Your home feels like chaos no matter how hard you try.
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.
Don’t forget to save this pin for later! Trust me, you’ll want to come back to these tips when overwhelm hits.
I wish someone had told me this when I was crying in my living room. It looked like a laundry tornado had exploded everywhere.
No matter how many Pinterest-perfect routines I tried, the mess kept coming back. For the longest time, I thought it was my fault.
But here’s the truth: clutter struggles aren’t about motivation or laziness. They’re about executive function.
You know that invisible part of your brain that’s supposed to plan, organize, start, and finish tasks? When that system’s glitchy, clutter builds up fast.
If you’re nodding your head right now, this post is for you.
These 12 mistakes aren’t here to call you out. They’re here to call it what it really is and give you practical, gentle ways to do things differently.
Got kids with ADHD too? These tips will help your whole household function better. No charts, no shame, no perfection required.
Let’s dive in.
1. Trying to Declutter an Entire Room at Once
It feels so productive to say, “Today I’m cleaning the whole playroom!”
But if you have ADHD? That’s a one-way ticket to overwhelm city.
What actually works: Pick one drawer. One pile. One category.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and stop when it goes off. Small wins build trust in yourself.
That momentum matters more than getting it all done in one go.
2. Getting Stuck in the “Should I Keep This?” Loop
Decision fatigue is so real.
You’re standing there holding some random cord or baby onesie. Suddenly your brain just freezes.
What helps: Ask yourself the “poop rule.” Would I keep this if it was covered in poop?
It’s gross, yes. But oddly effective.
If you wouldn’t want to clean it, you probably don’t need it.
3. Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Literally)
Put it in a bin and can’t see it? It might as well not exist.
ADHD brains thrive on visual cues. This means “organized” systems can still create chaos.
What helps: Clear bins everywhere. Labels with pictures (especially if your kids have ADHD too).
Open shelves work great. Make your storage scream what’s inside.
4. Avoiding “Non-Preferred” Tasks Until It’s Too Late
You know that one pile? The one that’s been sitting there for six weeks because it’s just boring?
Yeah, same here.
When a task doesn’t feel urgent or interesting, ADHD brains tend to completely ignore it.
What helps: Use music, timers, or body doubling (doing it with someone else, even virtually).
Or swap tasks with a friend. What drains you might energize someone else.
5. Chasing Perfection, Then Quitting When It Doesn’t Look “Right”
ADHD can come with a surprising side of perfectionism.
If you can’t do it perfectly, it might feel like it’s not worth doing at all.
What helps: Redefine your goal.
Not “Instagram clean.” Just “I can breathe and find my keys.”
Done is always better than perfect.
6. Trying to Remember Everything (Spoiler: You Won’t)
Relying on memory to track all the stuff is exhausting. The returns, library books, school forms.
It’s like a mental traffic jam in your brain.
What helps: Brain dumps on paper. Whiteboards by the kitchen. Drop zones by the door.
Visual checklists for you and your kids. Let your systems carry the load so your brain doesn’t have to.
7. Missing the Magic of Hyperfocus
Hyperfocus can be a superpower or a trap.
Sometimes we don’t use it when we need to. Other times it pulls us into a rabbit hole.
(Ask me about the time I alphabetized all the DVDs and forgot to cook dinner.)
What helps: Schedule your hyperfocus. Sounds weird, but it works.
Set a timer and turn on your “declutter mode” for a short sprint. Make it a challenge and your brain will show up.
8. Holding Onto Things Out of Guilt or “Just in Case” Thinking
“I might need this someday.” “This was expensive.” “My aunt gave it to me.”
ADHD often comes with scarcity mindset. We fear letting go, even if the item hasn’t been used in years.
What helps: Remind yourself that clutter is a tax on your energy.
The cost of keeping something is often higher than the value of letting it go.
9. Living with Too Much Visual Noise
Even if you’re used to it, cluttered spaces constantly scream for attention.
This is especially hard when your brain already has trouble filtering out distractions.
What helps: Clear the surfaces first. Use calming colors when you can.
Store stuff in ways that reduce visual overwhelm, not add to it.
Think “less visual chatter equals more mental peace.”
10. Avoiding Clutter That Carries Emotional Weight
Life transitions are hard. Divorce, moving, new babies, grief.
Emotional clutter is real. Sometimes you avoid a pile because it hurts to face it.
What helps: Be kind to yourself. Break the task down into tiny pieces.
Ask for help from a friend, coach, or therapist. Remember, it’s not just clutter. It’s a chapter.
You’re allowed to take your time turning the page.
11. Trying to Do It All Alone
We isolate because we think we “should” be able to manage it.
But ADHD doesn’t respond well to shame-based motivation. It responds to connection, community, and support.
What helps: Ask for help without guilt. Body double with a friend virtually.
Do 20-minute family cleanups. Let your kids be part of the process, even if it’s messy.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Especially not to the laundry pile.
12. Forgetting to Celebrate the Small Wins
When you finish something, do you immediately move to the next thing? Or beat yourself up for the 10 things still left?
What helps: Pause. Take a breath. Take a picture of your clean corner.
Text a friend about your win. Light a candle.
Enjoy the victory, even the tiny ones. Especially the tiny ones.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone, and You’re Not Broken
If your brain works differently (if your whole family’s brains work differently), that doesn’t mean you can’t have a calm home.
You can absolutely have a space that feels functional and even peaceful.
You just need tools that work for YOU. Real strategies that don’t shame you or expect perfection.
Strategies that actually understand what’s happening underneath the mess.
So save this post. Come back when overwhelm creeps in.
Try one small thing, not all twelve.
Most of all, remind yourself: this isn’t about being lazy. This is about learning how your brain works and giving yourself permission to make it easier.
You’ve got this. 💛