Can I be organized if I have ADHD? Ha! The conundrum of all conundrums. The short answer is yes. The long answer ... will probably take us both down the rabbit hole of unfinished thoughts. I'll forget what the question was and come back to my short answer, which again is yes.
I'm just going to dive right in and jot down the first 3 thoughts that pop into my head when I think of ADHD and organization. This should be interesting.
ADHD THOUGHT #1:
What's the first thing someone with ADHD should do when trying to start their journey towards organization?
Hire me! Kidding. Not really, but yea. Hire an organizer. Search for a local professional organizer that has experience working with individuals that are similar to you.
If you have ADHD, you want someone who understands you because they specialize in this mental disability, or they too have been diagnosed with ADHD and understand the daily struggles you are experiencing. It truly makes a difference!
Just the thought of being able to blurt out, "ME TOO", gives me a dopamine rush. It makes us feel like we just made a new best friend. Well, it makes ME feel that way. I may have also befriended quite a handful of clients, but that's a subject for another post. (Focus, Kim. Focus.)
ADHD THOUGHT #2:
What if you don't have the time to schedule a day for an organizer to go to your home?
Later. Our favorite word. We will schedule it later.
When later? Easy. After we plan out what we want to organize, clean the house, get feedback from everyone in our circle, research the end of the internet, hyperfocus on all the YouTube videos and Instagram posts, exhaust ourselves, take a nap, and revisit again in a couple of weeks.
OR...OR... send a text message (to me of course) saying, "Hey. I have ADHD. Need organization. Send help."
Forget about time, cost, length of the text/call, not knowing where to start, etc. Throw out all of those thoughts and just start the conversation.
There are MANY solutions to help get you on the right track, even if it doesn't require hiring an organizer. But who could POSSIBLY know what solutions exist for you that won't cost and arm and a leg? Yup. A professional organizer. Which is why the 1st answer that popped into my head is call someone who can best answer this question quickly and without spending countless hours searching the internet aimlessly.
ADHD THOUGHT #3:
What if I don't feel comfortable with someone coming into my home, or I just need motivation and direction?
This one is my favorite. VIDEO CHAT! Okay, before you freak out at the thought of being on camera, quick reminders:
I have ADHD. Which means, mess and chaos is nothing new to me.
Ever heard of this terrific methodology called "Body Doubling"? If you haven't, stay tuned. In a nutshell, we ADHDers get more work done in the presence of others than when we are alone left to our own thoughts.
If I schedule a video call on any given day, chances are, this call will take place in the comfort of my home and not in a corporate office for others to see. If I need to dress in pajamas to make you feel comfortable and at ease, you will not need to twist my arm to make this happen.
Just as I suggested sending a text message to simply begin the process and starting up a conversation, video sessions will work the same way. We begin the process of planning, sorting, and decluttering. If you need additional sessions, you are already familiar with the process of virtual consults. If you find the work is overwhelming and you'd rather have someone help you in person, than that first in-person session will feel a lot lighter having already met with your organizer before.
Moral of my ADHD story and rant...
Break the ice!
Send the text.
Make the call.
Schedule the video session.
Meet with an organizer.
Hindsight, this first blog probably sounds like a pitch. Definitely not my intention; HOWEVER, this is where my mind went when I thought about someone with ADHD needing organizational help and not knowing where to start or what to do. I truly want to help and share all of the valuable information I have picked up over the years.
If you're not ready to connect with an organizer just yet, then hopefully the content within this blog will help get you in the right direction.
Lastly, in case you didn't catch it... I, too, have ADHD. And OCD. Welcome to my blog for my neurodivergent readers and enthusiasts.