How to Organize Your Home When You’re a Busy Neurodivergent Adult
- Eric Kaufmann
- Jan 29
- 7 min read
TL;DR: If you’ve ever felt ashamed of your clutter, overwhelmed by organization systems, or convinced you’re just “bad at keeping things tidy,” this post is for you.
You’ll learn why organization is especially hard for neurodivergent adults and how simple landing zones can reduce stress, save money, and stop the shame spiral. This isn’t about a perfect home. It’s about building a space that actually works for your brain.
Table of Contents
Hi Friend,
We’d all love a perfectly Instagrammable, organized home. You know the one....
Plants in every corner.
Bookshelves organized by color.
A spotless kitchen that looks like it belongs to someone who definitely does not have ADHD, kids, or a job.
But unless you’re paying someone to maintain that aesthetic, life is just too busy.
So many of my adult executive function coaching clients have incredibly high standards when it comes to organization. At the same time, they’re juggling work, school, relationships, exercise, rest, and maybe even trying to enjoy their lives. Something has to give.
I used to be this way, too.
I had a very clear vision for how my home and office “should” look. Minimal desk. Beautiful Zoom background. No clutter. No random piles. Definitely no dishes from yesterday’s lunch.
Then each night, I’d close my laptop, exhausted, and tell myself, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Tomorrow turned into months. Maybe years.
And even though I was prioritizing the right things, I never let go of the standard in my head.
“If someone saw my house, they’d think I’m a mess.”
“I should be more organized. What’s wrong with me?”
Eventually, the piles around my home grew, and things got out of hand.
One afternoon, someone texted saying they were stopping by in ten minutes. I panicked. I did the classic speed-clean where you shove everything into the nearest closet like you’re hiding evidence. Shoes, papers, random cords, things I hadn’t seen in months. I slammed the door shut. Crisis averted.
Until my guest opened that closet looking for an umbrella.
I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
Something needed to change, and “time block it on your calendar” wasn’t working.
Here’s what I eventually realized: I didn’t need a picture-perfect space. I needed to be able to easily find and put away the things I use every single day.
This was a mindset shift. A true, “What does good enough look like?” moment.
That’s when I discovered landing zones. This is one of the most neurodivergent-friendly organizational methods out there. It's my favorite way to organize my home as a neurodivergent adult.
Today, I’m going to explain how I built landing zones around my home so you can clear the clutter and finally feel organized.
Let’s dive in.
Low-Pressure Organization That Actually Works
Keep this rule in mind: if something is hard to put away or even slightly complicated, we won’t do it.
And complicated doesn’t mean complex. It can mean opening a bin. It can mean walking across the room. It can mean lifting a lid.
When stress is high, executive function goes down. That’s true for neurodivergent people, and it’s also true for anyone who is overwhelmed, busy, or burnt out.
Mainstream organization hacks tell us that everything needs a perfect home. Neat. Aligned. Labeled. It looks like the inside of a Pinterest board or a Netflix home makeover show.
In theory, that’s great.
In reality, most people only stick to those systems if someone else is maintaining them.
We stick with systems that feel easy.
That’s where landing zones come in.
Landing zones keep the things you use most often within reach, without requiring perfection.
Why Organization Matters More Than You Think
When we can find what we need quickly, life feels easier.
We feel less stressed.
We’re on time more often.
We move through our day with less cognitive load and more flow.
We also save money. No more rebuying something we “lost,” only to find it in a random drawer a month later.
When we organize our home as a neurodivergent adult, we lower the amount of energy it takes to start hard things. If your running shoes are near the door, you’re more likely to go for a walk than if they’re in a closet upstairs behind a pile of stuff you’ve been meaning to donate.
When it comes to organization, the goal isn’t a perfect home. It’s a functional one.
Why Organization is Especially Hard for Neurodivergent Adults
For many neurodivergent adults, organization is not a motivation problem. It’s an executive function problem.
Working memory plays a huge role here. When working memory is overloaded, it becomes harder to remember where things belong, keep multiple steps in mind, or follow systems that require consistency.
If a system relies on remembering rules, steps, or locations, we aren't going to follow it.
Stress makes this worse. When stress is high, working memory capacity shrinks. Suddenly, even simple organizational tasks feel overwhelming.
Over time, this leads to a shame spiral.
You try to get organized.
