How to Be a More Organized ADHD Mom

As an ADHD mom, managing the clutter in our homes often feels like we’re trying to hold water in our hands—no matter how hard we try, it just keeps slipping through.

We see the endless piles of laundry, the kitchen counters buried under who-knows-what, and the kids’ rooms that look like mini tornado zones. 

This constant state of disarray affects our mental space, our energy, and our ability to enjoy time with our families.

Here’s the reality: our brains are wired a bit differently, and traditional organization methods that work for others might not cut it for us. 

But that doesn’t mean we’re doomed to live in chaos. 

It means we need a tailored approach, one that understands the unique challenges ADHD brings to the table.

This is where decluttering and systemizing come into play. 

Through simplifying our belongings and implementing systems designed to support our ADHD brains, we can create a home that feels more manageable and less overwhelming.

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The Skill of Organization is an Executive Function

Executive functions are those crucial mental skills that enable us to plan, focus, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.

An the ability to organize is one of our executive functions.

So, what exactly does organization mean in this context? 

At its essence, being organized is the ability to keep track of our materials and belongings, establish and maintain systems for storing and retrieving items efficiently, and ensure that every item has a designated place. 

This skill enables us to swiftly find what we need exactly when we need it, reducing stress and saving precious time.

Moms who have honed the skill of organization seem to navigate their days with a smoother rhythm. 

They’re the ones who:

• Effortlessly keep track of materials and belongings, never losing sight of that permission slip or the car keys.
  
  
• Maintain a system for storing and retrieving items, making the process of finding a document or a pair of shoes a breeze rather than a treasure hunt.
  
  
• Designate a specific place for every belonging, creating a sense of order and tranquility in their living spaces.
  
  
• Find what they need when they need it, significantly reducing the daily frustrations and time wasted on searching for misplaced items.
  
  

Conversely, moms who struggle with organization find themselves in a constant battle with clutter and chaos. 

They often face challenges like:

• Losing or misplacing belongings, leading to frantic searches and unnecessary replacements.
  
  
• Struggling to develop systems to keep track of their things, resulting in piles of unsorted mail, toys, and other household items.
  
  
• Leaving things out for others to pick up, which can create tension and reduce the overall efficiency of home management.
  
  
• Keeping their surroundings clean and organized, making their living spaces sources of stress rather than sanctuaries of peace.
  
  

Recognizing these challenges and the impact they have on our mental and emotional well-being, it’s clear that finding a path to better organization is not just desirable but essential. 

To navigate our way out of the clutter and into a more organized life, we’re going to tackle this journey in three strategic steps:

1. Simplify through decluttering and downsizing – The first step involves cutting through the clutter by downsizing and decluttering. It’s about making the brave decision to let go of what we don’t need to make space for what truly matters.
   
   
2. Systemize your home – Once we’ve pared down to the essentials, the next step is to implement systems that make sense for our unique lives. This means creating designated homes for our belongings and establishing routines that support ongoing organization.
   
   
3. Sustain organization with daily habits and routines – The final step is about making organization a sustainable part of our lives through the development of daily habits and routines. It’s the key to turning temporary tidiness into a lasting lifestyle.
   
   

By following these steps, we can move towards a life where organization supports our well-being, productivity, and happiness, rather than being a source of stress and frustration. 

Let’s dive into each of these steps in more detail to discover practical, ADHD-friendly strategies for transforming our homes and our lives.

Step 1: Simplify Your Home Through Decluttering & Downsizing

Getting started on the journey to a more organized life starts with a fundamental, yet often challenging, step: decluttering. 

The truth is, no matter how many clever storage solutions you invest in, you can’t organize clutter. 

It’s like trying to fill a cup that’s already overflowing. 

The first step is to downsize and declutter which will provide the necessary space for organization. 

This process not only transforms your physical environment but also brings clarity and lightness to your mental space.

How to start decluttering your home?

Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re staring down rooms filled with years of accumulated belongings. 

The key is to start small and stay consistent. 

Begin with one area—a drawer, a shelf, or a countertop—before moving on to tackle entire rooms. 

As you sort through your items, ask yourself if each one is truly necessary, brings you joy, or has been used in the last year. 

Be honest with yourself, and remember, it’s okay to let go.

Do you need help decluttering?

If you’re looking for support and accountability during the decluttering process, joining The Accountability Club can be a game-changer.

In this community, we work together, room by room, sharing successes, challenges, and tips. 

The collective motivation and support make the decluttering journey less daunting and more achievable.

How to work with a home organizer?

If you’re seeking a more personalized approach, consider starting 1:1 coaching with me. 

This tailored experience focuses on your specific challenges and goals, offering direct support, strategies, and accountability tailored to your unique situation and pace. 

Together, we’ll break the decluttering process into manageable steps, ensuring you feel supported and empowered at every stage.

Decluttering is not just about getting rid of things; it’s about making space for what truly matters in your life. 

