Organizing for those with ADD/ADHD

When I was a child ADD/ADHD was not a diagnosis that had been identified. I was considered hyper active and was the child who presented a challenge to the teacher because I could talk to my neighbor, and at the same time know what question the teacher was asking and then answer the question. If you were in my school I could have been the one sitting in the hall so I couldn’t talk to my neighbor.

It used to be that anyone who couldn't stay organized was easily distracted, and tended to be overly energetic. Children were labeled "problems" and adults were thought to be lost causes. But today, we realize there is an organic brain condition that causes some people to think and function differently than the majority of the population. These people are often very creative and intelligent people when they are in a supportive environment. Because September is ADD/ADHD month, here is some information to help us learn more about Attention Deficit Disorder -- also known as ADD to the general public.

Those who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit thrive in a structured environment. They can be most productive by setting up simple systems for completing daily tasks and follow the same daily routines. For instance: getting ready for the day, cleaning the house or finishing up the day at their office.

They need to have a lot of reminders if they tend to forget appointments, get distracted, or lose their train of thought. It may help to have an organizing buddy or friend to support them in their goals to stay on track. Setting an alarm on their watch, putting up sticky notes, or making a running list of things to-do in a single notebook or planner will help. Sticky notes can be lost or become clutter so a notebook or planner can be the most effective way to keep track of things that need to be done and appointments to keep.

Those with ADD are accomplished people and need to focus on those things they have accomplished, not focusing on the 15,000 things they haven’t done yet. As with everyone they need to pat themselves on the back for what they have done in any given day and know there is always another day to accomplish other things that need to be done.

Marilyn Bohn’s Bio
Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.
For more tips on organizing go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips, interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing. Read her free tips on how to organize a bedroom closet