Our pet Catos.
This is a short personal blog. It’s about our cat and about his belongings… I feel that I’m reversing the roles today, to be the one needing support to declutter. It’s a complicated story which started out when we got our cat through my brother who lives in Athens and who found him abandoned in his garden a year ago. Catos with his comedy name turned out to be a super fun and sociable, really lovely cat. He was with us for just under a year, but he was also almost always a poorly cat, sneezing, underweight, regular visits to the vets, on and off courses of antibiotics until he became resistant to them and questions of underlying immunocompromised symptoms arose. Towards the end he became too unwell to continue. He stopped eating and last week our vet courageously explained to us that the kindest thing was to have him put down. Wherever you stand on the spectrum of humans’ vs animals or pets, I think we can all sympathise with how hard it is to decide to euthanise a cat to whom the whole family has become very attached. Never mind the eight- and eleven-year-old kids, it’s also myself and my husband who found it hard.
Shortly after I got back from the vets, I emptied the litter tray. I carried some of the first items that couldn’t be donated and were to be thrown away in our outdoor bins and was reminded of the moments we’d bought them, in our happy flurry of consumerism. We were so excited at the prospect of having our first pet in our lives, it made me feel sad about the fast turnaround of these items that had once been necessary functional things, now a year later, made completely redundant, not good enough to rehome.
The second category of Catos’ items was easy to discard because I identified a good home: all the frozen cat food, the biscuits and the litter was to go to my super lovely friend with two kittens. She ended up distributing a lot of it amongst her local groups. In contrast to above, this exchange felt positive. I’ve often seen this same sense of relief in my clients when we’ve identified a good home for an item. It feels like finally, something circularly good has come out of the guilt or shame of discarding something material. And out of this comes that positive, lighter feeling — one that is encouraging to keep going on the decluttering journey.
And now? We’re at home still with our cat basket and squeaky mouse toys lingering in the living room. My son saw the basket a few days after Catos had died and as his memories flooded back, he had a big sob. I felt guilty for not having removed everything out of sight but I didn’t want to feel bad. I think that the process is important, very fortunately for them, this is the first time my kids have encountered any kind of death, and taking the time to feel sad was — in our opinion — part of this learning process. They say the first pet that dies is a valuable life lesson for kids.
So at the moment, we’re caught in a limbo. We have plans to do some nice things with the cat’s material belongings, to choose one of the cat’s toys each, to move the basket into the attic (husband would like a new cat by winter!) and to plant something in the garden, but let’s just be patient for a little while. I think it’s interesting to reflect on the effect this little cat had on us as a family through his belongings and although in a healthy way, I’m looking forward to clearing out our cat’s things and anticipating that moment of closure, we’re not going to rush it either.
(this piece of writing was created without using AI)
Don’t Put It Down — Put It Away: reflections on ADHD and Organising
October is ADHD Awareness Month, and as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about how we organise our homes and lives, it feels like the perfect time to share a few reflections on ADHD and organisation — even if it’s just a small post on a big topic.
How It Started
Several years ago, I took part in a training course on ADHD for professional organisers, run by the brilliant Sarah Bickers from Free Your Space. I signed up because I realised I didn’t know enough about neurodivergence — and I wanted to better understand how different brain processing affects the way we organise our homes and lives.
Fast forward a few years, and around 80% of my clients either are diagnosed with ADHD or strongly suspect they have it. There’s growing recognition that professional organisers can be an invaluable support for ADHDers, offering practical tools and gentle accountability for something that can feel incredibly overwhelming.
And I love working with my ADHD clients — every single one of them. It’s very rewarding to literally see their overwhelm dissipate.
Understanding ADHD
There’s a lot of great information out there about ADHD and neurodivergence. If you’d like to learn more, here are a few excellent starting points:
As ADHD UK explains, ADHD is a difference…
“[…] that is defined through analysis of behaviour. People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning and/or development.”
They also point out that what sets ADHD apart from normal distractibility is the degree, consistency, and impact of those features.
Over the years, I’ve noticed clear patterns in ADHD homes — the same struggles, the same responses to organising tasks — and it’s made me even more confident that what I do genuinely helps.
“Don’t Put It Down — Put It Away”
This phrase came from one of my long-term clients, a creative woman in her 70s who suspects she’s had ADHD all her life. She contacted me after downsizing, and her new home felt chaotic and overwhelming.
When we started, her belongings were scattered everywhere — shoes with skincare products, paintbrushes with calendars — nothing grouped logically. Two years later, the transformation is incredible. Everything now has a home, and the calm in her space reflects in her wellbeing.
Her mantra, “Don’t put it down, put it away,” became our guiding principle. It’s a simple reminder to complete the task now — to resist the distractions that so often derail the process.
This happens regularly: a client sets off to do laundry, gets distracted halfway there, and ends up starting a completely different task. Without gentle guidance or someone to help them to stay focused, ADHD creeps back in quickly.
Why Organising Feels So Hard
ADHD brains are wired for interest and people find organising tireless; others find it genuinely difficult (not being able to see the wood from the trees in clutter) — and when it feels difficult, it can quickly become emotionally heavy. Critical thoughts like “Why can’t I just do this?” or “What’s wrong with me?” start to surface.
The truth is, clutter and disorganisation don’t just affect our physical spaces — they affect our mood and self-motivation. And that’s why small, compassionate steps are so powerful.
Helpful Tips for Organising with (or without) ADHD
Here are a few of my favourite practical helpers:
Set a timer — work in focused bursts.
