Six ADD Tips for Organizing Everyday Things

Life with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be a constant hassle. Little things like lost car keys, tools that stick or don't cut well, papers that go missing all add to the general level of tension. These tips will help you come to grips with the nitty-gritty of everyday things.

1. Things have a place close to where they are used.

Putting things close to where they are used means that you do not have to move away from your work space to find them. Put them away when you have finished using them. Car keys are a good example of things that go missing; have a place, a basket or a hook, near the door where you come in and go out. Train yourself to put them there every time you come in.

I have two pairs of scissors in the kitchen. One is short and works well to open packages of food; it lives in a drawer by the stove where I cook. The second pair, longer, lives on the kitchen table where I read the newspaper and often cut out articles. I used to have only the long pair for everything, but it was never where I wanted it. Now which ever pair I need is right at my finger tips.

2. The place for a thing should be logical to you.

Give some thought to when and where you use an object and store it near by. Don't worry about what other people might think. You are the one who is using it. If someone else also uses the object you may have to negotiate or better yet buy two.

I keep paper clips over the bread board. Why? I use paper clips to close up bags of cereal and nuts which live in the same cupboard; I rarely use them for attaching papers together, and when I do, I know where they are.

3. Have tools which are efficient to use and feel good.

A letter open that is long enough to open an envelope with one or two strokes. A paper punch which will take a wadge of papers in one go. Scissors which are sharp and feel good in your hand. Good tools make a job easier and quicker to do and provide kinesthetic pleasure.

I had two letter openers. One, short, stubby, and now gone, was difficult to insert into the envelope, took two or three hacks to get the envelope open and the handle was too short to grasp comfortably. The other has a longer blade which slips easily into the open space in the envelope and the handle fits comfortably into the palm of my hand. Opening the mail is quickly done.

4. Use containers that are adequate and pleasing to you.

Containers should be large enough to hold whatever they are designated for and should hold only one category of thing. A colored envelope on a convenient shelf for bills to be paid this month, an attractive basket by the front door for your keys.

I needed something to hold pencils, scissors etc on my desk. I looked in several stores; they all had versions of a stack of chimneys. I reasoned that they weren't adequate and kept looking. I found an organizer in the shape of a dog in my favorite color; I didn't even stop to think if it was "adequate". He does his job admirably, and I use him because he's cute.

5. Put things away when you are finished using them.

When things live close to your work space it is easy to put them away immediately. Putting them away becomes part of the task in which they were used instead of a separate activity called "putting away". As people with ADD have difficulty coping with multiple tasks, eliminating even one makes every day living a little bit easier.

6. Now to organize everyday tasks - create a routine: the 5 minute SWOOP.

Routines? Sound boring? Yes routines help you get the boring things done without thinking about how boring they are. The 5-minute swoop is designed to do the basic everyday tasks in each room. Make one list for each room of the things that need to be tidied up everyday. Spend no more than 5 minutes in each room; set a timer if necessary. You will know how much time you are going to spend before starting therefore you can get out the door in time to get the kids to school or to your meeting. Be strict about the 5 minutes so that you don't get captured by the ADD impulse to organize an entire cupboard.

Sarah Jane Keyser worked for many years with computers as programmer, analyst, and user trainer, but her struggle with inattentive ADD kept getting in the way of her plans and dreams. Once ADD was identified and the great need that coaching filled, she added ADD Coach training (ADDCoach Academy) to complete her preparation for a new career as ADD Coach.

Learn more about ADHD at http://www.CoachingKeytoADD.com or sign up for Zebra Stripes, a free E-zine for ADHD at http://www.coachingkeytoadd.com/n ewsletter/newsarchive.html

---

Get Organised and Transform Your Life

It takes effort to get results, and not just any effort, it takes smart effort. You cannot expect to achieve anything without doing something. Unfortunately in our... Read More

How Clutter Chases Money Away

Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can cause money to run away from you? I know, I know...it sounds like airy-fairy mumbo jumbo, but... Read More

Creating The Perfect Closet

Your closet is often the first thing you see in the morning, and its condition can determine your mood for the day. There is something about an... Read More

Create A Working Mail Center

I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter, Organewz, and to my clients. I write about it again because I have seen so many people... Read More

Escaping The Clutter Trap? - 5 Steps For Increasing Productivity And Decreasing Stress

? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in your life? Magazines and journals you've never finished reading, clothes you never wear, e-mail you haven't responded... Read More

Clutter Is Natural

Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that drops from trees, washes in on the tide, or is blown by the wind into your backyard.... Read More

Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age

Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have in our homes -- even more so than the dreaded paper flow. It starts out innocently, when... Read More

3 Simple Filing Guidelines

One of the most basic ways to find papers when you need them is to retrieve them from an effective filing system. A good filing system will... Read More

Organize Your Desk ? Live Longer!

It may seem far-fetched, but by organizing your desk, your bedroom, your kitchen, and all of the spaces where you spend time, you could be adding years... Read More

Can You Really Improve Your Organisation Skills

I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar International Sales Guru. Well in one of Zig's weekly newsletters, there were a number of comments about... Read More

How to Prevent Piles of Paper!

If you have piles of paper all over your desk, you're going to love this article.The method is called FAT. I'm not sure who invented the acronym... Read More

Your Organizing DNA

Do you like storing your papers on top of your desk in trays, baskets or just plain piles? Do you have a preference for Post-it notes and... Read More

Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 2

In part 1, we discussed a system you could use to organize your office. In this article we will discuss what material is needed to implement that... Read More

Organized Living in a Disorganized World

We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization. Computers, fax machines, cellular phones, and on-line services enable us to do more - and require us... Read More

Can Someone Step Into Your Job Or Role And Function Effectively?

Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux) I've been lucky to learn many tips and tricks that can be used in cases of emergency.... Read More

The 4-Keys to Clutter Free Living - Design a Space that Nurtures Your Soul

Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down into manageable steps. Tackling too much at once, or underestimating the time and effort it will take... Read More

How Much Is Your Time Worth?

Does Your Present Internet Filing System Work?Do You Really Know for Sure How Much You Earned? Do You Really Know for Sure or Just "Think So"? Do... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start the year with one that works for you! And whether you use a paper or electronic version,... Read More

Get Organized -- Every Home Needs An Office

EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every home needs an office to handle the business of running a household. There are bills to pay,... Read More

8 Signs Your Home is Out of Control -- and What to Do About It

It happens without warning. One day you notice your home has turned into a collage of papers, junk, and stuff ? everywhere. You're not alone. Today more... Read More

Don?t Be A Clutter Victim

There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears); Outer (stuff and things) and Other (people.) The more stacks and piles of outer clutter we collect... Read More

Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the projects seem to never end? Imagine how good you would feel if every day you could start... Read More

Taking Care of You: De-Clutter

De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There are many types of clutter than can hinder us having the quality of life we want and... Read More

5 Tips to Banish Clutter From Your Life For Good

Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes from 20 percent of what we own. That means that 80 percent of the things in our... Read More

Getting Organized - Getting Fit

In a speech entitled "Organized Living in a Disorganized World" I made the statement "Getting organized is much like exercise and healthy eating. It is something you... Read More

The Love It Or Lose It Principle: One Simple Key to Living Clutter-Free Forever

It wasn't long ago that you spent an entire weekend "decluttering" ? and now you are expecting guests in two days, and the guestroom is full of... Read More