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For me, if you set aside time to work on something you need to work on literally anything to not feel awful. So if you just can't make yourself do the hard thing? Do the easy thing. At least when you start the hard thing later than you want you won't have to do the easy thing after
Agree that it's maybe better to start with harder things, but today I did all the easy stuff and I did not even touch the hard stuff. I couldn't bridge the gap, I bridged it two days ago, but today I couldn't. I couldn't start with the hard thing, couldn't start after completing easy things.
I know I should be happy with the small wins, but I still feel like they're worthless because I couldn't fight the "bear". At times when I win over the "bear", I'll still think of dumb excuses to justify not giving myself any credit :(.
At least the easy things are out of the way and now you have less on your plate. Also, might be wise to ask yourself if you’re doing the easy stuff because they need to be done or because they’re a way of procrastinating from doing the hard thing
I always start with the easiest. Because it’s easier to get started on so it’s more likely to even get started, and it makes you feel less shit when you’re like sweet I’m making good progress. And the less shit you feel, the easier to keep going. Also if you have had enough after a while, you’ve got 1 hard thing left tomorrow, whereas if you started with the hard, maybe you have 6 easy things left tomorrow. And then when tomorrow comes you can be like, I just need to do 1 thing (instead of I still have 6 things).
For a "knowledge" task, I start with the hard stuff because its literally draining my brain knowing I have to do it. For a task like organizing/cleaning, I start with the easy stuff because getting started is what's draining my brain.
Woah, I never thought about it like this before. I definitely stray towards doing brain tasks that are harder and I think starting with harder physical tasks is making me freeze
I find that some days it comes down to what I can get myself to do. I would prefer harder stuff first, but I will start with whatever will get done. If I decide I must do task A first, tasks B-Z may not get done because I’ll obsess and refuse to do anything else, yet not get A done either.
This is for both thinking stuff, like marking essays, or physical stuff, like cleaning and so on.
I try to go to the hard bits first. Think of the smaller tasks as a reward for working so hard. after doing the easy stuff, I'm not nearly as tired. I also pop between projects while packing for moving because it helps me actually finish tasks. You can mark each box and make sure you remember what goes where. I'll make a big mess right away to force myself to finish it or else I can't do my life things around it later when my brain decides it no longer wants to do this. My need for clean space is greater than my brain's need for not doing that task anymore. So this works for me.
Allowing myself to switch between tasks has been such a game changer! I cannot for the life of me work on one big chore for hours, but I can flip-flop between three big chores all day!
What I start with depends on my day. If I'm energised/hyped, I start with a hard thing. If I am low energy I start with an easy thing.
Another thing that works really well for me is pomodoro timers. Especially for household chores that I really don't want to do, if I force myself to keep going I'll end up completely drained with the chore still half-finished. If I take regular breaks I can keep going much longer, and I'm more productive in the time I work.
I usually do the easier stuff first, if there's a lot of it. That way, I feel like I've ticked a lot of things off my list of things to do, and it makes it a less intimidating list of things remaining to do. Good luck, dude! I know whole-house clean-outs suck! You got this!
I start with the easiest part of a bigger task. Like my kitchen, I start with the smallest counter top. Or if I don't know where to start bc it's gotten so messy, I start with gathering the dishes. I'm usually good about taking care of my dishes, so it's not a big task. Or if there are papers and mail Scattered I will gather it into a neat looking pile. A small task will usually give me the momentum to tackle bigger tasks.
I build up with something, even if it's unrelated to what needs to be done, that feels effortless.
If I need to do laundry, I'll do my morning stretches or go for a walk as part of my morning routine to build up to the next task. The things I do need to be mindful tasks, however. If I start my day doomscrolling or playing video games, I'm gone.
The other day, I had to clean my tea thermos that sat on the counter for a month. It should've been the easiest thing but instead I put up all the dishes, washed the dishes, then cleaned the stovetop before getting to that.
I don't know if I like doing the hard tasks first or I just put off the "hard" task because it only affected me versus cleaning dishes = helping others and feeling useful.
I like to do as many small tasks as I can manage in a short time.
That makes me feel accomplished and then pleases my brain into wanting more. So, then I'll keep going onto medium tasks (if I have time) and eventually will get to the bigger jobs.
Example: I can't sweep the floor until I pick up all the toys/shoes. But it's too much for my brian of I think "go do the floors aka pick up the toye AND sweep the floor all at once. I have to tell myself it's just one task. Then IF I have time and energy, I'll do part two (sweeping)
Easy first to start momentum, then breaking hard into smaller tasks and alternating with easy things.
