Locating a home organizer that understands ADHD

[KarlaJo]

When my kids were young, I hired a wonderful organizer to help me get the play area and bedrooms set up. I followed a checklist to keep the play area functional. Rotating out toys and games not being used, labeling bins, etc.

Kids are grown and out of the house. I work full time as a teacher and I’m finding I have items in bins/containers at home) that I need to go through.

Containers with things that I don’t want or need. I’ve tried to get started on these on my own. Ten to 20 minutes of time- just carve out a small chunk of time. Watched inspirational videos, Hacks, and have asked my sister to help.

I am ready to hire a person to help me go through each bin and get rid of 80 percent of the stuff.

I need help sorting. I need a person with a skill set to help. I really want to find a person that understands ADHD.

Looking for a list of resources in Virginia, close to DC and Maryland.

I'm not sure how to find a person to help me.

It isnt hording…. 11 small containers and 2 Christmas type (larger bins.) If I had a storage room, these would be out of sight and out of mind.

Thank you in advance for suggestions

[BlessedLady]

There are professional organizers. Are you on NextDoor? It is a app for Neighbors. In my area, neighbors post when they are looking for professionals. Everything from doctors to pet sitters. You do have to be careful. In my area neighbors, recommend professionals they have used and sometimes professionals reply. People have to use their real names on the app. Although they can use only a initial for their last name . The area neighbors live in us listed. That way Neighbors can see who lives within a few blocks and who lives across town. Neighbors are verified.

[STUCKSOHELP in reply to BlessedLady]

I’m a NextDoor Super Fan! Found great stuff and people on that app. I’m in your neighborhood (Alexandria). I would love to know what and who you find in your search as I too have a desperate need of such a professional. Thanks and All the best.

[BlessedLady in reply to STUCKSOHELP]

I have not searched for professional organizers on NextDoor But I thought it might be helpful to you. I do far more reading than I do posting on NextDoor. But I see how friendly my neighbor are in different situations. It reminds me of the way neighbors use to be many, many years ago..

[KarlaJo in reply to BlessedLady]

Thank you for this suggestion!

[Gettingittogether]

Just google home organizer and you'll come up with a bunch of options. The people who hire home organizers have severe and serious organizing problems. They may or may not be ADHD, but they're in the neighborhood.

What I'm saying is that organizers are quite aware of the struggles of people with ADHD. And the best organizers will try to help you create a system (an easy system) to keep things simple, to keep things reasonably decluttered, not perfectly so. And you want an organizer who figures out how you think and to design a system tailored to you. Just read the descriptions on the websites of the various organizers. You'll see someone whose way of working you will like (even if they don't mention ADHD).

So there is the one-time one project help with organization, but with ADHD (or people deep disorganization tendencies) you want the person to see how you think and to help you design a way to maintain order.

Really, don't think of this as a one-off and done. Think of bringing in the organizer say twice a year for short updates and tweaks and maybe a little accountability.

[KarlaJo in reply to Gettingittogether]

Thank you for expanding my thinking of hiring someone for more than one event.

I’ve been focused on “If I can just get a person to help me sort.” I did spend time each day throwing out items that were trash.

The bigger picture is what you allude to. I have to wrap my mind around the bigger picture.

Not something that comes easy. I tend to break things into steps.

[Gettingittogether]

I hear you ... Yes, unfortunately the bigger picture for us folks with ADHD is that we will make decluttering very complicated ... and then end up procrastinating ... and even if we work, we don't have a system, so we don't get the hit of pleasure from seeing progress.

We don't think in terms of systems ... very typical for us to just randomly start on a task with very little order. Which painfully means we work harder than we need to.

[d_jemme]

findmyorganizer.com!

[KarlaJo in reply to d_jemme]

Thank you!