5 Life Changing Hacks Every Woman with ADHD needs to know!
ADHD impacts everyone a little differently. Men and boys tend to struggle more with hyperactivity and impulsivity, whereas for women, it often manifests as inattention and disorganization. Disorganization has haunted me my whole life, and if I’m totally honest, I haven’t fully figured it out yet. However, I have found some solutions and tricks that work—some of which have been life-changing. So, without further ado, let me tell you what’s working for me now. This may or may not work for you, but I hope it helps!
1. A Paper Planner
I have tried repeatedly to use digital planners and calendars. While I do use them to some extent, I’ve learned that if something is outside my usual routine in my digital planner, I will inevitably forget it. I also schedule time in the evening to review my schedule. I know it’s not always the most convenient, but for me, the act of writing it down helps me remember.
This planner is like my brain. While I seem to lose everything else, I can (almost) always find my planner. For work, I prefer a simple planner with monthly and daily planning. I use a different planner for goal setting and journaling, as I like to keep these things separate. What I love about this one is that it’s large (so it’s harder to lose) and has plenty of space for all my appointments.
2. A Crossbody Bag
After having kids, I absolutely refused to wear a purse. After all, I had lugged around baby gear for years and was totally over it. Enter my mom, who had watched me constantly lose my phone, wallet, and keys. She bought me the most middle-aged-looking purse I had ever seen. To be honest, I was super resistant.
The bag looks like this. Not the most fashionable, but in terms of practicality, it can’t be beaten.
- The front pocket holds my phone.
- Inside is a well-structured wallet.
- I hook my push-start car keys to it.
This setup means that if I leave somewhere without my wallet, I’ll know right away because my car won’t start. I always have my phone in the front pocket, and the crossbody style allows me to wear it 24/7, hands-free. Surprisingly, I’ve never lost it—probably because I know it’s the last place I put my essentials. If I left my wallet at the gym, I’d immediately realize it when my car wouldn’t start. Maybe that sounds a little crazy, but it works for me, and maybe it will for you too!
3. Use an Alarm or Timer to Stay on Track
Without a timer, I will take hour-long showers—no joke. I set an alarm on my phone and place it across the bathroom where I can’t reach it. Yes, it’s annoying, and yes—that’s also the point. When the alarm goes off, if I’m not done, I’ll finish quickly because the beeping will drive me absolutely crazy if I don’t. While annoying, it gets me out of the shower in no time.
I also use timers for cleaning. I spend 5 minutes in each room trying to “beat the clock.” It’s amazing how much you can get done in just 5 minutes!
4. Laundry Baskets Everywhere!
I learned this trick from this book: How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis. She suggests using laundry baskets as a tool to simplify cleaning and organization.
- Use them for quick room sweeps to gather clutter without the pressure of sorting immediately.
- Separate baskets for “put away later” or “belongs in another room” reduce decision fatigue.
- Break laundry into steps—baskets hold clean clothes instead of stressing over folding and putting them away immediately.
- Assign each household member their own basket.
- Keep daily essentials in a basket near the door.
- Use baskets as temporary containment spaces to maintain a functional, low-stress living environment.
The best part? Laundry baskets can double as cute home decor, like these: https://amzn.to/3Ep7bia.
5. Build Organization into Your Routine
Every day, I have a 15-minute clean-up session as part of my nighttime routine. I call it my “closing routine.”
- I start with a laundry basket and quickly declutter whatever was left out.
- I run around the house like a madwoman, grabbing any dishes and bringing them to the sink.
- I do a quick wipe-down of the counters and load the dishwasher.
- I lay out my clothes for the next day and pick up my room.
- While I do my oil pulling at night, I wipe down the bathroom.
This simple routine keeps things manageable, and I wake up to a cleaner, more organized space.
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