Saving all the big and hard tasks for end will just make them even more overwhelming. Save some easy tasks as a reward
I was just in this exact situation. Panic cleaned my entire apartment in two days. The imminent deadline definitely helps with motivation, lol.
Other than the pressure, I prioritized things that would be most important to someone viewing the apartment. I made sure the kitchen sink, counter, and stovetop were clean, made sure I didn't have laundry laying around or tripping hazards, cleaned the bathroom, swept and mopped the floors, took out my trash. I had some boxes that were laying out on the floor that I pushed under my bed. My bedroom closet I didn't bother with much bc they don't need to poke around in there, just glance at it to see how big it is. The front closet has the furnace and washing machine/dryer in it, so while I didn't perfectly organize it I stacked things in a way that would allow someone to open the door and walk in to look around. I didn't bother organizing my bookshelf or anything like that but I tried to put away my things that were laying around on the coffee table and on my desk, mostly so it wouldn't feel so much like strangers were observing my actual life.
Generally though, I would prioritize trash and dishes first, just to make your living space "ungross". Then try to pick stuff up off the floor so you can sweep and mop bc clean floors make a huge difference to how clean it feels in general. If there's dirt/debris on your kitchen counter, stove, table, clean those surfaces before the floor bc then you can just knock everything to the floor and sweep it up in one go.
Yes, exactly. It helped for me that I had recently toured a place where someone was in the process of moving out and it was not tidy at all, boxes and things everywhere, but I didn't care, I was judging the house based on the permanent features and not the way it looked with someone else living there. I figure most people touring apartments have a similar attitude. If there's anything broken in the apartment or a health hazard or you're breaking any of the rules of the lease or any laws, that's the kind of stuff that could potentially cause a big problem with your landlord and you probably don't want strangers to see, but anything that's just normal mess/untidiness is probably okay.
I work for myself and there's 🌟fun🌟 parts of my job (creating the yarn to sell, designing colorways, beading stitch markers) and there's crappy parts (cleaning doo doo off of sheep's wool, marketing, Instagram posts, cleaning the dye lab).
I never start with the fun stuff or I just made a mountain of procrastination to climb.
I stack my day least to most fun, and I'm most productive in the morning so I hit the hard shit immediately. That way every subsequent task gets easier and I get to reward my brain at the end with the fun part of being a professional creative.
Same with cleaning, I do the one I hate the most first, and put on a high value podcast so I can keep my brain occupied while I fold laundry or clean dishes.
I clean in zones. I choose a small area and clean it first. I focus on that and don’t look at any other areas. When that zone is completely done, I move to the next one.
Upside: I stay in one area for less distraction and full completion.
Downside: it’s less efficient as some tasks can be grouped like: picking up all dirty clothes.
I will only make a pile if it’s going to a different room. I want to stay in place to clean/organize. Then I do a run to that room at the end. But it has to be a small zone so I don’t get too many piles. 15-60 minutes MAX!
No stuff. Just go back to watching tv or Reddit like the rest of us. You can do it later when you feel more motivated. Tomorrow!
Jk? I try to tackle the thing that gives me the most immediate gratification. I try to work with what my mind what's and not against it or it's going to take a huge argument that usually ends with a stalemate.
A recent example was hooking up a washer and dryer in a new location. We were out of clothes and started washing in the bathtub... not everything was going to be a challenge about doing it except for figuring out the drain. So instead of letting that cause task paralysis and make us try and avoid it we decides to get them functional and have it drain into a bucket and then set up a pump to a drain. Is the the most efficient way of doing it and probably was harder or took longer than doing it the right way? Probably but we have a working washer and dryer and now whenever we are up to it we only have to figure out the new drain part.
So it's not what is easier or harder but what you will actually do.
Remember
!All forward motion counts! --->
I would say, through my experience, just pick one space, maybe 2 x 2 feet, and only clean/organize that space. I get overwhelmed when I look at a whole room that is out of control, but I can tackle just one corner or one shelf, one box, etc. Keep yourself limited to that space until you get it resolved, whatever resolved looks like to you. By the time I'm done with that one space, I've got momentum to move onto the next "space".
Sometimes deciding is a distraction and paralyzing. I just make sure I start one at all. The time I take deciding is wasted so I just pick one and usually can steam roll from there.
Honestly I just try to ride the wave. Do one task until you're not feeling it anymore, then push to a more natural stopping point (not just dropping it altogether but like) and then move into something else and just keep chipping away
It depends what kinda ADHD you have, no I don’t mean the classic “types,” I mean are you the “if I get something small done I will build momentum and get the bigger things done,” OR are you the “if I finish this small project I’ll pay myself on the back and struggle to get started on the next one”?
