Has your dresser ever been a mountain of stuff? Your closet a jungle of clothes (and who knows what else)? We’ve all been there. In university, I found a 6-month-old sandwich under a pile in my closet – embarrassing!
Over time, we all find ways to manage, but we always seem to need more. Here are some strategies that work for me. I hope they help you too. And please, share your tips in the comments. Let’s learn from each other.
1. In the Kitchen
Do you get easily overstimulated or forget things? Hate it when things are just a little bit hard or annoying? I do, and I find that it’s so important to not have unnecessary obstacles. Here are some ways I do that in the kitchen.
Rotating Storage (Lazy Susans):
- In Cabinets: Why pull everything out when you can simply spin it around? It’s so nice not to have to pull everything out to find things that I’m not even sure are there!
- On The Counter: The lazy Susan is perfect for oils, vinegars, and the like. No more countertop chaos.
- In The Fridge: No more digging for that jar of pickles. Everything’s just a spin away, so that, like the cabinets I don’t have to pull things out to get to things in the back.
Other Fridge Solutions
- The sides of the fridge door for fruits and veggies. They’re visible, accessible, and practical. No more forgotten or overlooked produce.
- Sections in the fridge. In order to make it easy to find things and avoid over-buying, I started creating sections. For example, I have a section for lunch snacks with sandwich meat, and cheese. This simplies quick snacking and lunches. It also answers the subconscious question of “where does this go?”
- Freshness Bins For Certain Vegetables: For me, veggies always end up going bad, so now I have a bin with air pockets for lettuce and veggies. I put the lettuce on the top shelf and got a bin small enough to fit in the side door.
2. In the Office
Does seeing trash everywhere annoy you when you’re working? Do you look for simplicity in disposal? Keeping waste out of sight can be a sensory relief, but it was also important to find a practical approach that wasn’t overly fussy. Here’s what I did:
- One solution I’ve found is using the Ikea Kallyx system and using two of the cubbies for recycling – one for paper recycling in a paper box, and the other for other recycling in a wicker box. This setup prevents accidentally pulling out the wrong box, reducing frustration and memory strain.
3. In the Bathroom
Trash can be annoying to deal with in the bathroom too. While an open trash can might be fine somewhere else, it was gag-worthy for me in the bathroom. And seeing a bag hanging over the side of the lid also bugged me, so this is one solution I’ve found.
- I placed a smaller bin inside the main one. It’s a simple and cost-effective solution from Dollarama, keeping the bathroom neat.
4. In the Bedroom
Let’s face it, traditional methods don’t always work for us. For me, hanging up clothes is uncomfortable and stressful. But, I hated always having clothes piled up on the floor, bed, or chair. Are you the same? If so, here’s a workaround I found that’s easy and keeps my room more tidy:
Hooks and Racks to the Rescue
- Instead of throwing things on the floor (or dresser), I use hooks and a standing towel rack. They’re perfect for nightwear and clothes. It might get a bit crowded at times, but it’s a huge improvement over piles over clothes everywhere.
Now What?
These organizing tips have really helped to keep my place more tidy and to cut down on the stress. If you find it tough to keep things in order, especially with ADHD, give these ideas a try.
Overwhelmed about how to start, try this:
Choose One Solution to Implement: Start small. Pick one of the ADHD-friendly organizing solutions from this article and put it into action in your home. Whether it’s using a lazy Susan in your kitchen, reorganizing your recycling system, or setting up hooks in your bedroom, see how this change impacts your daily routine.
- Evaluate and Adjust: After you’ve implemented your chosen solution, give it some time, then evaluate its effectiveness. Does it make your day-to-day life easier? If yes, great! If not, don’t hesitate to tweak it or try another solution from the list. Remember, organizing is about finding what works best for you.
- Share Your Tips: Got your own tricks for staying organized? I’d love to hear them! Drop a comment below. Sharing what works for us can help everyone.
