Minimalism in the Home For ADHD Moms and Healthier Brains

Keeping my home as minimal and ADHD-friendly as possible was the catalyst for reducing chaos in my home life! Minimalism in the home for ADHD moms like myself will help you discover peace, balance, and better productivity in your life, I promise!

The overwhelming demands of work, home, kids and family, to name a few, can leave us moms feeling drained and scatterbrained. It’s difficult for us to tackle any, if not all, of them, but once we work towards this super-powerful solution, you will have better clarity and order in your daily life. That said, we will become more intentional in what we do, create better organizational habits, and even save money. One of the greatest solutions for ADHD moms is minimalism! In this article, we’re going to start with our home.

How Can Minimalism In The Home Help ADHD Moms?

Imagine a simplified and clutter-free lifestyle where everything has a home and the time you spend cleaning takes only 5-10 minutes. A peaceful and functional environment is the key to lessening scattered brains and distractions.

What we see on the outside reflects how we see and feel about everything on the inside. If we see mess and chaos at home, there’s a high possibility that we may manage motherhood, daily tasks, and priorities like that, too—a hot mess! Minimalism can help us see less stuff, know where everything is, increase executive functioning skills, and minimize impulse shopping!

Read more about the connection between clutter and brain health in this article here.

Minimalism involves reducing possessions and focusing more on quality and functionality than quantity. So, the next time you purchase something, consider how many purposes and functionalities it can bring to your home and life. I became more intentional whenever I purchased things like birthday supplies, decor, clothing, etc. because, first, I’d have to find a home for it in my little condo, and second, I want to use it for multiple occasions, too!

My Minimalism Journey In my Home

Coming from an upbringing in which my family tended to hoard items, and our home became super messy for as long as I can remember, I had to utilize the mindset of minimalism once I moved out into my own home. It was a matter of trial and error over the past years, and I struggled to figure out the easiest solutions, but my goal was to escape the lifestyle I lived in my childhood.

So, what can I report back to you after practicing this lifestyle for a few years? Two words: Life changing! I can positively say how much minimalism improved my mental health, especially with my ADHD on top of everything else stressful and anxiety-provoking my life.

Minimalism helped promote a more peaceful and mindful lifestyle in my home and family! Creating a calm and clutter-free environment gives me a more uplifting mood because I know the mess will only take minutes to clean, my kids play better, and my husband can find where things are in the house without asking me!

What Helped Me Start My Journey of Minimalism In The Home?

It’s no “elephant in the room” that ADHDers have difficulty starting tasks. We are filled with beautiful and motivating intentions, but to START the dang thing is another execution.

My first step to getting help was hiring a “decluttering lady” to come to my house and throw away unwanted items, which took us eight hours! The main purpose of hiring a professional was body doubling. My time was more effective, and I had someone to keep me accountable. Being unapologetic about tossing things out was empowering because it was like taking back control of my home instead of my home taking control of me. It was like newer and fresher air entering my lungs each time I saw spaces looking tidier and more spacious.

We ended up throwing away 11 bags of clothing and unwanted nick-nacks! Moving forward from that experience, I had to be more intentional with ensuring new or most used items had realistic homes for my brain to remember and locate, as well as the rest of my family. For example, I’m horrible at organizing paper and mail. I designated a “junk” bin inserted into my living room cubical to toss any “important-ish” mail for another day, but at least I didn’t have to see the visible clutter. Because once you see one visible clutter, the act follows.

My Results so Far with Minimalism in the Home:

Once I started and saw the effect of my work, where I kept seeing fewer and fewer things, I got super addicted and more intentional. I bought less stuff because I already knew I had a functional one kept in its spot, and if I buy another, it will get filled and chaotic. Fewer things for me to look at have ultimately helped me work on tasks and concentrate better. I no longer needed to get up and look for things or see random items in drawers and cupboards to find a spatula when cooking. Minimalism helps you know where everything is without thinking, and less thinking, for me, is powerful! Finding homes for everyday items will make it easier for you to stay organized.

Proven Ways Minimalism in the Home Can Do For ADHD Moms:

1. Reduce Overwhelm In the Home

As an ADHD mom, experiencing mental and sensory overload can be debilitating in our everyday lives. A minimalist approach allows you to simplify your surroundings and ease the burden on your brain to manifest a peaceful environment free from distractions and where the focus can flourish. When we do this for ourselves, everything gets easier. You can even notice your children playing better and cleaning after themselves because minimalism helps growing brains, too!