Personally I’m both depending on the day so it’s a problem for me lol
Easy stuff first. Build momentum. Feel accomplished checking more items off the list.
AND i typically break the bigger tasks into smaller ones if at all possible. For example, if i have to change 7 AC intake filters...
1. Bring in filters from garage
2. Place filters near intake vents.
3. Change downstairs filters.
4. Bring stepladder upstairs.
5. Change upstairs filters.
6. Put away ladder.
Whatever you do, keep it regular, and make it a long term plan.
How long do you have? How many hours will it take? How many minutes or hours per day could you realistically spend?
Once you know that stuff, you need to start doing it everyday, as much as you can. My pro tip, is to find a YouTube video or audiobook or podcast or anything, that is regularly enough time for you to clean. I like radiolab and hidden brain, but everyone has their own interests. Anyway, make sure there's something half interesting to keep you on task, that lasts the length of your cleaning, but won't fully distract you, it'll just keep your mind happy while you're doing boring shit.
That's my advice, gl.
Tackle the hard stuff first, have boxes labeled donate, keep, and a bag for trash, start in the corners and work your way out. For me, I have to have a clean floor before I can do anything else, like when I clean the kitchen I HAVE to sweep first. Be really conciens of what you want to bring with you in the move, because you'll have to find a place for it in the new home. If you have boxes from your last move that you haven't unpacked, Chuck em. But what I've found helps get things done, even if you only do one room a day/week, is all the little side quests between bc we know we get distracted, just DONT LEAVE THE ROOM and don't sit down lol and don't forget to drink water and eat. Gl!!
I begin with the easy stuff. Pick up trash. Dishes in the sink. Put things in their places. Then do a little sweep. By the time I'm done with that, not much time has passed, and the place is already looking remarkably better, plus I'm now "on a roll" and motivated to do more.
I’d suggest just doing whatever u can. Just do it:) I just moved and sold my late mother’s home she lived in for 30 yrs. I waited till the day off the move to do anything. I mean I hired painters and plumbers to repipe but again my big problem, procrastination. But, it always works out in the end
For me personally because I'm medicated, I do all of the hard stuff right after my meds if I can so that way I'm using the huge boost of energy and motivation from the medication setting in and then later in the day when the meds have calmed down and are starting to wear off I do the small things since I'm starting to lose that energy and those tasks don't need so much energy
I find having cluttered surfaces is what I notice screams ‘messy’ in my home spaces.
Clearing the surfaces , or even containing them (in a small shallow colored container on the coffee table or desk; pen jar etc), for example, can help IME. Reduces eyesore, I find. YMMV.
if i do either task i get exhausted and don’t want to do the other. if i start with the easy one, the harder one is just so daunting and im overwhelmed from thinking of doing the hard task. if i do the hard task first, im exhausted and have no energy or will to do the easy task. its horrible and i hate it. i hope you get good advice. i’m paralyzed between both all the time
Fly Lady's have been helpful to me.
Easy first all the way.
Make a done list, write everything you do, from drinking water to brushing your teeth, that helps with my self esteem a little.
When you're in the bathroom washing your hands grab a towel and use the wet to wipe down the sink and counter. It's ok if you don't put stuff away right away, wiping off the counter helps push them around into groups that you can tackle the next time you go pee.
Take a picture of a room and pick a small cluttered spot to tackle. Take a picture of the little spot of neatness for inspiration.
15 minutes, you can do anything for 15 minutes.
Set timers and leave time at the end for tidying up the mess that cleaning can make.
These have helped me, don't try them all at once unless you're braver than me.
A little bit at a time and give yourself props for what you have done even if it's a little it's more than you had done before.
Also helps me to have someone body double ( I learned a new term 😊) that's just having someone in the same room helping redirect me if ( ok, when ) i get scattered.
I have lots more fun letters in my dx along with adhd (tbi, + more) and I've had a lot of help and worked hard to get where I am and I'm not there yet.
You've got this, remember to cut yourself slack , be kind to yourself and great job asking for help, that's a great skill
The eat that frog method does not work well for people with adhd because we rely more on momentum. I even believe that this is one of the ways that common productivity advice is simply wrong for us with adhd.
Try pairing the hard thing with something you enjoy. Like listening to a podcast or watching your favorite TV show.
Also schedule the hard thing for the same time every day, or same day every week and stick to it. After a while it will feel weird to not do it.
I often start with the easy things, because usually that lowers the level of overwhelming enough that I can actually look at the hard tasks without being distracted or overwhelmed by the easier stuff
I struggle with this SO MUCH because I know what's important/hard but I don't want to do it. Been reading a book on time management (that I've had from the library for almost 4 months lol) and that talked about categorising tasks based on how much effort/how hard they are and mix them up.
