Minimalism probably saved my life. I got diagnosed at age 39 and EVERYTHING in my life started making sense. I developed my own non-drug methods of living and surviving. It took a long, long time and it was tough. Minimalism in terms of both my VISUAL environment, and how many responsibilities I have was one of the biggest things that helped me be less anxious, scatterbrained, distracted, and UNABLE to sit and focus on tasks. I combined that with: sufficient sleep, sufficient exercise, sufficient TALKING with people to process my ideas, a protein rich breakfast, a ROUTINE based day, and very little caffeine and sugar...and I'm finally starting to feel in control.
A tip for storage, for some people it might be better to choose clear storage boxes because then you can see the things you have and own. That way you prevent repurchasing things you already own. Because for some of us, out of sight means, out of mind.
ADHDers call it “minimalism”, non-ADHDers call it “a clean space”. :) For me, less stuff in an environment, is best. I don’t know why, however, a friend told me “Perhaps less stuff around you is less stuff for your brain to get distracted by”. I think she’s right.
I hate minimalism in tech because they keep removing ports from things, no more headphone jack n less usb ports, it makes it less minimalist because of the adapters and hubs you have to have, and they break and you lose em, ludicrous.
A clean room/house will usually help with a clean and organised mind. Less to distract and take your focus! I'm going through an organisational phase atm, however living with siblings and such makes this a tad difficult..
The hardest thing for me when it comes to cleaning and decluttering is that I easily get distracted by other things. For example, if I have to leave the room to go to the bathroom, I will start on a task in that room forgetting that I was already doing something. 🤦🏽♀️
Saaaame. Especially if my brain is already in cleaning mode, I will see something in another room I go to (like the bathroom) and then will start to organize an area or will start to clean up in there instead. lol
the BEST cleaning tip my mom ever gave me was to do a 30 second round of picking up just trash and clothes. you can give yourself permission to stop once that's done, but I usually find my hyperfocus will kick in and I can finish cleaning the rest no problem! either way, the majority of the visual clutter is gone and I feel less anxious :)
I agree. However i ask my oldest son (10) to do the trash and clothes pickup. That helps me feel less overwhelmed so i can start on dishes and getting the first load of laundry in. Typically thats all it takes to get the house presentable.
I didn't realise how I can't be still when I'm speaking on the phone. I have a pair of slippers which are too big for me and make a clopping noise when I walk. I listened to a whatsap voice message I sent and all I heard the whole time was "clop clop clop .......". Makes me think of a lion in a zoo wandering backwards and forwards In a cage.
Seeing him swaying made me smile! I'm a swayer!! Most people think it's just a habit left over from rocking my kids to sleep. No one knows but my husband, that I have ADHD.
For sentimental things like trophies, artworks, and sentimental trinkets. I like to display them in a nice way on a bench, take a photo of them and then donate/get rid of the items. That way, I still have the photo to look back on and remember the moments, but I don't have the clutter collecting dust =D
I've watched about 50 declutter vids and I really liked yours, straight to the point amd they're tips I haven't heard over and over and make perfect sense. Thank you !
As an ADHD person who knows what it feels like to need that shopping fix. I ask myself “Did I NEED this? Or is this a dopamine hit?” I have a list in my phone called “Want to buy” I drop everything I see I want in it and then close the app. Out of sight is out of mind and when I do check that list, I find that item is no longer giving me the exciting rush of dopamine. This saved me money
@@kwong6884 my issue is I like bargain shopping such as Vinted or the charity shops. It means whilst you get bargains unfortunately you can’t just sit and wait to see if you still want it. Anytime I have done it has sold out and I have spent hours and lots of money trying to replicate the original thing I saw.
Since the COVID pandemic I have had enormous difficulties with clutter in my home. It is clear to me that the conditions of the pandemic, especially in Canada where it was a “scavenger hunt” to be able to get the basic cleaning tools needed to minimize exposure to COVID (proper masks, wipes, sanitizers etc.) that this triggered my anxiety and resulted in my hoarding and house cluttering. It has had a very detrimental impact on my wellbeing for sure! And I am sure on many other people like me!
the older I got, the more I realized as less things I have, I make the most use of them. I got really enthusiastic with the Konmari method, It really worked with me!! Great video!
Your ability and willingness to reach out to us even as you struggle is such a blessing! Wish we could all meet and chat but grateful we can at least do it here 😊❤️
I live by myself and had a full set of crockery and cutlery. This accumulated on the bench by the sink and never got washed as it was too much. One day I packed away all of it except one bowl, one plate, one fork knife and spoon, and a cup. I won't pretend I wash the dishes everyday but when I do it's a 3.5 minute job without issue.
I know someone that before he got married used only disposable cutlery and plates so he could just trow things away. He even had a time he bought some cheap pans and trew those out when they were too dirty😅.
I’ve done similar! I have four spoons, four forks, etc. Only a few mugs. It makes it so I *have* to wash dishes every 3 days if I want to be able to eat.
