How to Declutter Part 2: Organizing
Last week, we discussed how to purge your items in an attempt to declutter. This week, we focus on what to do with the stuff you cannot purge. In other words, we will be focusing on organizing the things you have.
Recognize That Perfect Does Not Exist
Will your house ever be spotless? Maybe for like a second. At some point things will be moved around and your neat vaccuum lines (or whatever your sign of a perfect house is) will disappear. One way to deal with the organizational challenges of having ADHD is to recognize that perfect does not exist in this life. Accepting that it will never be perfect is a relief and will help you get to “good enough.”
Invite Someone Over
Sometimes, starting can be the difficulty getting in the way of getting organized. One way to force yourself to organize your house is to invite someone over. The pressure of needing to have your house in order by the time the friend gets to your house will help get you into action.
Work in Chunks
You do not have to organize everything all at once. Start by just focusing on one room or one area of a room. This will help fight any overwhelm that might be building up over getting everything organized. Take breaks in between the chunks. This will keep your mind refreshed and not over tired. It also allows you to get started on organizing when you do not have time to organize everything at once.
Everything Needs a Home
Assign every item in your house a designated place. Doing so combats decision fatigue and will allow you to not have to wonder about where you should put something each time you are cleaning up.
This will require a session of decision making that will last a while. This may seem daunting, but the end result is worth it. One way to speed up your decision making process is to set a timer and make your decision before the timer goes off.
Clear Tubs
Sometimes, the reason we cannot declutter is the worry that we will forget all of the things we have if we cannot see them. The solution is to put them in storage containers that allow us to see what is inside of them. This helps keep them in sight but out of the way.
Get Support
One falsehood ADHDers tend to believe is that we have to do everything ourselves. That is simply not true. Other people are there for a reason. People like to help other people. Ask for support from a friend. There are also professional organizers who specialize in helping people with ADHD, and ADHD coaching can be beneficial when you are trying to get organized.
Get Creative!
You do not have to do everything the same way as everyone else. Your brain is unique and needs a unique startegy to accomplish your goals. This will mean getting creative with how you do things. Getting creative is fun and will allow your brain to run wild.