It’s About Understanding, Not Perfection: Six Tips to Stay Organized
Staying organized comes naturally to some people. But, for others, it can feel like a constant juggling act.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate the unique strengths, talents, and diversity of autistic individuals and to promote inclusion and understanding. Some autistic people face unique challenges with organization, from managing routines to keeping track of time and tasks, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.
At Mosaic, our behavior analysts assess needs, develop practical strategies, and partner closely with care providers through training and ongoing coaching so supports can be carried out in daily life.
Nancy Potter, Director of Clinical Mental Health & Behavioral Services, said the goal is to build caregiver confidence and create systems that are simple, sustainable, and effective for the person supported.
“We place a strong emphasis on helping caregivers build routines and environments that naturally support follow-through,” Potter said. “This might include brief daily planning check-ins, end-of-day resets, reducing visual clutter in key spaces, or using timers and alarms to structure work time and transitions. Our behavior analysts also work with caregivers to notice patterns in attention and energy, so they can better match more demanding tasks with times when the individual is most focused.”
Potter added that when challenges arise, they help caregivers develop simple, practical strategies to use in the moment, such as taking the first small step or narrowing the focus to just one priority.
Organization is not about being perfect. Potter said it’s about people understanding what makes it challenging for them or the person they support, then finding simple ways to make it easier.
Potter offers these six techniques to stay organized:
1. Write it down.
Relying on memory alone can increase stress and missed tasks. Potter said writing things down in a consistent place, such as a notebook or planner, or using a mobile phone app or computer calendar, reduces cognitive demand and improves follow-through.
2. Create a “home base” for tasks.
Keeping tasks in multiple locations (email, sticky notes, apps) increases disorganization. Potter said having a single, trusted system supports planning and reduces task loss. For example, when using a notebook or planner to stay organized, be sure to place it in the same location for easy access and to keep it from getting lost
3. Break tasks into small, actionable steps.
Large or vague tasks can make it difficult to get started, so Potter suggests breaking them into smaller steps to get the ball rolling and keep the momentum. Additionally, focusing on one to three high-priority tasks and pairing them with specific times (or calendar blocking) can help with completion and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
4. Build consistent routines.
Having a predictable routine, such as start-of-day planning and end-of-day review times, can reduce decision fatigue and support organizational effectiveness over time. Potter said using timers to structure work periods is helpful for maintaining focus and transitions between activities.
5. Remove unnecessary distractions.
Keeping a space that’s free of distraction is key to staying organized. Reducing clutter and noise can help a person stay focused because there are not multiple demands on a person’s attention, Potter said.
6. Align tasks with energy levels.
Some people are early birds, while others are night owls. When making that to-do list, keep in mind that cognitive performance fluctuates throughout the day, so be sure to match high-demand tasks with peak focus times to improve efficiency, Potter said.
Potter said these organizational strategies have been just as helpful for caregivers as they are for the individuals Mosaic supports.
“Many caregivers find that using these tools in their own lives—keeping tasks in one place, setting timers to stay on track, or building a quick morning planning routine—makes it easier to model and teach them consistently,” she said. “For instance, someone who tends to get pulled into “rabbit trails,” like me, might use phone alarms as cues to shift attention or wrap up a task. When caregivers experience these strategies working for themselves, it strengthens their ability to support others. Over time, this shared approach helps create more organized, predictable, and supportive environments across the home.”
Mosaic provides services to nearly 5,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other diverse needs across 12 states in more than 825 communities. These services enable people to thrive in their communities, hold jobs, gain autonomy, and accomplish other goals and dreams that are meaningful to them. To locate services near you, visit Find Services.