As an artist and crafter with ADHD, I have so many art and craft supplies that I use, I start making art, I leave them out for later and then forget about it and start another project (wish I had a hobby that used less supplies and was minimalistic) And it's a constant loop of trying to clean up, then doing it half way and then it gets messy again and it's fully a mess again Clothes are not an issue at all, I have only a few so that's great! Another thing of being an artist is making decorative items like figures and they serve no purpose other than to look at them and enjoy them (and I can't get rid of them since it takes time and effort so they just clutter up my shelves and make a bigger mess lol)
For sentimental things like trophies, artworks, and sentimental trinkets. I like to display them in a nice way on a bench, take a photo of them and then donate/get rid of the items. That way, I still have the photo to look back on and remember the moments, but I don't have the clutter collecting dust =D
I can back you up on this video. I've gone through many of the same challenges. I came to the same conclusion of having less things, having homes for stuff, and using whiteboards and google calendar for organizing. I think everyone needs to understand how much minimalism helps ADHDers function. Great stuff! :) keep on keeping on
When people say "minimalist" or "Kondo" I start having panic attacks. But all this advice is fairly reasonable. Ideas I kind of figured out for myself. The biggest struggle for me, and others, is object permanence. If I don't see it, then it doesn't exist. If I put it in a box, I need to train myself where that box will always be and what is in that box. Big labels, transparent containers, to-do lists, dates, and lists of internal items on the container. Weekly or monthly walkthroughs to put everything that's out of place, away. Reminding you what you have and where it is.
Great advice. Alternatively to chunking time it can help to set ridiculously easy goals. I will postpone big projects but if I set the goal of minimally like organizing or getting rid of one item then I can stop I will often find myself 8 hours later on the same project with my wife telling me to stop it and go to bed. Again proving I don't have a ADHD problem, everyone else has a problem with my ADHD
My best friend and I both have ADHD. He's always been about clean minimalist designs in his surroundings and it helps him calm down. For me, I just love trinkets, colors, books, and pictures everywhere; I can say that it doesn't really help me process things but I 'try' to keep the clutter in check...
We are a family of five so what works for us in the kitchen was my son’s idea. When cooking, we also wash dishes. There is always a lot of downtime waiting for water to boil, onions to sauté, etc. With all of us having ADD, leaving the kitchen is not a good idea unless you want overcooked meat, pots boiling over, etc. , as we get distracted and forget to get back to the kitchen! If two of us cook at the same time we can prepare a good meal and have the kitchen cleaned up except for the cookware used, before we sit down to eat. After the meal, two of us get back in the kitchen. One person wipes off plates and pots, stores the leftovers while the other washes the dishes, etc. I have found the most important way to deal with ADD is to think about and then establish habits. And putting on lively music helps with the housework!
You are so right. I've been unable to handle clutter and order my entire life. I get so overwhelmed that I end up avoiding it. Right now I'm getting help with this and building up habits to help me with actually doing housework. The people helping do keep reminding me that it will take time, which is difficult cause I wish constantly that I already knew how. I think I needed to hear this again to remind me to take baby steps instead of rushing and giving up again. Thank you.
I find decluttering very difficult because maximalism gives me a sense of… I don’t know, comfort? As a product of sentimentality, but it can so quickly become overwhelming. Thanks for making this video, it really helps.
This is how I am too .. I have loads of stuff to almost like comfort myself. But then I get overwhelmed by the mess of it all . Then I avoid clearing and it goes on and on .. its difficult xx
I have been subconsciously moving more and more towards minimizing anything that I deem "clutter," which is pretty much everything. I've been meaning to clean out the house for about a year. Got hyperfocused on cleaning for the past weekend and I feel SO much better. Having your environment as organized and clutter free as possible really does improve your focus and just overall well being. It's just that much more of your energy you can put into something else, rather than using that focus on avoiding doing those dishes. For the past 3 months.... Not judging :)
Also for decluttering I like to throw everything out. Clean. Check out the items before bringing it back into a clean space. The box thing doesn't work for me. I have to trip over things and become angry to get motivated. If it's in a box I will just forget about it.
I love that thought! Instead of decluttering to have less stuff in your home; declutter to have less stuff in your mind! I get overwhelmed so easily, I really think this new thought process will help me tremendously. Thank you!!!
I also have found minimalism as a way to cope with ADHD. I think that it can improve every persons life significantly but especially with ADHD people. Having less but therefore only having you really need or want makes me feel more calm and comfortable in my home. It is easier to make my room tidy. I don't lose things and I know where every item I have is located. I have more order in my paperwork, my phone, my closet etc. Minimalism is a concept that can practiced in so many ways and has also something spiritual too. I rather have less but instead the things I really need or I really like and therefore I can spend more money for better quality and still spend less money, have less stress, order and structure.
I know it's not for everyone, but the Kondo method has really helped me. I've gotten rid of a lot of things and made sure everything has its place (and is easy to access - if it takes a lot of effort to dig something out, I will totally forget about it and never use it OR it will never get put back). Chunking is so important, too! I get overwhelmed if it's a big project and if I don't chunk, it will just accumulate until it's never done. I'm 29 years old, only recently discovered I have ADHD. The insight on your channel has helped me to keep my bedroom organized for more than three day (2 months now!!!) for the first time in my whole life. This video reminded me I need to attempt this with the kitchen - wish me luck.
Labels with a non-permanent sticky side save you time if you don't want to be constantly opening/closing boxes to see what's in them, especially if they're the same type of box (and not the clear kind). Labels look tidier than writing on the box, and you can just remove it and put on a new label if the contents change. This can also prevent you from buying what you already have IF you check your boxes before shopping.
Im just a few months into minimalism. I have just enough dishes for my family to eat a single meal. Each person has 1 cup. Im finding carboard file boxes useful for storage since they are all the same size and stack easy in spare closets. Also, they come in flat packages of 3, so i can buy extras without wasting space. I have enough clothes for the week and not much more. Spring cleaning will find me with even less. I also like to buy things like soaps, toothpastes, TP, etc....all in bulk. As my autistic son is good at taking apart the house, i have 1 room thats storage that we keep locked.
