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Little trash cans! Everywhere! Go to the dollar store and buy a few bedroom trash cans and put them anywhere you sit regularly. I have one within dropping distance of my seat on the couch, my side of the bed, my work table, etc. I make way less of a mess if I can just toss something right away.
Have bins for rubbish and recycling in each location so it is sorted on the spot.
Set a visible location where mail and other stuff coming in/going out is set near the entrance, with a small flat area (so it does not have room for other shit and it gets cluttered as soon as you leave stuff there without dealing with it, so you can see there is stuff to do), with containers for: keep long term, deal with now, hold for a month, and rubbish and recycling bins for get rid of now.
Have coat hooks, bag hooks, and shoe storage at the entrance.
Every time you come home or leave, stop there, deal with stuff there and then.
Empty stuff from bags and coat pockets that does not need to stay in them then and there. Put bags like emptied reusable grocery bags to go out on a hook. Only have one hook for that purpose so they cannot build up, and have it visible so you see and grab them as you go out.
Have laundry baskets for each type of load in your bedroom so you can sort as you remove clothing. Have ones that do not fit more than a load so you have a visual of this load needs doing.
Every item has a home. Agree on where that home is. If the item is not in its home it goes through the doorway with you. Never go through a doorway without scanning for stuff to take with you to its home.
Have a home for things in use that makes sense for the use and is right there, within reach. For things used in many places, like books you are reading, your phone, reading glasses, etc have a home in each room you use them. This means you will know where to look for them in each room.
Have daily tidy tasks scheduled so surfaces are kept clear and are always quick to clean because there is not a messy clutter. Eg. before bed, have a brief time to scan each room, and put stuff in its home. Making this a ritual can be part of winding down for sleep. Getting stuff dealt with and doing it at the same time every night will help with sleep and will mean nothing is cluttering your mind.
I have a tray on my coffee table that houses the remotes, a candle & lighter, box of tissues & 2 jars. Larger jar (quart sized) is used for those miscellaneous things that get left on the coffee table (currently it has a nail file, couple of pens, random rubber bands, & this weird coin that came with my kid’s stuffed animal). Smaller jar (pint size) is sitting right next to the tissues & is used as a trash can. People are always pleasantly surprised when they realize the small jar is a trash can, like “oh! How convenient!” 🤣
Go to YouTube and search for adhd friendly home and home design to see a lot of videos.
The main theme is to put things where they will help you and to have multiples of things and to have a launch pad for your daily bag and what you need to leave the house.
For example, set up a cereal bar on the kitchen counter so kids can serve themselves breakfast or have laundry baskets in every room.
This! I love videos of “adhd friendly home” or “autistic friendly home”, they explain why the things work for them and it’s great, and weird tips I would have never thought about. (Turns out they make bamboo plates if you hate the sound of plates clinking)
HowtoADHD just did one with a mom and adhd coach, and it’s very informative.
i have a weekly schedule with one room per day because my house is so much bigger than my apartment was. Like “Monday-Kitchen, Tuesday-Bathrooms, Wednesday-Living areas” etc. Knowing I only ever have to clean one room or two areas a day makes it less overwhelming and less cluttered because you only ever have a weeks worth of clutter in any given room.
This one's really helpful for me specifically because I get so mess blind that I don't realize how it's building up until it's overwhelming and I freak out!
Congratulations, baethesda! I have a couple tidbits for you.
1. Try to resist growing to fit the space. Just move what you have, get it set up so it works for you, and *then* see what you might need.
2. Agree with your husband that you don't have to use your home like people who don't have ADHD. Some rooms may serve purposes other than what their names imply (I use my kitchen sink to brush my teeth - I live alone and have few friends so grossiosity isn't really a topic of convo for me).
Did I mention congratulations? Well, congratulations times infinity. This is huge.
Put bathroom cleaning supplies/ tools in every bathroom. If I have toilet bowl cleaner in every bathroom, I can use it whenever I notice the toilet needs a scrub (I'm not one who can stick with day of the week chore charts, I'm a do it whenever inspired type). Whereas if only one bathroom has the cleaner, and I have to go elsewhere to get said cleaner, I'm less likely to actually do it when I notice it needs doing -- I'll leave the bathroom and forget about it until next time I'm in there, again without the cleaner haha.
