I like Minimal Mom’s idea of a “quarantine” bin or “decide later” bin. When you take everything out and put what you need back in, and throw away trash, and donate leftovers, there are often some items you don’t want back in there but are afraid to let go. So when decision fatigue sets in but you still have a pile on the floor, put the pile in a tub and mark it with the date. If you haven’t gone looking for those items in a specified amount of time, then the tub is ready to donate.
I love this!! When I organize I bring 3 grocery bags or small boxes. One for recycle one for garbage and one for donate. Having the 3 bags or boxes right there makes it easy to organize a room or drawer.
Are we working on the premise that decluttering and organizing are the same thing? Well, I struggle with decluttering. I think the root cause is that I also struggle with setting up organizational flow systems that are easy to maintain with periodic decluttering.
@@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD I have found Cas from Clutterbug really helpful for this. She has a quiz to learn one's organizing style on her website. Knowing it makes it much easier to create systems that actually work. For example, papers in a file cabinet feel like they've gone into a blackhole for me, so for essential papers I use often I've used a tiered vertical file holder on my desk for easy access. When I tried to make a system that's common but isn't natural for me work I just ended up with papers strewn all over my desk.
Hi Seth, I am a Professional Organizer that specializes in working with neurodiverse folks. I ALWAYS take everything out of a particular space when organizing with a client. Our relationship with stuff changes when we take it out of the space. We actually start to see it again. Another tip- once you take everything out, put "like with like" if you have different categories of items in one space (ex. a closet floor might have clothes, makeup, books, etc. Once sorted you can decide what you want to keep. Lastly, make piles such as keep IN THIS SPACE, donate, trash, KEEPIN ANOTHER SPACE. Do not get up to put items away in another space until you are done. This will completely trip someone up with ADHD because once they leave, they will forget to return. Thanks for your awesome informative videos.
I do a version of this by asking, *"What would I terribly miss or have to rebuy in the next week or month if all my belongings suddenly disappeared?"* When a friend and her kids were coming to stay and I had to quickly make room for them, I moved all non-essentials to a storage unit. I ended up paying thousands before retrieving it years later (d'oh! #ADHDTax) but it taught me that 1) I FEEL better with less stuff in my house, 2) I didn't miss those non-essentials AT ALL. Using a timer and the Onion Method of searching for the EASIEST things to let go of is what's working for me now because I reacquired too much stuff to comfortably pull everything out at once to sort. But asking what I love/need & actually use still helps. : - ) Also helpful setting reminders to declutter or clean in mini bursts one more more times a day, and "Temptation Bundling" with something fun during and/or immediately after (e.g. music, podcast, video, etc.). Making things fun has been GAME CHANGING! I highly recommend Dawn from the Minimal Mom and Cas from Clutterbug for additional tips and inspiration. Getting my amount of stuff below the Clutter Threshold to easily maintain my house actually seems possible to me now and it never did before. Huzzah! : - D ❤❤
GREAT. GREAT. GREAT. Thank you. As David Goggins said' "you have to figure out HOW YOUR MIND WORKS." Your teaching is very kind, compassionate, helpful, and correct You truly understand OVERWHELM and SELF-OVERWHELM. AND YOU CLEARLY show that it is possible to BUILD on micro- successes.
When doing this, for example, with clothes, I call it 'shopping' from the pile. I ask myself "would I buy this today?" It really helps me make fresh choices that fit my life right now. I usually end up choosing only 15% out of that pile of whatever the stuff is.
You have covered this and want to thank you for all the wonderful inspiration. I work with a lot of students who are visual learners as is my daughter and unless she sees something she struggles to get something done, in school or life. Little posters, post its and checklists remind us of what we need to do and keep us on track. Putting these in the bedroom, kitchen area of bathroom. Otherwise, life is so overwhelming and us (parents) don't have to keep nagging when there are visual prompts. My number one tip is to incorporate Images.
The most important part when decluttering to me is to know exactly where/how the old stuff gets out of the way FAST! I am only motivated when I see the result directly. My husband takes over once I made piles and gets them out (donation; trash etc.). This is an important help, otherwise I would just put stuff from A to B , or start reviewing things and put them back. ( my mind always tells me a thousand ways an item could be still used for…) Thank You for Your Video, it helps a lot!
And then the key with this though is the micro projects because if you're taking on a big project and you pull everything out then it's overwhelming and things don't get put back it can often cause people to freeze. Or we get exhausted before we're able to finish I definitely work best myself tackling areas like a drawer or a shelf at a time. Or a category of things like you mentioned.
Hi Seth, I wanted to let you know that I just think you are a great teacher and doing fabulous service. I work with highly sensitive people, especially youth (HSY) who generally don't have ADHD, but are easily overwhelmed by life. Your tools are always spot on and I often find my HSY clients (and myself) are 2e. I use your tips an tricks all the time and am so grateful to you for your work.
