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PSA: If you have ADHD and your work/living spaces tend to be messy and also you often forget that some of your possessions exist, this is a deficit of "object permanence" which is the cognitive ability to know things exist even when you can't see them. Coping mechanisms below. /1 https://twitter.com/MeghanEBLin/status/1290379377772027905
Some techniques for managing an object permanence deficit:
- accept that you are "messy" for Valid Reasons. stop evaluating yourself by norms that don't serve you.
- Consider removing cupboard/closet doors or installing clear ones.
- keep clothes visible with a rack or hooks
- accept that you are "messy" for Valid Reasons. stop evaluating yourself by norms that don't serve you.
- Consider removing cupboard/closet doors or installing clear ones.
- keep clothes visible with a rack or hooks
- avoid filing systems, drawers, closed boxes. Things need to stay visible. For my partner, I like to use baskets and little open boxes. Everything in its place, not necessarily everything out of sight.
- Just let your favourite pantry items live out on the counter. It's OK.
- Just let your favourite pantry items live out on the counter. It's OK.
- when cooking, put things on a timer. even if you don't need one. This is so you don't wander away and forget about your food while it's cooking. Sometimes it helps to just cook everything in an instant pot or slow cooker as it has the timer function built in.
Update: not everyone calls this an object permanence deficit, some consider it a working memory problem. Thank you to those people who found a way to mention this without attacking everything I said. The point is, it is a thing people with ADHD commonly struggle with.
- may not work for everyone, but try to have a spot within arm's reach of your entryway where you can drop keys, pens, sunglasses, change. Then you just have to trait yourself that those items Always Live There and you can find them easier.
[Alt: My Sushi Plate Where Keys Live]
![- may not work for everyone, but try to have a spot within arm's reach of your entryway where you can drop keys, pens, sunglasses, change. Then you just have to trait yourself that those items Always Live There and you can find them easier.[Alt: My Sushi Plate Where Keys Live]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeiBtMCUYAE5vQE.jpg "- may not work for everyone, but try to have a spot within arm's reach of your entryway where you can drop keys, pens, sunglasses, change. Then you just have to trait yourself that those items Always Live There and you can find them easier.[Alt: My Sushi Plate Where Keys Live]")
[Alt: My Sushi Plate Where Keys Live]
