Task/Priority Mgmt Hints

[Kim]

I recently changed from a Franklin Covey paper calendar to a computer calendar synched with a PDA. When I used the paper system I tried to keep a to do list on each day like they recommended but that became overwhelming and I could not be consistant. I'm chronically late, always stressed. I need to find a way to manage tasks; do I keep work and personal tasks on one list? I've been writin lists but I'm losing the. I can't always remeber what I'm supposed to do/what I said I'd do.. My desk looks like a tornado went through recently. I fear if I put a task list in my pda that I'll get lost in it.
Help!

[Veelzabub]

Kim,
I know exactly how you feel...I was constantly losing my lists (as well as my day planner!), and worried about being on time and forgeting things constantly. I switched to a PDA and Outlook and while it's less paper I forget my PDA all the time. I don't know if this will help or not, but post-its are my saving grace. I have them all over and stick them on things like the front door and the bathroom mirror. It drives my friends crazy to see little orange sheets everywhere, but it gets 'er done. Good luck!

[ADDMD]

I am totally with you guys. Organizing my life is one of the hardest things for me. Also, since I just got diagnosed at 25, there are a lot of behavior modifications that I have to make in order to better organize my day to day life.

This is one of the main reasons, I have not switched to a PDA yet. So far I am doing fine with my patient management (which is the most important thing) and I do not want to do anything to jeapordize that. However, I think I might start using the PDA to organize my own time (besides my medical life) and see how things go.

[bravemaggie]

Amen, peeps...Post-its are the greatest invention since antibiotics. I have them all over my desk, walls, doorknobs, etc. As for being late, I have yet to conquer that one. I try to make up for it by doing little thoughtful things at work and in class, so that at least people know that a) I can do some things right, and b) that I do care about doing a good job.

I'm new to this website, and it's great!
Later,
brave maggie

[MCD270]

I'm new here too and at age 23 the lack of an ability to be organized is really starting to take a toll on me. I don't think I ever gave much thought into the possibility of having ADD until recently beucase of the stress it's causing me in my adult life. It's refreshing to hear I'm not the only one.

[Melinda <><]

I'm new here as well and you're definitely not alone. I'm 34yrs old and just diagnosed with ADD a few months ago. I have to write everything down... even "normal" things like making coffee in the morning, doing laundry, emptying the dishwasher, etc. If I don't, I will most likely forget or get way off track and end up not having the time to do it.

Anyway, I found this link to be very helpful as far as the day planners... www.addvance.com/add_friendly/daily_planner.html
There are some great tips on using your planner to organize just about everything. And I don't leave home w/o mine

Melinda <><

[organizemepls]

Hi, new here too...Melinda, I'm with you on writing down things like make coffee, brush teeth...I am thinking of replaicing my walls with white boards in every room ;-)

But seriously, I need to figure out somehting to not only manage ME, but my kids as well, one of whom has his own issues, the other of whom will likely be diagnosed with ADHD in September (she's 5). I don't want her to suffer through life like I did, and I need to figure out how to get organized somehow myself, so I can show HER and teach her some skills! I have a Franklin Covey planner that I forget to take out of my bag at home, I rely on my memory wayyyy too much (yikes!) and was thinking of getting a PDA...hoped to find more success stories here, come on people give me the answer to this problem already. (LOL that was a joke.)