046

Written By The Common Nest .
 

Struggling to Manage Home Tasks?

ADHD-Friendly Strategies for Task Management & Prioritization

Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed by all the tasks that come with managing a home? Maybe you struggle to get started, lose track of time, or constantly wonder what you should tackle first. You’re not alone. Many people—especially those with ADHD or executive functioning challenges—find home management exhausting and frustrating.

The good news? You can work with your brain instead of against it. By understanding how executive functioning impacts your ability to manage tasks and using simple, ADHD-friendly strategies, you can create routines that actually stick.

In this post, we’re diving into the five biggest executive functioning challenges related to home management and practical solutions to help you feel more in control of your daily tasks.

Why Executive Functioning Challenges Make Home Management Hard

Executive functioning skills are the mental processes that help us plan, organize, prioritize, and follow through on tasks. When these skills are challenged—whether due to ADHD, stress, or simply being overwhelmed—managing home responsibilities can feel impossible.

Here are five common struggles that can make home tasks overwhelming:

  1. Task Initiation – Knowing what to do but struggling to actually start.

  2. Time Awareness – Losing track of time or underestimating how long things take.

  3. Managing Tasks – Keeping track of all the moving pieces in home life.

  4. Prioritizing – Figuring out what’s most important and what can wait.

  5. Long-Term Planning – Creating sustainable routines and systems that work.

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. But there are ways to make things easier!

Practical Strategies for Managing Tasks & Prioritization

Task Initiation: The 5-Minute Rule

If getting started feels impossible, try the 5-Minute Rule: tell yourself you only have to do a task for five minutes. This small commitment reduces resistance, and once you start, it’s often easier to keep going.

Try This: Set a timer for five minutes and start one small task, like loading the dishwasher or folding one piece of laundry.

Time Awareness: Use Visual Timers

Time blindness is a common struggle. Using visual timers—like the Time Timer or Pomodoro technique—can help you stay on track.

Try This: Set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a 5-minute break.

Managing Tasks: Brain Dump & Categorize

When everything is swirling in your mind, it's hard to know where to start. A brain dump—writing everything down—helps clear mental clutter.

Try This: Write down all your tasks, then categorize them into three lists:

  • Must Do (urgent)

  • Should Do (important but flexible)

  • Want to Do (nice to have)

Prioritizing: The "Next Right Thing" Method

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the next right thing—the one task that will have the biggest impact.

Try This: Ask yourself, “What’s the most important thing I can do right now that will make everything else easier?”

Long-Term Planning: Create Simple Routines

Overcomplicated routines often fail. Instead, focus on small, repeatable habits that simplify home management.

Try This: Use the Holistic Home Plans & Routines to structure your day with simple, manageable routines.

Work With Your Brain, Not Against It

If you struggle with managing home tasks, remember: it’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter. By understanding how executive functioning affects your ability to start, manage, and prioritize tasks, you can create systems that actually work for you.

Start small, experiment with these strategies, and remember: progress is better than perfection.

Listen to full episode here: Apple Podcast | Spotify

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Work with Christy:

The Holistic Home Method:  https://www.thecommonnest.com/holistichome

Love Your Home: https://www.thecommonnest.com/loveyourhome

Book a FREE Discovery Call https://calendly.com/tcn-christy/30min

The Common Nest Collective: https://www.thecommonnest.com/collective


You can find more from The Common Nest here:

Website: https://www.thecommonnest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonnest/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecommonnest/

The Common Nest .
Previous

047
Next

045