I think following that hyperfocus if you get it is great. I love listening to podcasts or videos or music while I'm working it helps keep my mind distracted to help clear out areas and actually concentrate on things like dishes or laundry or decluttering. Helps me to stay on task and not walk away. I basically end up on autopilot doing the thing and it's not that hard anymore. I also like wireless headphones that way if I do have to take things to other areas of the house that makes it easy for me.
I like this idea and I recently did this when I had to clean out some OTC medicines I had. I got rid of expired things and it saved me spending money on things I didn't need. I'm going to keep working with this now. Thanks for the help! 👍
Yeah no resistance here this is my go to method for everything lol. I just have one issue. How do you do that with a project you're working on in order to organize it. Or like...how do you do it with 5 projects all at once? Or with just the inside of your head?? And then what about like...I struggle with getting to work on time not just cuz my stuff isn't organized. My morning routine isn't organized either. My time isn't organized. Because on the daily I'm dealing with one terrible symptom or another. One morning it's attention regulation. The next morning it's time blindness. I have zero working memory ever so forget making multiple plans to adjust. I won't remember them anyway. And then what about PDA? Where I literally want to do the thing but my brain literally rebels until I stop? That was a lot of questions 😂
A “quarantine” box may help with this strategy. (I got it from clutter bug). The things that don’t go back in the space can go in the quarantine box to make it easier on you. Tape it up and label it with the date and “quarantine” and where it is from or whatever, then never open it again unless you are absolutely missing something that you think might be in that box… After a date you set to get rid of it go ahead and donate it or trash it.
I am reasonably good at doing this (and at culling) but it goes back to being messy sooo quickly. How do I then keep things organised? Busy life, children, and four out of people in this home with varying levels of executive dysfunction...
Cas from Clutterbug and Dawn from the Minimal Mom have great tips for this. : - ) Examples: 1) Put solutions where issues are already occurring (e.g. an open hamper where clothes are routinely dropped, a basket on the wall or counter where school papers or mail get scattered). 2) Practice doing a brief tidy daily with a timer plus Temptation Bundling something fun during or right after (music, podcast, video...). 3) Default to systems that work for the most visual, least detailed style of organizer in the household, e.g. clear containers on shelves with broad categories instead of hidden storage with micro compartments for each category (Cas has a quiz on her website). 4) Finding the Clutter Threshold for your house---that point at which it becomes radically easier to tidy and clean because there's plenty of room in drawers and closets to put things away and floors and counters don't have to be cleared to clean. I'm dreaming of this! ; - D
I have a tip Know what classes you have like English this class I just need a compassion notebook and a wind role notebook and some hie lighters and that's is all I need for that class then you can persisnight for other classes you have for ether 6 or 5 classes that you need
Agreee, BUT...I am attached to everything , so I just put it all back minus about 1-5%...so I get nowhere!!! And i have MANY years of stuff in addition to my moms housefull of stuff which again, I got rid of about 5-10%. CAN'T throw away good/ useful stuff...HATE being wasteful, so drowning in it. HELPPPP
Dawn from the Minimal Mom and Cas from Clutterbug talk about the Clutter Threshold below which a house becomes almost magically easier to maintain. The inspiring way they talk about how GOOD it feels to have a manageable amount of stuff makes me crave that more than I dislike getting rid of things that feel useful.< : - ) At least for me, the truth is I like and use the same objects over and over and literally wouldn't be able to find most of the things I've kept "just in case." Thinking about how my unused things could actually help someone who needs them now makes it easier to let go of them. For sentimental or inherited items, comparing like with like and keeping just what's *most* charged with happy feelings actually feels better than keeping everything. A lot of objects actually spark kind of negative feelings, or are at least neutral. Letting those go bless someone else is a lovely way to honor someone's memory. Dawn also talks about the relief of not having a "Silent To-do List" of tons of objects and unfinished projects subconsciously preying on one's peace of mind. I really have felt lighter and happier when I let go of things. I've had success with the Onion Method of searching for things that are easiest to let go of first using a timer and Temptation Bundling something fun during and/or after to make it rewarding. Good luck to you! : - )
What is one of YOUR best organizational tips? Comment below to give us some ideas we can use!
I like Minimal Mom’s idea of a “quarantine” bin or “decide later” bin. When you take everything out and put what you need back in, and throw away trash, and donate leftovers, there are often some items you don’t want back in there but are afraid to let go. So when decision fatigue sets in but you still have a pile on the floor, put the pile in a tub and mark it with the date. If you haven’t gone looking for those items in a specified amount of time, then the tub is ready to donate.
I love this!! When I organize I bring 3 grocery bags or small boxes. One for recycle one for garbage and one for donate. Having the 3 bags or boxes right there makes it easy to organize a room or drawer.
