10 ADHD Office Hacks That Help With Focus (These WORK)

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Have you ever found yourself staring at your workspace, feeling overwhelmed before you’ve even started your day? Maybe you’ve tried organizing your office the way “normal” people do, only to watch it descend into chaos within days (or let’s be honest—hours).

As an ADHD coach and entrepreneur, I’ve learned that creating a workspace that actually works for our neurodivergent brains means throwing out the conventional rulebook and designing a space that leverages our unique strengths instead of fighting against them.

Ready to transform your workspace into an ADHD sanctuary? Let’s dive into what actually works, not what’s supposed to work.

1. Embrace Clear Storage (Because “Out of Sight” Really Is “Out of Mind”)

Let’s be real—traditional storage solutions are where ADHD items go to die. If you can’t see it, it might as well not exist in your ADHD brain.

Clear storage containers aren’t just an aesthetic choice—they’re a necessity. When you can visually scan your supplies without opening drawers or bins, you’re working with your brain’s visual processing strengths instead of fighting your working memory challenges.

Try this: Replace cardboard boxes and opaque containers with clear alternatives. Label everything—not because you “should,” but because your future self will thank you when you’re in hyperfocus and need that specific charger RIGHT NOW.

2. Design Your Space for Movement (Because Stillness Is the Enemy of Focus)

That fidgeting you do? It’s not a distraction—it’s your brain’s way of staying engaged. Traditional office setups that force stillness are working against your natural brain wiring.

Instead of fighting your need for movement:

• This ADHD chair is SO SO GOOD!! If you need to move around a ton when you’re working – this will not disappoint and I love the fabric.
• Add a standing desk option – I bought this one and assembled it myself. Inexpensive and does the job.
• Keep fidget tools within arm’s reach. This is not something that works for me, but I know it’s helpful for some.
• If space allows, get yourself a walking pad. I bought this one last year and it has been a huge help when doing admin work (I need to sit down for focused work).

Remember: movement isn’t a distraction—it’s fuel for your ADHD brain’s focus engine.

3. Create a Sensory-Friendly Environment (Without Going Overboard)

Your ADHD brain processes sensory information differently, which means traditional office environments can be overwhelming sensory battlegrounds.

I’ll be honest: I can’t work in complete silence (hello, racing thoughts!), but too much noise sends me into overstimulation. Finding that sensory sweet spot is crucial:

• Keep noise-canceling headphones handy for when the world gets too loud
• Experiment with background sounds—many of us focus better with white noise, nature sounds, or instrumental music
• Adjust lighting to reduce eye strain—natural light works wonders, but if that’s not possible, try full-spectrum sun lighting
• Have a variety of seating options for different types of tasks. So, to my earlier point, when I’m watching a video recording, editing a video or doing other light tasks, I’ll use my walking pad. For deeper concentration work, I use my ADHD chair.

4. Set Up a Distraction-Free Zone (While Acknowledging Distractions Are Inevitable)

Let’s be realistic—a completely distraction-free environment is a neurotypical fantasy. But we can create spaces that minimize our personal distraction triggers.

Position your desk away from high-traffic areas if possible. Keep your primary work screen facing a wall rather than a window or doorway. Use website blockers during deep work sessions. And most importantly—forgive yourself when distractions happen anyway, because they will.

I wish I was the type of person who can work at a coffee shop, but the reality is – I need way too much control over my space to be focused, so my home office is where I do my best work.

5. Leverage Technology and Apps That Work With Your Brain

Technology can be either our greatest ally or our biggest distraction. The trick is choosing tools specifically designed for how our brains operate:

• Use task managers that give you the absolute pleasure of ticking things off (am I the only one who loves this?). My favorite is Notion. OMG, I love this software.
• Set up automated reminders for recurring tasks
• Try time-tracking apps to build awareness of how you actually spend your time – I’ve been playing with Clockify lately.
• Use voice-to-text for capturing ideas when typing feels like too much. I use Chatgpt and Claude.ai mobile apps for this.

6. Implement Visual Schedules and Reminders (Where You Actually See Them)

Traditional planners and to-do lists often become invisible to our ADHD brains. Instead, make important information impossible to ignore:

• Use a large wall calendar or whiteboard for big-picture planning
• Try color-coding different types of tasks or projects
• Place sticky notes in unusual places where you’ll actually notice them
• Create visual cues for routine tasks (like a special mug that reminds you to do something important…. like this 😜)

7. Use Color Psychology to Your Advantage

Colors aren’t just decorative—they speak directly to our emotionally responsive ADHD brains:

• Blues and greens promote calm focus
• Yellow and orange can boost creativity and energy
• Red can increase alertness (but use sparingly as it can also trigger stress)

Paint an accent wall, add colored desk accessories, or simply use colored folders to categorize different types of work.

8. Personalize Your Space for Motivation and Dopamine

Our ADHD brains run on dopamine, and personalized spaces can provide the little hits of pleasure we need to stay engaged:

• Display meaningful photos or artwork that makes you smile
• Keep small fidget objects that feel good in your hands
• Add plants (bonus: they improve air quality and provide subtle movement)
• Include items that represent your “why”—reminders of what you’re working toward

9. Get an Amazon Alexa to Remind You of Stuff!

I bought an Amazon Dot a few years ago and not only does she remind me when to take my pills, and to get ready for meetings, but she also captures my ongoing shopping lists, plays focus tunes for me and even tells me what a fart sounds like (when I ask her nicely).

I love the Amazon Dot because it’s cheap, small, cute and the sound is good enough for an office.

10. Design a Routine That Embraces Your Natural Energy Patterns

The biggest workspace mistake? Trying to force your ADHD brain to perform on a neurotypical schedule. Instead, design your workspace to support your actual energy patterns:

• Create different zones for different types of work
• Set up “stations” for tasks requiring different energy levels (on my low energy days, I work from bed and I’m not ashamed to admit it)
• Keep transition activities readily available for shifting between tasks (Dog walks help me with this)

Where to Start?

The beauty of creating an ADHD-friendly workspace isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about working with your unique brain instead of against it. Start with just one or two changes that address your biggest pain points, and build from there.

Since focusing on building my ideal office, my productivity has drastically improved. I can tell because when I travel and try to work in Airbnb’s, I can’t focus near as well.

Ready to transform your workspace to work with your ADHD instead of against it? Download my free Business Organization Checklist designed specifically for ADHD business owners, and check out my ADHD Entrepreneur Roadmap for a complete framework to build a business that works with your brain, not against it.