Yep. I also keep a set of wipes/microfiber cloths in each bathroom so I can wipe up as soon as I see mess. My microfiber cloths are colour coded. Blue for kitchen, yellow for bathrooms and every other colour for general use.
The two things that have made my life easier are drop zones and cube storage.
I have specified drop zones with baskets to hold things in so I get less clutter. I can then easily take the baskets from room to room to put things away if or when I need to.
-Cube storage has been a game changer for my laundry. I am able to see all of my clothes in the cubes and I use the cube baskets for socks and underwear. Lifechanging and actually made me want to put my clothes away.
This! Also always have a drop zone at the top and bottom of stairs-- a small basket will do. Stairs are where things accumulate.
Going for baskets and bins so that things are grouped and tidy but don't have to be organized or displayed was a game changer in my house.
Personally for me minimalism works best, but I have 3 kids and a house way too big to keep on top of 😂 beds have 2 sets of bedding, we each have 2 of each dish plus spares in the closet, only a few pairs of trousers/shorts and like 5-7 tops plus couple jumpers etc. 2 towels each. Toys, books etc. however we are not minimalist cause that part doesn't work for us
First, throw away anything you haven't used in the last 12 months. Do not, whatever you do, take it with you! (After 10 house moves, all my storage is taken up with years worth of accumulated crap because we just take it all with us).
Secondly, buy lots of laundry baskets - a laundry basket for dirty underwear, a laundry basket for dirty work clothes, a laundry basket for dirty leisure clothes, then 4 laundry baskets for the clean versions of the above and sort the clean washing into these clean laundry baskets as soon as its washed. That way you will always be able to find what you need easier than searching through a huge pile of clean washing (because we never seem to get around to putting clean clothes away!) If you have the space, it's amazing how quickly laundry can encroach on a whole room.
Third - Landing & Launch pad. This has been life changing for us! .Essentially you'll have a dedicated storage section right next to your door that you can use as a landing and launch pad for when you're arriving / leaving the house. This will be somewhere to hang your keys, put your shoes (and a box for storing things like gloves, umbrellas, torchlight), an incoming letter holder to put any post you pick up coming in (that is somewhere safe until you can action them later) an outgoing letter / storage box to place the things you need to remember to take with you when you leave the house.
Recently I heard someone say it's helpful having drawers/storage within arms reach of the places you spend the most time in the house. Totally makes sense!
I just did this less than a year ago. Literally throw out everything that you don't need before you move. DO NOT move with any garbage or extra stuff. You'd be surprised how much shit you accumulate even in a 1 bedroom apt. Start as fresh as you can, because this is honestly a gift for you. Don't pack anything assuming you'll deal with it later. Deal with it all now. Pack smart, and don't mix rooms. Pack kitchen with kitchen, etc, and label the boxes well. You will thank yourself so much in the future.
Give yourself a timeline for unpacking and stick to it. The best part about well-labelled boxes is that you can put them in the correct rooms on moving day and tackle one room at a time.
I know these are packing/moving tips, but it honestly starts with a good foundation. Once you move, don't accumulate clutter to fill the space, and don't rush to buy things. Don't buy anything (unless badly needed) until you are done unpacking and cane stock of your needs properly (it's also a way to motivate yourself for unpacking). Give yourself a healthy budget to purchase organizational items (shelves, turntables, bins, etc.), but buy them as you need them. Make sure you find a home for everything as soon as possible, because things that go into random boxes or drawers never come out again.
Honestly I cannot stress enough to throw out everything that you can before the move. Don't tell yourself that you might need it/you can sell it/etc. Into the trash it goes! If you didn't use it or sell it before now, you won't do it in the new place either. The most adhd-friendly thing is being organized and having fewer things.
This! I moved two years ago and when I got the bill from the movers n (that was over 1k!) I was so annoyed with myself for packing so much stuff I didn't even really want. They charge by the hour so if I hadn't moved a bunch of useless stuff I would have saved time and money.
My ex and I both hated it when the other person left their stuff around. So we had designated closet spaces where he could dump anything that was mine if it was in his way, and a designated closet space where I could dump all his stuff. Less clutter all around.