The system doesn’t stick.
Clutter builds.
You blame yourself.
That shame spiral has real consequences.
Mentally, it increases overwhelm and decision fatigue.
Emotionally, it fuels anxiety, frustration, and low self-trust.
Financially, it leads to late fees, duplicate purchases, lost items, and impulsive spending driven by stress.
Disorganization has serious consequences. It quietly drains our energy, money, and confidence over time.
There’s a reason From Cluttered to Clear is my most popular self-paced course, and why there’s an entire industry dedicated to organization. It’s hard to nail down!
And a lot of neurodivergent people go about it the wrong way. Not because they’re failing, but because they haven’t learned how to work with their brain.
Most commonly, neurodivergent people:
Feel like their home needs to meet an imaginary standard they’ve seen online.
Overcomplicate their systems by adding too many steps to put something away.
Organize items where they think they should go, not where their brain actually looks for them.
But there is a better way. Cue the landing zone!
How to Organize Your Home When You’re a Busy Neurodivergent Adult
Landing zones take a different approach. They are the simplest way to organize your home as a neurodivergent adult.
Your landing zones are areas in your home where you store similar items for tasks or activities you do often. They make the things you use most often easy to grab.
Think: snacks, toys, cords, pet supplies, books.
You can create as many landing zones as you’d like, but start small. I began by making a launch pad near my front door, then added a landing zone for Chili’s stuff. Chili is my dog.
Here’s how to build one.
Step 1: Select a specific activity for your landing zone
Choose one daily activity. For me, it’s walking Chili.
Step 2: List out everything you need for that activity
List everything you need for that activity. Leash. Collar. Treat bag. Poop bags.
Step 3: Choose the location for your landing zone
Then choose the location you naturally pass before doing that activity. I selected the counter by the door.
This part is huge! The key is to notice where you already pile these things. That counter is where I naturally tossed Chili’s stuff after a walk most days.
Laundry baskets go where clothes naturally land. Mail stations go where mail already gets dropped. Etc, etc.
Step 4: Dump everything in your landing zone
Set a timer and put everything there. The timer matters because time pressure works. Try to beat the clock or finish before your favorite album ends.
That’s it. Landing zone complete.
Is it beautiful? No.
Is it easy? Yes.
I’ve learned that my stuff doesn’t need to be hidden to be considered organized. In fact, keeping things visible increases the likelihood that I’ll put them back.
Summary
Do one landing zone per day or per week. You do not need to reorganize your entire home in one weekend.
You’re not disorganized because you’re lazy or messy. You’ve built systems that require more executive function than you have available.
Landing zones take a neurodivergent-friendly approach to organization. They’re simple locations in your home where similar items live, so they’re easy to grab and put away.
Here’s how you can build one:
Select an activity.
List everything you need for that activity.
Choose a location where you naturally toss those items.
Set a timer and put everything there.
You don’t need an Instagrammable home. You need a home that works for you.
In service,
Eric
FAQs
Why is organization especially hard for neurodivergent adults?
Organization is hard for many neurodivergent adults because it relies heavily on executive function skills like working memory, planning, and task initiation. When stress is high, working memory capacity drops, making it harder to remember where things belong or follow multi-step systems. Over time, this leads to clutter, avoidance, and a shame spiral that makes organization feel emotionally charged rather than practical.
Why don't traditional organization systems work long-term?
Most traditional organization systems are designed for aesthetics, not real life. They require multiple steps, maintenance, and remembering where things “should” go. For busy or neurodivergent adults, these systems demand more executive function than is available, especially during stressful seasons, which is why they often fall apart quickly.
What is a landing zone, and why does it work?
A landing zone is a simple, visible spot where items related to a frequent activity naturally live, like keys by the door or dog supplies on a counter. Landing zones work because they reduce decision-making, lower cognitive load, and align with how your brain already moves through your space. They prioritize ease over perfection, making them far more sustainable.
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About the Author
Eric Kaufmann is an Educational Therapist, Certified Executive Function Coach, and speaker. He is the Co-founder of UpSkill Specialists, an executive function coaching company that helps adults and workplace teams overcome disorganization, procrastination, and productivity roadblocks.
Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click here.
Interested in hosting a workshop for your team or company on how to improve executive function skills in the workplace? Click here.
Looking for guidance on how to become an adult executive function coach? Click here.
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