Hey love,
Let me paint you a picture.
It starts with laundry piles morphing into mountains, dishes throwing a silent protest in the sink, and every surface catching clutter like it’s on sale. My brain is buzzing, my patience is gone, and I suddenly realize: ADHD has taken over my home again.
Sound familiar?
If you’re a stay-at-home mom like me navigating ADHD, you know how quickly a few “I’ll get to it later” moments can snowball into full-on chaos. The shame and overwhelm creep in, and it can feel impossible to know where—or how—to start.
But here’s the truth: You can reset. And no, it doesn’t have to take all day or require perfection. Over time, I’ve created a gentle rhythm that helps me reclaim my space—and my peace—without burning out in the process.
Let me walk you through how I reset my home when ADHD takes over.
Step 1: I Start With Myself (Not the Mess)
Before I even glance at the dishes or grab a laundry basket, I check in with me.
ADHD can make you feel like you’re drowning in to-dos, so I pause and breathe.
I’ll light a candle. Put on a playlist that gets me moving (90s R&B, anyone?). Sometimes I take a quick shower and throw on something comfy—but cute enough to make me feel human again.
This isn’t wasted time. It’s regulation. When my nervous system is calm, I make better decisions and avoid spiraling.
Step 2: I Set a Timer (and Lower the Bar)
The pressure to “get it all done” is paralyzing. So instead, I pick one zone or one basket—just one—and set a 15-minute timer.
I remind myself that progress over perfection is the goal. If the kitchen floor still has crumbs, but the counters are clear, I still won.
Some of my go-to 15-minute resets include:
- Collecting trash from every room
- Wiping down the bathroom sink + mirror
- Collecting random clutter into a dump basket
- Doing a speed-tidy of the living room
- Starting a load of laundry (even if I don’t fold it right away)
When the timer goes off, I can stop. Sometimes I keep going—but giving myself permission to stop keeps me from quitting altogether.
Step 3: I Use “Dump & Sort” Baskets
I keep 2-3 empty baskets on hand, and when clutter is everywhere, I do a quick “dump and sort.”
Here’s how:
- I grab everything that’s out of place and toss it into one big basket (no overthinking).
- Later, when I have a calmer brain, I sort it room by room.
- Keep it to just 2 or 3 baskets to avoid them becoming another piled up mess.
It’s like pressing pause on the overwhelm. Visual clutter gone, decisions postponed.
Bonus: My youngest think it’s fun to help sort from the “mystery basket,” and it becomes a game.
Step 4: I Reboot One System
ADHD makes maintaining systems hard—but I’ve learned that every reset is a chance to refresh one small routine. Not everything. Just one.
For example:
- Is the drop zone overflowing? I might add a “no drop zone” basket by the door.
- Are dishes piling up? I might reset my evening routine to include loading the dishwasher before bed.
- Is the laundry backing up? I might commit to a “one load a day” rhythm—washed, dried, but folded when I get to it
I don’t expect perfection. I just choose one system and give it some love.
Step 5: I Celebrate the Reset
After 30–60 minutes (sometimes spread across the day), my home feels lighter.
It’s not Pinterest-perfect, but it feels like me again. That’s worth celebrating.
I might light that candle again, make a cup of tea, or just sit and enjoy a room I reclaimed.
Because love—you deserve to enjoy your home.
Final Thoughts
When ADHD takes over, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. Life is layered, especially when you’re raising kids and managing a busy mind. But with grace, simple tools, and tiny pockets of momentum, you can take your home back.
One breath, one timer, one basket at a time.
You’ve got this.
With love and clarity,
Lynne
