If you’re the sort of person who relates very closely to the dog in the movie “Up” who is on task until he sees a squirrel, you aren’t alone.
Maybe you’ve been diagnosed ADD or ADHD, maybe you haven’t. I don’t care. Those are only labels we use to help identify a certain group of behaviors.
Let’s call it “inattention” or “distractible” to avoid labels that make some feel stigmatized. Basically, difficulty paying attention or staying on task.
This makes having an organized home very difficult. The usual organizational ideas that you’ll see at The Container Store or on Pinterest and Instagram don’t always make sense to the distracted brain. This is why is it so very important to know yourself so that you can make mindful choices that make sense for you, not anyone else.
HOW INATTENTION AND DISTRACTABLITY SHOW UP
The person who is inattentive will struggle to maintain any system of organization that is too complex. The more steps involved the less likely they are to use it. It becomes much easier to simply drop an item wherever they are at the moment, instead of putting it away.
I have known this sort of person to drop his coat at the front door day after day and not even notice, because there wasn’t a simple clear place for his coat. Hooks right inside the door helped.
Distractable people are often impulsive. That means they may do some over-buying. Send this person to Target without a clear, simple plan, and they will come out with an array of thing that made complete sense at the time.
This means that the distracted person is likely to end up with a home filled with tons of things they don’t need in a system they can’t use.
WHAT TO DO
This is not a lost cause. Those who struggle with attention can have tidy, organized homes, and, like everyone else, they’re going to have to work for it.
Efficiency is the key.
Simple, easy to maintain, with as few steps involved as possible.
Everyone needs to have a set of questions to ask when organizing. Here are a few that specifically help the inattentive organizer:
Can I find what I need?
Is it conveniently located?
Is it easy to put away?
Does it require little to no maintenance?
Rules
Make the stuff fit the container, not the other way around.
Containers should never be full, shelves should never be crowded.
Fill to 80%, no more.
Declutter instead of buying more.
Everything needs to be easy to access and even easier to put away.
Never store things on the floor.
Keep things in the room or space they will be used.
Once touch.
When you buy something, put it away as soon as you get home instead of setting the bag down and getting distracted.
When you use something put it away immediately after you are done.
Buy multiples of things that might be used in multiple rooms so you aren’t moving things around.
For example: Have duplicates of everything a bathroom needs in each bathroom instead of having one central hub.
Only keep one of any duplicates that have the same function in the same space.
For example: Rotating cheese grater or a stand-up grater, not both.
Give each cabinet and drawer a specific purpose.
Label if needed.
Only dishes go in the dish cabinet.
Only t-shirts go in the t-shirt drawer.
OTHER HELPFUL HINTS
It takes a lot of concentration to create organization so give yourself a break and recognize that you may not have the focus to complete any task that will take more than 10 minutes. Break tasks down into 10-minute chunks.
Or you may get so focused on your new project that you lose track of time. Inattention can include being hyper-focused so that the inattention is directed toward everything else. Use a timer to remind you that time is passing.
Ask more focused friends or family members to help with projects that will require more attention than you know you have.
Always, always use a shopping list. Do not buy anything that is not on the list no matter how interesting it is. If needed call someone at home to check to see if this off-list item is actually useful.
I knew one man who would become incredibly anxious Sunday nights because the week was approaching and he couldn’t remember when he was supposed to pick up which kid and where he was supposed to take that kid. After trying numerous ways to help keep him on task that didn’t work. His wife then started emailing him the schedule for the week on Sunday nights and what they had agreed he would do. It continues to work to this day!
KNOW YOURSELF
In the end the way you’ll know if a system works for you is if it lasts. If it doesn’t, then it’s back to the drawing board.
Keep taking in what you know about yourself and the lessons you learn with each new organizational experiment. You will find the answers you need.
If you need a helping hand getting there, as a Decluttering Coach I’ll be honored and excited to get to be a part of your search for an organized home you can feel at peace in.