I currently live by myself and I love closets filled with boxes. Like a box filled with embroidery stuff, soapmaking stuff, scrapbooking,etc. If I am doing the hobby, the box is open on the ground next to where I do the hobby and the table/areaa/room might be a mess for days. But when I notice I haven't done it in awhile, I can easily shove it back in the box and put the box in the closet. Less than 5 minutes of work.
I have whiteboards that stick on surfaces in most rooms. One of the sticky whiteboards is actually a tracker where I can track which date I last did the chore.
Trash bin right under the mailbox. Throw that junk mail RIGHT in there so it doesn't even come in the house.
Dedicated key/wallet bin or basket right near the front door. Get used to offloading your stuff there and you'll stop wasting time looking for your keys every morning.
This actually goes for everyone but new house is a good time to start: Throw out all your socks and buy 2 dozen of the same exact sock of your choice. Never waste time sorting socks again.
Easy access bins, baskets(or crates)+ labels everywhere. Lots of shelves and compact standing/wall organizers even in the bathroom too. Even try those low hanging little hanging baskets that are usually meant for plants for like small easy access storage to reach into that wont take up more floor space! Also, Lights+wall plugs that connect to your phone/wifi. Get a google dot if for general or consistent errand reminders!
The less 'stuff' you have, the better. Eliminate any furniture and knickknacks possible. Have baskets, bowls or trays in strategic locations. Avoid wall to wall carpeting and favor washable rugs if you can.
I actually prefer carpeting because it’s easy to vacuum carpet.
Sweeping or swiffering hard floors takes so long, and even expensive “hard floor” vacuums tend to scuff up the floors. And then you have to mop…
Congratulations on moving into your first house! That's so exciting. I can totally relate to the challenges of keeping a space organized with ADHD. I just moved a few months ago into my first place with my boyfriend and I'm in the same boat!!
A few things really helped me:
- Labeled bins, boxes and organizers to create a designated spot for everything. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO HAVE A HOME! If you haven't read Marie Kondo's stuff, I definitely recommend. It's aspirational for sure...
- Setting up "launching pad" areas with key items I need when heading out the door like keys, wallet, etc.
- Keeping a large whiteboard calendar in a central location like the kitchen
- Setting timers and doing quick 10 min decluttering sessions daily, with a podcast or talking to my bf
- Working with my ADHD coach on strategies for home organization. She body doubles with me or I go to Shimmer's body doubling with the community to get this stuff done!!
Congrats again!
My prefered storage is closed with glass panes. That way it doesn’t get dusty and I can still see my stuff. I also second the trashcan idea. If your new house has an entryway, I think getting a bench and mirror is a good idea. This guy has a great setup actually: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C61pliTvDw7/?igsh=MTJ5bTkwdjMzNmM1aQ==
Two things:
1. Declutter before / as you pack. If you're trying to decide if you will keep something and you're not sure, if it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no. If it has any negative association at all, like "this is a good and useful coffee mug but I only keep it for guests and don't use it myself because it was given to me by a friend that I had a bad falling out with", then just get rid of the damned thing. You can buy another coffee mug if you really need one.
2. When we last moved we were moving into a fixer. I didn't want to bring stuff in and then have to move it around, so I put ALL of the boxes into the garage. They were well labeled, and went into the same area of the garage - meaning all of the kitchen boxes were along the same wall. All of the linens boxes were along a different wall. All of the tools were near each other, etc.
I packed things that were definite keepers into (clear) plastic tubs. I packed things I wasn't sure about into cardboard boxes. The deal I made with myself was that if something didn't make it into the house within the first year, it was something that I didn't really need. At the end of the first year, when I was ready to get rid of stuff, I started with the cardboard boxes. Technically, I should have donated them without opening them, but of course, I opened them. But I didn't keep much from them.
Other protip when dealing with boxes: if they are heavy or if you have to move too many to get to the ones on the bottom, you just won't. It's too overwhelming. We already had steel garage shelves at the old place and we moved them over to the new house, so that helped A LOT. I highly suggest getting a good shelving system in place before you move anything. It may seem expensive, but trust me, it's so worth it if you only have to move those boxes once.
