📁 ADHD-Friendly Document Filing System

❓ Quick Check

Can you find these in 5 minutes? - ✅ Birth certificate - ✅ Rental agreement - ✅ School reports

If you said NO to any → This system is for you!

🎯 THE GOAL

Simple. Easy. No overthinking. - Zero stress filing - Find things fast - Actually use it (because it's fun!) - Super cheap to set up

🛒 SHOPPING LIST

✅ Get These Items:

1. 📦 One shoe box (fits A4 paper)
2. 🖨️ Label printer (makes it fun! Check eBay for cheap ones)
3. 📇 Index cards + pen
4. 📄 100-200 plastic sleeves (open top + side, NOT hole-punched)
5. 📚 3-4 magazine holders (add more as needed)

📋 WHAT COUNTS AS A DOCUMENT?

✅ Keep These:

• Birth certificate, contracts, bills
• Receipts for warranty items
• Insurance papers
• Important letters

❌ Don't Keep These:

• Magazines you'll read once
• Old expired warranties
• Random junk mail

🤔 Not sure? → When in doubt, throw it out!

📦 STEP 1: THE DUMP BOX

The Rule:

Every document goes in the shoe box. Period.

Why This Works:

• ✅ Zero effort to file
• ✅ Everything in one place
• ✅ No more lost papers
• ✅ No more piles everywhere

Just throw it in the box and forget about it!

📄 STEP 2: PLASTIC SLEEVES

Simple Rules:

• One topic = One sleeve
• Toaster receipt → New sleeve
• All power bills → Same sleeve

Don't Overthink It!

Put document in sleeve. Done.

🏷️ STEP 3: LABELS (THE FUN PART!)

How To Label:

1. Use first word that comes to mind
2. Don't overthink
3. Group similar things:
4. "Insurance - Life"
5. "Insurance - Car"
6. "Insurance - Home"

💡 Pro Tip:

Label printers are addictive! Use it for kitchen spices, storage boxes, everything!

📚 STEP 4: FILING

Super Simple:

Put sleeves in magazine holders alphabetically.

That's it.

Too full? → Get another holder, split them up.

🔗 STEP 5: CROSS-REFERENCES

Problem:

Motorcycle helmet receipt → Filed under "Motorcycle" But you might search for "Helmet"

Solution:

1. New sleeve labeled "Helmet"
2. Index card inside: "see Motorcycle"
3. Done!

🧹 MAINTENANCE (ONCE A YEAR!)

When shoe box gets full:

Part 1: Clean Out (30 minutes)

• Go through all sleeves
• Toss expired stuff
• Fix any mis-filed items

Part 2: File New Stuff (1 hour)

• Empty shoe box
• Put documents in correct sleeves
• Make new sleeves as needed
• Sort into magazine holders

💡 Can't Finish?

No problem! Put everything remaimimg back in shoe box. Cotinue later.

⚡ POWER TIPS

✅ DO:

• Keep it simple
• Use the shoe box liberally
• Have fun with the label printer
• Do maintenance when box gets full

❌ DON'T:

• Overthink labels
• Stress about perfect filing
• File everything immediately
• Make it complicated

🔥 Bonus:

Use index cards for objects too! "Washing Machine" sleeve → Card says "Transport clamps in garage, shelf 2"

🎉 WHY IT WORKS FOR ADHD BRAINS

• Low effort → Actually use it
• Visual system → Easy to see progress
• Flexible → Can pause/resume anytime
• Instant gratification → Label printer is fun!
• No perfect system required → Good enough works!