Claire is retired and lives with her husband who works full time. They have a dog and a cat and they travel often. Their adult son no longer lives with them but they remain close and see him often. Claire’s schedule is full. She volunteers, maintains a large home, cares for her pets, and is an active member of her local women’s club. Claire often hosts gatherings at her home with friends and colleagues. She also wants to renovate her entire home.
Claire is disorganized and was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She struggles with staying focused. Claire is a very social person and would rather be around people than do mundane tasks. Often she doesn’t have the motivation to manage things around the house. However, if she wants to renovate her home she needs to be organized. Claire found information on Sara online and contacted her.
Phase 1 – The Organizing Assessment
Claire gave Sara a tour of her home and they discussed the goals Claire had for herself and her renovation. During the assessment, it was clear Claire enjoys the simple act of sharing her ideas and thoughts. However, it was also clear when it came time to plan Claire needed support. Areas of the home were cluttered because Claire feels overwhelmed and stuck and frankly hates organizing. Sara and Claire developed a plan.
Phase 2 – Declutter and Organizing Sessions
Sessions would start and continue on a regular basis. Sessions would be brief. No more than 4 hours. They would organize a small area and plan for the week so Claire had a to-do list to follow. Each session Sara would check in on the to-do list. Together Claire and Sara would adjust the to-do list, and do as much as they could during each session. This might entail going through one closet, then putting the closet back together when they met the following session. A session might also include sorting mail, filing, paying bills, planning for an upcoming event or travel, shopping, researching a service provider, running errands, making phone calls, wrapping and mailing gifts, and so much more. Sometimes Claire was traveling and Sara could manage certain tasks without Claire at home.
Phase 3 – The Results of Getting Organized with ADHD
Claire felt she was finally getting things done. Her to-do lists where completed and she was seeing progress throughout her home. She had complete and total trust in Sara to handle matters on her behalf when necessary. Claire felt she had a partner and someone who understood her ADHD brain and how she worked. She loved the flexibility in their session schedule.
Phase 4 – Getting Organized to Prepare for a Renovation
Claire had a desire to renovate her home and she knew the task would be monumental. She sought Sara’s assistance and Sara began meeting with Claire’s architect, designer, and contractor. Together, they formed a solid plan to help Claire achieve her goal. The renovation process required Claire and her husband to temporarily move out of their home. Sara helped them pack their essentials for their temporary home and store their belongings safely during the renovation. Sara even took inventory of the stored items to make it easier for them to find what they need during the renovation and for the designer and contractor to build according to their belongings. Claire valued her prized possessions and wanted them to have a home in her new space. Sara was also familiar with Claire’s home and schedule so she was able to handle many stressful tasks like coordinating and communicating with the haulers, storage deliverers, movers, contractors, etc. After the renovation was completed, Sara unpacked all the items and put them away. The unpacking process went smoothly and quickly.
As a result, Claire felt fully supported during a stressful renovation. She had a partner to help her remember the details, and assist with the labor of managing all her stuff. Claire’s items were unpacked and her newly renovated home was functional and looked beautiful!
If you have ADHD we can support you in many ways. Call Sara Jane Organizing at 804-625-4411 or click here to schedule your free phone consultation.
