this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2023
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Neurodivergent Life Hacks

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A place to discuss home organisation, keeping tidy, cooking, general organisation etc. with a view to making our lives easier.

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What little things have you implemented to reduce the cognitive overload of life and/or stay organised?

Some random ones of mine:

  1. "Formulas" to fall back on - outfit formula for when I don't want to think about what to wear, making dinner formula (repetition of what ingredients I buy, very similar meals just with key components changed around)

  2. On the clothes - I prioritise black clothes so that I can throw together outfits easily. I have lots of variants of black top + black bottom.

  3. Write things down somewhere. Immediately. I use thougt capturing apps/ software like Google keep, obsidian but also have used bullet journals or just notebooks with page numbers. I'm currently building a note on obsidian with important info for things I always need to refer to at random times like national insurance number.

  4. Always label files on computer in a logical way. Avoid the urge to name things sjdudnskao as this will only come back to haunt you!

  5. Use lots of key words in emails to myself that I know I will want to search for later.

  6. Assign a specific dumping area for my important stuff that I need to grab in mornings while getting ready for work.

  7. Organise physical items based on being able to easily access them / see them. Many people, me included, need things to be visible otherwise the organisation just doesn't work. I use Marie kondo tips to do this and also lots of tips from neurodivergent groups on fb. I actually try and stack my fridge like Marie kondo stacks clothes. Basically store what I can upright like books rather than one on top of the other. I only "hide" things when I have multiple items and then put the current one to use at the front.

Aaand many more. This is just what came to mind now.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)
  • Use your messy instincts to learn how to organize. If you always place your keys in a certain spot, put a key dish there. If you dump your clothes on/near your bed, get a laundry basket there.

  • Lists are only useful if you look at them, so put them somewhere you can’t avoid. I’m not talking about your fridge: use your phone. Set reminders that stay visible until you mark them completed. If you use Outlook for work, use its reminders liberally and give them realistic deadlines.

  • Most important of all, take your medication if you have some. You wouldn’t stop wearing your glasses because they let you see, so if your medication is working then keep up with it.

[–] Juju 3 points 1 year ago

Yes first one is good. Second one..I am extremely list blind. Looking at list needs to be made into a routine / hobby and I often have to try and use novelty to get it to work hence constantly changing how I do lists which is a bit contradictory with the routine element.

Fridge lists never worked for me. Phone does to an extent until it's not a novelty anymore and it's just ...there. reminders last like a day before I automatically cancel them without reading.