I'm only 17sec in, but I use the Clutterbug system (Clutterbug.me) and while my basement bedroom is still a work in progress, it has helped me so much. I don't know if any tips will be presented here, but I do know that none of the "normal" tips ever worked for me.
I also suggest any ADHDer's to look into Marie Kondo's stuff!! For me, it's been a personal game changer. Still struggling with clutter, but the tips I'm learning help out a lot
One thing I allow myself is not to be unforgiving and.to accept a certain level of disarray. As long as I can function and can find my most important things. I know I will never me cured and I never be perfectly tidy so it's all about a balance of what helps me but doesn't overstress me.
I started 2 years ago with my wardrobe, and was fantastic. Just stopped because I don’t live alone, and it’s hard to make the other person understand how it can help us.
Hey bro - love your content. Great to hear your experience with different types of medication. I’m on vyvanse myself. I recommend researching a phenomenon known as “Object Permanence”. After I researched this I finally understand why I’m so “forgetful” when leaving the house. The main point is that if an object is not visually seen it is usually forgotten. This is a skill we should learn early on in life but most parents aren’t aware that it’s a skill to be taught to children - and most ADHD children never learn this ability correctly. I keep a bright yellow book with me at all times and a visual to do list (not on cell phone - that doesn’t work for me) and immediately write down tasks I need to do as soon as I think of them. If I don’t write these down and refer back to my book regularly I’ll typically forget and never think of it again. Before I understood this is another reason why I struggled with work and university exams as id commonly blank out in exams or forget important items when leaving for work.
I can't chunk. All in or all out. I would include asking for help. Even paying for help. Like a cleaning service. A stupid way I control my dishes is literally just have 4 of each. If there's no clean cups I will do the dishes faster than if I can go thru 10.
I didn't realize how much I would cocoon my rooms with clutter that would make me smile when I was really depressed in my home. It was only when I was moving with all my things did it hit me how quickly I became overwhelmed
When I see less stuff the less stress and more free but I don’t feel motivated to clean my room since my ADHD brain just can’t do something that’s not interesting for a few minutes. But now I’m finally starting to schedule my days, throwing stuff that are useless, clothes that doesn’t fit, etc. For me to feel motivated I recommend watching A&E Hoarders. Watched it recently and motivates me to not live in a house that is filled with trash. Just take the show in a grain of salt because most of these hoarders are disgusting and frustrating to deal with.
Difference between hoarders and people with too much crap is the hoarders have attachment to the crap. The only thing that stops me from getting rid of crap is if I'm just going to go back and buy it again. I, being a and a cereal hobbyist, like to distinguish this ;)
@@zacharbison8763 OMG THAT'S what I am! A serial Hobbyist! 😂😂😂 Thanks for the term 😁👌 Crafting items, drawing stuff, Fabric for sewing, not to mention easels, canvases- and sewing machines are pretty much what fills up every cabinet and shelf in my home.. To the point where there is not really space for me to use it 😂🙈
I like to label/number boxes (CB-020 = Cardboard Box 020) then record them and their contents. Then can search where an item is. Vastly reduces psychological hurdle of "will I ever find it again?s" or "might I even forget it exists?". Of course keeping this record up to date... I used to use spreadsheets, but there is an app: MyStuff which I quite like.
Decluttering our kitchen yesterday, and discovered that we had seven jars of smoked paprika. Three were unopened, rest were on halfs. This phenomenon is not specific to smoked paprika, it also seems to affect paprika, ginger, cinnamon, thyme, sachets of fajita spices, rice, pasta, dried beans and some types of tea. I also have four tins of pears despite never having eaten, or intended to eat, tinned pears. I don't even like pears. We also solved the issue of 'zombification/paralysis' by getting rid of all of our furniture. You can't get stuck to the couch if you don't have a couch. It was a galaxy brain moment. Now I have room to spread out all the projects I'll never finish.
My approach is more inspired by camping or living on a boat. It’s a way of not having too much things, but at the same time room for lots of improvisation and ad-hoc solutions. What worked for me: less sorting, just larger boxes and wide flat trays. Hangers and hooks everywhere. Open shelves. And from time to time concentrated full day cleanup actions. I stopped swearing that this time I’m gonna maintain it and no big cleanup will be necessary. No, that’s just how it is.
Idk, but suspect I am fortunate to have a nice splash of OCD. I "turn this on" to organize and keep my home, office, desk, etc. fairly clean, tidy and THE SAME. My stuff has a place and I work at after using whatever it is to return it. If I didn't do this whole items-go-back-to-their-specific-spot I wouldn't be able to find my clothes, let along keys to the car to get to work. (I really mean, I'd literally lose my shit...daily.)
Ohhhh, this is why your 9month old video about clutter control seemed familiar! 😁 Oh well, I can never get enough of this kind of motivational videos!! 😇
I'm going to be moving house and using this as an opportunity to more much more to minimalist. I know that less is going to make life simpler. Thee are a few things I think it's useful to have duplicates of - headphones, phone chargers, and things like lunch boxes and water bottles. Otherwise I want LESS and more order. Do right that I need to put a schedule in - otherwise move day creeps nearer and you end up transferring loads of crap. Any ideas for ppl moving house would be much appreciated 🙂 🏡
I need a timer....10 minues for each room of the house every day. It makes me work faster and I can focus on just that room. In less than an hr, the house is significantly tidier.
