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ADHD closet organization can feel like an uphill battle for anyone. But for those navigating the challenges of ADHD, it can be downright overwhelming.
Just the idea of peaking into the closet to see what needs to be done can be too much.
Unfortunately, leaving the task to later isn’t the answer. I tend to let my closet (all my closets) get cluttered and unorganized. It doesn’t do me any favors because I get completely stressed out just looking inside!
I decided to write this blog post to help you find your way through doubt, anxiety, and denial to finally get that closet organized. It’s also a bit of a pep talk for me!
There’s just one thing I need from you. That’s a promise that you will tackle each of the nine steps outlined further into this post. Just take it one step at a time and I promise you will end up with a more organized closet space.
Don’t worry! I’ve got a freebie checklist that you can download to keep you focused and on task. Grab the opportunity when the subscription request pops up.
You Can Do This!
I’ll bet you have a sinking feeling in your stomach, don’t you? It’s that dread of facing what seems like an impossible task. I hear you.
Procrastination is a normal behavior. Why do something you don’t want to do when you can be enjoying something less stressful?
Read This For Your Free Printable ADHD Planner!
Looking for a free printable ADHD planner? I’ve created a great one that you can find here:
Use This Free Printable ADHD Daily Planner Like a Pro!
Procrastination Statistics
Here are some statistics on procrastination that you might find interesting:
- Around 20% of adults procrastinate chronically.
- 74% of adults report going to bed later than planned at least once a week due to procrastination.
- 94% of people report procrastination negatively affects their happiness, with 18% indicating an extremely negative effect.
Source: Procrastination Statistics: Interesting and Useful Statistics about Procrastination” by Itamar Shatz, PhD, and peer-reviewed studies cited therein. The full text can be accessed at Solving Procrastination.
Why ADHD Closet Organization is Such a Battle
The combination of executive function struggles, trouble focusing, and emotional attachment to items can lead to closet full of piles of clothes.
With the right strategies, tools, and simple routines, you can create an organized closet that works with your ADHD brain, not against it.
Whether you’re working with a small space or tackling a master bedroom closet, these ADHD-friendly tips will help you take back control, one manageable step at a time.
ADHD: Not Just a Child’s Problem
According to Harvard Health, it’s possible for some older adults to have undiagnosed ADHD. They may receive a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment when, in fact, they’ve been dealing with ADHD their whole lives.
We tend to think of children when talking about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but there are many older adults who simply haven’t been diagnosed.
Getting that diagnosis later in life can be a relief in some ways. You might think, “That’s why I do that!” However, it still requires new coping strategies at any age.
ADHD in Older Adults
ADHD in older adults can look a bit different than it does in younger people.
Things like getting easily distracted, feeling disorganized, or acting impulsively might just seem like normal signs of aging or even get mistaken for something like dementia.
But ADHD is its own thing—a neurodevelopmental condition that sticks with you for life.
Resources for Newly Diagnosed Older Adults With ADHD
Are you an older adult with a recent diagnosis of ADHD? If so, I’ve got some resources you might appreciate.
Check these out for insights into your diagnosis, treatment options, and coping mechanisms.
ADDitude Magazine Webinars
ADDitude provides webinars and articles focusing on ADHD across the lifespan, including in older adults.
CHADD’s Adult to Adult Training Program
CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) offers a self-paced online course series designed to provide adults with an in-depth understanding of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
ADDA is dedicated to providing support and resources specifically for adults with ADHD. They offer virtual peer support groups, a free starter kit with introductory materials, webinars and workshops.
ADHD Closet Organization vs Executive Function
As a person with ADHD, you may have already heard the term “executive function.”
It refers to a set of cognitive skills that help us manage our thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve a goal.
For example, these skills include:
- Planning
- Organizing
- Prioritizing
- Time Management
- Impulse Control
- Working Memory
- Self-monitoring
If you have ADHD, and have problems with any of the following, it could mean you’re having trouble with executive functioning:
Difficulty Starting Tasks
Procrastination or feeling paralyzed by the sheer size of a task is a common experience for those with ADHD. Starting a new project can feel overwhelming.
Trouble Prioritizing
Deciding what’s most important or urgent can be a really hard.
Disorganization
Are you constantly forgetting where you put things?
Forgetting where things are, struggling with clutter, or missing deadlines can be a real problem for people with ADHD.
Time Blindness
Have you heard of the term “time blindness”? It refers to people who easily lose track of time or underestimate how long something will take.
It’s the kind of thing that makes you late for work or forget appointments completely. Unfortunately, it can negatively affect productivity and even relationships.
Poor Working Memory
Forgetting steps in a task or instructions shortly after hearing them is a frequent struggle.
This challenge can make completing multi-step tasks or following through on plans frustrating and difficult.
Impulsivity
Acting without thinking or making hasty decisions often occurs in people with ADHD. Unfortunately, it can lead to mistakes, conflicts, or regrets due to decisions made in the moment.
Emotional Dysregulation
Managing frustration or staying calm in stressful situations can feel like an uphill battle. Emotional dysregulation may result in overreactions or difficulty recovering from negative emotions.
These challenges can vary in intensity depending on the person, but they often affect multiple areas of daily life.
How to Prepare For ADHD Closet Organization
When you’re ready to tackle an organization project, it helps to gather supplies before diving in.
Start with some trash bags for donations and items to toss, storage bins for things you want to keep but need to put away, and maybe some labels to stay organized as you go.
Having everything on hand makes the process smoother and helps you stay focused instead of stopping mid-way to grab supplies.
Speaking of focus, setting a timer can be a game-changer!