Are we working on the premise that decluttering and organizing are the same thing? Well, I struggle with decluttering. I think the root cause is that I also struggle with setting up organizational flow systems that are easy to maintain with periodic decluttering.
@@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD I have found Cas from Clutterbug really helpful for this. She has a quiz to learn one's organizing style on her website. Knowing it makes it much easier to create systems that actually work. For example, papers in a file cabinet feel like they've gone into a blackhole for me, so for essential papers I use often I've used a tiered vertical file holder on my desk for easy access. When I tried to make a system that's common but isn't natural for me work I just ended up with papers strewn all over my desk.
@@jenniferlong5242 Love Dawn from the Minimal Mom! I also find Cas from Clutterbug super helpful and inspiring. : - )
Hi Seth, I am a Professional Organizer that specializes in working with neurodiverse folks. I ALWAYS take everything out of a particular space when organizing with a client. Our relationship with stuff changes when we take it out of the space. We actually start to see it again. Another tip- once you take everything out, put "like with like" if you have different categories of items in one space (ex. a closet floor might have clothes, makeup, books, etc. Once sorted you can decide what you want to keep. Lastly, make piles such as keep IN THIS SPACE, donate, trash, KEEPIN ANOTHER SPACE. Do not get up to put items away in another space until you are done. This will completely trip someone up with ADHD because once they leave, they will forget to return. Thanks for your awesome informative videos.
Thanks for sharing!
That is a great suggestion! Thanks!
Helpful thanks!
I do a version of this by asking, *"What would I terribly miss or have to rebuy in the next week or month if all my belongings suddenly disappeared?"* When a friend and her kids were coming to stay and I had to quickly make room for them, I moved all non-essentials to a storage unit. I ended up paying thousands before retrieving it years later (d'oh! #ADHDTax) but it taught me that 1) I FEEL better with less stuff in my house, 2) I didn't miss those non-essentials AT ALL. Using a timer and the Onion Method of searching for the EASIEST things to let go of is what's working for me now because I reacquired too much stuff to comfortably pull everything out at once to sort. But asking what I love/need & actually use still helps. : - )
Also helpful setting reminders to declutter or clean in mini bursts one more more times a day, and "Temptation Bundling" with something fun during and/or immediately after (e.g. music, podcast, video, etc.). Making things fun has been GAME CHANGING!
I highly recommend Dawn from the Minimal Mom and Cas from Clutterbug for additional tips and inspiration. Getting my amount of stuff below the Clutter Threshold to easily maintain my house actually seems possible to me now and it never did before. Huzzah! : - D ❤❤
GREAT. GREAT. GREAT.
Thank you.
As David Goggins said'
"you have to figure out HOW YOUR MIND WORKS."
Your teaching is very kind, compassionate, helpful, and correct
You truly understand
OVERWHELM and SELF-OVERWHELM.
AND YOU CLEARLY show that it is possible to BUILD on micro- successes.
When doing this, for example, with clothes, I call it 'shopping' from the pile. I ask myself "would I buy this today?" It really helps me make fresh choices that fit my life right now. I usually end up choosing only 15% out of that pile of whatever the stuff is.
You have covered this and want to thank you for all the wonderful inspiration. I work with a lot of students who are visual learners as is my daughter and unless she sees something she struggles to get something done, in school or life. Little posters, post its and checklists remind us of what we need to do and keep us on track. Putting these in the bedroom, kitchen area of bathroom. Otherwise, life is so overwhelming and us (parents) don't have to keep nagging when there are visual prompts. My number one tip is to incorporate Images.
The most important part when decluttering to me is to know exactly where/how the old stuff gets out of the way FAST! I am only motivated when I see the result directly. My husband takes over once I made piles and gets them out (donation; trash etc.). This is an important help, otherwise I would just put stuff from A to B , or start reviewing things and put them back.
( my mind always tells me a thousand ways an item could be still used for…)
Thank You for Your Video, it helps a lot!
Love digital timers. Ill def try dumping everything out. Ill just divide the thing into sections so its not so much
And then the key with this though is the micro projects because if you're taking on a big project and you pull everything out then it's overwhelming and things don't get put back it can often cause people to freeze. Or we get exhausted before we're able to finish I definitely work best myself tackling areas like a drawer or a shelf at a time. Or a category of things like you mentioned.
Hi Seth, I wanted to let you know that I just think you are a great teacher and doing fabulous service. I work with highly sensitive people, especially youth (HSY) who generally don't have ADHD, but are easily overwhelmed by life. Your tools are always spot on and I often find my HSY clients (and myself) are 2e. I use your tips an tricks all the time and am so grateful to you for your work.
So glad its been helpful.
Really awesome video. Thank you for doing what you are doing. Inspirational.
