This is a friend or family member who sits with you as you tackle mundane chores, like balancing a checkbook, filling out a job application, or reviewing financial statements. If you tend to lose yourself on eBay for hours at a time, you need this kind of help.

Set an alarm clock, kitchen timer, or computer alert - or arrange for someone reliable to call you at a specified time or times. You’ll accomplish more, feel less frustrated, and manage your time better. (List any additional items on the back of the card.) Once you have done those five things, refer to the back of the card to create a new to-do list - and discard the old one. Using big, bold letters, make a to-do list of no more than five tasks on an index card. Adults with ADHD tend to spread themselves too thin. If you agree to join the school fund-raising committee, for instance, give up the neighborhood watch committee. Fight the tendency to over-commit.įor each new commitment you make, give up an old one. Focus solely on that factor when considering your decision. If you’re deciding which new cell phone to buy, pick a price cap and ignore more costly phones.Īlways identify the most important factor to consider in making any decision, whether it’s price, convenience, aesthetics, practicality, or something else. If you’re choosing a summer camp for your child, for example, set a deadline, and make the best choice you can by that date. Speed the process by setting a time frame or a budget cap. Individuals with ADHD can spend days agonizing over decisions that others make in minutes. The good news, says Kolberg, president of FileHeads Professional Organizers, is that seemingly small changes and ADHD organization tools can bring big improvements in your life - less clutter, fewer hassles, and greater tranquility. Life is capricious, and get-it-done strategies that work well today may prove useless tomorrow. And as Kolberg, author of Conquering Chronic Disorganization, points out, there is no such thing as perfect organization - particularly for those living with attention deficit disorder ( ADHD or ADD). Judith Kolberg suggests it’s a matter of perfectionism: We’re unable to do what it takes to get even a bit more organized because we worry that we won’t become perfectly organized.

So why do we put up with chronic disorder at home, at work, and in our personal lives? Getting organized is a key step toward reaching your goals.

How to organize your life with adhd