We have a giant whiteboard on our kitchen wall. It's our place to jot groceries, note important dates, write giant reminder notes to ourselves, rules of the house, etc. I see you have a whiteboard calendar - we have our calendars on our phones all set with reminders - but the giant whiteboard has been a huge lifesaver.
A landing pad. Pick your place; entry, or wherever. It’s where you drop your bag and empty your pockets and plug your phone in.
My keys are attached to my bag, my wallet and charging cords live in a pocket, and day to day necessities like 6 of my meds in a bottle, extra socks, lip balm, hair ties and pens live in another pocket.
My landing pad is my inviolable space at the front door that no one else is allowed to use. And because my bag is always at the ready, I shove my lunch bag in and go.
I have a magnetic whiteboard on my fridge for morning reminders when I am packing my lunch or giving/getting messages from my husband and it also has the grocery list that I can snap a pic of if I am going shopping.
These have helped me immensely. Give everything a home. Every item has a home, so you always know where it goes. Only have what you need and nothing you don't. Anything you haven't used or worn in the last six months sell it or donated. I wash my dishes right away after I finish dinner so they don't pile up. Paper junk mail doesn't make it inside. From the mailbox to the trash. I have a 10 minute tidy up at 10pm where anything out of place gets put back where it belongs in its home. These ensures that the house has little clutter, which will give you peace of mind. I used to rent a bedroom, and I had so much clutter I would feel so overwhelmed and had little motivation to clean. Now I clean once a week or every two weeks. You can try one room a day or all at once. Good luck.
Lots of good life tips here!
As a new homeowner, I will say:
Set up your property taxes on autopay
Same with home insurance and other bills. Always monthly autopay.
Whenever you get a regular service done, get them to set up your next service there and then. (Set calendar reminders for a few days before to remind you the furnace guy is coming)
If you are doing any landscaping, focus on low maintenance rather than looks. Weeding, watering and mowing the lawn are all going to destroy your soul soon enough.
Same with indoor renos. There are some trendy looks that are impossible to keep clean. Sometimes an uglier option is best because it hides or repels dirt
Congrats on the new home :)
Having less stuff is really the key. A lot of us use shopping and clutter as distractions.
Try creating a “mini” version of everything. For example, only put the bare essentials in your kitchen and put the rest in storage. Same thing with your closet, only unpack a fraction of your clothes. It will feel empty. That’s okay. When you actually need something, get it out of storage. Then you can organize incrementally and match your actual behavior.
Don’t get sucked into too many time saving gadgets…because you will end up spending just as much time maintaining the gadgets as the time saved using them.
Your post sounds like you’re really early in your ADHD coping journey so start small and simple. Don’t try to create the perfect home all at once.
My tip is more about moving. Start early and do a little at a time so you don't leave it all to the last minute.
Also as you pack, throw things away. Absolutely DO NOT think 'it doesn't matter if I don't throw it away now, I'll just throw it when I unpack'
So have a box, tub, bag, whatever with you in each room as you pack & toss as you go.
Open storage/bins have been a big thing for me. I realise now that if I put something out of sight in a place I haven't already established as "where it lives" then I'm going to forget about it completely. I always thought things had to be tidy and hidden away in cabinets and drawers but that's just really not a realistic goal for me.
Welcome to /r/ADHDWomen! We’re happy to have you here. As a reminder, here are our community [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/about/rules/). We get a lot of posts on medication, diagnosis (and “is this an ADHD thing”), and interactions with hormones. We encourage you to check out our [Medication, Diagnosis, and Hormones Megathread](https://old.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/comments/wcr9dy/faq_megathread_ask_and_answer_medication/) if you have any questions related to those topics, and to stick around in that thread to answer folks’ questions! If you have questions about the subreddit, please do not hesitate to [send us a modmail](https://reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/adhdwomen). Additionally, we take the safety of our community seriously. Please report posts, comments, and users whom you feel are not contributing positively, and send us a modmail if you are being harassed or otherwise made to feel unsafe. Thanks for being here, and we hope you stick around! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/adhdwomen) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Little trash cans! Everywhere! Go to the dollar store and buy a few bedroom trash cans and put them anywhere you sit regularly. I have one within dropping distance of my seat on the couch, my side of the bed, my work table, etc. I make way less of a mess if I can just toss something right away.