Play music that gets you in the mood (calm or upbeat).
Tackle one small area at a time.
Make things visible. Be mindful of things getting shoved to the back of cupboards.
Use labels and vertical storage.
Don’t stay in hyperfocus too long (remember your timer).
Keep a plan for items leaving the home.
Jot down ideas that pop into your head so they don’t derail you.
Above all, be kind to yourself. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to move forward.
Compassion and Understanding
Learning more about ADHD helps us all — it allows us to empathise, to suspend judgement, and to support friends, clients, or loved ones with greater compassion.
So this month, take a moment to learn a bit more about ADHD, or to notice how it shows up in your own life or the lives around you. And if you need help? Call me, the professional organiser!
Client Voices
Following a decluttering session spent clearing out her room after years of freelancing and travelling, my ADHD client told me:
“The actual insides of my body and brain feel cleansed and structured. I’ve learned how to create systems that actually work and are sustainable, no matter how here, there and everywhere I feel. I felt completely supported throughout the process — and I’ve already been shouting about Sophie’s praises to everyone I know.” (Seda, North London)
To find out more about how it feels to go through life with ADHD and live with mess and with a messy brain, listen to this podcast with Liv Nunn (The Mess We’re In) and Nat Harrison (Ayama Career Coaching) where For the Love of Things also gets a mention, right at the end! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hNzvsN6HA
October is ADHD Awareness Month, and as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about how we organise our homes and lives, it feels like the perfect time to share a few reflections on ADHD and organisation — even if it’s just a small post on a big topic.
How It Started
Several years ago, I took part in a training course on ADHD for professional organisers, run by the brilliant Sarah Bickers from Free Your Space. I signed up because I realised I didn’t know enough about neurodivergence — and I wanted to better understand how different brain processing affects the way we organise our homes and lives.
Fast forward a few years, and around 80% of my clients either are diagnosed with ADHD or strongly suspect they have it. There’s growing recognition that professional organisers can be an invaluable support for ADHDers, offering practical tools and gentle accountability for something that can feel incredibly overwhelming.
And I love working with my ADHD clients — every single one of them. It’s very rewarding to literally see their overwhelm dissipate.
Understanding ADHD
There’s a lot of great information out there about ADHD and neurodivergence. If you’d like to learn more, here are a few excellent starting points:
As ADHD UK explains, ADHD is a difference…
“[…] that is defined through analysis of behaviour. People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning and/or development.”
They also point out that what sets ADHD apart from normal distractibility is the degree, consistency, and impact of those features.
Over the years, I’ve noticed clear patterns in ADHD homes — the same struggles, the same responses to organising tasks — and it’s made me even more confident that what I do genuinely helps.
“Don’t Put It Down — Put It Away”
This phrase came from one of my long-term clients, a creative woman in her 70s who suspects she’s had ADHD all her life. She contacted me after downsizing, and her new home felt chaotic and overwhelming.
When we started, her belongings were scattered everywhere — shoes with skincare products, paintbrushes with calendars — nothing grouped logically. Two years later, the transformation is incredible. Everything now has a home, and the calm in her space reflects in her wellbeing.
Her mantra, “Don’t put it down, put it away,” became our guiding principle. It’s a simple reminder to complete the task now — to resist the distractions that so often derail the process.
This happens regularly: a client sets off to do laundry, gets distracted halfway there, and ends up starting a completely different task. Without gentle guidance or someone to help them to stay focused, ADHD creeps back in quickly.
Why Organising Feels So Hard
ADHD brains are wired for interest and people find organising tireless; others find it genuinely difficult (not being able to see the wood from the trees in clutter) — and when it feels difficult, it can quickly become emotionally heavy. Critical thoughts like “Why can’t I just do this?” or “What’s wrong with me?” start to surface.
The truth is, clutter and disorganisation don’t just affect our physical spaces — they affect our mood and self-motivation. And that’s why small, compassionate steps are so powerful.
Helpful Tips for Organising with (or without) ADHD
Here are a few of my favourite practical helpers:
Set a timer — work in focused bursts.
Play music that gets you in the mood (calm or upbeat).
Tackle one small area at a time.
Make things visible. Be mindful of things getting shoved to the back of cupboards.
Use labels and vertical storage.
Don’t stay in hyperfocus too long (remember your timer).
Keep a plan for items leaving the home.
Jot down ideas that pop into your head so they don’t derail you.
Above all, be kind to yourself. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to move forward.
Compassion and Understanding
Learning more about ADHD helps us all — it allows us to empathise, to suspend judgement, and to support friends, clients, or loved ones with greater compassion.
So this month, take a moment to learn a bit more about ADHD, or to notice how it shows up in your own life or the lives around you. And if you need help? Call me, the professional organiser!
Client Voices
Following a decluttering session spent clearing out her room after years of freelancing and travelling, my ADHD client told me:
“The actual insides of my body and brain feel cleansed and structured. I’ve learned how to create systems that actually work and are sustainable, no matter how here, there and everywhere I feel. I felt completely supported throughout the process — and I’ve already been shouting about Sophie’s praises to everyone I know.” (Seda, North London)
To find out more about how it feels to go through life with ADHD and live with mess and with a messy brain, listen to this podcast (which has a shout out to FLoT!) with Liv Nunn (The Mess We’re In) and Nat Harrison, ADHD career coach (Ayama Coaching)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hNzvsN6HA