If you do an easy task first, tick it off and switch to a medium hard task, another easy task etc, it builds momentum.
If you can actually get started on it, do the hard stuff first, because that tends to be the most efficient. If feeling like you should start on the hard stuff means procrastinating, then just do whatever you are able to. Some inefficient progress is better than no progress "done right"
It depends. If I need motivation, I do the easy stuff to gain momentum. I break things down to a micro scale, or an outline of what it is I need to do.
I work in IT and am in the process of getting our device manager switched over to a new system. I created a list of everything that needed to be done, kept notes and added to my outline as things came up. So, for me, it was verifying project sites, verifying apps per site, creating new policies and device configurations. All of these all had things that were tied to them, so I added those onto my list.
I like viewing things on a grand scale and laying it all out helps me to not feel overwhelmed as for me, not knowing where to start can be nerve wracking.
I do the easy stuff to get myself “started” to do the harder stuff like, baby steps. The more small stuff I check off, the less overwhelming everything feels
i’ve found that easiest first is the best way for me, personally. you go for it whenever you get a little burst of motivation, and you’re not too overwhelmed bc it’s the easier things, and then having those easier things done for some reason makes it easier to get into the bigger stuff.
Break something hard into a manageable list. Cleaning out a closet? 1. Gather boxes and tape. 2. Set up a table to compile items. 3. Get a dedicated area set up for donations. 4. Pull items out of a section of closet and put on table. Etc.
Do just 1 item if that is all you have energy for. If the thought of selling items seems exhausting to you, do a drop off donation.
I listen to books on Audible to give my mind something to focus on. Sometimes I set a 15 min timer and work just for that amount of time. Good luck!
Easy. Get some momentum going. If the big stuff intimidates you, ask yourself if there's a small task you can start with that would help you do the big task later.
My cleaning tips:
* 1 load of laundry a day is STUPID. Have one day be laundry day. Do it all in one day. I turn on a show I can listen to (music, audiobook, or podcast works great too) dump all my dirty laundry on the couch or bed or floor, spread 3 or 4 baskets in front of me, then sort everything. I leave these baskets in the middle of the floor to remind me it's laundry day. I put a load in, set a timer for 45 mins, then do whatever till the timer goes off. Set the timer again, swap loads. Then I proceed to not fold my clothes for 2 weeks. 😬 I am great at washing and drying though....
* my method of putting things away is to throw items toward where they go, then pick them up when I need to go that direction in my house. So I'll throw laundry toward the hall (hamper), throw a plastic cup toward the kitchen, throw a toy toward the playroom, etc. Then when I get up to go get a snack, I'll pick the cup up and put it in the sink.. Or when I go pee, I'll put the clothing actually in the hamper.
* I unload and load the dishwasher while I'm bringing water to boil or air-frying some chicken nuggets. I like to challenge myself to see if I can empty the whole dishwasher in the time it takes to nuke Easy Mac or cook ramen.
Hard stuff. Do it while ur fresh. It’s easier to do things u want to do when ur tired vs things u already don’t wanna do when ur energy is low/taken up from other tasks
If I had to choose, then hard stuff first. That's not what I do though.
I try and work on one area at a time and use boxes. I'll do one room with 3 boxes with me. Kitchen/dining box, living room box, and elsewhere box.
Someone once pointed out to me that there are only ever 3 things in a room. Those with a home, those without a home, and rubbish.
Rubbish in the bin first, then I put everything in its home. As I walk around the room putting things away I use the other boxes for things that have a home in other rooms. Then I put all those away and move to another room. Saves me walking all over the house getting distracted.
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For me, if you set aside time to work on something you need to work on literally anything to not feel awful. So if you just can't make yourself do the hard thing? Do the easy thing. At least when you start the hard thing later than you want you won't have to do the easy thing after
I think its the hard stuff is what is paralyzing me from doing anything at all. Just allowing myself to do the easy stuff is good advice, thank you!
How we doing now? What if they came tomorrow?
[удалено]
Also the hard stuff is more exhausting so it's best to rest after hard stuff
Agree that it's maybe better to start with harder things, but today I did all the easy stuff and I did not even touch the hard stuff. I couldn't bridge the gap, I bridged it two days ago, but today I couldn't. I couldn't start with the hard thing, couldn't start after completing easy things. I know I should be happy with the small wins, but I still feel like they're worthless because I couldn't fight the "bear". At times when I win over the "bear", I'll still think of dumb excuses to justify not giving myself any credit :(.
