, and they took me years to learn.