Staying Organized: ADHD in Adults

ADHD in adults can be a challenge when it comes to staying organized. How often have you found yourself unable to find what you need? Or could you have sworn you left your keys on the coffee table but found them in the kitchen?

How to Get Organized

There are plenty of hacks you can use to get and stay organized.

Embrace routines

Routines can be a lifesaver when it comes to staying organized. Marla Cilley, the author of Sink Reflections, penned her routines for her home, such as morning, afternoon, and evening routines, and split her home into zones. She would focus on a specific zone to declutter and clean each week.

For example, the second week of the month was for the kitchen area. Short morning, afternoon, and evening routines can help keep you on track. You can include tasks like making the bed and wiping down the bathroom surfaces on the morning list, planning dinner and laying out tomorrow’s clothes on the afternoon list, and washing dishes on the evening list.

Use an app or paper planner

Most people cannot keep every detail in their heads. ADHD in adults can make that more difficult. Take advantage of technology by downloading an app or using an old-fashioned paper planner to write down important details.

You must be consistent for a planner or planning app to work for you. Write down appointments as soon as you are aware of them. As part of a routine, review the day and the next day’s plans each morning and evening. Write your to-do list and routines into your planner to make things easier.

Post sticky notes as reminders

Do you forget your routines or to check your planner? Sticky notes are an effective tool to remind you of important things. You can use them in the kitchen to plan meals, write a grocery list, or post essential phone numbers. You can use sticky notes in the car to remind yourself to run by the post office, stop at the store, or return those library books.

Sticky notes are inexpensive and can keep you on track. Their adhesiveness makes them easy to remove and rearrange. Marla Cilley also suggests using sticky notes on the bathroom mirror with a task written on each one. As you complete a task, move the sticky note to the other side of the mirror. Before bed, move all the notes back.

Do five-minute pickups

Throughout the day, do five-minute pickups, whether at work or home. These are just short bursts of activity that will remove the distraction of clutter and allow you to focus better. You will put things back where they belong.

Every hour or two, or at least once in the morning and evening, give yourself 2-5 minutes to clear an area. Pick up trash and throw it away. Put items away and straighten your workspace. If you are home, declutter for a few minutes at a time. In the evening, as you are headed to bed, clear off the coffee table, kitchen table, and nightstand. You will feel more at peace and focused with a tidier space when you wake up.

Christian counseling is available for ADHD in adults

If the symptoms of ADHD in adults are making daily life difficult, contact our office to schedule a session with a Christian counselor in Mission Viejo, California. Your counselor can meet with you in person or virtually. You can learn to manage and overcome the symptoms of ADHD in adults to live your life to the fullest and enjoy every precious moment. Contact us today at Mission Viejo Christian Counseling in California.