Maya is building ADHD clutter awareness this week after Module #7 of the ADHD Success Club dug into where clutter comes from and what to do about it. Read on for Maya’s thoughts:

Amazingly, the bench at the foot of the bed remained clutter-free for weeks. Until one morning in a rush, I changed outfits several times, and I threw what I didn’t wear on the bench. The pile began. But I had to get to work, so I looked at the clutter, looked at my watch, and went to work. Initially, the pile bothered me, but as the pile grew with more unworn and barely worn clothes, my awareness of it lessened. The next morning I didn’t even notice the pile. That is the way it is with my ADHD clutter. The more it grows the less aware I choose to be.

Piles pervade all areas of my life. I’ve battled ADHD clutter before with little victories; however, the war has been ongoing. The past week I began to gain a new awareness of clutter in the ADHD Success Club. Working with Dana has propelled my newfound awareness into action. Actually, I think that’s one of the real secrets to living successfully with ADHD developing awareness and taking action.

I can clean a room, move a pile, or hide my ADHD clutter, but what I’ve lacked is the mental awareness of why the piles reappear and grow. When my pile begins, my thinking goes back and forth between two of Dana’s clutter types: Too Busy and Later Baby. Frazzled and overwhelmed thinking of all the things to do, I procrastinate and pile. Eventually, I become Clutter Blind.

The thoughts and feelings of busyness continually affect all areas of my life, and what I realize is that if I work to simplify my life and direct my thoughts, I can gain control over the clutter. My predominant clutter type is Too Busy. This type is marked by the following signs: feeling stressed and rushed or breathless and overwhelmed, being over-committed, and having little time.

Examining The ADHD Clutter Types

Here are Dana’s tips for Too Busy Clutter Types along with my reflection and response:

1. Look at priorities-This is a huge challenge for me, but I see where I need to align my priorities with my daily habits in order to have time to put away clutter.
2. Learn to say no-This has always been a problem for me. This feeling of too busy usually manifests itself when all the extra things I have taken on feel like they are spinning out of control. The only way to stop the feeling of overwhelm is to clear something off my plate.
3. Make it easy to do things and put things away-I’ve begun reflecting on systems that work and don’t work, and I see how simple systems can be sustained.
4. Let go of complicated habits-Complexity takes over simplicity so easily for my ADHD brain. For example, merely putting something out of sight can make something complex and affect my follow through.
5. Goals must match reality-This goes right along with keeping things simple. Simple systems sustain change. And yes, these simple systems need to have small steps that move me forward–grandiose plans do not match my reality–something out of sight that requires daily action just won’t match my reality. Working a complicated organizational system developed by an organized person will NOT match my ADHD reality. Realistic and simple–that’s my reality. I need to look towards what my brain needs not what my brain craves.

The pile on the bench is gone. Eventually, my husband noticed the pile and commented on the clutter. I decided to test Dana’s Visualizing Neat strategy before work. Later when I returned home, the mess which I had become clutter blind to was really bothering me. I sighed and took care of the pile. The hokey sounding technique actually worked for me. Dana was right, the simple task of seeing the mess and visualizing neat propelled me to action.

I’m feeling hopeful about getting more tools and simple habits to help me tame the chaos of ADHD clutter. Honestly, the clothes clutter that hasn’t been piled on the bench has been building in a hidden spot of my closet. I’d like to move beyond out of sight out of mind to a life without piles of paper and clothes and ADHD clutter.

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