The Lazy Person's Guide to (Almost) Organizing: ADHD Edition!

"A Minimalist, Fun Guide to Get Just Enough Done!"

Meet Your Guide: ADHD Ollie, the Overly Enthusiastic Octopus!
(He only has six arms because he keeps losing two!)

Ollie here! With my six mostly reliable arms, I’m here to share the LAZIEST, lowest-effort ways to keep life juuust organized enough that you don’t spend 37 minutes looking for your keys! Let’s keep it short, simple, and (most importantly) silly. If organizing stresses you out, guess what? You’re my favorite person! Get ready for ADHD-approved tips that will make you say, “Wait, did I actually do something productive?”

Step 1: The “I-Don’t-Have-to-Remember-It” Cheat Card

Wise Words from Ollie: “If you don’t remember it, it’s like it never happened… unless you forget that you forgot it!”

Objective: Spend 1.5 minutes (yes, really) making a “cheat card” with top three things you really need to remember every day. This isn’t a To-Do list—those are terrifying. It’s more of a To-Look-At card so you can pretend you’ll remember it.

Grab a sticky note (or any scrap of paper within arm’s reach).
Write down the three things that would make your day easier if you remembered them. Ollie’s Example:
- “Find keys before I leave!”
- “Water bottle near work desk.”
- “Plug in charger to avoid battery disaster.”
Stick this note somewhere fun—like on the fridge, mirror, or your dog’s collar. Just make sure it’s in a place where you might actually look.

Step 2: The “Productive Pile” Technique

Wise Words from Ollie: “If everything’s in one spot, it’s kind of organized, right?”

Objective: Forget about neatly organizing, filing, or sorting. Just choose a “productive pile” spot where all your daily essentials go. No more looking in eight places for the same item!

Designate the Spot: Choose a safe spot, like a table, a corner of your desk, or even the floor (no judgment!).
Dump All Essentials: Every evening (or morning, or whenever you remember), toss your wallet, keys, phone, and anything else you lose daily in this “pile of destiny.”
Feel That Lazy Relief! Now, whenever you’re frantically running out the door, your essentials will be there. You won’t have to play hide-and-seek with your phone again!

Step 3: The “One-Done” Routine

Wise Words from Ollie: “One thing is better than no things!”

If multitasking was a sport, ADHD-ers would be the reigning champions—except we’d forget which event we were competing in halfway through! So, let’s skip the multi and focus on the one.

Pick ONE thing: When you think of a task (e.g., email, putting a dish in the sink, brushing a pet), tell yourself you only need to do one.
Get it Done, and Done-zo: After it’s done, forget about productivity for a while (seriously, take a break—you’ve earned it!). Ollie suggests celebrating each “one-done” with a mini dance, a happy jig, or a high-five with your own reflection.

Step 4: The “90-Second Clear-the-Decks Game”

Wise Words from Ollie: “Cleaning isn’t boring if you’re racing yourself. Or cheating against yourself!”

Ever notice how everything’s more fun when it’s timed? Ollie’s game is all about tricking yourself into 90-second power moves that feel less like organizing and more like… well, playing!

Set a Timer: Pick a super-short timer—90 seconds works wonders.
Choose a Deck to Clear: You could tackle your desk, a chair full of clothes, or even the sink. When the timer starts, you’ve got just 90 seconds to see how much clearer you can make it!
Stop & Celebrate: When the timer’s up, freeze! Look at your handiwork. Even if you only moved two things, that’s two less things to worry about. ADHD Ollie’s favorite reward? A snack break!

Step 5: Ollie’s “End of Day Power-Down” Mini List

Wise Words from Ollie: “If it takes less than two minutes, you’re still being lazy.”

Before bed, Ollie suggests jotting down 1–2 super-tiny “win” tasks for tomorrow. These aren’t “big goals”—they’re more like “easier than tying your shoes” tasks that make you feel unstoppable with minimal effort.

Examples:

“Put snack in bag so I don’t forget.”
“Look at my sticky note.”
“Find something clean to wear.”

Just knowing you’ve set up a couple of mini-wins for the next day gives your brain a cozy sense of readiness, so tomorrow’s a little smoother.

Final Step: Introducing the Pretherapy Box!

Prepare Before You Need to Repair!

Alright, Ollie fans, if these tips were helpful, meet the ultimate ADHD companion: the Pretherapy Box! This box is like a magic toolkit for handling life’s chaos, before you need to seek out therapy. Think of it as DIY support, full of coping tools, mini worksheets, grounding exercises, and quick-focus tricks, all geared toward helping you get a little less frazzled. ADHD Ollie loves it because it’s packed with quick solutions you can try before anything gets overwhelming.

So, with your cheat card, productive pile, and Ollie’s words of wisdom, the Pretherapy Box will make each day a little easier to handle. After all, it’s not about perfection; it’s about small, manageable steps—and learning how to prepare before you need to repair.