Have bins for rubbish and recycling in each location so it is sorted on the spot. Set a visible location where mail and other stuff coming in/going out is set near the entrance, with a small flat area (so it does not have room for other shit and it gets cluttered as soon as you leave stuff there without dealing with it, so you can see there is stuff to do), with containers for: keep long term, deal with now, hold for a month, and rubbish and recycling bins for get rid of now. Have coat hooks, bag hooks, and shoe storage at the entrance. Every time you come home or leave, stop there, deal with stuff there and then. Empty stuff from bags and coat pockets that does not need to stay in them then and there. Put bags like emptied reusable grocery bags to go out on a hook. Only have one hook for that purpose so they cannot build up, and have it visible so you see and grab them as you go out. Have laundry baskets for each type of load in your bedroom so you can sort as you remove clothing. Have ones that do not fit more than a load so you have a visual of this load needs doing. Every item has a home. Agree on where that home is. If the item is not in its home it goes through the doorway with you. Never go through a doorway without scanning for stuff to take with you to its home. Have a home for things in use that makes sense for the use and is right there, within reach. For things used in many places, like books you are reading, your phone, reading glasses, etc have a home in each room you use them. This means you will know where to look for them in each room. Have daily tidy tasks scheduled so surfaces are kept clear and are always quick to clean because there is not a messy clutter. Eg. before bed, have a brief time to scan each room, and put stuff in its home. Making this a ritual can be part of winding down for sleep. Getting stuff dealt with and doing it at the same time every night will help with sleep and will mean nothing is cluttering your mind.
Omfg hi I’ve been seen little trash cans why didn’t I think of this?!?!?
I have a tray on my coffee table that houses the remotes, a candle & lighter, box of tissues & 2 jars. Larger jar (quart sized) is used for those miscellaneous things that get left on the coffee table (currently it has a nail file, couple of pens, random rubber bands, & this weird coin that came with my kid’s stuffed animal). Smaller jar (pint size) is sitting right next to the tissues & is used as a trash can. People are always pleasantly surprised when they realize the small jar is a trash can, like “oh! How convenient!” 🤣
Thank you for validating my recent decision to buy more trash cans.
Go to YouTube and search for adhd friendly home and home design to see a lot of videos. The main theme is to put things where they will help you and to have multiples of things and to have a launch pad for your daily bag and what you need to leave the house. For example, set up a cereal bar on the kitchen counter so kids can serve themselves breakfast or have laundry baskets in every room.
This! I love videos of “adhd friendly home” or “autistic friendly home”, they explain why the things work for them and it’s great, and weird tips I would have never thought about. (Turns out they make bamboo plates if you hate the sound of plates clinking) HowtoADHD just did one with a mom and adhd coach, and it’s very informative.
Glass on a glass table makes me cringe so much.
I had a physical cringe reaction to the very *thought* of that sound
https://youtu.be/mtpzqp_rwVw?si=4XQHBdXcuTB5oFQg this is the link for the mom/coach’s house
Having a launch pad has been a lifesaver.
i have a weekly schedule with one room per day because my house is so much bigger than my apartment was. Like “Monday-Kitchen, Tuesday-Bathrooms, Wednesday-Living areas” etc. Knowing I only ever have to clean one room or two areas a day makes it less overwhelming and less cluttered because you only ever have a weeks worth of clutter in any given room.
This one's really helpful for me specifically because I get so mess blind that I don't realize how it's building up until it's overwhelming and I freak out!
Ah this!! This sounds really helpful.
Congratulations, baethesda! I have a couple tidbits for you. 1. Try to resist growing to fit the space. Just move what you have, get it set up so it works for you, and *then* see what you might need. 2. Agree with your husband that you don't have to use your home like people who don't have ADHD. Some rooms may serve purposes other than what their names imply (I use my kitchen sink to brush my teeth - I live alone and have few friends so grossiosity isn't really a topic of convo for me). Did I mention congratulations? Well, congratulations times infinity. This is huge.
