October is ADHD Awareness Month and what's a better topic to start this blog with? Let's dive in.
If you have ADHD, you’ve probably stared at the mess around you, feeling like "nope, can't handle that" and walked away. Whew! I’ve been there. It. Is. Over. Whelming. It can feel like you’re standing at the bottom of a mountain, trying to figure out how you’re ever going to get to the top. But here’s the thing, you don’t have to do it all at once. In fact, starting small is exactly what I recommend.
When everything feels overwhelming, and you don't know where to start, the best way is picking one small spot to focus on. Tackle that messy kitchen counter or grab that pile of papers you’ve been avoiding and just start there. Give yourself a little time, like 10 or 15 minutes, and just work on that one thing. You don’t need to finish everything in one go. The progress you make, even if it’s small, is still progress. And that can be pretty motivating once you see things coming together.
Another trick I swear by is setting up zones. When you give everything a place, it’s a lot easier to keep things under control and organized. You know those spots where stuff just piles up? For me, it’s the the nightstand full with all the mail usually, or my mani kit, or random knick knacks. Creating specific spots for these things has been a major shift and recently I've added a small cute trash bin next to my nightstand so the mail gets opened and trashed/sorted right away. Often clients I work with struggle with their entryway. So if that's your challenge, think about hooks for your keys and bags or a basket for shoes or shoe storage cabinet. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just functional.
Here’s something else I’ve learned that might help. Our ADHD brains don’t always work well with the “out of sight, out of mind” approach. If you can’t see something, you might forget about it entirely, right? That’s why it helps to use clear storage bins, open shelving, and labels. If you know exactly where your things are, and you can see them without digging through piles, life gets easier. And whatever you do, try not to overstuff drawers or closets. The more full they are, the less likely you’ll keep up with them.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this process is to take it slow and give myself grace. I used to think I had to organize everything in one day, but honestly, that’s just not practical.
My husband stopped me dead in my tracks one day as I went on and on about my to do list, and asked "well what is the priority for today?" and I remember thinking "um sir, everything?"
So if today’s the day to clear out your closet, great. But if all you do is tackle a couple of sections, that’s still progress. Your goal is to create a system that works for you long-term, not something that stresses you out even more.
Maintaining your space doesn’t have to be complicated either. I like to take (really it's try to take) about 10 minutes at the end of each day to do a quick sweep of the main areas. I’m not talking about deep cleaning okay? Just picking up, putting things back where they belong, and keeping things from piling up. A little nightly tidy if you will. It’s a small habit, but it really helps keep things in check, especially after a busy day.
Remember, organizing is personal. You decide what feels and looks good for you.
If you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, know that you’re not alone. We can figure it out together. I can create a system that makes sense for your life, no matter where you’re starting from. So you can always reach out to schedule a consultation.
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