People with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) often struggle with organizational skills. According to a 2020 study, this may be due to impaired working memory in the brains of those with ADHD, combined with hyperactive motor engagement that inhibits the executive functions necessary to get organized.

Certified professional organizer Alison Lush, ICD® Master Trainer, CPO-CD®, CVOP, PPCC, defines this as “chronic disorganization.” Lush, who lives with ADHD and specializes in chronic disorganization, neurodivergence, and ADHD, discussed all things ADHD and disorganization in an interview on the Sorry, I Missed This podcast.

Host Kate Osborn, an ADHD educator and author of The ADHD Field Guide for Adults, chatted with Lush about ADHD and clutter specifically. Lush offered tips on how people with ADHD can overcome chronic disorganization.

ADHD, clutter, and chronic disorganization

During the intro, Osborn (who also has ADHD) shares that “for a long time I carried a lot of guilt, shame and embarrassment around the clutter—around my struggles with keeping up on keeping things organized and perfectly clean.”

She adds that people with ADHD can have a complicated relationship with their “stuff.” Lush affirms her, sharing that “ADHD folks are among the largest population who show up with chronic disorganization.”

Lush defines chronic disorganization in three parts:

It persists over a long period of time.

It frequently undermines quality of life.

It recurs despite repeated self-help attempts.

On the flip side, Lush defines being organized as “I can put my stuff away without too much difficulty, and I can find my stuff without too much difficulty.”

Clutter, on the other hand, is two things, according to Lush.

“Clutter could be the stuff that I just used if I just did a sewing project and got out all my sewing stuff and I had it all over the dining room table—and if I’m done (finished with the project) and walk away, it’s clutter that has a home that just needed........

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