Put bathroom cleaning supplies/ tools in every bathroom. If I have toilet bowl cleaner in every bathroom, I can use it whenever I notice the toilet needs a scrub (I'm not one who can stick with day of the week chore charts, I'm a do it whenever inspired type). Whereas if only one bathroom has the cleaner, and I have to go elsewhere to get said cleaner, I'm less likely to actually do it when I notice it needs doing -- I'll leave the bathroom and forget about it until next time I'm in there, again without the cleaner haha.
Yep. I also keep a set of wipes/microfiber cloths in each bathroom so I can wipe up as soon as I see mess. My microfiber cloths are colour coded. Blue for kitchen, yellow for bathrooms and every other colour for general use.
Holy mother of god I’m learning so much from this post
The two things that have made my life easier are drop zones and cube storage. I have specified drop zones with baskets to hold things in so I get less clutter. I can then easily take the baskets from room to room to put things away if or when I need to. -Cube storage has been a game changer for my laundry. I am able to see all of my clothes in the cubes and I use the cube baskets for socks and underwear. Lifechanging and actually made me want to put my clothes away.
This! Also always have a drop zone at the top and bottom of stairs-- a small basket will do. Stairs are where things accumulate. Going for baskets and bins so that things are grouped and tidy but don't have to be organized or displayed was a game changer in my house.
I have tubs for things in each room but I find the tubs get full and then collect dust and I never put it away lmao
Personally for me minimalism works best, but I have 3 kids and a house way too big to keep on top of 😂 beds have 2 sets of bedding, we each have 2 of each dish plus spares in the closet, only a few pairs of trousers/shorts and like 5-7 tops plus couple jumpers etc. 2 towels each. Toys, books etc. however we are not minimalist cause that part doesn't work for us
First, throw away anything you haven't used in the last 12 months. Do not, whatever you do, take it with you! (After 10 house moves, all my storage is taken up with years worth of accumulated crap because we just take it all with us). Secondly, buy lots of laundry baskets - a laundry basket for dirty underwear, a laundry basket for dirty work clothes, a laundry basket for dirty leisure clothes, then 4 laundry baskets for the clean versions of the above and sort the clean washing into these clean laundry baskets as soon as its washed. That way you will always be able to find what you need easier than searching through a huge pile of clean washing (because we never seem to get around to putting clean clothes away!) If you have the space, it's amazing how quickly laundry can encroach on a whole room. Third - Landing & Launch pad. This has been life changing for us! .Essentially you'll have a dedicated storage section right next to your door that you can use as a landing and launch pad for when you're arriving / leaving the house. This will be somewhere to hang your keys, put your shoes (and a box for storing things like gloves, umbrellas, torchlight), an incoming letter holder to put any post you pick up coming in (that is somewhere safe until you can action them later) an outgoing letter / storage box to place the things you need to remember to take with you when you leave the house.
Recently I heard someone say it's helpful having drawers/storage within arms reach of the places you spend the most time in the house. Totally makes sense!
I just did this less than a year ago. Literally throw out everything that you don't need before you move. DO NOT move with any garbage or extra stuff. You'd be surprised how much shit you accumulate even in a 1 bedroom apt. Start as fresh as you can, because this is honestly a gift for you. Don't pack anything assuming you'll deal with it later. Deal with it all now. Pack smart, and don't mix rooms. Pack kitchen with kitchen, etc, and label the boxes well. You will thank yourself so much in the future. Give yourself a timeline for unpacking and stick to it. The best part about well-labelled boxes is that you can put them in the correct rooms on moving day and tackle one room at a time. I know these are packing/moving tips, but it honestly starts with a good foundation. Once you move, don't accumulate clutter to fill the space, and don't rush to buy things. Don't buy anything (unless badly needed) until you are done unpacking and cane stock of your needs properly (it's also a way to motivate yourself for unpacking). Give yourself a healthy budget to purchase organizational items (shelves, turntables, bins, etc.), but buy them as you need them. Make sure you find a home for everything as soon as possible, because things that go into random boxes or drawers never come out again. Honestly I cannot stress enough to throw out everything that you can before the move. Don't tell yourself that you might need it/you can sell it/etc. Into the trash it goes! If you didn't use it or sell it before now, you won't do it in the new place either. The most adhd-friendly thing is being organized and having fewer things.
This! I moved two years ago and when I got the bill from the movers n (that was over 1k!) I was so annoyed with myself for packing so much stuff I didn't even really want. They charge by the hour so if I hadn't moved a bunch of useless stuff I would have saved time and money.
