---
title: ADHD and messiness
description: "Does ADHD cause kids and adults to be messy? Read about the connection between ADHD and messiness, and what helps people with ADHD keep things neat.\n"
slug: adhd-and-messiness-what-you-need-to-know
author: Gail Belsky
reviewer: Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, NCC, DCMHS, LMHC
published: '2019-08-05T15:35:01.863Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/48htLhJZSLnFlsMKwj3xts/3ac1c70ab6b91f8c4cd742a6345ffea1/Enhance60_1200x900_thumbnail_UnderstoodADHDandMessiness-WhatYouNeedKnow.png
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-messiness-what-you-need-to-know
lang: en
---

# ADHD and messiness

Some people are naturally neat. They keep their things fairly organized and try to avoid making a mess. But many kids and adults with [ADHD ](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-adhd)are the opposite — they’re messy *most* of the time. And it can cause problems at home, school, and work. 

For example, kids might miss a field trip because the permission slip got lost in their overflowing backpack. Adults may misplace their keys on a messy dresser and end up being late for an appointment. You may wonder: Why don’t they just keep things neat to avoid consequences? 

People with ADHD who have a hard time keeping things tidy usually aren’t being lazy or thoughtless. They have trouble with a group of skills needed to tackle cleanup tasks and stay organized. These skills are known as executive function.

The constant messiness can be annoying for others and embarrassing for the mess maker. But knowing what’s causing this behavior can help you approach the situation with empathy — whether you’re the one who’s messy, or if it’s someone else — and find ways to stay neater.

---

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