If you experience Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then know that you are not alone. According to statistics, more than 8 million adults are affected by ADHD. The condition makes it difficult to focus for long periods of time, and you may also experience depressive lows or manic highs. Needless to say, it can be difficult to organize your home and your life at times, but with the right tactics, it is possible. Consider the advice and tips below, and you can find the organization that you crave.
The Connection Between ADHD and Organization
In most cases, your ADHD may stem from a neurodivergent condition. People who are neurodivergent will typically act, talk, sound, and behave in ways that are different from neurotypical people. There are many conditions that fall under this umbrella, including dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, and ADD/ADHD.
Experts have found that there is a connection between ADHD and messiness. That is typically due to the fact that ADHD symptoms can lead to trouble finishing tasks. As an example, you might have the idea of organizing the books on a shelf so you take everything off. However, you might forget, move on to something new, and leave those books on the floor, which leaves the project unfinished.
In order to help your organizational efforts, it is important that you come up with a system. It also helps to write down your necessary tasks on a calendar. You can also leave notes in the places around your house where you tend to go the most, so you can see them and be reminded of the task at hand.
Come up With a Plan
In many cases, the need to get organized while dealing with ADHD may require a plan. The first step is to avoid trying to be perfect. If you strive for perfection during every organizational project, then it will be hard to accomplish everything you have in your plan.
Next, you need to focus on clutter-busting the rooms that need to be the cleanest but tend to get the dirtiest, like your living room, closet, and home office. When you work in these rooms, set small goals for yourself that are easier to accomplish. That might be to pick up all of the clothes on the floor in the closet or sort the items on a certain area of your kitchen counter. This is a great plan because once you accomplish a minor objective, you may have the motivation to continue.
As an additional tip, make sure that you are making it a habit to get enough sleep every night. When you get seven to nine hours of sleep, you have a better chance of waking up feeling mentally refreshed. You may be surprised at how much better you are at handling your organization checklist the next day.
Tips That Can Help Along the Way
An important part of organizing your home is clearing out the clutter, so you have more space to move about and fewer items to sort every day. When you find items that you want to keep but you also want out of the way, consider storing those items in clear storage bins. That way, you can easily see what is inside when you need it most. You can further ensure that you know where everything is by adding labels to each bin.
Another way to ensure that you can organize your home without fear of forgetting is to practice the “one-in, one-out” rule. Basically, if you buy and bring something into your home, then get rid of something in that same category. So, if you buy a new shirt, then get rid of an older shirt that you rarely wear. This system may be hard at first, but you will be pleasantly surprised at how much clearer the room looks.
Your smartphone can also be a lifesaver when it comes to organization. Set a reminder on your phone to clean a certain area of your home. When the alarm sounds, start that project. If you find that you get distracted, snooze the alarm, and when it sounds again, then you will be reminded to get back to the project you started.
As you can see, there are many organization techniques that can help you to stay on top of your tasks, even if you have ADHD. Consider the tips here, and you can tackle clutter and messiness.