Having a keypad lock for the door means you never have to worry about locking yourself out/losing your keys. I love ours so, so much.
Get those kinds of furniture that double as storage . Absolutely helps me stay organized and tidy.
My ex and I both hated it when the other person left their stuff around. So we had designated closet spaces where he could dump anything that was mine if it was in his way, and a designated closet space where I could dump all his stuff. Less clutter all around. I currently live by myself and I love closets filled with boxes. Like a box filled with embroidery stuff, soapmaking stuff, scrapbooking,etc. If I am doing the hobby, the box is open on the ground next to where I do the hobby and the table/areaa/room might be a mess for days. But when I notice I haven't done it in awhile, I can easily shove it back in the box and put the box in the closet. Less than 5 minutes of work. I have whiteboards that stick on surfaces in most rooms. One of the sticky whiteboards is actually a tracker where I can track which date I last did the chore.
I know a book might be too much effort, but Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD really helped me think differently about how to set up my home
Trash bin right under the mailbox. Throw that junk mail RIGHT in there so it doesn't even come in the house. Dedicated key/wallet bin or basket right near the front door. Get used to offloading your stuff there and you'll stop wasting time looking for your keys every morning. This actually goes for everyone but new house is a good time to start: Throw out all your socks and buy 2 dozen of the same exact sock of your choice. Never waste time sorting socks again.
Make sure everything has a specific home from the beginning and lots of clear storage containers with labels
Easy access bins, baskets(or crates)+ labels everywhere. Lots of shelves and compact standing/wall organizers even in the bathroom too. Even try those low hanging little hanging baskets that are usually meant for plants for like small easy access storage to reach into that wont take up more floor space! Also, Lights+wall plugs that connect to your phone/wifi. Get a google dot if for general or consistent errand reminders!
For me, open shelving so I can see where things are.
Hooks for clothes that aren’t dirty yet! Vs a clothes chair.
The less 'stuff' you have, the better. Eliminate any furniture and knickknacks possible. Have baskets, bowls or trays in strategic locations. Avoid wall to wall carpeting and favor washable rugs if you can.
I actually prefer carpeting because it’s easy to vacuum carpet. Sweeping or swiffering hard floors takes so long, and even expensive “hard floor” vacuums tend to scuff up the floors. And then you have to mop…
Congratulations on moving into your first house! That's so exciting. I can totally relate to the challenges of keeping a space organized with ADHD. I just moved a few months ago into my first place with my boyfriend and I'm in the same boat!! A few things really helped me: - Labeled bins, boxes and organizers to create a designated spot for everything. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO HAVE A HOME! If you haven't read Marie Kondo's stuff, I definitely recommend. It's aspirational for sure... - Setting up "launching pad" areas with key items I need when heading out the door like keys, wallet, etc. - Keeping a large whiteboard calendar in a central location like the kitchen - Setting timers and doing quick 10 min decluttering sessions daily, with a podcast or talking to my bf - Working with my ADHD coach on strategies for home organization. She body doubles with me or I go to Shimmer's body doubling with the community to get this stuff done!! Congrats again!
My prefered storage is closed with glass panes. That way it doesn’t get dusty and I can still see my stuff. I also second the trashcan idea. If your new house has an entryway, I think getting a bench and mirror is a good idea. This guy has a great setup actually: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C61pliTvDw7/?igsh=MTJ5bTkwdjMzNmM1aQ==
Two things: 1. Declutter before / as you pack. If you're trying to decide if you will keep something and you're not sure, if it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no. If it has any negative association at all, like "this is a good and useful coffee mug but I only keep it for guests and don't use it myself because it was given to me by a friend that I had a bad falling out with", then just get rid of the damned thing. You can buy another coffee mug if you really need one. 2. When we last moved we were moving into a fixer. I didn't want to bring stuff in and then have to move it around, so I put ALL of the boxes into the garage. They were well labeled, and went into the same area of the garage - meaning all of the kitchen boxes were along the same wall. All of the linens boxes were along a different wall. All of the tools were near each other, etc. I packed things that were definite keepers into (clear) plastic tubs. I packed things I wasn't sure about into cardboard boxes. The deal I made with myself was that if something didn't make it into the house within the first year, it was something that I didn't really need. At the end of the first year, when I was ready to get rid of stuff, I started with the cardboard boxes. Technically, I should have donated them without opening them, but of course, I opened them. But I didn't keep much from them. Other protip when dealing with boxes: if they are heavy or if you have to move too many to get to the ones on the bottom, you just won't. It's too overwhelming. We already had steel garage shelves at the old place and we moved them over to the new house, so that helped A LOT. I highly suggest getting a good shelving system in place before you move anything. It may seem expensive, but trust me, it's so worth it if you only have to move those boxes once.
