Two areas that adults with ADHD are more likely to struggle with than their peers are finances and keeping their homes tidy. Nobody expects small children to be tidy, organised or good with money, but we generally expect those things from adults, particularly if they have children to look after.
ADHD is a lifelong condition, but much of the support and strategies for adults with ADHD is still firmly focused on increasing their ability to concentrate during the day. Many adults with ADHD also struggle in other areas and it is not commonly recognised that the root cause of these challenges could actually be their ADHD.
Decluttering with ADHD
One of the many downsides to the focus on ADHD being centred on “naughty little boys” is that the rest of the ADHD community misses out. Common challenges and patterns of behaviour for adults with ADHD are missed, ignored or written off as personal failings. Untidy homes is one of these areas.
Children are usually untidy and generally disorganised, but as they get older, the expectations on them to know where their belongings are increases. This can lead to problems at school and battles at home about messy bedrooms. By the time our children are old enough to run their own households, it is generally accepted that they will somehow have all the necessary skills to keep their homes clean and tidy. Unfortunately many people with ADHD struggle to master the necessary habits and simply don’t understand why no matter how hard they try, their homes remain out of control.
There are lots of well known books, television shows and a variety of systems for getting homes under control, but many of them fail to work for those with ADHD and the way their brains work. This can lead to embarrassment and a lack of motivation. Decluttering sessions often make people feel guilty about wasting money or involve disagreements with other family members, all of which can make this a real challenge.
Much of the common decluttering advice is to take everything out of a space, organise it and then return the items you wish to keep. Unfortunately if a person with ADHD loses focus, is distracted or is interrupted, they are often left with a bigger mess than they started with. The decluttering process often requires a lot of executive function to make decisions on what to keep and what to let go of, which can lead to decision paralysis and hinder progress.
Dana K White is an American Author and Podcaster, who managed to get her own home under control and created a system that worked for her and many others. Dana’s A Slob Comes Clean podcast featured an episode with guest Megs Crawford who talks about how Dana’s No Mess Decluttering Process can be really useful for making steady progress, without making a bigger mess.
Dana’s books are also available on Kindle and as audio books for those of you who prefer to listen.
Decluttering Books
The following is a short list of books on the topic of decluttering that you may find useful. Feel free to share your own favourites with the team.
- Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff
- Dana K White
- ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life: Second Edition: Strategies That Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a Renowned ADD Clinician
- Judith Kolberg, Kathleen G. Nadeau PhD
- How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets
- Dana K White
- Sink Reflections: Overwhelmed? Disorganized? Living in Chaos? Discover the Secrets That Have Changed the Lives of More than Half a Million Families
- Marla Cilley, Nan McNamara