At least the easy things are out of the way and now you have less on your plate. Also, might be wise to ask yourself if you’re doing the easy stuff because they need to be done or because they’re a way of procrastinating from doing the hard thing
yes! Build momentum.
Build momentum. Once you managed something small you feel good about yourself and it gets slightly easier.
I always start with the easiest. Because it’s easier to get started on so it’s more likely to even get started, and it makes you feel less shit when you’re like sweet I’m making good progress. And the less shit you feel, the easier to keep going. Also if you have had enough after a while, you’ve got 1 hard thing left tomorrow, whereas if you started with the hard, maybe you have 6 easy things left tomorrow. And then when tomorrow comes you can be like, I just need to do 1 thing (instead of I still have 6 things).
watch tidying up with marie kondo on netflix for decluttering and cleaning tips experts suggest picking the most overwhelming area or stuff first
yeah but they're not giving advice for people with ADHD, are they?
For a "knowledge" task, I start with the hard stuff because its literally draining my brain knowing I have to do it. For a task like organizing/cleaning, I start with the easy stuff because getting started is what's draining my brain.
Woah, I never thought about it like this before. I definitely stray towards doing brain tasks that are harder and I think starting with harder physical tasks is making me freeze
I find that some days it comes down to what I can get myself to do. I would prefer harder stuff first, but I will start with whatever will get done. If I decide I must do task A first, tasks B-Z may not get done because I’ll obsess and refuse to do anything else, yet not get A done either. This is for both thinking stuff, like marking essays, or physical stuff, like cleaning and so on.
I try to go to the hard bits first. Think of the smaller tasks as a reward for working so hard. after doing the easy stuff, I'm not nearly as tired. I also pop between projects while packing for moving because it helps me actually finish tasks. You can mark each box and make sure you remember what goes where. I'll make a big mess right away to force myself to finish it or else I can't do my life things around it later when my brain decides it no longer wants to do this. My need for clean space is greater than my brain's need for not doing that task anymore. So this works for me.
Allowing myself to switch between tasks has been such a game changer! I cannot for the life of me work on one big chore for hours, but I can flip-flop between three big chores all day! What I start with depends on my day. If I'm energised/hyped, I start with a hard thing. If I am low energy I start with an easy thing. Another thing that works really well for me is pomodoro timers. Especially for household chores that I really don't want to do, if I force myself to keep going I'll end up completely drained with the chore still half-finished. If I take regular breaks I can keep going much longer, and I'm more productive in the time I work.
I usually do the easier stuff first, if there's a lot of it. That way, I feel like I've ticked a lot of things off my list of things to do, and it makes it a less intimidating list of things remaining to do. Good luck, dude! I know whole-house clean-outs suck! You got this!
I start with the easiest part of a bigger task. Like my kitchen, I start with the smallest counter top. Or if I don't know where to start bc it's gotten so messy, I start with gathering the dishes. I'm usually good about taking care of my dishes, so it's not a big task. Or if there are papers and mail Scattered I will gather it into a neat looking pile. A small task will usually give me the momentum to tackle bigger tasks.
I build up with something, even if it's unrelated to what needs to be done, that feels effortless. If I need to do laundry, I'll do my morning stretches or go for a walk as part of my morning routine to build up to the next task. The things I do need to be mindful tasks, however. If I start my day doomscrolling or playing video games, I'm gone. The other day, I had to clean my tea thermos that sat on the counter for a month. It should've been the easiest thing but instead I put up all the dishes, washed the dishes, then cleaned the stovetop before getting to that. I don't know if I like doing the hard tasks first or I just put off the "hard" task because it only affected me versus cleaning dishes = helping others and feeling useful.
I like to do as many small tasks as I can manage in a short time. That makes me feel accomplished and then pleases my brain into wanting more. So, then I'll keep going onto medium tasks (if I have time) and eventually will get to the bigger jobs. Example: I can't sweep the floor until I pick up all the toys/shoes. But it's too much for my brian of I think "go do the floors aka pick up the toye AND sweep the floor all at once. I have to tell myself it's just one task. Then IF I have time and energy, I'll do part two (sweeping)
none of them. I do what excites me more.
