How to Declutter When You Have ADHD and Are Drowning in Stuff
Channel: CADDAC Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada
Date: 20/01/2021

Have you made a New Year’s resolution to finally organize your home space in 2021?  Perhaps, you tried in previous years to get organized, but every attempt failed, and you ended up feeling overwhelmed.  Maybe, it was because you were not using an ADHD-friendly style of decluttering.

On average people spend 153 days (that’s 6 months) of their lives looking for misplaced items, of which 75% are misplaced at home.  As a result, 43% of people feel stressed due their disorganization.  These numbers of time spent looking for items is amplified when ADHD is at play.

The physical state of your home is often a representation of how you feel in your head.  This mental clutter can lead to anxiety or depression and can define your overall sense of well being.

Studies have shown that clutter negatively affects your perception of your home and your ability to have pleasure while in that space.  This effect spills out beyond the home leading to lower overall satisfaction with life in general.

A big problem for people with ADHD when it comes to letting go of their items has to do with decision making and potential use.  They keep differing the decision of what to do with specific possessions, so the piles keep growing. Some hang on to things because they hope to convert it into something else or use it later for a hobby they hope to start.  Cleaning becomes more difficult.

Items become more easily misplaced due to distraction and poor memory, often making them late for work simply because they cannot find their keys or their cellphone.  Arguments with the spouse become more frequent as the mess builds up.  Overwhelm sets in and inaction becomes the norm.

This session is designed to help you:
1 – Recognize the core reasons that contribute to clutter build-up when ADHD is present and how this becomes an issue in daily life.
2 – Utilize an ADHD-friendly method to improve your ability to let go of items.
3 – Apply strategies that help with your overall ability to maintain an organized home or office.

The information on this video and through the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada (CADDAC) is for information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. ADHD should always be assessed, diagnosed and treated by a qualified medical physician.