My family used to have wayyy too many dishes. They'd pile up so high and even if we spent all day cleaning it seemed like they were dirty again right away. One day my dad got pissed and threw away almost all the dishes. Never had a dish argument since, no wasted time, no grumpiness. Is lit
Ay yo I watched a few of your videos now, thanks for the content! Here is some feedback - in some of the videos the lighting is a bit harsh. In this video, it's perfect. Maybe you have a diffuser or a stronger diffuser on the light in this video? But that'd take the edge off it :D
Very interesting video, thanks for information and helping adhd community yo have a healthy lifestyle. Bth, what's your opinion about melatonin suplementation? Have you ever tried It? Do you think this could help us to reconcile sleep?
I have 4 billion hobbies and I can't do each one without a million pieces this is so bloody hard 😂 Oh and yes storage boxes, I have a purpose built shelf and rainbow markers for both my whiteboard and labels, it works
For me most of the objects around my house have a strong importance, like I have a good feeling around them or they mean a lot to me even tho most of them are useless things that I could just throw away, so being minimalist looks impossible for me, but I'm going to try to have less things
I would recommend looking into Marie Kondo‘s decluttering method because it specifically addresses the emotional component of keeping or getting rid of objects and teaches you to use your feelings to made those decisions. Also there are a lot of rituals around thanking objects for the part they played indoor life in order to feel like you can say goodbye to them. The ultimate goal is to only be surrounded by objects that bring you joy. And since you have that already you are on the right track. I found when I did it that it was like all the objects surrounding those I loved dim their light or my enjoyment of them. And once I got rid of those things I felt meh about the objects I loved shunned brighter and my space almost took on a feeling of sacredness. I had elevated my space and better values both the objects left and myself. ☺️ All this to say it is possible to have your cake and eat it too!!
Also if reading the book is too high a barrier I would really recommend the manga because it explains all the core ideas perfectly without extra clutter 😁
@@frivoulous11 thank you so much, I'll try to buy it. I love reading books, it's one of the few things that if I like, I can spend days reading. I read once something that said that, if you put an object outside your room, pr somewhere you can't see it, and you don't miss it, you can throw it away...
@@marta8313 Thats totally one way of deciding what to get rid of. You can even combine that with konmarie for the objects you are unsure of. You can keep them in a sealed box and if you go looking for an object you discared then you can keep it but everything else can go :D I wish you the best in your journey :)
I got so focused on your dialect that I couldn't focus on the video. Had to go and find out where you are from. So ADHD. But success! Because I am back to watch the video.
I absolutely hate having ADD. I can’t even finish a task without getting distracted with something else.. it took me two hours to type this and press send..
My gosh man the clutter I have is insane I started creating my own video of how it's like with ADHD. They parts the world doesn't see. Well I never finished..
Minimalism probably saved my life. I got diagnosed at age 39 and EVERYTHING in my life started making sense. I developed my own non-drug methods of living and surviving. It took a long, long time and it was tough. Minimalism in terms of both my VISUAL environment, and how many responsibilities I have was one of the biggest things that helped me be less anxious, scatterbrained, distracted, and UNABLE to sit and focus on tasks. I combined that with: sufficient sleep, sufficient exercise, sufficient TALKING with people to process my ideas, a protein rich breakfast, a ROUTINE based day, and very little caffeine and sugar...and I'm finally starting to feel in control.
Great to hear you finally make progress! I'mma take a few of your pointers to see if they help me improve my current situation. 🙏🏻🌱
A tip for storage, for some people it might be better to choose clear storage boxes because then you can see the things you have and own. That way you prevent repurchasing things you already own. Because for some of us, out of sight means, out of mind.
ADHDers call it “minimalism”, non-ADHDers call it “a clean space”. :)
For me, less stuff in an environment, is best. I don’t know why, however, a friend told me “Perhaps less stuff around you is less stuff for your brain to get distracted by”. I think she’s right.
I hate minimalism in tech because they keep removing ports from things, no more headphone jack n less usb ports, it makes it less minimalist because of the adapters and hubs you have to have, and they break and you lose em, ludicrous.
Haha, of course ! We have to do it extremely ☺️
A clean room/house will usually help with a clean and organised mind.
Less to distract and take your focus! I'm going through an organisational phase atm, however living with siblings and such makes this a tad difficult..
The hardest thing for me when it comes to cleaning and decluttering is that I easily get distracted by other things. For example, if I have to leave the room to go to the bathroom, I will start on a task in that room forgetting that I was already doing something. 🤦🏽♀️
Just music as a background reminder of your duty? As long as you go back to it at some point don't fret.
Saaaame. Especially if my brain is already in cleaning mode, I will see something in another room I go to (like the bathroom) and then will start to organize an area or will start to clean up in there instead. lol
I don’t even forget I just get fixated on “now I have to do this before I go back” my task multiply
Yes so true!!!
Same! Here I am on RUclips instead of decluttering 😂
the BEST cleaning tip my mom ever gave me was to do a 30 second round of picking up just trash and clothes. you can give yourself permission to stop once that's done, but I usually find my hyperfocus will kick in and I can finish cleaning the rest no problem! either way, the majority of the visual clutter is gone and I feel less anxious :)
I like that! Great Mom!!😇🥰
I agree. However i ask my oldest son (10) to do the trash and clothes pickup. That helps me feel less overwhelmed so i can start on dishes and getting the first load of laundry in. Typically thats all it takes to get the house presentable.
