When you have ADD, one of the keys to completing anything that is tedious or boring is to feel motivated. One way to feel motivated is to think of some good reasons for clearing and de-cluttering. How will the end result improve your life? Will you stop being late for work because it will be easier to find things in the morning? Will you end up with better clothes to wear because they won’t be hidden among all the clothes that you haven’t worn in years? Will your bills get paid on time because they aren’t buried under piles of who knows what? Think of all the late fees you’ll save. Once you come up with good reasons to clear and de- clutter, write them down and post them where you can see them every day.

Another helpful approach to the process is to make it as interesting and stimulating as possible. “Ha,” you may say. “That will never happen.” But with a little imagination, it can. I know someone who plays music she loves and dances around the room while she clears. It’s pretty funny to see her throwing her arms in the air and bobbing her head to the music while she picks clothes up off the floor and tosses crumpled papers away. Someone else might find de-cluttering more interesting with a “clutter friend.” Invite a non-judgmental friend over to talk with you while you go through drawers or clear off surfaces. After a half hour or 40 minute session, go out to dinner or a movie. Rewards are always motivating. Make a deal with yourself that after you work on a section of a room for a specified amount of time, you can eat some chocolate, watch T.V., play on the computer, take a bike ride, go shopping, or whatever turns you on.

After you’ve figured out techniques to make the process less boring, here are some ideas about how to go about de-cluttering. The first tip in getting rid of clutter is to start with small, achievable areas; a closet floor or a drawer in your kitchen. The second tip is to stick with one or two small areas until they are cleared, before you go on to anywhere else. Designating two small areas to tackle gives you some variety. If you get bored with the first, you can go on to the second. And then back to the first. And the third tip is, when working alone, de-clutter in short spurts of time, from 10 minutes to a half hour. Set a timer to go off every so often to keep you on track.

There are four ways to get rid of something you don’t want or need:

• Donate it.
  
• Sell it.
  
• Give it away.
  
• Throw it away.

Lots of people have a hard time letting go of stuff. Remember, not everyone needs five staplers. And, if you can’t decide what to do with an item of clothing, try it on and stand in front of the mirror. If you laugh or get depressed, say goodbye to it!

Here are six questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to keep something:

1. Am I saving it because I may need it someday, even though I can’t remember the last time I used it?
   
2. Is it broken and I’ve been planning to get it fixed for more than six months?
   
3. Do I have duplicates of the same item, and could get really get by with just two of them? Okay, or three?
   
4. Does it have special significance to me – does having it enhance my life or make me feel good?
   
5. How would I feel if it were gone?
   
6. Would it be easier to let it go if I gave it to someone who could really use and appreciate it?