Creating Order and Structure
As you know, most of us with ADHD are challenged in the area of organization. I don't mean just organizing the stuff in our lives (e.g., on our desks, in our kitchens, in our cars and backpacks). We also can have difficulty organizing our thoughts, our schedules, and our priorities. Here are a few things that can help:
Move your calendar, schedule, and ToDo list(s) out of your head and onto something external and readily visible. The external "something" can be a digital device, but even better is a paper planner, a wall calendar, or a large white board prominently displayed in home or office. The goal is to minimize the steps needed to access your schedule or lists, so you may want to use more than one of these tools.
Locate the calendars and lists in places where you can't miss them. For example,
- put a large white board calendar on a easel in the kitchen where every family member can see the entire family's schedule in one place - and keep it current; each family member's events might be a unique color
- each evening post a daily planner page for tomorrow on a bathroom mirror where you can review your day's schedule the next morning while dressing
- keep a paper planner open on your desk at all times; take it with you when you leave your home or office so you will know your schedule if you bump into someone who wants to set up a meeting with you
- if you have two monitors on your desk, keep your calendar always visible on one of them, and check it often
- never be more than a foot or two away from a place to record information such as ToDo items or appointments -- either a digital device or a paper journal or planner; most of us know we can't rely on our memories, but we don't always remember to write things down. Make it as easy as possible!
- experiment with some of these suggestions or use your amazing creativity to come up with ways to be sure nothing important in your life is "out of sight, out of mind."