Every video you make I feel like we've been friends for years you explain me to the T
Same lol
You swaying side to side during this video- somehow helped me concentrate on your words!! I also have ADHD.👍🏻
I never realise I'm doing it mid video until I edit 😂 Maybe that's my restlessness/hyperactivity coming out lol.
ADHD Management I totally get it.
I didn't realise how I can't be still when I'm speaking on the phone. I have a pair of slippers which are too big for me and make a clopping noise when I walk. I listened to a whatsap voice message I sent and all I heard the whole time was "clop clop clop .......". Makes me think of a lion in a zoo wandering backwards and forwards In a cage.
Seeing him swaying made me smile! I'm a swayer!! Most people think it's just a habit left over from rocking my kids to sleep. No one knows but my husband, that I have ADHD.
@@joannebrown9698 why is this so funny 😂
I love how you are able to stand firm on deck of this ship 😉👍
WHAT! I am accually using all these tools already. Great video. I always say: My brain is cluttered; therefore I don't need external clutter too.
these videos are high quality and they really do help me notice my adhd behavior traits
An audiobook called Decluttering at the speed of life really helps me with this!
Jennifer Egan I found this recently, so good for not creating more mess while trying to declutter!
This book was so helpful for me as well!! It made so much more sense than any other organization book I've ever read!!
I could do with listening to it again! Everything is higgledy piggeledy, upside down and inside out at my house now🙄😅
For sentimental things like trophies, artworks, and sentimental trinkets. I like to display them in a nice way on a bench, take a photo of them and then donate/get rid of the items. That way, I still have the photo to look back on and remember the moments, but I don't have the clutter collecting dust =D
I've watched about 50 declutter vids and I really liked yours, straight to the point amd they're tips I haven't heard over and over and make perfect sense. Thank you !
I wish. I'm in a fight between wanting to be minimalist and having a shopping addiction. Urgh. Constant anxiety.
As an ADHD person who knows what it feels like to need that shopping fix. I ask myself “Did I NEED this? Or is this a dopamine hit?” I have a list in my phone called “Want to buy” I drop everything I see I want in it and then close the app. Out of sight is out of mind and when I do check that list, I find that item is no longer giving me the exciting rush of dopamine. This saved me money
@@kwong6884 my issue is I like bargain shopping such as Vinted or the charity shops. It means whilst you get bargains unfortunately you can’t just sit and wait to see if you still want it. Anytime I have done it has sold out and I have spent hours and lots of money trying to replicate the original thing I saw.
@@Courtneyburns90 I feel you with this! There’s so many things I’ve favourited on Vinted!
Since the COVID pandemic I have had enormous difficulties with clutter in my home. It is clear to me that the conditions of the pandemic, especially in Canada where it was a “scavenger hunt” to be able to get the basic cleaning tools needed to minimize exposure to COVID (proper masks, wipes, sanitizers etc.) that this triggered my anxiety and resulted in my hoarding and house cluttering. It has had a very detrimental impact on my wellbeing for sure! And I am sure on many other people like me!
the older I got, the more I realized as less things I have, I make the most use of them. I got really enthusiastic with the Konmari method, It really worked with me!! Great video!
same here. I love applying her method to my life it really does work wonders!
Having a place for everything would help me.
Thank you so much! You’re such a great guy and have a huge heart to help other adders!
I’ve never been this grateful for a channel before 🥺
Your ability and willingness to reach out to us even as you struggle is such a blessing! Wish we could all meet and chat but grateful we can at least do it here 😊❤️
I live by myself and had a full set of crockery and cutlery. This accumulated on the bench by the sink and never got washed as it was too much.
One day I packed away all of it except one bowl, one plate, one fork knife and spoon, and a cup. I won't pretend I wash the dishes everyday but when I do it's a 3.5 minute job without issue.
I know someone that before he got married used only disposable cutlery and plates so he could just trow things away. He even had a time he bought some cheap pans and trew those out when they were too dirty😅.
I’ve done similar! I have four spoons, four forks, etc. Only a few mugs. It makes it so I *have* to wash dishes every 3 days if I want to be able to eat.
As an artist and crafter with ADHD, I have so many art and craft supplies that I use, I start making art, I leave them out for later and then forget about it and start another project (wish I had a hobby that used less supplies and was minimalistic)
And it's a constant loop of trying to clean up, then doing it half way and then it gets messy again and it's fully a mess again
Clothes are not an issue at all, I have only a few so that's great!
Another thing of being an artist is making decorative items like figures and they serve no purpose other than to look at them and enjoy them (and I can't get rid of them since it takes time and effort so they just clutter up my shelves and make a bigger mess lol)
For sentimental things like trophies, artworks, and sentimental trinkets. I like to display them in a nice way on a bench, take a photo of them and then donate/get rid of the items. That way, I still have the photo to look back on and remember the moments, but I don't have the clutter collecting dust =D
I can back you up on this video. I've gone through many of the same challenges. I came to the same conclusion of having less things, having homes for stuff, and using whiteboards and google calendar for organizing.
I think everyone needs to understand how much minimalism helps ADHDers function.
Great stuff! :) keep on keeping on
When people say "minimalist" or "Kondo" I start having panic attacks.
But all this advice is fairly reasonable. Ideas I kind of figured out for myself.
The biggest struggle for me, and others, is object permanence. If I don't see it, then it doesn't exist.
If I put it in a box, I need to train myself where that box will always be and what is in that box.
