This month, we’re basking in the heat executive function subject of skill: personal design, ADHD-friendly systems that work for you. It is part of the executive skills of the organization. Organization is a functional executive skill (a brain-based skill). For some of us it is a strength; for others it is difficult; and for many, it depends on the context or the specific task in between. Whether it’s strength, difficulty or moderation for you, you can improve. When the inevitable mistakes happen (they happen to all of us), remember: it’s not your fault. This is what your brain does best. Try to empathize even as you work to develop strategies and skills to maximize your performance.
What is an organization?
Organization is the ability to create and maintain systems for important items, papers, electronic documents, and tasks (Mutty-Driscoll, 2024).
Many organizations thrive on having systems. For many of us, we actually already have some systems in place, but we don’t recognize them. The purpose of this post is to reflect what you’re already doing, so you have a foundation to build on.
Does your organization differ in contexts, such as home and work? I am very good at organizing tasks, but routines, papers, and physical objects are difficult. For me, electronic documents are easier than physical papers. However, the routines are very difficult if they are not very simple.
Navigation sex Expectations: Social expectations often dictate that girls and women should behave naturally. Girls and women who struggle to clean, organize their music, or complete their self-care routines often receive negative feedback or are deeply misunderstood. This is me. I definitely struggled with being judged or misunderstood about my organization’s problems. Since my problems are always everywhere at home, it can be difficult to remember these thoughts. I always try to be more self-compassionate and look at it in a non-judgmental way.to embarrass way, but it’s a process. You are not alone.
Basic thinking for neurodivergent organization
When thinking about an organization, it helps to make some assumptions:
- Your systems may be different: If you have ADHD or another neurodivergent diagnosis, organization may be different than people expect. Some people have systems that work perfectly for them, even if they look chaotic on the outside. If you can find things at the right time, you are good at it, even if others don’t recognize it.
- Duties of care are morally neutral. Being organized or not is not a moral failure. Reframe caregiving duties as functional actions that benefit your future rather than moral obligations. What is important to you instead of avoiding the judgment of outsiders? Shame is a bad motivator.
- Rhythms or rituals over routines. Are you more drawn to the idea of a weekly or daily rhythm rather than a rigid routine? With rhythm, it’s okay to miss a step. It’s much better for my brain.
- Functionality over perfection. Many of us are caught perfectionism the trap is thinking that if we’re just perfect or tough enough on ourselves, we’ll feel good about ourselves. Logically we know that it is unattainable and leads to it burn. Instead, ask: What helps you in your space? How your space can serve you, not stress are you out
My personal organizational systems
It might be generous to call these “systems” because many of my strategies are very simple, but they count because they help me a little and as a result they are recognizable. What are you already doing, dear reader, to help organize yourself? Do you have a task, tool or strategy to add to my list below?
Clean up
Paperwork
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A weekly routine for going through the mail, paying bills, and filing things into the annual file. Sorting tasks help me to sit down and delete admin emails at the same time.
Weekly chores
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Having a designated “workday”. Sunday is used as a deadline for doing various tasks (paperwork, calculations, laundry) until Monday.
Laundry room
Search for items
Put forward
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I have a short term file for this year and a long term file that a professional organizer helped me create. At the end of the year, I switch short term to long term and start over.
Task list
Cleaning
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I’m working on using the Tiimo app to track my daily cleaning routine.
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Clean up a cluttered space by going through it (trash, dishes, laundry, clutter, etc.). This can make the space seem less cluttered as you consider the pieces one by one.
Cooking
Grocery stores
I want to recognize myself for these efforts and I want to recognize you for yours. We’ll do our best and that’s it so it is much better than doing nothing.