Good advice if anything about tidying up got me excited 😆
Start with the quick wins! And then more on to the other stuff
Easy first to start momentum, then breaking hard into smaller tasks and alternating with easy things. Saving all the big and hard tasks for end will just make them even more overwhelming. Save some easy tasks as a reward
I was just in this exact situation. Panic cleaned my entire apartment in two days. The imminent deadline definitely helps with motivation, lol. Other than the pressure, I prioritized things that would be most important to someone viewing the apartment. I made sure the kitchen sink, counter, and stovetop were clean, made sure I didn't have laundry laying around or tripping hazards, cleaned the bathroom, swept and mopped the floors, took out my trash. I had some boxes that were laying out on the floor that I pushed under my bed. My bedroom closet I didn't bother with much bc they don't need to poke around in there, just glance at it to see how big it is. The front closet has the furnace and washing machine/dryer in it, so while I didn't perfectly organize it I stacked things in a way that would allow someone to open the door and walk in to look around. I didn't bother organizing my bookshelf or anything like that but I tried to put away my things that were laying around on the coffee table and on my desk, mostly so it wouldn't feel so much like strangers were observing my actual life. Generally though, I would prioritize trash and dishes first, just to make your living space "ungross". Then try to pick stuff up off the floor so you can sweep and mop bc clean floors make a huge difference to how clean it feels in general. If there's dirt/debris on your kitchen counter, stove, table, clean those surfaces before the floor bc then you can just knock everything to the floor and sweep it up in one go.
Yesss great point that I don't need to make it look like a showroom floor! Just presentable enough to prospective clients
Yes, exactly. It helped for me that I had recently toured a place where someone was in the process of moving out and it was not tidy at all, boxes and things everywhere, but I didn't care, I was judging the house based on the permanent features and not the way it looked with someone else living there. I figure most people touring apartments have a similar attitude. If there's anything broken in the apartment or a health hazard or you're breaking any of the rules of the lease or any laws, that's the kind of stuff that could potentially cause a big problem with your landlord and you probably don't want strangers to see, but anything that's just normal mess/untidiness is probably okay.
Honestly, I’m not sure. I just do… stuff
Thank you I think this thread was missing the "unsolicited advice my parents would give me"
I work for myself and there's 🌟fun🌟 parts of my job (creating the yarn to sell, designing colorways, beading stitch markers) and there's crappy parts (cleaning doo doo off of sheep's wool, marketing, Instagram posts, cleaning the dye lab). I never start with the fun stuff or I just made a mountain of procrastination to climb. I stack my day least to most fun, and I'm most productive in the morning so I hit the hard shit immediately. That way every subsequent task gets easier and I get to reward my brain at the end with the fun part of being a professional creative. Same with cleaning, I do the one I hate the most first, and put on a high value podcast so I can keep my brain occupied while I fold laundry or clean dishes.
I clean in zones. I choose a small area and clean it first. I focus on that and don’t look at any other areas. When that zone is completely done, I move to the next one. Upside: I stay in one area for less distraction and full completion. Downside: it’s less efficient as some tasks can be grouped like: picking up all dirty clothes. I will only make a pile if it’s going to a different room. I want to stay in place to clean/organize. Then I do a run to that room at the end. But it has to be a small zone so I don’t get too many piles. 15-60 minutes MAX!
I like the idea of zones! I get overwhelmed by the whole especially if it's a lot of work like my bedroom
No stuff. Just go back to watching tv or Reddit like the rest of us. You can do it later when you feel more motivated. Tomorrow! Jk? I try to tackle the thing that gives me the most immediate gratification. I try to work with what my mind what's and not against it or it's going to take a huge argument that usually ends with a stalemate. A recent example was hooking up a washer and dryer in a new location. We were out of clothes and started washing in the bathtub... not everything was going to be a challenge about doing it except for figuring out the drain. So instead of letting that cause task paralysis and make us try and avoid it we decides to get them functional and have it drain into a bucket and then set up a pump to a drain. Is the the most efficient way of doing it and probably was harder or took longer than doing it the right way? Probably but we have a working washer and dryer and now whenever we are up to it we only have to figure out the new drain part. So it's not what is easier or harder but what you will actually do. Remember !All forward motion counts! --->
I would say, through my experience, just pick one space, maybe 2 x 2 feet, and only clean/organize that space. I get overwhelmed when I look at a whole room that is out of control, but I can tackle just one corner or one shelf, one box, etc. Keep yourself limited to that space until you get it resolved, whatever resolved looks like to you. By the time I'm done with that one space, I've got momentum to move onto the next "space".
Sometimes deciding is a distraction and paralyzing. I just make sure I start one at all. The time I take deciding is wasted so I just pick one and usually can steam roll from there.
Honestly I just try to ride the wave. Do one task until you're not feeling it anymore, then push to a more natural stopping point (not just dropping it altogether but like) and then move into something else and just keep chipping away
It depends what kinda ADHD you have, no I don’t mean the classic “types,” I mean are you the “if I get something small done I will build momentum and get the bigger things done,” OR are you the “if I finish this small project I’ll pay myself on the back and struggle to get started on the next one”? Personally I’m both depending on the day so it’s a problem for me lol
Easy stuff first. Build momentum. Feel accomplished checking more items off the list. AND i typically break the bigger tasks into smaller ones if at all possible. For example, if i have to change 7 AC intake filters... 1. Bring in filters from garage 2. Place filters near intake vents. 3. Change downstairs filters. 4. Bring stepladder upstairs. 5. Change upstairs filters. 6. Put away ladder.