Big labels, transparent containers, to-do lists, dates, and lists of internal items on the container.
Weekly or monthly walkthroughs to put everything that's out of place, away. Reminding you what you have and where it is.
Great advice. Alternatively to chunking time it can help to set ridiculously easy goals. I will postpone big projects but if I set the goal of minimally like organizing or getting rid of one item then I can stop I will often find myself 8 hours later on the same project with my wife telling me to stop it and go to bed. Again proving I don't have a ADHD problem, everyone else has a problem with my ADHD
My best friend and I both have ADHD. He's always been about clean minimalist designs in his surroundings and it helps him calm down. For me, I just love trinkets, colors, books, and pictures everywhere; I can say that it doesn't really help me process things but I 'try' to keep the clutter in check...
We are a family of five so what works for us in the kitchen was my son’s idea. When cooking, we also wash dishes. There is always a lot of downtime waiting for water to boil, onions to sauté, etc. With all of us having ADD, leaving the kitchen is not a good idea unless you want overcooked meat, pots boiling over, etc. , as we get distracted and forget to get back to the kitchen!
If two of us cook at the same time we can prepare a good meal and have the kitchen cleaned up except for the cookware used, before we sit down to eat.
After the meal, two of us get back in the kitchen. One person wipes off plates and pots, stores the leftovers while the other washes the dishes, etc.
I have found the most important way to deal with ADD is to think about and then establish habits. And putting on lively music helps with the housework!
The music helps soo much!
You are so right. I've been unable to handle clutter and order my entire life. I get so overwhelmed that I end up avoiding it. Right now I'm getting help with this and building up habits to help me with actually doing housework. The people helping do keep reminding me that it will take time, which is difficult cause I wish constantly that I already knew how.
I think I needed to hear this again to remind me to take baby steps instead of rushing and giving up again. Thank you.
I find decluttering very difficult because maximalism gives me a sense of…
I don’t know, comfort? As a product of sentimentality, but it can so quickly become overwhelming. Thanks for making this video, it really helps.
This is how I am too .. I have loads of stuff to almost like comfort myself. But then I get overwhelmed by the mess of it all . Then I avoid clearing and it goes on and on .. its difficult xx
I have been subconsciously moving more and more towards minimizing anything that I deem "clutter," which is pretty much everything. I've been meaning to clean out the house for about a year. Got hyperfocused on cleaning for the past weekend and I feel SO much better. Having your environment as organized and clutter free as possible really does improve your focus and just overall well being. It's just that much more of your energy you can put into something else, rather than using that focus on avoiding doing those dishes. For the past 3 months.... Not judging :)
Also for decluttering I like to throw everything out. Clean. Check out the items before bringing it back into a clean space. The box thing doesn't work for me. I have to trip over things and become angry to get motivated. If it's in a box I will just forget about it.
I would highly recommend transparent storage boxes. Especially for people with ADHD those can make it easier to find your stuff.
Great video! Minimalism is for people who want to have less "stuff" on their mind and more room to focus on meaningfull goals and dreams. Make room!
I love that thought! Instead of decluttering to have less stuff in your home; declutter to have less stuff in your mind! I get overwhelmed so easily, I really think this new thought process will help me tremendously. Thank you!!!
I also have found minimalism as a way to cope with ADHD. I think that it can improve every persons life significantly but especially with ADHD people. Having less but therefore only having you really need or want makes me feel more calm and comfortable in my home. It is easier to make my room tidy. I don't lose things and I know where every item I have is located. I have more order in my paperwork, my phone, my closet etc. Minimalism is a concept that can practiced in so many ways and has also something spiritual too. I rather have less but instead the things I really need or I really like and therefore I can spend more money for better quality and still spend less money, have less stress, order and structure.
Love your videos. You're genuine and you share scientific information in an accessible way. Wish you all the best.
I know it's not for everyone, but the Kondo method has really helped me. I've gotten rid of a lot of things and made sure everything has its place (and is easy to access - if it takes a lot of effort to dig something out, I will totally forget about it and never use it OR it will never get put back). Chunking is so important, too! I get overwhelmed if it's a big project and if I don't chunk, it will just accumulate until it's never done.
I'm 29 years old, only recently discovered I have ADHD. The insight on your channel has helped me to keep my bedroom organized for more than three day (2 months now!!!) for the first time in my whole life. This video reminded me I need to attempt this with the kitchen - wish me luck.
I just realized this once I really started to learn more about my condition.
Labels with a non-permanent sticky side save you time if you don't want to be constantly opening/closing boxes to see what's in them, especially if they're the same type of box (and not the clear kind). Labels look tidier than writing on the box, and you can just remove it and put on a new label if the contents change. This can also prevent you from buying what you already have IF you check your boxes before shopping.
Great idea!
Im just a few months into minimalism. I have just enough dishes for my family to eat a single meal. Each person has 1 cup. Im finding carboard file boxes useful for storage since they are all the same size and stack easy in spare closets. Also, they come in flat packages of 3, so i can buy extras without wasting space. I have enough clothes for the week and not much more. Spring cleaning will find me with even less. I also like to buy things like soaps, toothpastes, TP, etc....all in bulk. As my autistic son is good at taking apart the house, i have 1 room thats storage that we keep locked.
Minimalism is Key! Learning this the hard way.
I'm only 17sec in, but I use the Clutterbug system (Clutterbug.me) and while my basement bedroom is still a work in progress, it has helped me so much. I don't know if any tips will be presented here, but I do know that none of the "normal" tips ever worked for me.