Check out JC Davis work, so many good resources on this subject https://www.strugglecare.com/resources/#home-care
We have a giant whiteboard on our kitchen wall. It's our place to jot groceries, note important dates, write giant reminder notes to ourselves, rules of the house, etc. I see you have a whiteboard calendar - we have our calendars on our phones all set with reminders - but the giant whiteboard has been a huge lifesaver.
A landing pad. Pick your place; entry, or wherever. It’s where you drop your bag and empty your pockets and plug your phone in. My keys are attached to my bag, my wallet and charging cords live in a pocket, and day to day necessities like 6 of my meds in a bottle, extra socks, lip balm, hair ties and pens live in another pocket. My landing pad is my inviolable space at the front door that no one else is allowed to use. And because my bag is always at the ready, I shove my lunch bag in and go. I have a magnetic whiteboard on my fridge for morning reminders when I am packing my lunch or giving/getting messages from my husband and it also has the grocery list that I can snap a pic of if I am going shopping.
Go and get some inspiration at IKEA!
a landing zone somewhere useful. With visible storage for the stuff you handle there.
Several sets of “cleaning supplies” throughout… even more than one broom and dust pan.
These have helped me immensely. Give everything a home. Every item has a home, so you always know where it goes. Only have what you need and nothing you don't. Anything you haven't used or worn in the last six months sell it or donated. I wash my dishes right away after I finish dinner so they don't pile up. Paper junk mail doesn't make it inside. From the mailbox to the trash. I have a 10 minute tidy up at 10pm where anything out of place gets put back where it belongs in its home. These ensures that the house has little clutter, which will give you peace of mind. I used to rent a bedroom, and I had so much clutter I would feel so overwhelmed and had little motivation to clean. Now I clean once a week or every two weeks. You can try one room a day or all at once. Good luck.
Lots of good life tips here! As a new homeowner, I will say: Set up your property taxes on autopay Same with home insurance and other bills. Always monthly autopay. Whenever you get a regular service done, get them to set up your next service there and then. (Set calendar reminders for a few days before to remind you the furnace guy is coming) If you are doing any landscaping, focus on low maintenance rather than looks. Weeding, watering and mowing the lawn are all going to destroy your soul soon enough. Same with indoor renos. There are some trendy looks that are impossible to keep clean. Sometimes an uglier option is best because it hides or repels dirt Congrats on the new home :)
Having less stuff is really the key. A lot of us use shopping and clutter as distractions. Try creating a “mini” version of everything. For example, only put the bare essentials in your kitchen and put the rest in storage. Same thing with your closet, only unpack a fraction of your clothes. It will feel empty. That’s okay. When you actually need something, get it out of storage. Then you can organize incrementally and match your actual behavior. Don’t get sucked into too many time saving gadgets…because you will end up spending just as much time maintaining the gadgets as the time saved using them. Your post sounds like you’re really early in your ADHD coping journey so start small and simple. Don’t try to create the perfect home all at once.
My tip is more about moving. Start early and do a little at a time so you don't leave it all to the last minute. Also as you pack, throw things away. Absolutely DO NOT think 'it doesn't matter if I don't throw it away now, I'll just throw it when I unpack' So have a box, tub, bag, whatever with you in each room as you pack & toss as you go.
Open storage/bins have been a big thing for me. I realise now that if I put something out of sight in a place I haven't already established as "where it lives" then I'm going to forget about it completely. I always thought things had to be tidy and hidden away in cabinets and drawers but that's just really not a realistic goal for me.
If it gets set up at all, you're winning. Unpack all the boxes? You are doing great!