Struggling with household disorganization and clutter

[WashyWishy]

I've tried to get proper treatment for chronic illness and ADHD for years. So far I haven't been successful in finding the right doctor or treatment plan. I recently got approved for Medicaid, so I'm hoping to find further help through that. Right now, I really want some qualified professional help, i.e., therapist with specialties in adult ADHD, past trauma and weight loss.

I am getting some help from a home health aide. She is quite willing to help with light housekeeping. So far she has been dependable and we communicate well with each other.

I'm having difficulty with breaking down everything into manageable tasks with specific instructions she can follow (as well as myself). I'm searching for ideas and guidance.

[ADDandMe]

Have you tried the app ChatGPT? If you give it specific details of what you want it will instantaneously break down any complex task into clear steps.

For example. I typed in:

Create a schedule of tasks for myself and my house aide to maintain my home over the course of a month. Include light housework and daily chores.

And it replied:

Weekly Schedule:

**Monday:**

- Morning: Dust and wipe surfaces in living room and bedrooms.

- Afternoon: Vacuum carpets and mop floors.

**Tuesday:**

- Morning: Clean kitchen surfaces and appliances.

- Afternoon: Organize and declutter a specific area of the house.

**Wednesday:**

- Morning: Dust and wipe surfaces in the bathrooms.

- Afternoon: Change bed linens and tidy up bedrooms.

**Thursday:**

- Morning: Sweep and mop kitchen and bathroom floors.

- Afternoon: Empty trash cans and recycle bins throughout the house.

**Friday:**

- Morning: Clean windows and mirrors.

- Afternoon: Water indoor plants and attend to any specific cleaning needs.

**Saturday:**

- Morning: Laundry day – wash, dry, and fold clothes.

- Afternoon: Clean and organize common areas.

**Sunday:**

- Rest day for major cleaning tasks.

- Light chores like picking up clutter, organizing, and planning for the upcoming week.

Daily Tasks:

- Make beds every morning.

- Wipe down kitchen surfaces after meals.

- Sweep kitchen floor daily.

Communicate with your house aide, delegate tasks based on their strengths, and adjust the schedule as needed.

You can then add more requests like - allocate a time for each task, or repeat the steps above and include outdoor tasks and food shopping etc.

Hope this helps it’s fun to use.

Goblin Tools is another online tool that breaks tasks down into easy tasks.

[ADDandMe in reply to ADDandMe]

Ps. I went back to ChatGPT and typed in the following:

How do I work effectively and manage my house aide given I have ADHD and find executive functioning challenging

ChatGPT reply:

To work effectively and manage your house aide with ADHD and executive functioning challenges:

1. **Create a Visual Schedule:**

- Use visual aids or a task board to outline daily and weekly tasks.

- Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps for easier processing.

2. **Set Clear Expectations:**

- Clearly communicate expectations and priorities.

- Provide written instructions or checklists to reference.

3. **Use Reminders and Alarms:**

- Set alarms or reminders for specific tasks and deadlines.

- Utilize technology like task management apps for additional support.

4. **Prioritize Tasks:**

- Identify the most critical tasks and focus on them first.

- Break larger projects into smaller, more manageable parts.

5. **Regular Check-ins:**

- Schedule regular check-ins with your house aide to discuss progress.

- Provide positive reinforcement for completed tasks.

6. **Delegate Specific Responsibilities:**

- Assign specific responsibilities based on your aide's strengths.

- Clearly define roles to minimize confusion.

7. **Utilize Supportive Tools:**

- Explore ADHD-friendly apps or tools designed for task management.

- Consider using a whiteboard or digital calendar for scheduling.

8. **Build Routine and Consistency:**

- Establish a daily routine to create structure.

- Consistency can help improve executive functioning over time.

9. **Breaks and Rewards:**

- Schedule short breaks between tasks to recharge.

- Reward yourself and your aide for completing tasks.

10. **Open Communication:**

- Foster an open line of communication to address concerns or challenges.

- Encourage feedback on what strategies work best for both of you.

Remember, finding a system that works for you may take time, so be patient and open to adjusting strategies as needed.

[Mamamichl]

I’ve been recently playing a game from the App Store called “modern Sam”. It came out less than a week ago and if you give it the main task, it has an option to break it down for your it’s not perfect, it it’s made by people with adhd and has helped me quite a bit.

I’m also on Medicaid. If you get a list of providers, you can Google search each of them. Ive heard medical providers have to have an online philosophy and what their specialties are. I had several counselors that didn’t understand me at all, then spent 4 ish hours researching. I love my newest counselor atm.

[Quincie]

The Flylady is a woman who helps people declutter and develop routines to keep their house under control. Her website has a lot of encouraging information. Flylady.net

She has examples of morning, afternoon and evening routines & guides you into creating your own. A weekly vacuum, dust & mopping time & she divides the house into zones per weeks in the month. This is so all rooms of the house get some attention every month whether for decluttering or deeper cleaning.