My Journey to Joyful Order: How I Turned ADHD Chaos into Purpose
As a kid, I was the one who was always talking. I was bright, maybe a little too bright for my own good sometimes, and my mind was always moving. I never really saw my distractibility or inattentiveness as a problem. It was just who I was—a whirlwind of ideas and energy. In my younger years, my constant chatter was seen as a sign of enthusiasm, not a symptom of a racing mind. I was a "talker," and my brain was always firing, jumping from one thought to the next in a way that felt normal to me. I had a lot of energy and was good at a lot of things, so I just kept going without ever questioning why some tasks felt so much harder than they should.
The chaos and the quiet struggle of my own mind didn't become clear until my son, Jayden, was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. He had sensory processing issues and reading delays, and as I dove into researching what this meant for him, a lightbulb went off for me. This was back in 2005, a time when adult ADHD was only just starting to be accepted and understood. The more I learned about Jayden's symptoms and the way his brain worked, the more I recognized them in myself. The same forgetfulness, the same difficulty with sustained attention, the same internal restlessness—it was all there in my own history.
The journey led me to a diagnosis and a prescription for amphetamine salts. I discovered a clarity that I had never experienced before. It was as if someone had turned down the volume on the constant chatter in my brain. It wasn't about "fixing" myself, but about understanding and empowering myself. Before medication, I could still get things done, but it often felt like I was fighting against my own brain. There was so much effort and energy spent just on staying focused. Getting a diagnosis was truly the first step toward creating joyful order in my own life.
From Homemaker to Professional Organizer:
The Birth of My Systems
My journey with ADHD really took shape when I was a stay-at-home mom. Our big house with three kids felt like a constant whirlwind, and the chaos was a daily battle. As a homemaker, I knew I needed to find a way to make our home work for our family's unique needs, especially with brains like ours. The sheer volume of laundry, the pile of shoes by the door, the mountain of toys in the living room—it was all overwhelming. I had to go beyond just "tidying up" and instead develop sustainable, repeatable systems that didn't rely on brute-force willpower.
Through trial and error, I started developing systems and practices that were simple and straightforward, designed specifically for a brain that can get easily overwhelmed. These personal solutions became the foundation of my business, Joyful Order, and the core of my approach to ADHD organization.
1. The Power of the "Launch Pad"
For many people with ADHD, getting out the door can be a chaotic event. The frantic search for keys, wallets, and phones is a common anxiety trigger. I've found that creating a dedicated "launch pad" is a game-changer. This is a designated spot near the main door—a small table, a shelf, or even just a tray—where you put everything you need to leave the house. The magic of this system is that it fights against "out of sight, out of mind." It creates a single, predictable home for the most important items, eliminating frantic searching and saving so much time and energy.
2. Visuals are Your Best Friend
The ADHD brain loves visual cues. If you can't see it, it often doesn't exist. That's why I am a firm believer in using visual cues everywhere. Instead of hiding things away in opaque containers, use clear bins or open shelving. This simple practice of being able to see what you have makes it so much easier to remember where things are and, more importantly, to put them back. We use open-top baskets for laundry in each room, a pegboard in the garage for tools, and clear labeled containers in the pantry. This approach minimizes the mental energy required to remember what's inside a closed cabinet and reduces the risk of items being forgotten.
3. Start with Decluttering, But Keep It Simple
Before you can create any effective organizing systems, you have to start with decluttering. But don't try to do too much at once! That's a surefire way to get overwhelmed and give up. I suggest starting with a single, small space—like a junk drawer, a single shelf in a closet, or one kitchen counter. Work in short, focused bursts of 15-20 minutes. The goal isn't to purge everything in sight; it's to make space for the systems you'll be putting into place. This makes the process manageable and builds momentum, leading to a feeling of accomplishment.
4. Create "Homes" and Baskets of Holding
One of the biggest struggles with ADHD is a lack of a designated "home" for items. When something doesn't have a logical place to live, it ends up on a counter, a chair, or the floor. We created a rule in our house: every item must have a home. If a new item comes in and doesn't have a home, it goes into a "basket of holding." This is a temporary container that collects items waiting to be put away or assigned a new home. This simple step prevents random clutter from building up and keeps the main living spaces clear.
Why This Works &
My Mission as a Professional Organizer
My story isn't about being "cured" of ADHD. It's about finding a way to work with my brain, not against it. It's about recognizing that what I once saw as a flaw—the constant stream of ideas, the endless energy—is actually a strength. With the right tools, I can harness that energy to create joyful order in my own life and the lives of my clients.
What started as a way to find peace in my own home blossomed into a passion for helping others. I use my personal experience—the mess, the struggle, and the ultimate victory of finding order—to connect with my clients on a deeper level. As a professional organizer, my goal is to help you create a home that works for you, so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying. A joyful and organized life is not about perfection; it's about creating an environment that supports you and the way your brain works. It's a journey, and with the right systems, it's one you can navigate with confidence and joy.
What's one small space in your home you're ready to tackle today?