For many people with ADHD, the garage is the ultimate catch-all space. It’s where holiday decorations, sports equipment, unfinished projects, and “I’ll deal with this later” boxes all land. At times, it is also the oops spot, as in “I wondered where my dry cleaning went.” Before long, the garage becomes overwhelming, and just opening the door can feel stressful.  With the right approach, you can create a functional, organized garage that works for you. Let’s break it down into manageable steps that keep ADHD brains in mind.

Build a team

Garage organizing is a team sport. Gather your team of helpers, whether paid teenagers or paid by pizza family members. Set a series of calendar dates for you to work together on this project.

👉 Tip: Have plenty of water and protein bars ready to go.

Start Small (Really Small)

Instead of tackling the whole garage at once, choose one small area, such as a section of the floor, a single shelf, a corner, or even a cardboard box. Success in small chunks builds momentum and prevents burnout. No matter what small spot you start at, that is the gateway to motivation and completion.

👉 Tip: Use a timer and work for 30 – 60 minutes at a time. Then take a break.

Sort with Simple Categories

ADHD brains can get lost in making decisions, so keep categories simple, broad, and easy. Most garages have these categories, such as landscaping, tools, and sports. Take an inventory of what you think belongs in your garage and set up a box for each category. Gathering the categories together makes it easier to discard later. Also, set up a box or laundry basket for relocation. Those are the items that go back into the house.

👉 Tip: Label all your boxes and bins before you start so you can easily locate your categories.

Create “Homes” for Your Things

Think about how you use the garage and arrange your storage. No decisions, just drop it where it goes! Once you have all the items sorted, you can assess what to edit.

• Sports gear near the door for quick grab-and-go.
• Tools hung on a pegboard so you can see them all at once.
• Seasonal items are stored higher up, since you won’t need them every day.
• Kids’ toys are stored near the garage door that opens to the driveway.
• Use vertical storage wisely with 5 – 6 shelf rolling racks.
• Use clear storage bins with labels to know what you have.

👉 Tip: The goal is to make it easier to put things away than to drop them on the floor.

Keep garbage and recycling in mind

Clutter builds up when recycling routines are inadequate. Keep your recycling easy to accomplish and set a reminder for weekly recycling. If you have too much to recycle at that time, ask a neighbor if you can put out extra at their house. Or drop off recycling in community bins.

For the garbage left from your garage cleanout, plan on hiring a junk hauler who can bring these items to the appropriate donation locations. That way, there are no lingering parts to this project.

👉 Tip: Make recycling easy with an inside and outside station.

Built-in Maintenance

Garages get messy fast, especially with ADHD. Set a reminder once a month for a 10-minute reset. Pull your car in every night to be sure this space is kept orderly. Just put things back in their homes and toss out trash. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just enough to keep chaos from piling up.