You’re standing in the middle of your home or office looking at the piles of stuff scattered about. An organizing expert would jump into action, but you’re wondering if it’s really that bad.
You may even think, “That’s just me. ADHD and clutter go hand in hand. It’s who I am. A sign of my creativity.”
But is it really you? Does your clutter truly inspire ADHD creativity? Deep down is this who you want to be?
A you who spends 10-minutes looking for your shoes because one is under the coffee table and the other is under your bed?
A you who is late for your meeting because you can’t find the car keys?
A you who loses a client because the ‘organized chaos’ in your office didn’t put them in awe at your creativity? Instead it made them question your competence?
A you who is constantly hunting for the thing you need?
Please don’t take it as a personal jab when I say your ADHD clutter habit needs to go. That’s not my intent. It’s just that I’ve been there and done that.
I’ve learned for myself, and my clients, what amazing things happen when ADHD adults get organized.
Our stress reduces and our productivity improves. We’re happier and more creative when ADHD’s clutter isn’t weighing us down.
Clutter creates distraction. And we know distraction is a huge concern for ADHD adults.
Clutter costs us time. We waste valuable time looking for our shoes or our keys. Being late causes us no end of grief at work and with our family and friends.
Clutter costs us money. If we don’t see the bill we need to pay we get charged a late fee. If we can’t find our client’s paperwork we can lose our client.
Clutter costs us harmony. If you live with someone who can’t deal with your clutter it will affect your relationship. Clutter makes us ashamed. It isolates us.
ADHD clutter is not your friend.
We’re not talking about unrealistic organization standards. The goal isn’t to turn you into a robot. To stifle your creativity. Our goal is to make your life easier and to clear enough space for your creativity to thrive.
Do ADHD and clutter need to go together for your creativity to shine?
I don’t think so.
In fact, I think you’ll be more creative without the clutter. What do you think? Post a comment and let me know.
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Great question! Creativity (kind of the flip side of impulsivity) will often breed a degree of chaos. It’s tough to keep things organized when you’re on a creative roll. That’s why setting aside organization time is so important. The art pens get left all over the area where you’re drawing; the cooking supplies will be all over the counter; the reference materials for your article will be scattered on the desk and floor. Instead of worrying about maintaining order while in a productively creative state, I’ll often advise clients (and remind myself) that the key to not living in a mess is to consciously ‘take 10’ AFTER a project, to straighten up.
I once coached an artist who feared that organizing her supplies before beginning to paint would hurt her creativity. She was surprised that having a set-up routine not only gave her more time, but increased her creativity. Having a prep system, and keeping everything she needed easily accessible and clean from her last ‘take 10’ left her imagination free to soar.
Thank you, Susan. I love the idea of Take 10. Isn’t it amazing how being more organized actually boosts creativity!