You know the pile I’m talking about.
The crumpled drawings shoved into backpacks. The “All About Me” posters from the first week of school. The glittery construction paper “keepsake” that’s mostly glue.
Then there’s the permission slips, spelling tests, and that random worksheet with a smiley face sticker your kid insists must be saved forever.
It doesn’t take long before it all becomes a mountain.
And if you’re anything like me (ADHD, overwhelmed, trying your best to keep the house from swallowing you whole), that mountain can feel like a silent meltdown waiting to happen.
Don’t forget to save this pin for later! Trust me, you’ll want to come back to these tips when you’re staring at that pile again.
But here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
You don’t need a perfect system. You just need a kind one.
One that you can actually stick with, even on your messiest, most distracted days.
These 12 fixes helped me do exactly that. They’re ADHD-friendly, meltdown-proof, and designed for real moms dealing with real-life chaos.
Whether your kid has ADHD or not, these ideas will help bring back a little peace. And a lot more breathing room.
1. Pick ONE box and let it set the limit
Forget binders. Forget Pinterest-worthy folders.
Just pick one medium tote bin per kid. That’s it.
It could be a file bin, a clear plastic box, whatever feels easy to manage. The key? The container decides how much you keep.
Once it’s full, it’s time to let go of some stuff.
Boundaries like this are lifesavers for ADHD brains. No overthinking, no endless decisions. Just a simple rule that makes the “how much” question disappear.
2. Label by life stage, not school year
Instead of making a new folder for every single grade (which, let’s be real, won’t happen), break the bin into just 4 or 5 big categories:
- Preschool / Kindergarten
- Elementary
- Middle School
- High School
- Other Keepsakes (sports, art camp, that award from piano class)
It’s easier to sort. Easier to maintain. And it actually gets done.
3. Use a “catch-all” bin during the school year
Put a basic bin somewhere accessible. Hallway, mudroom, closet, wherever works.
Let it be the daily drop zone for all school papers. No need to sort right away.
At the end of the week (or month… or whenever you remember), toss what’s trash and keep what matters.
This turns the paper chaos into something temporary. A pause button instead of a panic button.
4. Make sorting a once-a-year summer ritual
Here’s what changed everything for me: making this a summer project, not a daily responsibility.
Each summer, I sit down with the kids. Sometimes solo, if I’m being honest.
We go through the year’s keepsakes together. What stays goes into the labeled bin. What doesn’t? Gone.
It’s low-pressure, kind of nostalgic, and way less stressful than trying to keep up week to week.
5. Let your kids take ownership (eventually)
As your kids get older, give them the power to choose what stays. With one rule: It has to fit in the bin.
It teaches boundaries. It builds independence.
And it takes the pressure off of you to “save everything just in case.”
Younger kids will need help, obviously. But even then, involving them helps the emotional part of letting go feel safer.
6. Toss guilt with the glitter
I used to feel so guilty for not scrapbooking every art project. For not saving every “Mommy, I love you” note.
But here’s the truth: they’re memories, not obligations.
You’re not failing if you throw away some finger paint.
You’re making room (in your house and in your brain) for what really matters.
7. Photograph and toss (your new best friend)
If the guilt is still strong, take a photo before tossing.
It’s so much easier to store digital memories than paper piles.
I started a private photo album called “Kid Keepsakes” on my phone. I snap a pic and let the paper go.
Boom. Memory saved, pile gone.
8. Create a “grab-n-go” memory folder for the emotional gold
Every now and then, your kid brings home something you just can’t toss.
A letter they wrote. A drawing that breaks your heart in the best way.
Keep one simple folder labeled “Mama’s Must-Keeps.” No rules. Just the stuff that hits you in the feels.
Sometimes it’s not about organizing. It’s about holding space.
9. Use color to make it fun (and easier to remember)
ADHD brains love color cues.
Assign each kid a color. Blue for Mason, green for Riley, whatever works.
Get bins, folders, or labels in their color. It makes it easier to stay consistent without needing to read every label each time.
10. Keep supplies minimal (no perfect systems)
You don’t need washi tape, fancy dividers, or a Cricut to make this work.
You need:
- A tote
- A handful of labeled folders
- A Sharpie
- A bin for in-progress stuff
That’s it. More stuff just becomes… more stuff.
11. Remind yourself: less is actually more
The truth? Your kids won’t want 17 bins of their old schoolwork someday.
What they will love: a small, curated box of the best stuff. The things that tell their story.
Let that guide you when you’re choosing what to keep.
12. Start where you are (not where Pinterest says you should be)
Maybe you already have bags of school papers stuffed in closets or under beds.
That’s okay.
Just start with this year. One bin. One kid. One step.
ADHD-friendly systems don’t need to fix the past. They just need to work from today forward.
💛 Final Thoughts
If your kid has ADHD too, these tips still hold up. Maybe even more so.
They’re built around simplicity, routine, and clarity. The exact kind of support both you and your child can rely on.
But at the end of the day, this isn’t about the papers.
It’s about reducing the mental load that comes from being the keeper of everyone’s memories.
You don’t need to be the memory archivist, the scrapbook queen, or the perfectly organized mom.
You just need systems that work. Even when your brain doesn’t.
And the truth is? These 12 little fixes gave me that.
No meltdowns. No guilt spirals. Just a peaceful shelf, a manageable routine, and a whole lot more space to breathe.
You deserve that too.