Woman sorting paperwork at home, with a binder and mug on the table.
A client sent me a text that made me want to pull up a chair beside her. “Pinky, I need you,” she wrote. She’d bought the books and listened to the webinars on organizing paperwork with ADHD. She’d been trying to get hers in order for months. She knew I’d been diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and she asked me, “How do you get it done?” I could hear how much effort she’d already put into it. I know that feeling of finally sitting down at the kitchen table with the mail and realizing how many decisions can fit into a single envelope.
What I See in a Stack of Papers
I told her two things. First, I’ve had years to learn what works for my ADHD brain, and I’ve spent decades organizing homes of all shapes and sizes. That practice helps me know what to ask when a client and I sit down together. What do we need to act on? What do we want to be able to find again? What can we shred?
Sometimes two papers that look almost identical are going to different places. A bill with a charge you want to ask about goes with the things you’re taking action on. A statement you’re keeping for reference can go straight into the files. We might set aside a document for your lawyer or flag a letter you want to share with your financial planner. As we sort, we’re deciding where you’ll look for each paper when you need it.
Then you open an envelope and recognize your grandmother’s handwriting before you’ve read a word. There’s room to take a minute with that one. Maybe you’ll tuck it in with the keepsakes. Maybe you’ll ask someone in the family if they remember the story behind it. A folder marked “Ask the family” gives the letter a place to wait until you can have that conversation.
And Then There’s My Own Mail
I get so absorbed in a client’s project that I’m already curious about what’s in the next envelope. If a parent needs to find a school form while their child is looking for a shoe, where could we put it so it’s easy to grab? I love figuring out little things like that with people. There’s room to get creative when you’re paying attention to how someone goes through their day.
Then there’s the envelope with my name on the front. I can look right at it and still have a hard time getting interested in opening it. That’s when you’re likely to hear me say, “Mary Ann, will you do that for me, please?”
That was the second thing I told my client. Mary Ann is my administrative coordinator, and she handles most of my paperwork. I’m grateful to have someone I trust with that part of my work. When I head into a client’s home, I want my attention to be right there with them. Mary Ann helps make that possible.
One Envelope Is Enough to Start
If there’s a pile on your table, you can start with one envelope. Open it and ask, “Does anything in here need my attention?” If it does, write the next step on a sticky note. “Call about this bill” is plenty. Leave the note with the paper and give it a home near where you tend to make those calls. If that’s at your desk, a folder beside your phone charger might be all you need.
If you’re keeping the paper for reference, give it a folder name that sounds like something you’d say. A folder called “Car” makes sense if that’s the first word that comes to mind when you’re looking for a repair receipt.
And if sitting down feels easier with someone beside you, ask a person you trust to keep you company. “Could you sit with me for ten minutes while I open the mail?” is a perfectly good request. They can bring their coffee and you can bring your envelope.
What I love about organizing is the little moment later, when you reach for a paper and your hand goes right to it. You’ve given yourself one less thing to keep track of on a full day. I’d love for you to follow along online for more small ways to make everyday life at home feel easier.
Pinky Jackson is a Decluttering Specialist and Home Organizing Expert. If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Pinky and her team would love to help you. Onsite Organizing services are available in the Louisville, KY area and Virtual Organizing services are offered for clients in other locations and for those who prefer to work online. Visit pinkyjackson.com to learn about our services and schedule a free assessment.
Photo: Kaboompics @karola-g
