The Executive Function Support You Didn’t Know You Needed

When you think about hiring an organizer, do you picture beautiful matching containers, Pinterest-worthy pantries, or a perfect system that will fix everything? Is what you really want, though, to just not be so overwhelmed? You’ve got decision fatigue, you don’t know where to start or what to do next, and maybe you have trouble finishing what you start. 

For many people, the clutter itself isn’t the main problem; the root issue may be that you’ve never been taught how to handle your stuff, or lack the executive functioning to organize things the way you’ve been expected to. 

ADHD and Executive Functioning

For adults with ADHD or other executive function challenges, this is especially common. What might look like laziness or lack of discipline is often a difficulty with task initiation, sequencing, or sustained focus.

Lindsey at Clutter to Clarity explains this connection between ADHD and organization beautifully in her post on ADHD organization strategies, especially how supports like body doubling can help people get started when motivation alone isn’t enough.

Today I want to discuss 3 unseen benefits of hiring a professional organizer, especially if you have ADHD or executive functioning challenges. 

Benefit #1: Accountability Without Shame

I’ve had organizing clients in both Valley City and Jamestown who’ve gotten a head start on their decluttering before our session even started, because just having the session on the calendar jump-started their motivation. 

The gentle accountability of having someone work alongside you can keep you from the procrastination loop that has you trapped. Knowing you are not alone can give you a certain amount of energy and empowerment to tackle areas that have kept you feeling stuck. 

I promise there’s a psychological shift that comes from changing “someday” to “tomorrow at 1 p.m.” 

Benefit #2: Externalized Executive Function

We hear about executive function a lot lately, but what actually is it? Executive function is a set of cognitive skills managed by the prefrontal cortex that act as a management system for the tasks of daily living. This includes (but is not limited to) planning, prioritizing, initiating tasks, sequencing, and keeping sustained effort through a project. 

You can lean on or “borrow” these skills from an organizer. A professional organizer (me!) will help you get a project started, break it into manageable steps, and assist in making decisions on your items. Once the decluttering is done, an organizer can help you build the right routines and create visual systems that work. 

That might look like deciding together where to begin instead of staring at an entire basement, or sorting just one category at a time instead of trying to “clean everything.”

Different brains need different systems, and that’s OK! That’s why I’ve always said organizing is not one-size-fits-all. Imagine the relief of not having to do it all on your own. 

Benefit #3: Personalized Systems

If one organizing system worked for everyone, we’d all be perfectly organized! But our brains, homes, and lives are all different. 

The systems in your home and office should work with your lifestyle, not against it. Hidden storage works great for some people, while others (especially those with ADHD) need visible systems. An organizer can help identify areas of friction and create sustainable systems. 

Solving small problems like mail stacks or lost permission slips can make a huge difference, and an organizer can help observe patterns and find real solutions. 

Organizing as Support, Not Perfection

Hiring an organizer isn’t only a luxury for those who have it all together and just want everything decanted. It can also be support for people who are juggling a lot. Busy parents, entrepreneurs, caregivers can all benefit from some extra support. Those with neurodivergence can find systems that actually work for them with the help of a good professional organizer. 

Sometimes clarity comes from owning less. And sometimes it comes from not having to carry the mental load alone.

Hi! I’m Ashley.

I help overwhelmed people move from clutter to clarity.

I tailor my service to the unique needs of my clients in order to turn disorder into order. Click here to contact me for a complimentary consultation.