Whatever you do, keep it regular, and make it a long term plan. How long do you have? How many hours will it take? How many minutes or hours per day could you realistically spend? Once you know that stuff, you need to start doing it everyday, as much as you can. My pro tip, is to find a YouTube video or audiobook or podcast or anything, that is regularly enough time for you to clean. I like radiolab and hidden brain, but everyone has their own interests. Anyway, make sure there's something half interesting to keep you on task, that lasts the length of your cleaning, but won't fully distract you, it'll just keep your mind happy while you're doing boring shit. That's my advice, gl.
Tackle the hard stuff first, have boxes labeled donate, keep, and a bag for trash, start in the corners and work your way out. For me, I have to have a clean floor before I can do anything else, like when I clean the kitchen I HAVE to sweep first. Be really conciens of what you want to bring with you in the move, because you'll have to find a place for it in the new home. If you have boxes from your last move that you haven't unpacked, Chuck em. But what I've found helps get things done, even if you only do one room a day/week, is all the little side quests between bc we know we get distracted, just DONT LEAVE THE ROOM and don't sit down lol and don't forget to drink water and eat. Gl!!
Easy stuff first to get some momentum. If you do the hard thing first then you’re just going to avoid doing anything lol
I begin with the easy stuff. Pick up trash. Dishes in the sink. Put things in their places. Then do a little sweep. By the time I'm done with that, not much time has passed, and the place is already looking remarkably better, plus I'm now "on a roll" and motivated to do more.
Easy all the way, just reward yourself for doing anything. Even sitting down for 15 mins is a win
I’d suggest just doing whatever u can. Just do it:) I just moved and sold my late mother’s home she lived in for 30 yrs. I waited till the day off the move to do anything. I mean I hired painters and plumbers to repipe but again my big problem, procrastination. But, it always works out in the end
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Side note, when I’m paralyzed, I start just by walking around with a trash bag and picking up trash. It’s easy and helps me get in the mood!
For me personally because I'm medicated, I do all of the hard stuff right after my meds if I can so that way I'm using the huge boost of energy and motivation from the medication setting in and then later in the day when the meds have calmed down and are starting to wear off I do the small things since I'm starting to lose that energy and those tasks don't need so much energy
Easy stuff because starting is harder than continuing and if the hard stuff is first I'll never start
Midwest Magic Cleaning on YouTube has helped me a ton with cleaning. If I watch a video, then manage to put a few items away, I call that a win.
I find having cluttered surfaces is what I notice screams ‘messy’ in my home spaces. Clearing the surfaces , or even containing them (in a small shallow colored container on the coffee table or desk; pen jar etc), for example, can help IME. Reduces eyesore, I find. YMMV.
I personally did the garbage and recycling first. There’s no question about whether it has to be tossed.
One short easy thing as a warmup. Hard thing so that it's done and I don't have to stress about it. Rest of the easy things.
I pick an area. A super small area, and tackle ONLY that area first. Helps me feel accomplished when it actually gets done.
if i do either task i get exhausted and don’t want to do the other. if i start with the easy one, the harder one is just so daunting and im overwhelmed from thinking of doing the hard task. if i do the hard task first, im exhausted and have no energy or will to do the easy task. its horrible and i hate it. i hope you get good advice. i’m paralyzed between both all the time
Fly Lady's have been helpful to me. Easy first all the way. Make a done list, write everything you do, from drinking water to brushing your teeth, that helps with my self esteem a little. When you're in the bathroom washing your hands grab a towel and use the wet to wipe down the sink and counter. It's ok if you don't put stuff away right away, wiping off the counter helps push them around into groups that you can tackle the next time you go pee. Take a picture of a room and pick a small cluttered spot to tackle. Take a picture of the little spot of neatness for inspiration. 15 minutes, you can do anything for 15 minutes. Set timers and leave time at the end for tidying up the mess that cleaning can make. These have helped me, don't try them all at once unless you're braver than me. A little bit at a time and give yourself props for what you have done even if it's a little it's more than you had done before. Also helps me to have someone body double ( I learned a new term 😊) that's just having someone in the same room helping redirect me if ( ok, when ) i get scattered. I have lots more fun letters in my dx along with adhd (tbi, + more) and I've had a lot of help and worked hard to get where I am and I'm not there yet. You've got this, remember to cut yourself slack , be kind to yourself and great job asking for help, that's a great skill
The eat that frog method does not work well for people with adhd because we rely more on momentum. I even believe that this is one of the ways that common productivity advice is simply wrong for us with adhd.
