Guest blog post written by Rachel Perez from North Star Inbound, with visuals from Home Advisor, thank you!!

Organizational and Prioritization Tips for ADHD

Doesn’t being organized in your physical space and day to day life sound AMAZING? I’m sure it does, but getting there can feel like an incredibly daunting task, particularly if you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The idea of getting organized alone is probably very overwhelming, without an idea of where to start, how to prioritize, and how to keep up focus and stamina when taking on a multi-day project.

If you want to get more on top of things in your life this year, you’re not alone. No matter the reason you struggle with it, you can overcome chronic disorganization by making simple changes to your routine. Even small changes can have a huge impact. Here are some tips to help you get—and stay—focused and organized. 

Eliminate Distractions 

One of the biggest hurdles for people with ADHD is getting distracted. When you already have trouble focusing, an environment with a lot of extra stimuli might sabotage your efforts to stay on task. 

Whether you’re at home or work, having a clean, quiet environment makes it easier to function and get things done. Take care of the distractions you’re in control of first. For example, if your home office is very cluttered, then decluttering and rearranging to designate a specific home for all of your items might be a great first step in creating an environment where you can focus.

Some distractions, like environmental noise, can’t always be controlled, but there are tools that can help. If noise is a problem, try using noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine to create quiet. If you’re dealing with more visual distractions, then using eye-catching visual reminders, like colorful sticky notes, or apps that temporarily block distracting websites like social media, might help you stay on task. 

Stick to a Schedule  

It’s more difficult to keep track of things when you’re relying on your memory alone. Keeping a schedule or a planner ensures that you have a record of important events and appointments, and gives you something to adjust or reference throughout the day as necessary. 

Keeping your priorities in order is much easier when they’re right in front of you. A schedule also allows you to allocate time for different things—not only the things you have to do, but also time to relax and take breaks.

Time limits and deadlines can seem intimidating, but they’re great tools for staying on task. If time management is a concern, overestimating the amount of time it will take to complete an activity helps create a buffer. If extra time is built into your day, you’re less likely to run into trouble if something goes longer than planned. 

3. Start Small

When you know that you have huge projects to tackle, it’s tempting to completely throw yourself into them and try to get them all done at once. However, biting off more than you can chew can sabotage your efforts.

Try breaking what you need to do down into smaller pieces. These subtasks can be bite-sized, simple, and easy. In fact, the easier they are to complete, the more motivated you might feel to get them done. 

Taking your projects step by step makes them less overwhelming, ensures you don’t miss any crucial steps, and gives you the incentive to cross things off your list more frequently. Before you know it, they’ll be all done.

Try using our home organization planner to break down your tasks!

4. Work With a Buddy 

Though it may feel like a task you need to do by yourself, it’s sometimes hard to do it alone. Whether the task is too big or too menial, getting a friend involved can help make it easier to manage and more fun to complete. 

For large organizing tasks, it’s great to have another set of hands. Even just having another person present, whether it’s in-person or on the phone can make it easier to stay on task because someone else is working with you. Also, another set of eyes on your clutter can be helpful in determining what to keep and what to discard. 

A buddy can also help you manage your time better. If you’re working under an important deadline for a project, having a friend or coworker to check in with at various steps can help you stay accountable and ensure you complete the work on time. 

Getting Started 

No matter your situation, the first—and often most difficult—step is getting started. The idea of reorganizing your life may make you feel helpless, but you can do it, even working with ADHD. Try introducing these tips to how you approach your tasks, and you’ll be on your way to getting focused and organized in no time.

Written by Rachel Perez

Need a buddy to help you get started? Get virtual consulting with a professional organizer at Composed Living to get clarity or guidance on your home organization project and check our free download for 10 Tips to Get and Stay Organized.