How to Boost Your Decluttering and Organizing this Fall (especially for those with ADHD)

This year has been busy! Maybe you have not had time to declutter or organize this year because of family commitments, extra projects at work, or feeling overwhelmed. You are likely motivated but it seems overwhelming to get started. It may not be clear where to start.  Check out these ways to get started, keep going and finish up your decluttering and organizing. You will feel both productive and energized after you move forward.

• Get motivated by visualizing your newly organized space. Keep hold of a strong “why” you are making this effort. These will help you get started and stay on task.
• Start small by picking one area or one category. Choose a small space like a section of a closet, one drawer or one cabinet. Or choose to edit all shirts, all kitchen appliances or all office supplies.
• Work in short bursts. Set a timer for 15 minutes and fill one bag to give away. Working in a small amount of time makes this time highly efficient and productive. Often 15 minutes of work leads to more time decluttering.
• Make a plan.  Write an appointment with yourself to declutter. Break it into manageable chunks. A plan keeps you accountable and prioritizes this work.
• Make it fun. There are lots of Spotify music lists and podcasts to listen to while decluttering. Have a fun beverage nearby to hydrate and work at your highest energy time.
• Use post-it or large notes while you declutter and organize.  Your notes will be Donate, Distribute, and Trash. Be sure you can see those notes as you work.
• Rely on your visual clues to organizing. The saying “out of sight is out of mind” is real. If you have too many of an item, that makes it hard to see it. Edit down to a manageable amount for storage and organizing.
• Work with a clutter buddy. Your clutter buddy can be in person or virtual. Get on the phone or facetime with someone to help you make decisions as you declutter.
• Limit distractions while you declutter. Keeping it easy to think and stay on task will make your time efficient.
• Create a system. Every time you think twice about using an item, place it in the donate bag. That system will serve  you well in making the decision once.
• Set rules that maintain your organization.  Clutter accumulates faster than we think. Create a rule that upholds your organizing. A rule might be only wear black to work. That way you limit incoming items. Make your rule easy to uphold with easy storage.
• Use a checklist to make tasks manageable. A checklist helps you know what steps to take in order and keeps you from overthinking the project.
• Finish strong with time to wrap up. Get items in your car to donate. Call a donation pick-up to come to your space. Write down your successes to remember for your next decluttering session.
• Celebrate small wins with small rewards. That might be a bubble bath with a magazine or a shout out on social media.

Let’s clear the clutter and create the serene home you want!