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Check Your Planner 3
Times a Day
Whether you have ADHD or
just too much to remember, organizing tips can help you manage your time and
activities better. Get into the habit of putting all your appointments and
activities on a calendar. It doesn't matter if it's a day planner, a smartphone
app, or just a plain old desk calendar. Keep it in one spot and check it at
least three times a day. Make it a habit to check at the same times each day.
Make a New "To Do" List Every Day
Each morning,
make a list of the things you want to get done that day. Try to keep your list
realistic, so you'll have a good chance of getting to everything. Arrange your
tasks in order of importance, putting the most important tasks first. Assign
each task a specific time of day. Cross off each task when you complete it.
Start Organizing -- One
Room at a Time
Don't be intimidated by
the idea of "getting organized." Start by putting things back where
they belong and throwing away things you don't need.
·
Tackle one room at a
time -- start with the easiest. Divide the room into sections if you need to.
·
Schedule organization
time in your planner. Use a timer to manage your work sessions.
·
Ask yourself whether you
want to keep items or toss them. If you're not sure, put them in a separate box
to go through later.
Make Organization a
Daily Habit
Don't think of it as
cleaning up. Think of it as following your organization plan:
·
If you keep items, they
should have a home. Use filing cabinets, labels, clear storage boxes, and
over-the-door organizers.
·
Take 10 minutes each day
to pick up and return items to their proper places.
·
If you take it out, put
it back.
·
Keep a box for loose
papers and other mislaid items to be put away. Go through it at the end of
every day.
Keep Small Items Together
Place a small
table or bookshelf near the entryway of your home. Put a tray or basket on top
of it to hold important items such as keys, wallets, watches, glasses, and
phones. You can also use this area to hold other items you want to remember,
such as lunchboxes, briefcases, important papers, or outgoing mail.
Have a Rotating Menu
Planning
regular meals for the entire family may be a challenge. Create a "Top
10" dinner list or regular rotating menu of dishes that you can cook
easily. Try to keep those ingredients on hand, or list the ingredients on index
cards that you can take with you. Don't carry the burden of feeding everyone
yourself: Have a floating "free" night when you order takeout, or
share the kitchen responsibilities with other family members.
Follow a Mail Routine
Develop a
system for checking and sorting mail every day. One idea is to create a special
area to hold all important mail, such as bills, insurance information, checks,
and bank statements. Review this pile at least once a week, sorting bills into
a pile to be paid, and filing other important documents where they belong. Stop
junk mail from coming to your house by taking your name off mailing lists.
Write Down What You Spend
Managing money
can be difficult for people with ADHD, especially if you tend to make impulse
purchases. Carry a notebook or use an electronic device or financial website to
keep track of everything you buy -- even very small purchases. Knowing how much
you spend each month -- and on what -- will help you manage your money.
Use Electronic Reminders
Forgetting
meetings, deadlines, medications, or other responsibilities can create problems
at work and in your personal life. For help, turn to computer programs and
other electronic devices to remind you of appointments and deadlines. For
example, set your computer or smartphone to alert you five minutes before every
event in your calendar.
Tune Out Distractions at
Work
Distractions at work can
be a big challenge for adults with ADHD. Try these strategies:
·
Route your calls to
voicemail, then check it only at set times during the day.
·
Ask for a quiet cubicle
or office at work, so you aren’t distracted by others.
·
Use a "white
noise" machine or listen to earphones to drown out other sounds at work.
·
Stick to doing just one
task at a time.
Fight Boredom
Many people with ADHD
get bored easily -- especially during routine tasks or paperwork. This can make
it difficult to stay focused at work. Try these tips:
·
Break up big tasks into
smaller tasks.
·
Between tasks, take a
walk or get fresh air.
·
Take notes in meetings.
Simplify Your Life with Fewer Tasks
Organizing and
simplifying your surroundings will help you reduce clutter, keep track of your
belongings, and remove some of the distractions that prevent you from focusing.
Simplifying can
work for your schedule, too. Don't start a new project or task until you've
finished the current one. Try not to overschedule yourself with too many
projects or tasks at once. You may need to practice saying no to new tasks to
stay focused.
Simplify Your Life with Fewer Tasks
Organizing and
simplifying your surroundings will help you reduce clutter, keep track of your
belongings, and remove some of the distractions that prevent you from focusing.
Simplifying can
work for your schedule, too. Don't start a new project or task until you've
finished the current one. Try not to overschedule yourself with too many
projects or tasks at once. You may need to practice saying no to new tasks to
stay focused.
Get More Exercise
Regular
exercise may help manage your ADHD symptoms. At the very least, it can help you
channel extra energy. But regular exercise and team sports can also help you
work together with others, learn to set and meet goals, and feel better about
yourself. Some research suggests that physical activity may stimulate parts of
the brain associated with ADHD. Activities like yoga and karate may be better
for ADHD because they offer opportunities for memorizing movements.
Start Tasks With
15-Minute Blocks
When you're having
trouble starting a project, try this exercise:
·
Set a timer for 15
minutes.
·
For those 15 minutes,
focus on that one task only.
·
When the time is up,
decide if you can keep going for another 15 minutes.
·
If you can, reset the
timer. Keep going at 15-minute intervals for as long as you can.
·
If you can't do any
more, stop and try again later or the next day.
Use Color Coding
Colored files, folders,
and notes can help you stay better organized. Here are a few examples:
·
Use color-coded files to
keep track of different types of expenses, such as groceries, auto,
entertainment, and utilities.
·
Use different colored
pens or highlighting in your planner to separate work, personal, and family
commitments.
Learn From Your To-Do Lists
If you see a
lot of unfinished tasks left on your "to-do" lists, try to figure out
why. Did you try to get everything done at one time? Did you list big tasks
that could have been broken down into smaller ones? Or did distractions keep
you from completing your tasks? Use this information to help arrange future
"to-do" lists, or to find ways to work more efficiently.
Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on Wednesday,
June 15, 2016
Adult ADHD: Organization
and Time-Management Tips in Pictures
This tool does not
provide medical advice
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