Read more on jimlivingstone.com.au

ADHD: Hard, Made Easier.

ADHD isn't going away, and it's hard. Let's make it less hard.

Here's what every surface in your house is screaming at you:

"Make a decision about me."

That jumper on the chair? Unmade decision.

The mail pile on the bench? Unmade decisions.

The papers scattered around your desk. Unmade decisions.

The random USB cable you keep moving around. Unmade decision.

Clutter isn't mess. It's decision debt.

And for ADHD brains, decision-making hits our weakest spot: executive function.

I spent 30 years in construction watching blokes lose tools, miss deadlines, and blame themselves. They weren't lazy. They were using systems built for different brains.

Then I found Estelle Rose's book "Stop Drowning in Overwhelm" and something clicked. She gets it. She's ADHD. She knows that Pinterest-perfect organisation is bullshit for us.

Here's what actually works:

Rose has a dead-simple system called the Four-Tier Storage System. It's based on one question: How often do you actually use this thing?

Tier 1: Daily Use - "In Plain Sight"

Phone charger. Keys. Meds. The stuff you touch every single day.

Where it lives: Out in the open. No drawers. No hunting.

Tier 2: Regular Use - "Easy Access"

Things you use several times a week. Your go-to cooking utensils. Everyday clothes.

Where it lives: One drawer away. One cabinet door. Minimal effort.

Tier 3: Occasional Use - "Secondary Storage"

Monthly stuff. Special occasion clothes. Hobby supplies you actually use.

Where it lives: Closets, higher shelves, under-bed storage. Still accessible, just not front and centre.

Tier 4: Rare Use - "Deep Storage"

Seasonal gear. Holiday decorations. Things you use 1-2 times a year.

Where it lives: Attic, basement, back of closets. Set a calendar reminder to check these spaces quarterly.

The magic? Stop deciding where things go every single time.

Your brain makes the decision once: "This is a Tier 2 item." Done. Now it always lives in Tier 2 territory.

No more "where should this go?" spirals at 9pm when you're already fried.

Three things to do right now:

1. Pick ONE surface that's driving you mental (kitchen bench, bedroom chair, that one table)

2. Sort everything on it using the four tiers - be brutal about "do I actually use this?"

3. Put Tier 1 items where you can see them. Everything else goes one level deeper.

That's it. Don't reorganise your whole house. Just clear one surface using the system.

I've created a simplified guide to Rose's Four-Tier Storage System with examples for every room, plus her strategies for maintaining it without burning out.

This isn't about becoming a different person. It's about designing systems and spaces that works for the brilliant, chaotic mind you've got.

Your ADHD isn't the problem. The systems you're trying to use are.

P.S. - Full credit to Estelle Rose and her book "Stop Drowning in Overwhelm: Clutter-Free Home, Clear Mind and Productive Life." She's ADHD, she gets it, and her system is designed to work with our brains. Support her work if this helps you.

Respect Yourself 

Jim

[Download your free ADHD Storage System Guide here]

Download your complimentary PDF of the first two chapters.

Download your complimentary PDF of the first couple of chapters.

Or, if you want to buy a copy. 

Want to share this newsletter issue via text, social media, or email? Just copy and paste this link: https://jims-newsletter-51b782.beehiiv.com/p/88510921-5e17-41ac-aabe-fbeec9dae202?draft=true

Expect the Best,

If you’ve got a second, I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. [email protected]  I reply to every email.

This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The content in this newsletter is designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment. Please seek professional help if you believe you may have Mental Health Issues.