Ever faced a mountain of a home project and wished for an adulting decoder ring? Yeah, me too! While I can’t whip out a magic ring, I’ve got something even better—four ADHD planning tools that will make tackling home projects like decluttering and organizing, home renovation projects, and any multi-step project a breeze.
Project Breakdown Checklist
The first tool is the project breakdown checklist. Imagine breaking down your task into bite-sized, manageable chunks—like creating a roadmap for your project. Get your favorite writing tool–paper, your computer, a whiteboard, or sticky notes. Start by jotting down your current project status (the ‘start’ point) and where you want to be (the ‘end’ point). Then, let the brainstorming party begin!
List all the steps, tools, and ideas related to your project. Think of it like painting a picture: you start with a messy canvas (your project’s current state) and envision a masterpiece (the end goal). When you finish brainstorming, organize your thoughts into groups that make sense for your brain.
For example, if I were going to organize a kitchen, I’d write ‘disorganized, messy, non-functional space,’ at the top, and ‘clean, organized, functional kitchen’ at the bottom.
In between, I would brainstorm all the things that need to happen– clean out the refrigerator, buy more Ziploc bags, and find a way to organize the water bottles. (Sometimes standing in the physical space you’re working on can help you think better.)
Once I’m done brainstorming, I’d group related tasks together. For example, I might choose to focus on either organizing the refrigerator or tackling tasks related to the pantry. I’d organize them in a way that makes the most sense for tackling the larger project.
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Space Sketch
The second tool is the space sketch. Nope, I’m not talking about Hubble-style space pictures! I’m talking about a simple sketch of your project vision. A rough floor plan or a quick sketch of what you want it to look like is fine.
Think of this as a casual doodle session on the back of a napkin. Don’t let a lack of artistic talent hold you back from using this valuable tool to visualize your goals and spatially organize your ideas.
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Declutter RoadmapVisual Timeline
The third tool is a visual timeline. Essentially, it’s jotting down your project plan with time factored in. This can be as simple as writing it on paper, or more commonly, marking it on your calendar, whether that’s a physical one or a digital version.
Begin by identifying open slots on your calendar when you can dedicate time to this project. I understand that estimating how long tasks will take isn’t always easy—I struggle with it too. You can start by making an educated guess. Alternatively, you could block out 15 to 30-minute intervals on your calendar and designate them as the times you’ll dedicate to working on the project.
It’s possible that you have more time on the weekends for projects. You could block out half of Saturday to work on your project. Either way, you’ll slot things into the calendar during those times. The important thing is to block the time on your calendar.
Projects always take longer than you think they’re going to. However, if you keep chipping away at them, you will make progress.
Breaking down a major project into smaller, manageable tasks can be a game-changer. For instance, if tackling your entire kitchen seems overwhelming, start with a mini-task like the refrigerator. From there, further break it down into smaller, actionable steps.
As you progress through these mini-tasks, you’ll develop a better sense of the time required for each. This newfound knowledge will prove invaluable when you move on to the next phase of the project, allowing you to make more accurate time estimates.
Victory Lap
Now comes the fun part—taking a victory lap! Track your progress and celebrate the small wins. Check off completed tasks and snap before-and-after pics, especially if you’re tackling clutter. We all love to cross stuff out on our to-do list, right?
One handy tool is using a sheet of paper with boxes or graph paper. Fill in a box every time you complete a specific task—it could be after 30 minutes of work, emptying a box, or gathering items for donation. Customize it based on your project needs to track your time or progress, providing that extra boost to keep going.
Most importantly, celebrate hitting milestones, especially when finishing mini-projects within a bigger project. Share your progress with friends or family, show off on Instagram, or give yourself a well-deserved high five. Take the time to appreciate the hard work, the progress made, and the sense of accomplishment. Gold stars for grown-ups, anyone? Your victories deserve to be celebrated more often!
Conclusion: ADHD Planning Tools
While adulting doesn’t come with a magic ring, it does come with ingenious planning tools. From conquering clutter to renovating your home, these four ADHD planning tools can guide you to success: The Project Breakdown Checklist, Space Sketch, Visual Timeline, and Victory Lap. So, dive in, break it down, sketch it out, time it right, and celebrate every victory along the way.