16 | ADHD Got the Best of Me: How I Lost Our Family’s Important Documents
Three months. That’s how long it took me to find the most important documents my family needed. And let me tell you—those were three very long months.
If you’ve ever torn your house apart looking for something you know you put in a “safe place,” you’re going to relate to this story.
The Story: Losing Our Important Documents
At the end of every school year, our counselor runs an escape room activity for the students. Each year, she borrows my fireproof box because it locks with a key.
No problem! I take everything out, put my important documents in a bag, and let her use the empty box. Simple, right?
Fast forward a few weeks, and I need those documents. They should be in one of two places:
The fireproof box (nope, it was empty).
The office (nope, not there either).
Cue the panic.
I checked every single stash of important papers in my house. I dug through every bin, drawer, and folder. At one point, I even considered calling Goodwill to ask if my documents had accidentally ended up in a donation bag.
This went on for three. whole. months.
Then, one random day, I was about to Snapchat my friends a picture of a Kid Rock concert shirt I had planned to wear. The shirt had been late arriving, so it was hanging on a hook in my closet. As I moved some clothes out of the way for a better picture, there it was—the missing bag of documents.
I knew immediately what had happened.
I had put the bag there on purpose so it wouldn’t be in my way. And then, when it was out of sight… it was out of mind.
Facepalm.
ADHD, Organization, and Why Labels Save My Sanity
Forgetting things is just part of how my ADHD brain works. Even though I have systems in place to keep things organized, my brain still loves to hide things from me. And once I had kids, this forgetfulness went next level.
I realized, in that moment of finding the missing bag, this is why my entire house is labeled.
Why Labeling Works
It saves brain energy. You don’t have to remember where something goes—you just follow the label.
It eliminates arguments. If there’s a label, no one can question where something belongs.
It reduces frustration. No more searching for lost items because they always have a designated home.
How to Start Labeling (Without Going Overboard)
If you don’t already label things in your home, start small! Here are three easy ways to integrate labeling into your space:
1. Prioritize High-Traffic Areas
The best places to start are the spaces you use the most:
Bathroom: Label drawers for makeup, first aid, and extra toiletries.
Entryway: Label bins for shoes, backpacks, and mail.
Kitchen: Label shelves for snacks, spices, and pantry staples.
2. Use Labels to Solve Recurring Problems
Think about the things your family always misplaces or the areas that get messy quickly.
Lost chapsticks? Label each chapstick you have with a sharpie for your purse, car, and nightstand.
Remote controls disappearing? Label a small basket to store them in plain site.
3. Keep Labels Temporary and Flexible
Labels don’t have to be fancy or permanent! Use sticky notes, painter’s tape, or dry erase labels until you figure out what works best for you.
The best part: If your labels aren’t helping, switch them up! Nothing is set in stone.
Lessons Learned: Find Systems That Work for YOU
Losing my family’s most important documents was a wake-up call. Even as someone who loves organizing, I still need foolproof systems to work with my brain, not against it.
Labeling is my safety net. It gives me an automatic answer to where I should put something when I’m trying to put things away.
Everyone loses stuff at some point. The key is to learn from it and adjust your systems.
Find what works for you. If you constantly lose something, try to figure out a real solution.
Need Help Organizing Your Home?
If you’re tired of losing things and want a simple system to keep your home in order, I’d love to help!
Send me a picture of a space in your home that needs help organizing, and I’ll send you a FREE 60-second video with personalized tips to streamline it. Click here to submit your photo!
Tell me—what’s the worst thing you’ve ever lost in your house? Share your story in the comments or DM me on Instagram @megansmithstressless!
