By: Megs Crawford
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If you have ADHD, the idea of organizing can feel overwhelming, maybe even impossible. Traditional organizing methods often don't mesh with the way our brains work, leaving us feeling frustrated and defeated. But here's the good news: organization is possible for ADHD brains, and it can be a game-changer!
Before you start, please DO NOT buy any containers. The truth is, you don't yet know what you need because the de-cluttering step comes first. I will include some beginner items you could get to start your organizing journey here!
Why Traditional Organizing Doesn't Always Work for ADHD:
Object permanence: The "out of sight, out of mind" problem is very real for ADHD brains. If we can't see something, it might as well not exist.
Decision fatigue: So many choices when organizing can lead to paralysis. Where does this go? Do I keep it? Donate? Throw it out? It's exhausting!
Time blindness: We may underestimate how long tasks really take, leading to projects feeling overwhelming from the start.
So, How Do We Make It Work?
Here is how to start:
Set aside 15 min each day to work on decluttering. (Set a timer and do NOT allow yourself to do more)
Take a before picture of the space you are working in.
Do this by actually setting a reminder in your phone to get it done. (I use google calendar) You can set a recurring time to complete.
If you don't know what to do with something, ask yourself: "If I needed to find this, where would I look first?"
Then after a week, take an after picture and compare to where you started. (set a reminder on your phone for this too)
If you are reading this, STOP & do the reminder steps right now otherwise it will leave your brain forever!
Remember: This Is a Journey! There's no single right way to organize for ADHD. Be patient, experiment, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. If you fail, don't give up and try again.
Beginner Organizing tools:
That's it! Get the teeny vacuum to get those hard-to-reach areas as you are working on clearing things out! Honestly, you don't need to purchase cardboard boxes if you have one. Simply put a container or box where you are not using it, label it "donations", and schedule a time to bring it to the donation place in your area!
Next Steps...
In upcoming posts, I'll dive deeper into more specific strategies and tools to streamline your ADHD organizing experience. Stay tuned!
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