As with anything, getting rid of your clutter can be extremely simple, all you have to do is just go through your stuff, one section, and one closet or book shelf at a time, and then throw away the stuff that isn’t really essential, that you don’t love and use that often. Of course a simple process like that isn’t really useful for the many adults with ADHD who struggle with clutter. So with that in mind, how do you deal with clutter especially if you have ADHD? Here are some tips that can help.
Break It Down in Small Pieces – Put aside 10-15 minutes to declutter, one shelf or drawer, when the 10 -15 minutes is up, celebrate your victory. Then tackle another shelf or drawer the next day. Taken on a whole closet or room can be overwhelming & you may put it off. If that is the case, just do it in baby steps.
Set A Few Hours To Do It – This may seem contradictory from the above tip, and it is. However it is just a different strategy and I do say whatever works for you. Sometimes for me anyway, it is good to put aside part of a morning or an entire Sunday to deciliter your desk or bedroom. I try to do it all at once, and when I am done and I see the results, it feels wicked awesome.
Remove All Your Belongings From The Shelf or Drawer at Once – Whatever of the two strategies you start with, you should only focus on one and empty it out completely. Then take the piles and sort it (see the next tip below) and put back only what you want to keep, and then go onto the next shelf or drawers
Go Through Your Piles (One Item at A Time) & Make a Decision – Have a trash bag, a giveaway box and a keep box. When you remove everything out of the shelf or drawer, go through each pile one at a time, and make a decision on whether you want to trash it, give it away or keep it. Do this with all your piles & soon you will be done.
Be Merciless –You may or may not be a pack rat but the truth of the matter is you probably will not use most of the junk that you have accumulated over time. If you have not used this item in the last year, get rid of it. It is as simple as that. If you have used once or twice in the past you but you know that you will not be using it again, get rid of it. .
If You Are on the Fence With Getting Rid of Things, Create a Maybe Box – If you have difficulty with throwing something away, because you may need it later, put it in a box, then close the box and then label it as maybe. Then put it your attic, close or garage (out of sight, out of mind)
Create a System to Stop Clutter from Accumulating – There is a reason why you have stacks of paper all over the place. It is because you may or may not have a regular system to keep things in their place and to get rid of the things you do not need. There is something to think about as you deciliter, think about how your home got clutters in the first place and perhaps you can come up with ways to stop from happening again.
Celebrate When You Are Done – This is a general rule in life, always celebrate what you have accomplished no matter how small. Even if you decluttered just one shelf, that is wicked awesome. Treat yourself to something real yummy. Breathe deeply and know that you are doing well and laze around in your peacefulness.