Jun 21
Many listeners and A-OK students have suggested I invite author Lisa Woodruff onto the podcast, and after this incredible conversation with her it’s clear why they were so insistent. Lisa is an author, former teacher, and parent who has spent the last 20 years researching ADHD and applying solutions to support executive functions in our home life. Not only are her ideas about home organization unique, such as organizing by the stages of life and a time-saving “Sunday Basket” system, but her approach to teaching contains so much kindness and understanding that home organization starts to feel possible.
In this episode Lisa takes us through her systems and why they work so well for ADHDers, shares the script she taught her own children to use when they’re feeling overwhelmed by where to start, and explains why we need to stop using our incredible computer brains as to-do lists. Lisa believes we should all be spending as little time as possible doing household work so we can live our unique callings in life and I couldn’t agree more.
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"Your brain is the most fabulous computer ever created and it is there for synthesizing information from one industry to the next so that you can create something that will move humanity forward, it’s not to remember to give your dog flea and tick medicine."
- Lisa Woodruff
"I just want everybody listening to listen through the lens of grace; you are doing enough, you are amazing, what you are providing is not reflective on when your dishes are done or how often you change your bedsheets."
- Lisa Woodruff
"I looked at all the executive functions, task initiation being a big one, like how do you get started? And adults will often say, ‘I can’t get started organizing.’ That’s usually not true, you can get started, you just don’t know what to do next because there are so many things to do when you are organizing a room."
- Lisa Woodruff
- Lisa shares her journey of learning about executive function and organization, despite not having ADHD.
- Lisa explains executive functions and how ADHD brains struggle with organization.
- Lisa shares her experience teaching her children to organize their bedrooms, highlighting the importance of executive functions like task initiation and self-monitoring.
[22:43 - 31:20] Life Stages and Home Organization
- Lisa explains that in one's 40s and 50s, the accumulation phase ends and a new phase begins, characterized by decluttering and organization, as well as increased mobility and responsibility for older family generations.
- Lisa discusses the concept of "Sundae Baskets," a way to organize items based on their importance and frequency of use, regardless of a person's stage of life.
- Lisa explains that people of all ages can benefit from her organizing methods, which involve reorganizing four times in a person's life.
- Lisa shares her passion for photo preservation and organizing, emphasizing the importance of documenting memories and family history.
- Lisa shares her struggles with organizing family photos, feeling overwhelmed by the task and anxious about not doing it "right."
- Lisa shares her struggles with organization and ADHD, mentioning the importance of prioritizing tasks and not relying solely on her brain for memory.
Instagram: @organize365
Website: Organize 365
Podcast: Organize 365 Podcast
Book mentioned: Phases of Life by Neil Howe
