ADHD Organization
As someone who has struggled with adhd their whole existence i often find myself in a state of distress. 😂 staying organized is not easy. I have many doom drawers and find common areas like my pantry one of the hardest places to keep organized in my ADHD home. I call it organized chaos. Enough to overstimulate the eyes but yet through all of the chaos i know where things are 😂😂😂☠️☠️☠️. Anyways, here is some tips to organizing big projects in your home. And how to keep organized so that your ADHD brain understands it.
1. Clean out the area. Take everything out section by section. In my pantry i did it level. This was a long process as my pantry is super deep. But if you have everything on an area where you cook or eat you are more inclined to feel obligated to finish what you started as an adhd individual.
2. Throw out what you don’t need. Listen I’m all for saving food - but some things need to go. If you’ve got 18 cans of red beans and you’ve never cooked one can in your whole life. Time to donate what’s not expired to a canned food bin/shelter. That being said anything expired needs to be thrown out! No excuses. Let go and let god 😂
3. Organize your piles and sort them by category. For me this looked like all of my cans together, grains, pastas, water flavorings and tea bags, breadcrumbs and baking essentials etc. this way you can see exactly what you have and put them into categories that make sense for your brain. For instance - i make a tea and a flavored water every morning i wake up. To have those in front of me where my eyes can easily see - means they won’t go to die and i will stay hydrated. As oppose to me having my bisquick right in front of me - hardly ever making biscuits in this damn house 😂
4. Now comes the fun part. Go to your local HomeGoods or get on Amazon. And buy yourself some pantry organization containers. And some pantry liners. This was probably the most satisfying part. After sorting you will feel accomplished and you can reward yourself by making a purchase that is responsible! With ADHD it’s so important to have a reward system in place. If you don’t have a system for rewarding yourself - you will not be able to overcome the feeling of ADHD paralysis. Rewarding yourself will make the task seem more beneficial and you are 10 times more inclined to finish the task.
5. Start sorting your goods into the new fancy containers. This is like a game of Tetris. So satisfying! Remember to make it make sense to your brain like i stated in step four. You want what you would usually grab for at arms length and what you use least often more towards the back.
6. Line your cabinets with the pantry liners. You can measure them out but if you don’t care if it’s perfect you can eyeball it as long as you have cleaned the area and lined it nicely!!
7. Put all of your containers in said pantry and align it to your brain chemistry. What’s most important to you? Put it in front.
8. Look at your progress. Make sure you take a before and after picture so that you can use it as another reward system and feel motivated to tackle another doom drawer / project!! Always track your accomplishments
*honorable mention but no necessary*
Body Doubling. Sometimes tackling this with another person helping you is so much more beneficial then on your own. even if said person is just sitting and watching. It keeps ADHD brains on task and can offer a sense of accountability. This is an often occurrence called body doubling. You can apply this to all aspects of your life.
Hopefully this will help you. What works for someone else might work for you! And follow me for more adhd tips and tricks, and to follow me on my journey on taking back my life from ADHD paralysis and learning how to retrain and make more positive habits ☺️#adhdproductivity #adhdhacks #organization #lifestyle #organizationideas #adhd #adhdtips #organizationideas #cleangirlaesthetic #cleaninghacks
Living with ADHD, I've learned that organization isn't about being perfectly tidy, but about creating systems that work with my brain, not against it. While the pantry makeover was a game-changer for me, the principles of ADHD-friendly home organization extend to every corner of your living space. It's truly about reducing decision fatigue, creating visual cues, and lowering the barriers to action. One of the biggest lessons I learned is the power of *visible storage*. For an ADHD brain, “out of sight, out of mind” often means “out of sight, forgotten forever.” That's why I'm a huge fan of clear bins for everything from snacks to cleaning supplies. Being able to see what I have at a glance significantly reduces the mental effort of searching, and helps me remember what needs to be restocked. No more buying 10 boxes of the same pasta because I forgot I had it! Another lifesaver, especially in deep cabinets or on cluttered countertops, are rotating organizers. Think lazy Susans, but for your spices, condiments, or even craft supplies. These bring everything to the front with a simple spin, eliminating the need to dig through piles and potentially knock things over – a common source of frustration for me. This simple tool turns a chaotic corner into an accessible treasure trove. And let’s not forget shelf liners! Beyond just protecting your shelves, they provide a smooth, clean surface that makes it easier to slide items in and out. For me, the visual appeal of neat, lined shelves also adds to the sense of calm and order, which is a powerful motivator for maintaining the system. It’s a small detail that contributes to the overall ADHD-friendly aesthetic, signaling “this space is cared for and easy to use.” Beyond the pantry, these strategies can be applied throughout the home. In my bedroom, instead of a ‘clothespile chair,’ I now use open baskets for dirty laundry and a designated hook for clothes that are worn but still clean. This prevents decision paralysis when getting dressed and keeps the floor clear. For my workspace, I've embraced vertical organization with stackable trays and wall organizers for papers and supplies. This keeps my desktop clear, minimizing visual distractions and helping me focus on one task at a time. Remember the importance of a 'home for everything.' If an item doesn't have a designated spot, it's destined to become clutter. I often find myself doing quick 'resets' – a 5-minute tidy-up at the end of the day – to put things back in their homes. It’s not about achieving perfection, but about making small, consistent efforts. And just like with my pantry project, if you can find an accountability partner through 'body doubling' for these mini-cleanups, it can make all the difference. It provides that gentle external push that often helps my ADHD brain stay on track. Ultimately, ADHD-friendly home organization is an ongoing journey of self-discovery. It's about experimenting with different tools and strategies to find what truly resonates with your unique brain chemistry. Be patient and kind to yourself, and celebrate every small victory along the way!
Wow this is so helpful I love this definitely saving for inspo 🔥