Every spring, we’re hit with the same message: It’s time for a deep clean! Declutter your entire home! Start fresh! But honestly, it's a LOT. Because how many times have you tried tackling a spring cleaning session, only to burn out and feel overwhelmed halfway through? So now you're stuck in the middle of piles and piles. Yup, same. The pressure to “do it all” in one big push feels exhausting before I even start.
But what if we did things differently this year? What if, instead of trying to declutter everything at once, we focused on small, intentional resets that actually stick?
For many people, especially those of us with ADHD or executive function challenges, that's the biggest obstacle that keeps us stuck. The idea of tackling an entire house can feel so impossible that we end up doing… nothing. But when we shift our focus to small, achievable wins, we can avoid that mental shutdown.
Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don’t wait until they’re completely covered in plaque before doing a deep clean, you brush every day to maintain them. Small resets work the same way. Instead of waiting until your space is a disaster, try to build in tiny moments of maintenance that make a big difference over time.
A reset is different from deep cleaning or decluttering marathons. A reset takes minutes, not hours, and it doesn’t drain your energy.
Here are some ADHD-friendly ways to incorporate resets into your day:
End of day resets aka Nightly tidy: Before bed, spend five minutes tidying one space you use daily (like your kitchen counter or nightstand). This removes visual clutter and makes your morning feel calmer.
Transition Resets: Use natural transitions in your day to reset small areas. Finished making a sandwich? Wipe down the counter and put things back before you walk away. Just got home? Take 30 seconds to put your shoes and bag in their spot instead of dropping them anywhere.
Micro Decluttering Resets: Instead of pulling out your entire closet, try decluttering one drawer, one shelf, or one category at a time. The goal is progress, not perfection.
One of the biggest reasons we struggle with decluttering is the all or nothing mindset. We think, "if I can’t do it all, why bother?" I remember once feeling so overwhelmed by the to do list and my husband asking "well what is the priority?" I was stunned because that question alone helped shift my mindset. Well, what WAS the priority? Because apparently. iit never dawned on me that I didn't need to do it all that day. So all this to say, if you only have the energy to clear off one surface, do that. A win is a win okay? If you declutter just one category, you’re still making progress.
So this spring, let’s ditch the overwhelm and choose a gentler, more ADHD-friendly approach to refreshing our spaces. Start with one today: Find one small thing you can reset in under five minutes. Whether it’s clearing off a nightstand, putting shoes by the door, or tossing expired food from the fridge, it all counts. And those small changes? They build momentum for even bigger ones!
You got this!
Stay connected! Follow me on Instagram @readysetdeclutter_ for more ADHD-friendly organizing tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes decluttering moments.
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