Break your organizing into short bursts, like 20 or 30 minutes, and take small breaks in between. It’s less overwhelming and keeps your energy up, so you don’t burn out before the job is done.
If the idea of tackling it all alone feels daunting, don’t hesitate to ask a family member or friend to join you.
They can keep you motivated, help with tough decisions (like whether to keep that old sweater you never wear), and hold you accountable for finishing the task. Plus, everything’s a little more fun with company!
The Role of Routines in ADHD Closet Organization
Simple routines can be life-changing when you have ADHD. They don’t have to be complicated either.
For example, instead of letting clean laundry sit in baskets, make it part of your routine to put it away right after it’s folded. I know, that’s easier said than done! It’s worth a shot though.
Another easy win is prepping your outfit the night before.
Take five minutes before bed to choose clothes for the next day. It saves time in the morning and helps avoid decision fatigue when you’re rushing out the door.
It’s a small habit, but it can make your mornings feel so much smoother.
Think about these tasks as an ADHD-friendly system. Keep things simple and build routines that fit naturally into your day.
Top Tools and Products for ADHD Closet Organization
- Adjustable shelving units
- Labeled storage bins
- Hooks and hanging organizers
- Under-bed storage bags
- Over-the-door shoe organizer
- Stackable shoe racks
- Donation bags with drawstrings
9 Easy ADHD Closet Organization Tips & Storage Ideas
The following are just a few ideas on how to organize your closet without the need for a professional organizer. I realize that even taking things in “stages” can be hard because what you start today, you may not finish tomorrow.
I get it!
I honestly think the trick is to prepare ahead of time. Tell yourself how much of the closet you’re willing to tackle, grab a bin or a garbage bag, and start. It could also help to tell yourself ahead of time that you won’t listen to what you’re brain is telling you.
Your brain is going to tell you to stop, do something else, have a snack…whatever. Don’t listen! Stick to that one task. You’ll feel amazing afterwards.
1. Use Clear Visual Cues for Clothing Categories
One of the best ways to deal with an organization problem is to use clear visual cues in your bedroom closet or dresser drawers.
Label shelves, use see-through bins, or organize items by color to make everything easy to find.
For example, use labeled storage bins or color-coded hangers to easily identify categories like black socks, jeans, or tops.
This organization system simplifies decision-making and helps when trouble focusing arises.
It’s a game changer for creating a tidy closet that works for the ADHD brain.
2. Break the Task into Manageable Steps
If you’re overwhelmed by piles of clothes, for example, start with small tasks first like only focusong in dirty laundry and putting it into a laundry basket.
Giving yourself permission to only focus on that one step prevents the ADHD symptoms of feeling overwhelmed.
Once that’s done, the next step could be deciding what to keep or donate using the Marie Kondo method.
3. Optimize Vertical Space with Shelving Units
Installing shelving units in a small space or behind a closet door can be a great way to maximize your clothes storage.
Use these for items you don’t need daily, like out-of-season new clothes or accessories.
Dedicate a lower shelf for things you use frequently. If you always keep those things in the same place, they’ll be easier to find later.
4. Create a Capsule Wardrobe to Minimize Decision Fatigue
A capsule wardrobe is a good idea for anyone who struggles with executive function problems.
To be honest, I had no idea what a “capsule wardrobe” was until I wrote this article. Apparently, it’s a small collection of clothing made up of versatile, mix-and-match pieces.
The idea is to reduce less stuff in your closet. That makes it easier to maintain a tidy closet and reduces decision fatigue for the ADHD brain.
Makes sense to me!
5. Place Laundry Systems Close to the Bedroom Closet
Set up laundry baskets or a clean laundry basket near your master bedroom closet or laundry room for easy sorting and storing.
A functional organization system for dirty laundry ensures it doesn’t end up on the bedroom floor.
6. Don’t Pull Everything Out of the Closet All At Once
I’ve done this before and it makes things a lot worse. It feels good to have an empty closet until you turn around and see everything on the floor at your feet.
To avoid that feeling, tackle parts of the closet, one day at a time. If you have shelves in there, you could start with one shelf.
Pull everything off of the shelf and make two piles for things you need and things you don’t need.
My rule of thumb is that if I haven’t used it or looked for it in over a year, I can get rid of it.
7. Keep a Donation Bag or Bin Nearby
If I don’t immediately put the things I don’t need anymore in a donation bin, it will end up back in the closet.
I suggest keeping a bag or bin nearby. That way you’re ready to fill it as you empty your closet.
8. Try Starting With the Sock Drawer
I don’t know why, but I find the sock drawer the least stressful part of the closet, or dresser.
I literally pull everything out of there (you’d be surprised how many things are NOT socks).
Any socks that don’t match, have holes, or I just don’t wear are tossed right away.
9. Make Sure You Have Enough Hangers
I don’t know why it took me so long to figure this out. I like to think I’m pretty clever!
Get hangers! I found myself throwing my clothes on top of each other in a pile because I didn’t have enough hangers.
It’s literally one of the easiest and inexpensive things you can do to save your sanity.
More Great Posts!
This blog has a lot to offer not matter what your age. You’ll find posts on side-hustles, hobbies, technology, gardening, pottery, and more.
Here are a few of my top ranking posts to get you started:
65 Successful Beauty Bloggers Over 50
Summing It Up
Facing a disorganized closet is not easy. If the job seems too big, the best thing you can do is break it up into small, manageable pieces.
It helps to have garbage bags or bins nearby when you start. You could also use a checklist to keep you on track. Turn off your phone and avoid as many other distractions as possible. Anything that takes you off task is going to make it that much harder to get back at it
Speaking of all that, I now have to tackle a pile of clean laundry on my bed. Sigh.