My Brain’s Trying to Adult

So, life, right? It’s like… a Roomba that’s been given a map of the entire universe and told to clean it all by Tuesday. Utter chaos. For me, that chaos was reaching critical mass. I was basically a human tumbleweed of anxiety and misplaced keys. Something had to change. ChatGPT suggested “organization.” It used a lot of words like “structure” and “coping mechanisms.” I mostly read “more things to add to the to-do list.” But, I figured, hey, maybe less chaos would mean fewer meltdowns triggered by, say, the bikes being broken all the time. (Don’t judge. You don’t understand the delicate relationship of my bikes.)

The Holy Trinity of Not Losing It Before Noon

Mornings are crucial. If I don’t start them right, the rest of the day is basically a runaway train hurtling towards a cliff called “Existential Dread.” My morning routine is sacred. I call it “Operation: Don’t Completely Lose It.”

• Health Stuff: Vitamins (because apparently, adults need those), brush teeth (because adulting also means pretending I have my life together), and enough coffee to make it seem I am doing the right thing.
• Mind Control (Lite Edition): Ten minutes of journaling. I mostly write about what I had for dinner and the intricate plotlines of my hyperfixations. Or just this post. I am thankful for that. There, gratitude, check.
• Body Moving: A walk, yoga (where I inevitably fall over at least once), or a workout that makes me question all my life choices. I hate starting workouts. Like, passionately hate. But the post-workout smugness? Addictive. It’s the only socially acceptable way to be smug.

The goal here isn’t peak productivity. It’s more “preventing a complete meltdown before noon.”

The To-Do List: My Frenemy

Ah, the to-do list. My love-hate relationship with this thing is epic. It’s my lifeline and the source of 90% of my stress. Hand writing is essential. Categories are crucial. And a healthy dose of delusional optimism is mandatory. My current list includes gems like:

• Tidying My Space (So My Brain Doesn’t Explode): Cleaning is surprisingly therapeutic. Decluttering my desk is like decluttering my brain. My closet, however, is a portal to another dimension. Do not open.
• Adulting 101: Dentist appointments, passport renewals, and other soul-crushing tasks that prove I’m a “responsible adult.” Future me will judge present me so hard if I don’t do these.
• Fixing Stuff That’s Been Broken Since the Dawn of Time: That deraileur that doesn’t work? Finally fixed it. Felt like I’d conquered Mount Everest. Small victories, people. Small victories.

The to-do list isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about containing the overflowing chaos in my brain.

Leveling Up My Life (One Tiny Step at a Time)

Life isn’t just about crossing things off a list. It’s also about, you know, growing as a person. Which, for me, mostly involves learning how to do things without breaking them. Recent achievements include:

• Adjusting my bike shocks so I don’t feel like I’m auditioning for a stunt show every time I ride.
• Actually exercising regularly. Not just for the physical benefits, but for the mental clarity. And the post-workout nap. Don’t judge.
• Learning to manage my energy. Because turns out, just scheduling stuff isn’t enough. You actually have to have the energy to do the stuff. Who knew?

Progress is slow. Like, glacially slow. But every tiny improvement is a win.

Lessons Learned (Mostly the Hard Way)

My journey to organized-ish has taught me a few things:

1. Small Wins Are Like Tiny Fireworks in My Brain: Even crossing off “make a cup of joe” feels like an accomplishment some days.
2. Routines Are My Security Blanket: They keep me grounded when the world decides to throw a curveball. (Which it does. A lot.)
3. Flexibility is Key (But I Still Prefer Rigidity): Plans change. Life happens. Learning to adapt without having a meltdown is a work in progress.

The End (For Now)

Organizing my life isn’t about achieving some mythical “perfect” state. It’s about creating a system that works for me, a system that’s flexible enough to handle my neurodivergent brain and my love of snacks.

If you’re on your own organizational quest, my advice is: start small. Don’t try to reorganize your entire life in one weekend. Pick one thing. Conquer it. Then pick another. And remember, progress doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be progress.

Also, perfection is a myth. Aim for “slightly less chaotic,” and you’ll be golden.