The Art of Letting Go🍃

A visually overwhelming environment induces anxiety

The Art of Letting Go 🍃 |

As an ADHDer, I sometimes have difficulty letting go of things.

Regarding material 'things,' throwing away or donating certain items is hard.

My ADHD brain makes it difficult for me to understand the passage of time (time blindness) or to remember certain events; physical objects are symbolic.

Physical objects are real-world representations of different stages of my life, reminders of people I've met, memories I've made, or places I've been.

Things can be leftover from hyper-fixations or old hobbies and interests. All these objects hold value and meaning.

So how can I get rid of them?

I find that many people with ADHD have this same issue.

Holding on to things that no longer serve us creates a chaotic environment.

Cue the hoarding, the doom piles, the rooms full of random items that only we can decipher.

It isn't easy to let go because these items are tied to our emotions.

For those with ADHD, going through these items can be anxiety-inducing.

It's no longer a simple task—it forces us to relive old memories, some of which can cause us much grief.

When we do muster up the energy to tackle the clutter, we risk burning out midway due to decision paralysis.

And then we are stuck, sometimes in the middle of a bigger mess than we first started.

This usually happens because, like many things we do in life, ADHDers go in without a template, a structure, or a plan!

We are Spartans heading into war and ready to risk it all!

But how does one create a plan to order chaos?

Like every person, every situation is unique.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

1. Ask yourself:

What is the intended purpose of the space you are trying to organize?

What activities take place in this space?

What DON’T I want in here?

2. Take four boxes and label them:

• REHOME:

  ➡ Items that need to be moved to another place.

• REGIFT or Donate:

  ➡ Items that no longer serve you but can serve others.

• RESELL:

  ➡ Items that have significant monetary value that can be resold.

• REFUSE or Throw away:
  ➡ Items that have no value to anyone.

3. Focus on removing items that don't belong or fit in with the room's purpose. 

Could you place those items into any of the categorized boxes?

Don't get lost in the details, but follow the general categories.

4. Create clusters of like items. This will make it easy to sort through as you de-clutter. (Example: beauty items, workout items)

As you sort, you learn more about yourself and what you hold onto.

Following this structure allows you to reclaim your space while reducing the likelihood of distraction.
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This is how you become the "Master of Your Domain."

I work with clients to help them recognize their behavioral patterns and create personalized systems that make sense, are sustainable, and are long-lasting.

Are you ready to tackle the chaos together? Book your 💫ADHD TRANSFORMATION CONSULTATION💫 today!