Bleu de Chanel is one of my favorite colognes!..
Yay ! Adhd here ! I knew you would make a video about minimalism ! Really cool ! 😀👍
I also suggest any ADHDer's to look into Marie Kondo's stuff!! For me, it's been a personal game changer. Still struggling with clutter, but the tips I'm learning help out a lot
I took inspiration from her show
One thing I allow myself is not to be unforgiving and.to accept a certain level of disarray. As long as I can function and can find my most important things. I know I will never me cured and I never be perfectly tidy so it's all about a balance of what helps me but doesn't overstress me.
I started 2 years ago with my wardrobe, and was fantastic. Just stopped because I don’t live alone, and it’s hard to make the other person understand how it can help us.
Hey bro - love your content. Great to hear your experience with different types of medication. I’m on vyvanse myself.
I recommend researching a phenomenon known as “Object Permanence”.
After I researched this I finally understand why I’m so “forgetful” when leaving the house.
The main point is that if an object is not visually seen it is usually forgotten. This is a skill we should learn early on in life but most parents aren’t aware that it’s a skill to be taught to children - and most ADHD children never learn this ability correctly.
I keep a bright yellow book with me at all times and a visual to do list (not on cell phone - that doesn’t work for me) and immediately write down tasks I need to do as soon as I think of them. If I don’t write these down and refer back to my book regularly I’ll typically forget and never think of it again.
Before I understood this is another reason why I struggled with work and university exams as id commonly blank out in exams or forget important items when leaving for work.
I can't chunk. All in or all out. I would include asking for help. Even paying for help. Like a cleaning service. A stupid way I control my dishes is literally just have 4 of each. If there's no clean cups I will do the dishes faster than if I can go thru 10.
You say one of the stupid things you do it's not stupid it's called practical you're being practical
Me wanting to declutter intensely and then Questioning if its just my impulsivity from ADHD 😔
I love that your videos are so short :D it is just perfect for our condition 😊
I didn't realize how much I would cocoon my rooms with clutter that would make me smile when I was really depressed in my home.
It was only when I was moving with all my things did it hit me how quickly I became overwhelmed
When I see less stuff the less stress and more free but I don’t feel motivated to clean my room since my ADHD brain just can’t do something that’s not interesting for a few minutes. But now I’m finally starting to schedule my days, throwing stuff that are useless, clothes that doesn’t fit, etc. For me to feel motivated I recommend watching A&E Hoarders. Watched it recently and motivates me to not live in a house that is filled with trash. Just take the show in a grain of salt because most of these hoarders are disgusting and frustrating to deal with.
Not a bad idea, certainly makes you not want to end up like them!
Difference between hoarders and people with too much crap is the hoarders have attachment to the crap. The only thing that stops me from getting rid of crap is if I'm just going to go back and buy it again. I, being a and a cereal hobbyist, like to distinguish this ;)
@@zacharbison8763 OMG THAT'S what I am! A serial Hobbyist! 😂😂😂
Thanks for the term 😁👌
Crafting items, drawing stuff, Fabric for sewing, not to mention easels, canvases- and sewing machines are pretty much what fills up every cabinet and shelf in my home.. To the point where there is not really space for me to use it 😂🙈
his voice is soothing so i watch a lot of his videos
I like to label/number boxes (CB-020 = Cardboard Box 020) then record them and their contents. Then can search where an item is. Vastly reduces psychological hurdle of "will I ever find it again?s" or "might I even forget it exists?". Of course keeping this record up to date... I used to use spreadsheets, but there is an app: MyStuff which I quite like.
Sounds like the visual shelving/transparent box would be a ADHD way of doing this or maybe taking pictures of inside the box
My OCD and ADHD are in a constant battle when it comes to staying organized
Decluttering our kitchen yesterday, and discovered that we had seven jars of smoked paprika. Three were unopened, rest were on halfs. This phenomenon is not specific to smoked paprika, it also seems to affect paprika, ginger, cinnamon, thyme, sachets of fajita spices, rice, pasta, dried beans and some types of tea. I also have four tins of pears despite never having eaten, or intended to eat, tinned pears. I don't even like pears.
We also solved the issue of 'zombification/paralysis' by getting rid of all of our furniture. You can't get stuck to the couch if you don't have a couch. It was a galaxy brain moment. Now I have room to spread out all the projects I'll never finish.
You are gold
@@adeolaadeyemi7501 Thank you
So helpful! You are a great motivator and you take the overwhelm and 'blame' out of a difficult dilemma that we face daily🥴🙂 THANKS!!
My approach is more inspired by camping or living on a boat. It’s a way of not having too much things, but at the same time room for lots of improvisation and ad-hoc solutions. What worked for me: less sorting, just larger boxes and wide flat trays. Hangers and hooks everywhere. Open shelves. And from time to time concentrated full day cleanup actions. I stopped swearing that this time I’m gonna maintain it and no big cleanup will be necessary. No, that’s just how it is.
Yes!! This is really working for me😊
Label makers or sticky notes on the outside telling what is in the box makes life so much easier.
Idk, but suspect I am fortunate to have a nice splash of OCD. I "turn this on" to organize and keep my home, office, desk, etc. fairly clean, tidy and THE SAME. My stuff has a place and I work at after using whatever it is to return it. If I didn't do this whole items-go-back-to-their-specific-spot I wouldn't be able to find my clothes, let along keys to the car to get to work. (I really mean, I'd literally lose my shit...daily.)
