Everyone has a unique style of designing, decorating, and organizing their home. For individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), maintaining a well-organized and visually pleasing home can significantly enhance daily life and productivity. Some people may find home decor and organization uninteresting and, at times, overwhelming. Fear not! There IS a way to make things easier: making the home ADHD-friendly.
The ADHD friendly Home hacks we’re sharing below may be helpful for other neurodivergent individuals as well as individuals with anxiety or depression. It’s important to remember that everyone’s brain is different and you need to find the systems that work best for you!
What Is ADHD and How Does It Affect Home Organization?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition that causes people to be hyperactive, inattentive, and/or impulsive. The ADHD brain can struggle to make simple decisions, stay focused, and handle large tasks. Some adults with ADHD find it hard to handle day-to-day tasks like home organization. For example, if there are too many design accessories within the home, a person with ADHD might misplace items amid the design chaos. Adults with ADHD may struggle to keep their homes well organized. These traits manifest in the form of forgetfulness, distraction, inattentiveness, and sensory overload. For instance, it’s common for someone with ADHD to leave laundry halfway finished because they suddenly remember they have dirty dishes in the sink or commonly misplace items like their keys (Let’s be honest, it’s something everyone has done, right?).
Try These ADHD Friendly Home Hacks for Daily Ease and Comfort.
Using these ADHD friendly Home hacks is a great way to keep your space comfortable, organized, and your daily life a little easier.
Make It Fun
Doing laundry, putting away the trash, and cleaning the house are tedious tasks for everyone. One way to make chores less boring is to associate them with things you enjoy. If you enjoy listening to a particular type of music, tune in while cleaning the house. Or, reward yourself with a favorite snack once you’ve completed a task. Making positive associations can increase the motivation and energy to accomplish tasks.
Keep Your Home Free of Clutter
Declutter your living spaces and eliminate unnecessary items that can cause visual overwhelm. Keep only what you need and use regularly, and find designated storage solutions MAR/APR 24 39 WELLNESS for everything else. Clearing out clutter can help reduce distractions and promote a calmer atmosphere, making it easier to focus and stay organized. Consider buying items that can perform two or more tasks. For instance, buy a dryer and a washer combo for laundry instead of having two different appliances. Or consider having one or two mugs instead of a whole set (and save yourself from washing too many dishes!)
Work in Zones
Dividing your space into functional zones based on activities and purposes, such as a designated work area, a relaxation space, or a specific place for storage is a wonderful way to create an ADHD-friendly home. For instance, if your bedroom is meant for sleeping, don’t make it a reading or entertainment area. Clearly define each zone with furniture arrangements, rugs, or decorative elements to create distinct boundaries. This will help minimize distractions, creating a sense of order, which makes it easier to transition between everyday tasks while maintaining focus.
Set Up Visual Cues and Systems
Visual cues help people with ADHD remember things and stick to a schedule. As long as it’s within your sight, it will always be on your mind. If you work with visual cues, you’ll always remember to put things in their place and avoid losing an item or cluttering your surroundings. Some visual cue techniques that can help you keep your home organized include:
- Color coding: Use color-coded labels, bins, or containers to organize belongings and designate specific areas for different items. This technique can also be applied to calendars, schedules, and to-do lists, helping to reinforce routines and responsibilities.
- Time tracking: This helps you better manage your time so you know what tasks to perform at a particular time and for how long.
- Clear storage: Use clear organization and storage bins so you can see what is inside them, making it much easier to find what you’re looking for (without having to open every single storage bin!)
Chunk Out Tasks:
Breaking your tasks into chunks makes them less daunting. Smaller tasks appear easier to perform than bigger ones, so you’ll have more motivation to work on something if it seems easy. For instance, don’t clean the whole house at once,instead focus on cleaning just one room at a time. Handling tasks one step at a time allows you to see progress so you can keep going. It also establishes a system for checking what has been done before moving on to the next task.
Use Tools to Make Your Life Easier
Tools that help with planning and organization can make your life easier. For instance, if you often lose small items like keys or a wallet, try something like the Amazon Key Finder, which can help you locate whatever you’ve lost using your smartphone. Another effective tool is a virtual assistant like Alexa, which reminds you to do specific tasks, such as preparing dinner or going to bed. Or if you’re looking for something even simpler, try a simple whiteboard and color-coded list. You can create lists with different color codes to remind you of specific tasks and when to perform them. Place the whiteboard in an open space so you can see it easily and remind yourself of your daily routine.
Opt for Low-Maintenance Decor
Choose decor and furnishings that are durable, easy to clean, and require minimal upkeep. Avoid clutter-prone decorations, opting instead for streamlined, minimalist designs that promote a sense of calm and organization. Incorporate storage solutions into your decor, such as multifunctional furniture with built-in storage compartments, to maximize space and minimize clutter.
Ask for Help
Refrain from stressing yourself when the workload seems too huge for a single person to handle. Ask for help from a friend, family, or a professional. Asking a friend over to help with the cleaning can be more motivating (and fun). Hiring someone to do the work can also help lift the load off your shoulders. Professional house cleaners will finish the job within a short time and give you a starting point.
While it can be challenging to plan your time and manage day to-day activities with ADHD, having a proper procedure can help you out. Don’t hesitate to seek support from professionals or loved ones if needed. With a thoughtful approach to organization and decor, you can create a home environment that fosters focus, creativity, and peace of mind.
Kim is the owner and publisher of Sass Magazine, as well as the owner of Sass Studios, a boutique graphic design studio in Frederick, MD. When not in the office, Kim can be found doing some of her favorite hobbies—reading a book, dancing, traveling, or playing with her rescued pitbull.
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