Stop Folding Laundry and Put a Bucket by the Door: Environmental Hacks for the AuDHD Holidays
The school holidays are here. If you are an AuDHD parent, your brain is probably already in constant sensory overload, with the noise, the constant snack requests, and the overwhelm of having everyone home.
When we are overwhelmed, standard advice tells us to "get organized." Tidy the house. Batch cook meals.
But when your executive function is already running on fumes, "tidying up" feels like climbing Everest.
This week, we are looking at your environment. But we aren't trying to make it Instagram-perfect. We are trying to lower the demands so you have energy left for the fun stuff.
Here are three ways to set up your environment for an AuDHD reality.
1. The Laundry Revolution: Buckets over Drawers
Let’s be real. How often does clean laundry sit in the basket because the steps required to fold it and put it away are just too many?
Folding is a multi-step executive function task. It's hard.
The new rule for the holidays: Stop folding.
If it’s clean, it’s a win.
Give every member of the family a "Clean Bucket" and a "Dirty Bucket." When clothes come off the line or out of the dryer, toss them in the clean bucket. Done.
Does it look messy? Maybe. Does it save you 3 hours of mental energy a week? Absolutely.
Your environment should serve you, not the other way around.
2. The Front Door "Launch Pad"
The transition out the door is often the highest-stress point of the day. Where are the shoes? Who has the water bottle? I forgot my fidget!
Stop trying to remember it all in your head. You need an "external brain" by the front door. We call this the Launch Pad.
Get a sturdy basket or tub. It doesn't have to be pretty. It just has to hold the essentials that cause panic when they are missing.
3. The Sensory Travel Pack
For our sensory kids (and adults!), leaving the house requires more than just keys and a wallet. It requires safety gear.
If you know a long car ride or a demanding social event is coming up, prep a specific "Sensory Travel Pack."
This is where you put the high-value items that regulate their nervous system.
By having these items pre-packed in a caddy, you aren't frantically searching for them while everyone is already yelling in the car. You are simulating the calm arrival before you even leave.
The Takeaway:
This holidays, look at your environment and ask: "Is this system demanding energy from me, or saving energy for me?" If folding underwear demands energy, stop doing it.
I've created a checklist for these things over on my resources page (plus there's a few new things there to check out). FREE to download if you need some help to get started.
BTW - I wish that I had known about the sensory sack and taking things like the wheat bag (KMart) and a clear water bottle with me when Morgan was little 🤔. The things we learn ae? The sensory sack is available to purchase in my shop.
