Q: \u201cMy husband and I have ADHD, as do our two kids. For the life of us, we cannot have a house that isn’t messy and disorganized. Every room is a disaster area, from the kids’ rooms to the living spaces. We struggle to remember to put things back to stay organized. Besides, I can’t even begin to organize everything because it’s too much. When I do manage to clean up, the house becomes a big mess again just a week later. Help!”<\/p>\n
Keeping a clean house<\/a> with ADHD \u2014 especially when all household members have it \u2014 is an exercise in teamwork. It requires planning, communication, routines, and lots of patience.<\/p>\n Especially with kids, talk often about how striving for organization and less clutter helps them and the family. Say:<\/p>\n Bring up frustrating moments they\u2019ve experienced due to disorganization and how a system could help them. Say, \u201cRemember how anxious you felt that one morning when you couldn\u2019t find your backpack? If you put your backpack away in the same place, you can find it every time.\u201d Consider using visual reminders.<\/p>\n Other helpful scripts for all family members:<\/p>\n [Get This Free Download: How to Tidy Up Your Home Like a Pro<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDeclutter\u201d and \u201corganize\u201d are not synonymous; the latter means putting your things in places so you can find them when you need them. Organizing before decluttering often leads to headaches, as you’re trying to find spots for things that you don’t use.<\/p>\n Having less stuff is the key to being organized. If your home quickly becomes messy again after organizing, it\u2019s a telltale sign that you have too much stuff and need to prioritize decluttering<\/a>.<\/p>\n There is no \u201cright\u201d way to keep an organized home. But your family can agree to goals for common spaces and commit to systems that work for everyone, even if unconventional. One client of mine kept sunscreen in the kitchen; the only time her kids sat still enough to apply it was when they were eating. Brilliant! Rather than force her to store sunscreen in the \u201cright\u201d place, we made a sunscreen station for her in the kitchen.<\/p>\n Set up a routine that the family can do together, like a two-hour tidying session every Sunday after lunch. A practice, even if imperfect, can control mess before it explodes.<\/p>\n [Read: How to Win the War on Clutter<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n Not everyone has the same standards for organization and tidiness. As much as possible, allow family members to maintain their personal spaces as they see fit. Trying to control every inch of your home can lead to conflicts, so it\u2019s best to let go. Take it from me, a professional organizer with a messy husband: I stay away from his home office because it\u2019s his space, and our marriage benefits from that.<\/p>\n If you find yourself feeling exhausted, resentful, and hopeless about the state of your home, consider hiring a professional organizer who understands neurodivergence. They can demystify decluttering and organization, reduce your stress, and create efficient systems tailored to your needs.<\/p>\n The content for this article was derived from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, \u201c<\/em>How to Organize a Messy Home: Strategies for Clutter and Stress in ADHD Families<\/em><\/a>\u201d [Video Replay & Podcast #520] with Tracy McCubbin<\/a>, which was broadcast on September 10, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\nFocus on the Why<\/h3>\n
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Declutter Before You Organize<\/h3>\n
Avoid the \u201cRight Vs. Wrong\u201d Vortex<\/h3>\n
Everyone Needs Space to Be Messy<\/h3>\n
Bring In Help If You Can<\/h3>\n
How to Keep a Clean House with ADHD: Next Steps<\/h2>\n
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