It’s the first step toward not only a more organized home but also a clearer mind.

Step 2: Systemize Your Home

After decluttering, the next step is to systemize your home. 

This means assigning a specific spot for each item in your home and integrating every task into a comprehensive home management system. 

Creating a place for everything not only declutters your physical space but also your mind as well, reducing stress and saving time in your daily routine.

9 Home Management Systems for ADHD Moms

Let’s dive into the nine home management systems I advocate and teach within The Accountability Club.

These systems are designed to cover all aspects of home and family life, providing a structured yet flexible framework that can adapt to the unique needs of each household.

1. Task Management System: Implement to-do lists, establish daily and weekly routines, assign responsibilities, and focus on habit training. This system helps in keeping track of what needs to be done, ensuring nothing important falls through the cracks.
   
   
2. Cleaning Management System: Adopt zone cleaning and reset routines to keep your home tidy and comfortable. This approach breaks cleaning tasks into manageable sections, making them less overwhelming and more systematic.
   
   
3. Home Maintenance System: Create a comprehensive list of areas in your home that need regular maintenance. Use a cleaning or maintenance schedule to keep track of when each task is due, ensuring your home stays in good condition.
   
   
4. Time Management System: Utilize time blocks, scheduling, habit stacking, and planning to make the most of your day. This system helps in prioritizing tasks, reducing procrastination, and increasing productivity.
   
   
5. Family Communication System: Foster open lines of communication regarding marriage, children, discipline, and connection. This system strengthens family bonds and ensures everyone is on the same page.
   
   
6. Family Filing System: Organize important papers, school papers, mail, and digital storage for photos and videos. Keeping these documents well-organized can save you time and headaches in the long run.
   
   
7. Money Management System: Develop a family budget, explore multiple streams of income, and incorporate chores for money to teach children about financial responsibility. This system helps in managing your family’s finances effectively.
   
   
8. Food Management System: Simplify meal planning, food storage, and clean-up. Having a system for managing food reduces waste, saves money, and can make meal times less stressful.
   
   
9. Spiritual Management System: Create a playlist of worship songs, use apps for devotions, designate a spot for reading, prayer, and meditation, and maintain a consistent schedule for attending church or bible study groups. This system supports your family’s spiritual well-being and growth.
   
   

By implementing systems, you can transform your home into a well-oiled machine, where every task has its place, and every process is streamlined. 

Within The Accountability Club, we dive deep into each of these systems, providing guidance, templates, and support to tailor them to fit your life perfectly. 

Systemizing your home is a powerful step towards a more organized and peaceful life.

Step 3: Sustain Organization with Daily Habits and Routines

The next step in our journey towards an organized life, especially as an ADHD mom, is all about embedding organization into our daily lives through habits and routines. 

It’s the consistency in the little things that stops our homes from sliding back into chaos.

Daily Habits for ADHD Moms: The BM3 Approach

The BM3 (bare minimum three steps or tasks) routine is about setting small, achievable goals each day. 

Here’s how it can look for your kids

• Morning: make the bed, get dressed, and put away clothes
  
  
• After school: empty lunchboxes, complete homework, and get outside for 30 minutes
  
  
• Before bed: brush teeth, reset bedroom, lay out clothes for tomorrow
  
  

Reset Routines: Keeping on Track

To truly sustain organization, you can integrate reset routines into your daily life:

• Daily resets: Ask yourself, what three tasks done every evening would help me be more organized and put together for tomorrow?
  
  
  For me, every evening I reset my living spaces, my daily to-do list, and my laundry. One basket of clothes gets put away every night before bed either by me or someone else in my family.
  
  
• Weekly resets: Again ask yourself, what three tasks done every weekend would help me be more organized and prepared for the week to come?
  
  
  Every weekend I reset my clothes if I got behind, our family meal plan, and my calendar.
  
  
• Monthly resets: What three tasks done at the end of every month will help me be more organized for the month to come?
  
  
  Every month I reset my car, the outside spaces around the house, and our family budget.
  
  
• Yearly resets: These are tasks you would focus on resetting or refreshing at the beginning of every new year.
  
  
  At the beginning of every new year, I reset my calendars, my filing system for my taxes, and the photos and videos on my cell phone.
  
  

Maintaining an organized home is about building these practices into the rhythm of your daily life. 

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it’s about consistent effort and small, manageable tasks that keep the disorder at bay.

Join The Accountability Club for Help Decluttering

If you need a positive community while you’re decluttering and downsizing your home and responsiblities, consider joining The Accountability Club. It’s a space where you get affordable group coaching, share your journey, and stay accountable with your decluttering projects.

If group settings aren’t your thing and you need more hand-holding and personalized feedback, you can do one-on-one online coaching with me instead. You’ll get my eyes on your home and a more tailored coaching experience.

I’d love to hear from you!

What step are you having the most trouble with: simplifying through decluttering, systemizing your home, or sustaining organization with habits and routines?

Leave a comment below.