Organization
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This is the ninth in a series of articles about living with ADHD for families and adults put forward by the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan Prince Albert branch. The purpose of the series is to assist those who live with this this disorder and their families to live better and more successfully with this disability. ADHD is marked most often by chronic inattention, impulsivity, and frequent hyperactivity, coupled with inconsistent performance of tasks and behaviors. This disorder is most frequently observed and diagnosed in childhood, however for about two thirds of those diagnosed the symptoms continue into adulthood. The most common treatment of the symptoms is the ongoing use of a variety of medications designed to manage the symptoms.
This is the final article in the discussion of the Executive Function Skills series. The skill of organizing is crucial to almost all activities we do. It allows us to keep track of things like our keys, grocery shopping, work tasks appointments and so on. We need to be organized physically and mentally. Being organized is important to people with ADHD and others alike. Many of us learn organizational skills through life experiences, guidance from teachers, mentors, parents, and other adults in our lives and trial and error. Unfortunately for people with ADHD the many components of organization skill have to be deliberately and intentionally learned as methods that work best for each individual. Today there are many technological apps for our electronic tools, medication that may assist organizational functions, and specific coaching strategies that can help.
Day planners, schedulers, check lists, outliners, notebooks, can all help us to keep organized, if we use them at all times. Their usage has to become a habit! One of the first steps for many to become more organized and more effective is to reduce the clutter especially in their work areas. Each bit of that clutter can be a distractor from the task at hand. All of those ‘one day’ parts and pieces, mementos, or ‘when I find that missing piece’ items must be put away or dealt with so it is not a distraction. Containers, parts bins, a trip to the dump can all help one to organize! Deal with stuff immediately when possible rather than procrastinating until some day. Have any of you found ‘someday’ on your calendar? Organize large projects into chunks or one step at a time activities and focus on each step. Multi-tasking is not a strong suit of people with ADHD, or most of us. Focus on one task for a set time then move to the next task.
Take care of your physical needs. Sleep, exercise, proper nutrition are essential to keep mind and body in shape for peak performance. Maintaining relationships with family, friends and significant others in the life of a person with ADHD is another important support in managing organization in your life as well as theirs. Being organized will also help reduce stress, anxiety and other negative emotional distractors and help lead to a more effective and happier life.
