How to Find Time To Organize Your Home
When you are so busy
Seeking a calmer, organized home surrounded by a busy life, especially with ADHD, is less about finding the time and more about choosing how to use it.
Think of your day as a shopping trip to the grocery store. Throughout the day, you add items (activities) to your cart; at the end of the day, you check out and look at what's in your cart. You then realize where you have spent your time, whether on useful things or a cart with stuff you don't need. When you stop and become aware of how you use your time, you can find 15 minutes daily to organize your home.
How to start filling your cart with more productive time.
Mindlessly scrolling social media or binge-watching the latest Netflix show can quickly consume valuable time. By setting your intent, becoming aware of how you spend your time, and then trading just 15 minutes of such activities for organizing your home, you can create the calm space you long for.
Reprioritizing small amounts of entertainment time for organizing doesn't mean sacrificing joy. Instead, it's about balancing and creating more order and control over your home and belongings, leading to a more peaceful environment.
Rethinking the time frame you give yourself to organize your entire home can help you avoid becoming overwhelmed and wanting to give up.
Simply adjusting your expectations about the time required to organize your home and accepting that it's a gradual process that may take longer than anticipated can make it easier to follow through. We sometimes set unrealistic deadlines for ourselves without considering the actual time and effort needed to complete a project.
Be realistic about the time it will take to organize your home.
If this is your first time organizing your home, how could you know what is realistic? Setting a time for when you would like it to be completed is good. Having an end in mind gives your brain the direction and certainty it desires. The key is to let go of the attachment that a specific date or time frame you feel should take to organize your home is set in stone and be okay if it takes longer.
Ensure that your idea of an organized home is tailored to your daily routines and habits.
Human nature is to compare what we see others have and want that for ourselves. Expecting to have that picture-perfect home in a magazine or compare your situation to one of your friends who seems to have everything in just the right place. Getting caught up in wanting that for yourself is easy, but remember, what works for one person may not suit another. Your home is personal, and your organization should be too. It's about creating a space that feels right for you, aligning with your habits, routines, and how your brain works, and is essential for the ADHD person.
Redirect your focus from the entire project of organizing your home to small, achievable steps.
It's easier to quit on a big project when it feels unattainable. Think of it like shopping for a month's worth of groceries. You would only try to carry some of the bags from your car in one trip because it's too much to handle at once. Instead, you make several trips, each manageable on its own. Similarly, by breaking down the task of organizing your home into smaller, manageable pieces, you make progress one step at a time, preventing the overwhelm and discouragement that comes when focusing on everything all at once.
When you shift your expectations of how long it will take to organize the home, get honest about what is realistic, and switch your focus to individual tasks, your doubts about accomplishing what seems monumental feel more achievable.
Give yourself grace and the time it will take to create your desired organized home.
Breaking down the monumental job organizing into manageable tasks of 15 minutes can feel more doable. Tackle one drawer or cabinet shelf, one countertop at a time, allowing you to sidestep the overwhelm and set yourself up for a quick win. These small wins, particularly important for the ADHD mind, can be incredibly motivating, encouraging you to keep going.
Consider this: Consistent, small daily actions will create a compound effect. Just 15 minutes daily can transform a chaotic space into a more peaceful environment in a short amount of time.
For the ADHD brain, where time can seem elusive, setting a timer for organization sessions provides structure and a clear endpoint, which can be a game-changer in maintaining focus.
Organizing with ADHD in mind means being realistic about what can be achieved in a given time. It's about making conscious decisions to redirect your energy from distractions to actions that cultivate order.
You are taking a step toward the peaceful environment you desire. Consciously reallocating only 15 minutes of your day from less meaningful tasks to organizing can create exponential change in your environment over time. It's about becoming aware of your daily actions, finding pockets of time, and making it work for you.
Tips to Find the Time for the Organized Home You Desire:
Awareness: Recognize how you spend your time and identify moments that can be redirected towards organizing.
Trade Time: Dedicate just 15 minutes a day to decluttering or organizing instead of engaging in less productive activities
One Small Space: Focus on small, achievable organizing tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Set Realistic Expectations: Don't expect to complete it too quickly
Daily Commitment: Consistent, short efforts lead to significant changes, thanks to the compound effect.
Use a Timer: Keep organizing sessions focused and concise, which is especially helpful for maintaining attention with ADHD.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge each step of your progress. This will motivate you to continue your efforts and reinforce your belief in your ability to organize your space.
This mindful, step-by-step approach helps manage ADHD symptoms while working toward the larger goal of an orderly home. By finding and making time for organization, you're not just tidying up—you're building a lifestyle that supports your needs and nurtures your well-being.
