4 Key Areas of an Organized Home for Families with ADHD
Creating and maintaining an organized living space for families with ADHD is key to peace of mind. Areas to help with organization and execution are a landing strip, command center, dedicated home office, and quiet space. Each area helps you focus, prioritize, and work effectively on your family’s needs. These key areas are important for storage too.
Landing Strip:
A landing strip is a designated area near the entrance of your home where essential items like keys, wallets, and bags can be placed upon entry. It serves as a quick and organized drop-off point and jumping-off spot for you and your family.
- Install hooks or shelves for items that need to be hung or stored.
- Use a bench with baskets for each person’s shoes.
- Routinely declutter each season to keep it fresh and ready to use.
Command Center and Central Charging Station:
A command center and central charging station are the spot for paper and technology. Place this spot in a high-traffic area like the kitchen for maximum effectiveness.
- Consider creating a centralized hub for organizing schedules, to-do lists, and important information.
- Set up a charging station for electronic devices to avoid scattered chargers.
- Use a bulletin board or digital organizer for reminders and calendars.
- Routinely meet together with a family meeting to update your events and activities. Have weekly administrative time to work on the actions that are part of family living like paying bills, creating to-do lists, and managing meal prep.
Dedicated Home Office:
A dedicated home office provides a focused and organized space for work, study, or hobbies. Your family can work together in this space for homework while you catch up on email, pay files, or sort paper.
- Have ample desks or seating for multiple users in this space. Working as body doubles you will be more productive.
- Choose a space with a window or add additional lighting.
- Utilize organizers like desktop trays and cable management solutions.
- Employ vertical storage like bookcases with decorative bins for storing crafts and office supplies.
- Routinely reset this space by clearing flat surfaces.
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Quiet Spot – Reading Nook:
Individuals can get overwhelmed and overstimulated by too much noise, energy, or movement. Create a quiet spot or reading nook to recharge and promote mental clarity.
- Use comfortable cushions or a chair.
- Include soft lighting and calming decor.
- Add bookshelves for storage. Use magazine baskets or sorters for reading material.
- Routinely refresh this room with flowers or add a diffuser for a soft scent.
Creating and maintaining an organized living space for families with ADHD transforms our homes into havens of order and tranquility. These four most important areas make a positive impact on living life as a family with ADHD.
I think these four zones are so important for all households, whether you have ADHD or not. That said, I love the way you mention the benefits of having a place to work that takes advantage of body doubling. I always found the kitchen table worked, since we didn’t have a home office. The key was for me to sit down and work when my kids were doing homework. If one person is up and moving around, everyone wants to get up. But if we all sit down together, we feel guilty getting up. It’s a powerful force, and one that is undervalued!!
I LOVE your idea of including a quiet spot/reading nook as integral to helping families prioritize essential and organized spaces. So much of what we do is mobile so we can do all our work from anywhere. However, creating specific zones to house and do things helps with consistency and ease of organization.
Thanks @Linda – there are so many times that overstimulation impacts us and our kiddos. A space for quiet is a great antidote.
So insightful! @Seana you have been supporting your kiddos for years with this technique!