ADHD and Me- 7 tips on how to organize a closet when you can’t pay attention

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It should stand for Attention Doesn’t Happen Daily… because that’s how it is all the time. I don’t lack attention, I lack focus. I lack the ability to put all of my brain cells into one basket and accomplish a task in a reasonable time frame without becoming overwhelmed. Add Anxiety on top of that and man am I a train wreck by the time I get to 90% of the finishing line. And that’s usually where the party ends, and I give up or half-ass the remainder just to be done… and several hours or days later.

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But, closet organization is something we all must tackle at some point in time. I see closets as the window into our psyche- we contain within them all the things we love but don’t want to expose to the world. Now granted, closets can also hold mundane objects like wrapping paper, coats, and brooms, but we all know that to someone with anxiety or ADHD (or both) that innocent looking closet hides dark secrets. Items we have no heart to throw away, things we just don’t feel like dealing with, stuff we’ve been meaning to get to since shake weights were a thing. Our closets are like our heart, and sometimes we just have to suck it up and tackle the issue.

So, how do we do this? Well, here are some tips I’ve learned over the years when it comes to organizing a closet (or really anything) with ADHD and anxiety.

• Don’t buy organizing supplies till after you’ve organized
• Dress for the event and get yourself a drink
• Don’t look at the whole, look at the parts
• Make sure the area around your closet is clear
• Give yourself a time deadline
• Music can make the effort easier
• Try and limit distractions

So now let’s break down each tip.

Don’t buy organizing supplies till after you’ve organized– This sounds counter productive, but we all think that bringing home half of the Container Store will help us organize. And then we realize the boxes and bins we bought won’t fit the items well, don’t fit into the space, are flimsy, or just don’t look right. Know what you want to store then find the right container for it. Better yet- don’t store at all! Clean out also means clear out. The mantra out of sight out of mind comes in handy. You didn’t know you had it, and if you can’t use it right away, do you really still need it? Once you’ve chosen what will go back in, now is a good time to find those organizing bins and baskets because you know what you need, not what you think you want.

Dress for the event and get yourself a drink– Okay, I don’t necessarily mean a glass of wine here and your fanciest clothes. What I mean is grab a glass of water or easy to clean up soft drink (clear soda or light colored juice), or iced tea and put on something comfortable you will want to work in. I don’t like the suggestions of dressing up- closets can be dusty, and you might get stuff on you. Why ruin your nice dress? And having something to sip on will help keep you from walking away to go get something, distracting you from the task. A snack that won’t dirty the fingers can help, too. Try grapes.

Don’t look at the whole, look at the parts– If clearing out a closet is overwhelming, take it in chunks. Clear off an entire shelf, clean the shelf, then decide if you want to put those items back there, or if they need a better location. Set aside items that need to move and put back items that belong. Then move onto the next area. This is great for those cavernous closets filled to the brim.

Make sure the area around your closet is clear– Imagine bringing out three bins of stuff and having to pile it onto stuff! Not helpful. So make sure you have a clear space around your closet to put things. If it is a bedroom closet, make your bed and use that. Kitchen pantry- clear off the counters nearby. You need space to make a mess, so make sure you have it beforehand.

Give yourself a time deadline– This one can be tricky to the ADHD mind. We get time blindness very easily- one hour can turn into six without missing a beat. And five minutes can feel like an hour at times. Setting a timer you can visually see is essential here. But, make sure you have built-in cushioning. If you realistically have 2 hours to clean, set a timer for 90 minutes. This way if you need the extra time you have it. But make sure to reset that timer. And speaking of timers, I LOVE the Time Timer. It was developed for use with Autistic and ADHD children (works wonders with my ADHD mini-me) but works exceptionally well for adults, too. I recommend the 120 minute one.

Music can make the effort easier– “Alexa, play some 90’s hits”. Get your groove on while working. Listening to music can help occupy your mind while you work to help make the task less daunting. You can’t be repeating how crappy this is if your singing to the hits of your teen years. And lively music will help put a pep in your step. I don’t suggest listening to books or podcasts as the ADHD mind can blank out pretty easily and you’ll find yourself becoming frustrated at missing parts.

Try and limit distractions– At all costs, get the kids occupied somewhere else! Give the dog a bone he can chew for a few hours. And let those you live with know your plan and ask their help in not disturbing you. Really! Distractions are like train derailments to the ADHD mind. When I am in the hyperfocus groove, last thing I want to do is have my daughter ask for a snack. Whelp, I might as well quit. So plan ahead to try and keep those distractions to a minimum. And if you know they will come, be prepared for them. They will hurt less.

ADHD and Anxiety can really suck when trying to do something as simple as organize a closet, but with the right preparation, it won’t be as difficult a task as we fear it will be. We need to accept that it won’t go as perfectly as we hope it will to have it go as best as it can.

What tips have you tried? Any additional suggestions on how to make organizing with ADHD a bit easier? Add yours below and don’t forget to subscribe! And please, check out my shop at VekandZeal.com for beautiful bracelets and acrylic pour paintings.