From Needle-in-a-Haystack to Actually Finding the Needle 🪡

Let me paint you a picture of my office six months ago: paper everywhere, digital files scattered like confetti, and me context-jumping three or four times a day between different clients and different projects.

For an ADHD brain, that is not just messy. That is a full-blown obstacle course before I have even started the actual work.

My office has ALWAYS been my struggle zone. The nature of my work means I am constantly switching lanes, and every switch left another little pile behind. Physical piles. Digital piles. Guilt piles.

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄. 🐛

Cathy

@Cathy A Castagna

@Shani Sherwin

@Judy Hamilton

Four of us, each tackling our own war zone, side by side. Some Body Doubling via AI Harmony and some on WhatAPP - and sometimes 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛. Some of us on paper. Some on the digital jungle. Some of us in boxes packed away for months, years, and some of us getting ready for a life transition/shift. All of us cheering each other on.

With Cathy and Shani, we've been doing some bedroom and kitchen stuff - hahah, I live alone, and do I really need - 42 plates, and bowls, and `18 cups, - some will be packed for those special occassions - you know the one, where Gran used to get the special cutlery, doileys etc out, but some will go to my She Shed - aka Mosaic Mayhem place of wonderment - or pehaps a Greek Dinner party in the waiting,

With Judy, I have been going to war on my files, my paper, my physical AND digital clutter. And here is the honest update: I am not done. Not even close. There is still much to do.

𝗕𝗨𝗧.

My files are so much better. My paper is 60 ish % improved - we both chatted about "old resources" - why do we have them, can I even find them? Are they catelogued (ahaha same as pulled out recipes - someday!!!!) can i get them online now?" Finding what I need does not feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack anymore. It is getting EASIER. And that, for a brain that used to freeze at the sight of my own desk, is enormous.

Here is what body doubling has taught me about clutter: I do not need to blitz it all in one heroic weekend (that fantasy never comes anyway). I need company. I need to celebrate the small wins. I need people who get it, who whoop when I clear one drawer and do not judge the twelve that are left.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲. 💛

To Cathy, Judy and Shani: thank you for making the boring stuff FUN and the daunting stuff doable. We are proof it makes a difference.

Who else is fighting the war on paper right now? Or a overpacked Kitchen? What zone are you tackling? Drop it below, let's cheer each other on. 👇

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From Needle-in-a-Haystack to Actually Finding the Needle 🪡