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ADHD and Donating Your Stuff
Folks don’t give themselves enough credit for how many unpleasant and executive function requiring steps it is to successfully get a box to a reseller or charity. We can fall into the trap of feeling like the emotional work of sorting out stuff to give away means it’s the hard part, when in fact, that’s hard but not the sticking point for folks with adhd type issues.
Can I help you get it done? I finally got a few items from my garage out after several years of sitting in boxes taking up prime garage real estate.
1. Identify someone who will take your stuff. For me, it was a local nonprofit called Family Services. I picked them entirely because they take everything including working but old electronics, and had good drop off hours. My husband pointed out that our main goal was get stuff out to someone who will keep it out of landfill, and other than avoiding salvation army, I was wasting time trying to identify the best charity.
2. Find their drop off hours. If it’s not listed online, find someone else. If hours aren’t going to allowed you to drop off within a week, find someone else. Don’t waste your time with anyone without regular posted hours.
4. Decide what day this week you can drop stuff off. Set an alarm on your phone. Set a back up alarm.
5. Put boxes on front seat in your car. Excess ones can go in back seat. This is deliberate to annoy you. Put the boxes in as soon as possible, do not wait until the day you plan to drop them off. If you don’t have a car, put them in front of your front door or something similar.
6. Go drop stuff off. Yes, you may have to talk to strangers. However, remember they actually want your stuff, and are happy you have brought it to them. You are not bothering them. Some places you can just leave it without speaking to anyone.
7. Anyone who tells me they did this before the end of the year will get $10 dreamwidth credit in their account until my $100 runs out. Why a reward? Because my parenting a kid with ADHD book say tangible immediate rewards help, as internal reward system is insufficient to motivate. This may explain much of my (undiagnosed) childhood difficulties.
Can I help you get it done? I finally got a few items from my garage out after several years of sitting in boxes taking up prime garage real estate.
1. Identify someone who will take your stuff. For me, it was a local nonprofit called Family Services. I picked them entirely because they take everything including working but old electronics, and had good drop off hours. My husband pointed out that our main goal was get stuff out to someone who will keep it out of landfill, and other than avoiding salvation army, I was wasting time trying to identify the best charity.
2. Find their drop off hours. If it’s not listed online, find someone else. If hours aren’t going to allowed you to drop off within a week, find someone else. Don’t waste your time with anyone without regular posted hours.
4. Decide what day this week you can drop stuff off. Set an alarm on your phone. Set a back up alarm.
5. Put boxes on front seat in your car. Excess ones can go in back seat. This is deliberate to annoy you. Put the boxes in as soon as possible, do not wait until the day you plan to drop them off. If you don’t have a car, put them in front of your front door or something similar.
6. Go drop stuff off. Yes, you may have to talk to strangers. However, remember they actually want your stuff, and are happy you have brought it to them. You are not bothering them. Some places you can just leave it without speaking to anyone.
7. Anyone who tells me they did this before the end of the year will get $10 dreamwidth credit in their account until my $100 runs out. Why a reward? Because my parenting a kid with ADHD book say tangible immediate rewards help, as internal reward system is insufficient to motivate. This may explain much of my (undiagnosed) childhood difficulties.