The Importance Of A Functional Space

Having a neat and functional work and living space doesn't just feel good; It is also essential for ADHD Symptom Management. It impacts our emotions, our focus, and our ability to effectively manage tasks. A well-designed space can make a huge difference in managing symptoms and boosting wellbeing.

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Reducing Overwhelm (and the resulting procrastination)

Have you ever wanted (or needed) to start a task, taken the time to muster up the internal strength to finally get up, only to be overwhelmed by the amount of clutter - which meant that now you have to do an additional task before you can start the task you originally needed to do. Probably, at this point, the sense of overwhelm is likely to wash over you, and your mind (understandably) starts to look for ways to avoid this really uncomfortable feeling.  Enter procrastination -   I'll do it later/tomorrow when I have more energy.  If this scenario is familiar to you, you probably already know the impact of procrastination in your life.

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Reducing a sense of overwhelm, and the resulting procrastination that arises from experiencing overwhelm, is a common experience of those with ADHD or Executive Functioning Difficulties.  While part of this can be addressed with specific interventions, the impact that environment has on this process cannot be underestimated.

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Sensory Overload

Being sensitive to sensory input, such as visual stimuli (lights, clutter), auditory stimuli (noticing the annoying ticking of a clock, distracted by nearby conversations, or loud ambient sounds/music making it hard to think) or physical stimuli (feeling sensitive to temperature, getting annoyed at that tag on your clothes) are common experiences for those of us with executive functioning difficulties. After all, it is the job of the executive functioning to filter out sensations, and with our executive functioning not performing that job properly, we feel bombarded with stimuli at times.  This experience is often exacerbated when we are tired, emotional, or stressed.

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When we organise our work and living spaces to minimise triggering stimuli by identifying what type of stimulus impacts us negatively, and then by creating your personal, sensory safe space; we can reduce the impact of our environmental sensory input on our executive functioning. 

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A sensorily safe work and living space for you reduces overwhelm, reduces procrastination, and promotes mental health and wellbeing.  This leaves you feeling more calm and capable to tackle that next task on your list. 

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Supporting Executive Functioning

Nobody embodies the saying "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind" better than those of us with ADHD.  Place your keys down somewhere? It's gone - probably sucked into the void; we'll be spending 20 minutes looking for it in a state of panic while running late for our next obligation.  Just refilled your fridge? We'll probably be tossing out some half-rotten food with questionable organisms growing on it because we forgot we bought it, which meant we forgot to cook it, and now we have to dispose of it before the organisms start gaining sentience.  

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Make your environment work for you - Increased Organisation and Structure helps us by minimising the pressure on our executive functioning.  We don't have to spend time thinking about how to tidy up when each item has a 'home' that makes sense to our processes and needs.  Visual cues at 'pain points' negate the "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind" phenomenon described above.

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Visual Supports (with Colour!) also helps by making things clear and organised at a glance.  It helps us keep track of time, tasks, and priorities.

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Let us help you make your environment work for you by supporting your executive functioning.​​​