7 Steps to Put Things Away in the Same Place Every Time — Even if You Have ADHD

Put things in the same place every time.

Great advice, if you can follow it.

Many people with ADHD struggle to implement this.

Here are 7 steps to actually make this work — even if you have ADHD.

Follow this process for any object that you seem to lose or misplace often:

7 Simple Steps to Put Things Away in the Same Place Every Time

(1) Designate the place you’re going to keep it

This may sound obvious, but don’t discount it.

Most of the time when we don’t put something in the same place every time it’s because we never consciously designated a place for it.

If it’s something like your keys, or anything else that you take with you from one location to another, you may need to designate multiple places. You can have one place in your house, and you also need a place to put them when you’re out of your house.

For example, maybe in your house you designate a hook by the door. I keep a small clip on my keychain. When I leave my house I clip my keys to my water bottle or my bag. Sometimes I clip them to my bra strap, if I’m not carrying anything I can clip them to.

Find the place that will work for you, and decide that this is where you will keep the thing.

(2) Create a ritual around placing it in that place

By “ritual” I don’t mean you have to light a candle and say a prayer.

What I mean is create a process you have for it that is very intentional. It’s like creating a habit, but without the automaticity of habits

• identify a trigger event that will prompt you to put the object in its place
• name the action to perform in response to the trigger
• carry it out
• reap the reward of knowing where the object is

Sticking with the example of the hook for your keys.

• Designate the place for the hook, ideally by the door, and put the hook there.
• Identify the Trigger: you walk through the door
• Action: the key goes on the hook

Sounds simple enough, but there’s a lot of room for things to go wrong. Here are some more steps to follow to make sure you can carry this out.

(3) Make up a song about it

Even the most forgetful person knows the lyrics to their favorite songs, right? Same idea.

We remember things better in music, so make up a song with a simple lyric and a simple tune.

In this example, your song can be as simple as “the key goes on the hook.” You are not trying to win a Grammy here. You’re just creating a little memory song.

(4) Sing the song as you approach the trigger event

As you’re walking up to your house, or walking down the block, sing your song.

Out loud.

Yes, it matters. You need to hear it and sing it. Get it into your head.

(5) The Trigger Event: Set Your Intention

Just before the trigger event, set your intention again.

You’re at the door. Before you put the key into the keyhole, look at it and sing the song or remind yourself: the key goes on the hook.

Say it out loud.

Open the door. Take the key out of the key hole. Look at the key again.

Again, remind yourself — out loud — the key goes on the hook.

(6) Carry Out the Action: Place the object in its spot

Again, this may seem obvious — unless you’ve had the experience of carrying an object with you even after reminding yourself to put it in its place.

Actually put the key on the hook.

(7) Reinforce the Action

Look at the key on the hook and sing your song again. Out loud.

This will reinforce it for you.

Eventually you can do these steps without singing the song. When you start, sing the song every time, and even at others times, to get it in your head.

Summary: How to Put Things in The Same Place Every Time

This works for everything.

• designate a place for the object
• identify a trigger event to prompt you to put it away
• identify the action you’ll take
• create a song about it
• reaffirm your intention – out loud
• follow through
• reaffirm the action you took – out loud