5 ORGANIZING TIPS THAT WORK FOR ADHD INDIVIDUALS
As a home organizer, I help clients declutter and organize their homes for a variety of reasons. The way we declutter and the organization systems that I set up afterwards differ for each client and their unique needs. I have worked with many ADHD individuals and have found that when setting up organized systems, keeping these 5 tips in mind will help the organization system work for ADHD individuals and their families.
Declutter
The more items you own, the more time and energy you need to spend maintaining those items.
Decluttering allows you to keep only the items you really need or want; those items that spark joy for you! Removing the extra items will make it sooo much easier to maintain the items you keep in an organized way.
For example, if you only have 20 shirts instead of 50 …
You’ll be much more likely to keep on top of your laundry.
You’ll have less laundry to fold and put away, making that task less daunting and more likely to happen.
You’ll have less items to look through each morning, making it easier to make a decision on what to wear.
You’ll have more space in you closet, making it easier to keep everything hanging there.
Less stuff = easier to stay organized!
CREATE ZONES
Zones make it easier to know where items are and to know what you own. This can prevent overbuying!
Overbuying is something I see often in people’s homes when we declutter. Because items don’t have specific homes, they often buy duplicates of an item because they didn’t even realize they already owned it.
Creating zones allows you to know where to check if you need an item. Zones remove the guesswork on where an item might be - with zones each items now has a designated area. This will help you retrieve as well as return the item!
For example, if you need medicine for your child, you can know to check the medicine zone to see if you have any before running out and buying some.
Zones provide your brain a map for finding and putting things away!
Store Items Where They Are Used
If retrieving, using, and returning an item can all occur in the same area, you are more likely to be successful maintaining the organization!
Making things as simple as possible is key! Throw out the “shoulds” you unconsciously tell yourself. For example, you may think, “I should store my socks with my clothing in my bedroom.” If you put your socks on when you get your shoes on … then store them by your shoes.
For this client, I created a hair drawer in the kitchen because that is where the family uses those items. The location of the storage supports their lifestyle!
Throw out the “rules” … customize your organization to meet your needs.
Use Clear Containers
Being able to see the items in the container is a visual support and will help you find and put your items away.
While solid containers can be beautiful and super functional, they are not effective for everyone! They hide the contents away, which some people may love, but for many individuals with ADHD … 0ut of sight, out of mind!
Out of sight, out of mind … so, use clear containers!
Use Broad Categories
Create categories that WORK FOR YOU about and keep it general.
Don’t get too micro in your categories! Microorganizing is a thing - it’s where you use smaller bins inside of larger bins. It is wonderful for those whose brains think that way, but it requires bit more maintenance on the “put away” end and can be harder to maintain.
Broad categories make it simple to maintain organization.
Label
This additional visual support will help everyone in the home find and put away items!
It may seem redundant to label a clear bin of pasta, “pasta”, but it is actually so helpful! The combination of the label and the visual cue of the contents make combine to help solidify that mental map of where things exist in your home which makes it easier to find and put items away. Labels also allow everyone in the home to follow the organization system.
Tip: Always have a bin or basket for “needs a home” items and label it. Once it is full, figure out where to store the items.
Labels help keep you honest - no more throwing random things wherever.
Life is too complicated not to be orderly.
Martha Stewart.
Hiring a professional organizer as part of your support system as an individual with ADHD can be a powerful tool! Not only can they help set up organization systems that will support you in your everyday life. We can also act as a body double while we’re there. If there is a task you’ve been dreading, sometimes just having our presence busily working on organizing can help you focus on get that to do and allow you to get it done!
