Thanks to late-diagnosed ADHD, I spent most of my life living in what can gently be described as a chaotic mess. After I was diagnosed, I sought out every available cleaning and tidying tip in an attempt to get my life together. The result was a barely contained chaotic mess and a lot of unused storage. Now, after a simple shift in how I viewed organization, I’m finally living in a place that meets my needs and doesn’t look like the path of a category-five tornado.

ADHD Organization: An Oxymoron?

An organized home is possible with ADHD. We simply need to rethink what organized means. ADHD brains work differently, and sometimes they need some extra help. So, stowing everything out of sight and never having anything on a table won’t be practical. However, a home that meets your needs and makes your life easier is. Try these tips to get started.

5 Ways to Optimize Your Home

Let’s talk about specific ways to create a tidy and ADHD-friendly home.

Fix Your Fridge

Fridge organization is life-changing. Neurodiverse people often struggle with food and food waste. We hyper-focus and forget to eat, leave leftovers in the back of the fridge, and reach for dopamine snacks over healthier options. Try these ideas to fix your fridge and keep healthy foods within reach.

• Keep perishables visible. Hidden vegetables are wasted vegetables.

• Use your crisper drawers for your favorite foods. You’re more likely to forget celery than cheese sticks.

• Use a spinning storage rack for condiments. They’ll be visible, but the door will be free for fruits and veggies.

• Label leftovers with the date you stored them. Throw away anything that’s more than three days old.

Use Clear Storage

Clear storage is a lifesaver! Some people use a label maker, but you still have to read the label. Clear storage lets you see the contents at a glance. This is especially good for items that need replenishing, like dry goods or detergent. Transferring things from their original packaging only takes a second. You’ll be rewarded by never unexpectedly running out of necessities again.

Invest in a Whiteboard

Everyone tells you to get a planner. And it’s not a bad idea, but a planner can easily be forgotten. A whiteboard in a visible place is much easier to remember. Use it to list tasks that need to be done, schedule your day, make grocery lists, or keep track of anything important.

This is especially useful if you live in a neurodiverse house. Give everyone a designated marker color and share a big whiteboard. My partner and I use this strategy to divide chores, keep track of our appointments, and schedule date nights. Seeing everyone’s schedule and responsibilities at a glance streamlines home and time management.

Have a Clean Laundry Basket

Folding is a challenge. It’s the seemingly insurmountable final steps in the dreaded laundry process. To simplify folding, get a clean clothes basket. Put dry laundry in it as soon as possible. Keep the basket somewhere clean and visible until you’ve got the time and energy to fold. If you’re worried about wrinkles in delicate items or professional wear, hang those immediately and wait to fold t-shirts, socks, and other wrinkle-resistant clothes.

Follow the 10-Minute Rule

Once you’ve created a supportive organizational system, you’ll want to maintain it. There are lots of articles on ADHD cleaning tips. The 10-minute rule is my go-to. It’s simple to follow and remember. If you see a task that needs to be done and takes 10 minutes or less, do it immediately. It’s easy to forget to unload the dishwasher, move laundry to the dryer, or put your craft supplies away. The 10-minute rule helps you stay on top of these tasks by making them immediate priorities.

Focused work is the one exception to this rule. If you’re actively working on an important task, don’t let cleaning distract you. Instead, use your whiteboard, planner, phone, or a sticky note to write the task down and do it as soon as you’re done focusing.

Conclusion

These strategies will improve your home and make cleaning and organizing easier. There are a ton of other useful tips out there, too. If you want to try something new, think about it first. Does the idea look good, or will it actually improve your life? Home organization, especially ADHD-friendly organization, isn’t about achieving aesthetic perfection. It’s about creating a space that’s welcoming and accommodating to your needs.