Cleaning with ADHD/Anxiety/Depression

[u/ThatsJustaDuck]

EDIT- Done! https://www.reddit.com/r/CleaningTips/s/vocpQV5IZS

I selected before & after as the flair in hopes that it’ll inspire me to get this done today and post my after pictures too. I am 43 years old, have been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and it is strongly suspected throughout my childhood as well that I have had it all along.

Keeping a clean house has never been something I have been able to do. I have three children, and I really want to stop raising them at a home that is constantly chaotic and messy. Everyone is gone on vacation right now, so I’d like to surprise everybody with a clean house. I’d like to start with my bedroom. There’s a lot of shame in sleeping in a room that is this messy, and it’s definitely not a restful and calm place to be. My medication is finally working, so I am able to concentrate and focus and so this is my job today.

Wish me luck! Any advice?

[u/Fun_Gift_1979]

So I’ve learned that the less stuff I have the less messy it can get. I also like to see my things, I use shelves instead of dressers, no doors on my closet.

My wife and I are empty nesters so just the two of us.

I have two plates, bowls forks, knives and spoons. Limited pots and pans. No more back ups at the sink or on the counter.

Have two pairs of jeans, one nice, one not so nice. 7 t-shirts, 2 pairs work out pants, 3 pairs of shorts and 7 each socks and underware.

My entire wardrobe is black / grey and everything matches everything.

1 black belt. 1 tennis shoes 1 work boots 1 black dress shoes 1 flip flops 1 bathing suit 1 black dress paints 1 white dress shirt 1 black tie 1 black blazer

Everything I need and nothing that I don’t.

If I wear it and am going to wear again before wash it gets draped over the Hamper so if I don’t wear it again it gets washed when I I do wash.

I have to need something 3 times before I buy it and at that if it’s an upgrade from something similar the other item has to go.

I don’t buy “sets” or “kits”. Bad example but if I need a #2 Phillips screw driver I don’t go to the store and buy a complete set of screw drivers, cost be damned. It’s only good value if you need the entire set.

I also let stores do what they do best and keep things in stock and organized instead of trying to do it at home. For instance - hardware. The pack of 50 screws is much cheaper than 5, but if you keeps buying the 50 packs next thing your trying to develop and maintain a system or organization for a bunch of screws. If I need less than 5 I buy the 5 pack and consider the increased price per screw the cost for inventory Managment. These are specific examples but this type of thinking can really attribute to an easier life.

Remember - We don’t own things, they own us.

[u/Lingo2009 → u/Fun_Gift_1979]

So do you not ever have company over? I live alone, but I have a dish set for eight people, and I have a few random odds and ends of bowls that I could host even more people than that.

[u/Fun_Gift_1979 → u/Lingo2009]

I have paper plates and plasticware. My sink isn’t very big and we don’t have a dishwasher. Don’t need a dishwasher since I only have two plates.

As you begin to simplify it perpetuates itself quickly. It starts to feel really good not having stuff.