ADHD organizational strategies

People with ADHD need do organization differently. Due to difficulties with attention, working memory, and planning, our homes can often be visual representations of our minds. Fortunately, organizing our environment has a big impact on our internal world, too, and many of the principles carry over as well.

Rather than a complicated system of organization that might feel like just one more thing to do, this blog will cover some simple overarching guidelines for organization with adult ADHD. Not every system works for every brain – but with these guidelines, followed by tips that have proved helpful for ADHD minds and spaces, you’ll be able to develop your own organizational system and strategies.

5 ADHD organization guidelines

Functional

Functionality should be our guiding principle when organizing our living spaces. Is this accomplishing the purpose I need it to fulfill? The answer to that question can help us make clearer, more purposeful decisions. Remember, just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean it has to work for you. That goes for systems, schedules, strategies, coping skills, and more.

Intuitive

An organizational system should feel natural and effortless to use. Ask yourself: Does this arrangement make sense without requiring conscious thought? Is it logical for those who share my space? Can it become an automatic part of my routine? The goal is to create a setup that aligns with your instincts and habits, reducing the mental effort needed to maintain order. When organization feels intuitive, it's more likely to stick, even on days when executive function is challenging.

Visual

Visual For ADHD minds, "out of sight, out of mind" is a common challenge. Visual organization means ensuring that important items and information are easily visible and accessible. This principle goes beyond mere aesthetics (though an appealing setup can help maintain interest and novelty!) The primary goal is to keep necessary items within your line of sight to reduce the likelihood of forgetting or misplacing items. You can even create visual environmental cues that support your daily routines and tasks.

Easy to maintain

The simpler the system, the more likely we are to stick with it. When designing organizational strategies, how much effort you’ll need to keep up with them. How many steps are involved? Is it sustainable long-term? Since ADHD often makes complex routines challenging to follow consistently, aim for solutions that require minimal upkeep. Your home should be a place of comfort and rejuvenation - not an additional source of stress. Prioritizing ease of maintenance increases your odds for long-term success.

Simple

Simplicity is key in ADHD-friendly organization. It means focusing on the essentials - without any unnecessary garnish. The key question here: Is this serving a clear purpose? Can I streamline this process or space even further? Simplicity extends beyond physical placement of items, too – it’s about how we interact with our environment, manage our daily tasks, make decisions about clutter… You get it. Simplicity reduces cognitive load (how much information we’re juggling at any given time) and decision fatigue, making it easier to maintain order and focus on what truly matters.

These five principles are the heart of organizing strategy for ADHD brains. Did you notice they are an acronym spelling the word FIVES? (There was no real point in that, but perhaps it helps make them a bit more memorable!)

Organization tips for ADHD

Now that we’ve got a handle on the basics, here are some specific tips and strategies people with adult ADHD may find handy.

• Don’t fall for popular organizing advice that doesn’t suit your brain. Color grouping looks great, sure; but it usually isn’t very functional and it requires extra maintenance. Labeling is time consuming, and the benefits are short lived - your brain soon stops noticing labels, anyway. Fancy folding methods are a lot of work. You get the idea.
• Items belong where they are used. If you take your morning pills in the kitchen, then store them in the kitchen. Don’t worry about where something “should” go. Put it where you will be when you need it.
• Minimize wandering items where possible. Items that move around a lot get lost more often than those that are location bound. When was the last time you lost your shampoo? How about your blender? Sure, it’s possible, but the statistical probability is far greater for items like, say, your keys, or the tape measure. I’m a huge advocate of minimizing - but having more than one of some items just makes sense. For instance, maybe it makes sense to have a pair of scissors in the kitchen junk drawer, and another one in the office. (Ideally, never the two will meet.)
• Less stuff = less chaos. Yep, it had to be said. Where’s Waldo wouldn’t be much of a book if he weren’t standing in a crowd. But trying to find a battery in a drawer full of miscellaneous odds and ends isn’t as fun as Where’s Waldo. If you haven’t used it in the last 12 months, toss it.
• Pre-garbage day trash out. If you are already gathering up the trash for garbage day, take the opportunity to spend a few extra minutes checking for things that could be added to it. Not to pick on the poor junk drawer again, but odds are there’s a dried-up glue stick, dead battery, useless receipt, or extra screws from that thing you bought years ago that could stand to go.
• Consider using bins for drawers. If you have ever done battle with a child (or partner…or yourself) over putting clothes all the way away into drawers, this one is for you. Try putting bins in the closet – on shelves works great. It may not sound like much, but not having to open a drawer to see and access clothing makes a big difference.
• Level up and skip folding. Many people with ADHD are drawn to sensory-friendly clothing. Not only are they comfortable – they’re less likely to wrinkle. If folding and putting away clothing feels like a lot, just sort and dump articles of clothing into their respective bins without folding. Don’t worry, no one will know.
• Hooks and hangers keep things visual and are easy to use. Some people with ADHD hang things that would normally be folded just to keep them easily visible. Even easier than hangars are hooks. Hoodies, jackets, and other items are easy to put away using hooks, and even better - hooks are inexpensive. This one is a great tip for kids with ADHD!
• Go doorless. Sticking with the closet, consider going doorless, particularly in kids’ rooms. If they aren’t going to close them anyway, go ahead and try out the open concept. Now they can grab their clothes and drop them into their bins without opening a single door or drawer. The fewer obstacles the better, no matter how small they may seem.
• Clear bins. If you need to keep something in a bin, go clear whenever possible. This will make things easier to find. That said, this is a concept that works best with small bins holding a particular category of something easily located.
• Fridge drawers. Consider using fridge drawers to hold condiments and the like, and keeping the vegetables and dairy on the shelves. Yes, this means they will not be kept at the right humidity level or something. But slightly less crispy lettuce sure beats wilted out-of-sight-out-of-mind lettuce.
• You are not obligated to keep gifts. This is a hard one, but it can be freeing. You are not obligated to keep everything people give you. It has nothing to do with what you think of them, and the choice really is yours. Feel free to let it go!
• Memories are not things, and things are not memories. This is a sensitive one, and a hard truth. Many of us hold items of sentimental value. That is okay, but too often we let ourselves get wrapped up in keeping everything because of memories we associate with them. At the end of the day, an item is an item. It may evoke memories, but it is not the memories. Being selective about what we keep allows us to interact with them more often, and can actually allow us to return to those memories more readily than if we are afraid to let anything go. Take pictures or video to commemorate the memory of things you let go, if you’re worried about the memory fading without the physical reminder.
• ADHD Planners are mostly garbage. People with ADHD are notorious for purchasing multiple planners and not using any of them. There are a number of planners being marketed for ADHD - by which they seem to mean tracking anything and everything. That high level of tracking is a commitment most ADHD brains will not stick with, proving once again that simple is indeed best.

From chaos to control

Organizing with ADHD doesn't have to be a constant uphill battle. By embracing these ADHD-friendly strategies - Functional, Intuitive, Visual, Easy to maintain, and Simple (FIVES) - you can create an environment that works with your brain instead of against it. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution; what matters is finding what works for you.

If you're still struggling to implement these strategies or need more personalized guidance, consider seeking out ADHD coaching. An ADHD coach can provide tailored support, helping you develop and stick to organizational systems that align with your unique needs and challenges.

Ultimately, the goal isn't perfection, but progress. With patience, persistence, and the right strategies, you can create a more organized, less stressful living space that supports your ADHD brain in thriving. So start small, be kind to yourself, and celebrate each organizational win along the way.

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