I think following that hyperfocus if you get it is great. I love listening to podcasts or videos or music while I'm working it helps keep my mind distracted to help clear out areas and actually concentrate on things like dishes or laundry or decluttering. Helps me to stay on task and not walk away. I basically end up on autopilot doing the thing and it's not that hard anymore. I also like wireless headphones that way if I do have to take things to other areas of the house that makes it easy for me.
Thanks for sharing!!
06:09 tip
This was really good for reassurance and also clarifying why it works (esp taking everything out, putting it back in intentionally).
I like this idea and I recently did this when I had to clean out some OTC medicines I had. I got rid of expired things and it saved me spending money on things I didn't need. I'm going to keep working with this now. Thanks for the help! 👍
That is awesome!
Yeah no resistance here this is my go to method for everything lol. I just have one issue. How do you do that with a project you're working on in order to organize it. Or like...how do you do it with 5 projects all at once? Or with just the inside of your head?? And then what about like...I struggle with getting to work on time not just cuz my stuff isn't organized. My morning routine isn't organized either. My time isn't organized. Because on the daily I'm dealing with one terrible symptom or another. One morning it's attention regulation. The next morning it's time blindness. I have zero working memory ever so forget making multiple plans to adjust. I won't remember them anyway. And then what about PDA? Where I literally want to do the thing but my brain literally rebels until I stop? That was a lot of questions 😂
Everything you've said really works. Helped me move ahead in my home. Great for school too I am certain! Thank you 😊
Super real very practical honest
So true!!!
Started that a year ago watching videos :)
Thank you for all your help , really appreciate you !!! 😊
Happy to help!
Love it, thanks Seth! I wonder if you've got tips for organising computer files/folders?
Love all of your ideas!!!
Thank you!
A “quarantine” box may help with this strategy. (I got it from clutter bug). The things that don’t go back in the space can go in the quarantine box to make it easier on you. Tape it up and label it with the date and “quarantine” and where it is from or whatever, then never open it again unless you are absolutely missing something that you think might be in that box… After a date you set to get rid of it go ahead and donate it or trash it.
Great tip!
Love that idea!!! Thank You 🙏🏼 I’m moving from a 5000sq ft house to a 1500 sq ft apartment so i will try this!!!
I am reasonably good at doing this (and at culling) but it goes back to being messy sooo quickly. How do I then keep things organised? Busy life, children, and four out of people in this home with varying levels of executive dysfunction...
Cas from Clutterbug and Dawn from the Minimal Mom have great tips for this. : - ) Examples:
1) Put solutions where issues are already occurring (e.g. an open hamper where clothes are routinely dropped, a basket on the wall or counter where school papers or mail get scattered).
2) Practice doing a brief tidy daily with a timer plus Temptation Bundling something fun during or right after (music, podcast, video...).
3) Default to systems that work for the most visual, least detailed style of organizer in the household, e.g. clear containers on shelves with broad categories instead of hidden storage with micro compartments for each category (Cas has a quiz on her website).
4) Finding the Clutter Threshold for your house---that point at which it becomes radically easier to tidy and clean because there's plenty of room in drawers and closets to put things away and floors and counters don't have to be cleared to clean. I'm dreaming of this! ; - D
I have a tip
Know what classes you have like English this class I just need a compassion notebook and a wind role notebook and some hie lighters and that's is all I need for that class then you can persisnight for other classes you have for ether 6 or 5 classes that you need
Oh yesss
Agreee, BUT...I am attached to everything , so I just put it all back minus about 1-5%...so I get nowhere!!! And i have MANY years of stuff in addition to my moms housefull of stuff which again, I got rid of about 5-10%. CAN'T throw away good/ useful stuff...HATE being wasteful, so drowning in it. HELPPPP
You got this!
Dawn from the Minimal Mom and Cas from Clutterbug talk about the Clutter Threshold below which a house becomes almost magically easier to maintain. The inspiring way they talk about how GOOD it feels to have a manageable amount of stuff makes me crave that more than I dislike getting rid of things that feel useful.< : - )
At least for me, the truth is I like and use the same objects over and over and literally wouldn't be able to find most of the things I've kept "just in case."
Thinking about how my unused things could actually help someone who needs them now makes it easier to let go of them.
For sentimental or inherited items, comparing like with like and keeping just what's *most* charged with happy feelings actually feels better than keeping everything. A lot of objects actually spark kind of negative feelings, or are at least neutral. Letting those go bless someone else is a lovely way to honor someone's memory.
Dawn also talks about the relief of not having a "Silent To-do List" of tons of objects and unfinished projects subconsciously preying on one's peace of mind.
I really have felt lighter and happier when I let go of things.
I've had success with the Onion Method of searching for things that are easiest to let go of first using a timer and Temptation Bundling something fun during and/or after to make it rewarding.
Good luck to you! : - )
🤣 you might not even like it. Nice. Keeping it real.