Helpful video!!
Ohhhh, this is why your 9month old video about clutter control seemed familiar! 😁
Oh well, I can never get enough of this kind of motivational videos!! 😇
Nice video mate. Look forward to more.
The trouble I have is I clean my space up, then get a new hobby and I get lots of new stuff that causes more clutter.
Thank you for this
Remember it's all a grand experiment life democracy medicine don't take it too seriously and be yourself and love yourself
preaching to the choir, friend :)
Thank you for this
You will be looking for that sticky tape for Christmas wrapping soon 😁
I find it easier doing my cleaning everyday so there is no build up😁 also having less is best for me makes things so much easier
But 100 agree things needs a dedicated space or home. Thank you for the video
you can sometimes get storage boxes second hand for a cheap price.
I'm going to be moving house and using this as an opportunity to more much more to minimalist. I know that less is going to make life simpler. Thee are a few things I think it's useful to have duplicates of - headphones, phone chargers, and things like lunch boxes and water bottles. Otherwise I want LESS and more order. Do right that I need to put a schedule in - otherwise move day creeps nearer and you end up transferring loads of crap. Any ideas for ppl moving house would be much appreciated 🙂 🏡
I need a timer....10 minues for each room of the house every day. It makes me work faster and I can focus on just that room. In less than an hr, the house is significantly tidier.
All my things have a home
The home is out i the open and on any available surface xD
Thx mate!!
My family used to have wayyy too many dishes. They'd pile up so high and even if we spent all day cleaning it seemed like they were dirty again right away. One day my dad got pissed and threw away almost all the dishes. Never had a dish argument since, no wasted time, no grumpiness. Is lit
it so is. I feel like you are my doppelganger.
A terrific book on this subject (funny & motivating) is Clutter’s Last Stand by Don Aslett.
Dude, you have the same perfume as me. Great taste!
Thanks mate
Great advice.
Ay yo I watched a few of your videos now, thanks for the content! Here is some feedback - in some of the videos the lighting is a bit harsh. In this video, it's perfect. Maybe you have a diffuser or a stronger diffuser on the light in this video? But that'd take the edge off it :D
Great and helpful video. Paper is my nemesis.
You are 1 Rockstar💫 my friend ~
hahaha ... easier said than done. I don't know how things start piling up around me, where I sit, where I work
A GREAT VIDEO, I just can’t get started it’s hard for some to BELEIVE but you would have to have ADHDTO UNDERSTAND
MY BRAIN!!!!
Very interesting video, thanks for information and helping adhd community yo have a healthy lifestyle.
Bth, what's your opinion about melatonin suplementation? Have you ever tried It? Do you think this could help us to reconcile sleep?
Yes it's pretty effective
I have 4 billion hobbies and I can't do each one without a million pieces this is so bloody hard 😂
Oh and yes storage boxes, I have a purpose built shelf and rainbow markers for both my whiteboard and labels, it works
For me most of the objects around my house have a strong importance, like I have a good feeling around them or they mean a lot to me even tho most of them are useless things that I could just throw away, so being minimalist looks impossible for me, but I'm going to try to have less things
I would recommend looking into Marie Kondo‘s decluttering method because it specifically addresses the emotional component of keeping or getting rid of objects and teaches you to use your feelings to made those decisions.
Also there are a lot of rituals around thanking objects for the part they played indoor life in order to feel like you can say goodbye to them.
The ultimate goal is to only be surrounded by objects that bring you joy. And since you have that already you are on the right track.
I found when I did it that it was like all the objects surrounding those I loved dim their light or my enjoyment of them. And once I got rid of those things I felt meh about the objects I loved shunned brighter and my space almost took on a feeling of sacredness. I had elevated my space and better values both the objects left and myself. ☺️
All this to say it is possible to have your cake and eat it too!!
Also if reading the book is too high a barrier I would really recommend the manga because it explains all the core ideas perfectly without extra clutter 😁
@@frivoulous11 thank you so much, I'll try to buy it. I love reading books, it's one of the few things that if I like, I can spend days reading. I read once something that said that, if you put an object outside your room, pr somewhere you can't see it, and you don't miss it, you can throw it away...
@@marta8313 Thats totally one way of deciding what to get rid of. You can even combine that with konmarie for the objects you are unsure of. You can keep them in a sealed box and if you go looking for an object you discared then you can keep it but everything else can go :D
I wish you the best in your journey :)
@@frivoulous11 thank you so much
I got so focused on your dialect that I couldn't focus on the video. Had to go and find out where you are from. So ADHD.
But success! Because I am back to watch the video.
I want this, I just have such a hard time starting.
For me less stuff means less allergy issues. Books, paper and clothes degrade into small particles, collect dead skin cells, and trap house dust.
The only thing I can’t get rid of is my record collection!
I’ve decided that I’m going to try to fit everything in my room into one 50L storage box. (I live in a 3x2m dorm room) wish me luck. 😂
I absolutely hate having ADD. I can’t even finish a task without getting distracted with something else.. it took me two hours to type this and press send..
In Alanis Morrissette's words... Utopia, this is my utopia. This is my ideal, my ultimate.
But most of all.. utopia.
My gosh man the clutter I have is insane I started creating my own video of how it's like with ADHD. They parts the world doesn't see. Well I never finished..
Totally agree with this but I wonder if it is a sign of OCD developing.
I would have to hire a person to help me do this.
Here after crying for half an hour because I cant handle this mess.