Clutter bug… Does your stuff have you down?

I have a junk drawer. Well, actually I have 2 junk drawers. And 2 junk cabinets.

There… you know my secret.

I have ADHD, and sometimes my stuff just overwhelms me, and I need to hide it away. Out of sight, out of mind. For now, anyway.

Cluttering behaviors are very common for ADHDers. Like me, some of us hide our clutter, and for others, their clutter is out there for the world to see.

The causes of this clutter madness are endless. Some of us don’t see the clutter or even realize there is a problem. Others suffer from swiss cheese memory and are afraid to let things go lest they lose the memory. And of course, some people will just put things off for a “later” that never does happen.

Whatever the “why”, what can we do about it?

Periodically, I either fully dump my junk drawer into the trash or dump it into a box for the garage. The method I choose varies on my current state of overwhelm and what my brain will allow for that moment.

But, that can’t be the healthiest approach. In an article for ADDitude magazine (and if you haven’t checked out this resource, please do! It’s great. Here’s a link to the article: https://www.additudemag.com/making-peace-with-your-clutter/), Sandy Maynard provides several tips that I think we can start implementing today.

the list begins with the things we amass. For many of us, we line every spare inch with something…. just like in this picture.

So, the first tip is to (brilliantly) use containers without lids for “like” items. I do this with my skincare items. I have one container that houses the lot, and I have found this to be incredibly helpful in removing bathroom counter clutter.

The second tip provided in this article is to have a wastebasket in every room. Love this idea! Bedrooms and living spaces produce trash. So instead of leaving that water bottle on your nightstand next to the 9 others, have a wastebasket in the bedroom (but don’t forget to regularly take out the trash).

Next is having a magazine rack in rooms where magazines are consumed. In my family, media is largely consumed electronically, so this isn’t an issue in my home. Is it for you? If so, maybe it’s time to invest in a magazine rack. For my house, it’s cords and chargers. I think I can utilize the first tip to help out here.

The fourth tip Sandy Maynard suggests is one I find most impactful and one I need to be more intentional in scheduling for myself.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

That is spending 15 minutes a day in the act of de-cluttering. If that sounds like too much or too boring… pair it with another activity that you enjoy.

Maybe blare some great music or add some dance steps while you pick up. Do what you need to… this one is great and one I will implement today.

And lastly, she suggests designating one junk drawer in every room. What! Of course! My junk drawers aren’t a bad thing, They help me have a place for something while I figure out if I need to trash it or store it.

I hope this helps give you some ideas about de-cluttering your life!