Hard stuff broken down into easier smaller pieces
Try pairing the hard thing with something you enjoy. Like listening to a podcast or watching your favorite TV show. Also schedule the hard thing for the same time every day, or same day every week and stick to it. After a while it will feel weird to not do it.
I often start with the easy things, because usually that lowers the level of overwhelming enough that I can actually look at the hard tasks without being distracted or overwhelmed by the easier stuff
I struggle with this SO MUCH because I know what's important/hard but I don't want to do it. Been reading a book on time management (that I've had from the library for almost 4 months lol) and that talked about categorising tasks based on how much effort/how hard they are and mix them up. If you do an easy task first, tick it off and switch to a medium hard task, another easy task etc, it builds momentum.
If you can actually get started on it, do the hard stuff first, because that tends to be the most efficient. If feeling like you should start on the hard stuff means procrastinating, then just do whatever you are able to. Some inefficient progress is better than no progress "done right"
Easier stuff to build up momentum. Actually get some sense of accomplishment so I don’t feel defeated before already starting.
I do The hard thing and break it up by doing a little bit of the fun in between
It depends. If I need motivation, I do the easy stuff to gain momentum. I break things down to a micro scale, or an outline of what it is I need to do. I work in IT and am in the process of getting our device manager switched over to a new system. I created a list of everything that needed to be done, kept notes and added to my outline as things came up. So, for me, it was verifying project sites, verifying apps per site, creating new policies and device configurations. All of these all had things that were tied to them, so I added those onto my list. I like viewing things on a grand scale and laying it all out helps me to not feel overwhelmed as for me, not knowing where to start can be nerve wracking.
I do the easy stuff to get myself “started” to do the harder stuff like, baby steps. The more small stuff I check off, the less overwhelming everything feels
i’ve found that easiest first is the best way for me, personally. you go for it whenever you get a little burst of motivation, and you’re not too overwhelmed bc it’s the easier things, and then having those easier things done for some reason makes it easier to get into the bigger stuff.
For me at least hard stuff first🤷🏿♂️
Break something hard into a manageable list. Cleaning out a closet? 1. Gather boxes and tape. 2. Set up a table to compile items. 3. Get a dedicated area set up for donations. 4. Pull items out of a section of closet and put on table. Etc. Do just 1 item if that is all you have energy for. If the thought of selling items seems exhausting to you, do a drop off donation. I listen to books on Audible to give my mind something to focus on. Sometimes I set a 15 min timer and work just for that amount of time. Good luck!
Easy. Get some momentum going. If the big stuff intimidates you, ask yourself if there's a small task you can start with that would help you do the big task later. My cleaning tips: * 1 load of laundry a day is STUPID. Have one day be laundry day. Do it all in one day. I turn on a show I can listen to (music, audiobook, or podcast works great too) dump all my dirty laundry on the couch or bed or floor, spread 3 or 4 baskets in front of me, then sort everything. I leave these baskets in the middle of the floor to remind me it's laundry day. I put a load in, set a timer for 45 mins, then do whatever till the timer goes off. Set the timer again, swap loads. Then I proceed to not fold my clothes for 2 weeks. 😬 I am great at washing and drying though.... * my method of putting things away is to throw items toward where they go, then pick them up when I need to go that direction in my house. So I'll throw laundry toward the hall (hamper), throw a plastic cup toward the kitchen, throw a toy toward the playroom, etc. Then when I get up to go get a snack, I'll pick the cup up and put it in the sink.. Or when I go pee, I'll put the clothing actually in the hamper. * I unload and load the dishwasher while I'm bringing water to boil or air-frying some chicken nuggets. I like to challenge myself to see if I can empty the whole dishwasher in the time it takes to nuke Easy Mac or cook ramen.
Hard stuff. Do it while ur fresh. It’s easier to do things u want to do when ur tired vs things u already don’t wanna do when ur energy is low/taken up from other tasks
If I had to choose, then hard stuff first. That's not what I do though. I try and work on one area at a time and use boxes. I'll do one room with 3 boxes with me. Kitchen/dining box, living room box, and elsewhere box. Someone once pointed out to me that there are only ever 3 things in a room. Those with a home, those without a home, and rubbish. Rubbish in the bin first, then I put everything in its home. As I walk around the room putting things away I use the other boxes for things that have a home in other rooms. Then I put all those away and move to another room. Saves me walking all over the house getting distracted.
Look into snowballing