After labelling every corner of our home, my husband stopped asking me where everything was and where everything should go! This helped a lot during holiday hosting or preparing for outings. I could outsource many tasks to my family because I made the home functional for everyone.

2. Enhance Clarity and Focus In The Home

A cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind. Adopting a minimalist lifestyle creates a clear canvas for your thoughts and priorities. With fewer distractions, you can better prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination because tasks no longer seem daunting. You can also achieve greater productivity because finding and maintaining order is easier. By implementing minimalism, such as decluttering, organizing, and creating designated spaces, moms with ADHD can develop better systems that support their tendency to misplace things or have them disorganized.

3. Reduces Stress In The Home

Clutter creates visual noise and reminders of unfinished tasks that increase stress levels. Minimalism helps you let go of unnecessary possessions you no longer need. I would rather have one useful item than a bunch of them to have more space and fewer things to choose from. Reducing mental and emotional stress allows you to focus on what truly matters. Minimalism can encourage you to stay organized and simplify without realizing it because the easier it gets, the more second nature it becomes. Having fewer items in the home makes it easier to keep things organized and find what you need quickly. This can help reduce the stress and overwhelm that often come with ADHD.

4. Easier Cleaning and Maintenance In The Home

Cleaning and tidying up fewer things like toys and random “junk” becomes more manageable for moms and kids! We become less “lazy” because our simplified cleaning routine cuts the housework in half, and we can likely be on top of our cleaning and not be overwhelmed by the thought of it. So, less procrastination and more initiation in our housework to get done faster!

Read my ADHD-friendly cleaning schedule in this article here.

5. Improve Time Management In The Home

Minimalism also encourages intentional living and prioritizing what truly matters. By eliminating unnecessary possessions, you can breathe and see better! Moms with ADHD can better manage their time and focus on activities that align with their values and goals, not the mess and overwhelm they see in their homes.

Mindset Shifts When Creating Minimalism in the Home for ADHD Moms

1. Declutter with a Purpose In The Home

Begin by identifying your priorities and values. Keep items that align with those priorities, and let go of anything that no longer serves a purpose or brings you joy. For example, clothes that don’t fit. Get rid of them and make space for clothing that aligns with your current season of life. Our bodies are different at 30 than they were at 20. Let go of the “when I lose weight, I’ll wear these jeans” mindset and have clothes in your closet that make you feel loved and confident with the body you have now.

Devote regular intervals to decluttering different areas of your home, promoting a gradual and consistent process. Be reasonable about its purpose in your home, considering it a necessity rather than a “just in case.”

2. Organizational Systems In The Home

A minimalist home needs thoughtful organization systems. Invest in storage solutions that are functional, visually pleasing, and easy to maintain. Create designated spaces for different categories of items that make it easier to find and prevent clutter accumulation.

You can label storage bins and organizational containers and put everyday and important household items near you so your mornings and evenings are smooth and easy to tackle. For example, all of my kitchen utensils are in a simple utensil holder on my kitchen counter, so I can use any utensil from the collection when I need the most used kitchen item, like a tong or slotted spoon. I also have my toddler’s most used toys in our bin cubical near the carpet area of our living room so she can help herself, and I don’t have to get them from a different room.

3. Simplifying Routines In the Home

Streamline your daily routines to reduce decision fatigue. Label drawers for 1-2 items like pants and shorts so that it’s easier for you and your family to put laundry away. Establish guidelines for yourself and your family on daunting tasks like meal planning, laundry and tidying. Automate repetitive tasks wherever possible and embrace simplicity to minimize cognitive overload.

So Is Minimalism In The Home For ADHD Moms Worth a Try?

Embracing minimalism as an ADHD mom can pave the way for a more organized and serene home environment. By setting clear goals, starting small, and utilizing helpful products, you can make significant progress in decluttering and simplifying your living space.

Embracing minimalism reduces visual and mental clutter and creates room for increased focus, productivity and peace of mind. Remember, this journey is about progress and figuring out what works for you, your brain and the rest of the family. Take it one step at a time, and soon, you’ll find yourself reaping the benefits of a more minimalist lifestyle.