What works for you? | ADHD Information

Wow, very nice both of you!

I also use a Palm Pilot, I have found it great, as my wife can enter information from the desktop for me, and then I have a reminder to do things.

Biggest help so far... putting an alarm on my palm pilot, my watch, and my cell phone to take my medication... This along with having medication at both home and work, has helped me more than anything I feel.

I try not to set anything down, as much as I do not want to, once it has left my hands, there is an increased risk of it being forgotten.

Very true about not putting things down, ADDitup. I have very full but very organized pockets. Each pocket has certain things in it, and putting them in the wrong pocket would be the same as throwing them out. I'd be lost.

Awesome post, Nickled&Dimed. I see a lot of the habits, rituals, etc. I use there as well (all my socks are the same color, brand, etc. any two socks match, guaranteed.)

Kitchen - Everything in the kitchen has a place. No one is allowed to put anything anywhere but where it goes. If someone wants to change where something goes, we have a family meeting (my youngest daughter and I both have ADD) so everyone is aware of where that thing goes now.

Ritual - I do this, and I've taught my daughter... when we do something new we take a few minutes to decide the best way to do it and then we create a ritual for it. Think of it as a procedure. That way we don't forget anything. She and I are the first ones up in the morning, so we made lists of everything we have to do and we check each other (brush teeth, eat breakfast, and so on...) We always do them in the same order. The key for us is to get to the point where things become habitual. As soon as you can stop thinking about something, there is much less danger of forgetting or being distracted.

Technology - We both have a Palm Pilot. On Sunday night and set up our schedules for the week with due dates, repeating activities, etc. We carry these everywhere (she attaches her to her belt, I have one that plays MP3s so if I stop hearing music, I know I've lost it.) They beep when it's time to do something, and believe me, we have reminders for EVERYTHING!

Romance - I know this sounds terrible, but I've set up several repeating tasks in my Palm Pilot to be romantic. I buy flowers, leave little notes and so on. I found a Web site that listed ideas for ways to be romantic and I planned out the things I could do. I set these up to show up every week or so. Often several days will go by before I get around to doing whatever it is, but I do get it done. Then a week or so later, another one will appear. It seems completely random to my wife, and she brags about me to all her friends! lol Don't anyone tell her about this!

When in doubt, throw it out! - That is my mantra around the house. It has probably cost me a fortune buying things several times over the years, but I look at it this way... if I kept everything, the house would be a complete mess, I wouldn't be able to find anything, and I'd end up having to buy it again anyway. Keeping it wouldn't save any money, and I'd live in an overrun house.

Souvenirs - I don't buy souvenirs when I travel. I go in souvenir shops and look at the stuff, but I will only buy stuff if it's to give to someone else. I'd only lose them or they would accumulate around the house. I have no knick knacks around the house either.

Maybe I'll add more later.

No Big emotional hand-wringing today-

I just want to start a thread on the ways you cope with the physical world.
I have some things that help me, and I'd love to pick the brains of others.

Keys-
I have a little thing on my keys that looks like the end of a dog leash. I
work at school, and have to hide my purse, yet always know where my
keys are. this little guy goes on a beltloop waistband, pocket. If I have a
big purse, I attach them to the handle. This was suggested to me by a
janitor as i was staying after at school for an hour looking everywhere for
my keys. for the second time that week. I look like a janitor, but as long
as i look like a janitor with keys, i'm happy.

socks. I buy everybody 6-10 pairs of socks a year. everyone gets one
color. That's it. Like it or lump it. Most of the old socks go out in the
trash. finding matching socks is now possible. They might not both be
clean, but they will match. I do the same thing with the kids mittens. and
after this year I'm sticking with the mittens that can go on either hand.

I check the mail outside and throw as much as i can into the outdoor
trash can. it never comes in.

I have a holy table by the front door. keys, purse and whatever i take with
me when I leave go there. Also the dog's leash. Nobody messes with it
under threat of me going off.

My meds for blood pressure are by my bed with bottled water. I always
forget to take them, and only remember as i go off to sleep. So now i just
take them then.

When i used to commute, I used that time as my phone chatting time.
Then at home i could be more productive. Also I would call the babysitter
about 5 mins before arriving. The kids could start getting ready ahead of
time. and I wouldn't talk the poor woman's head off so much after I got
there.

I don't check out library books. ever. I buy books and then sell them. No
guilt or shame.

I still write things on my hand sometimes.

When putting something down as you open your car- PUT IT ON THE
HOOD IN FRONT OF YOU. Not the roof not the ground. You know what
I'm talking about. I have made this a solid habit.

I lock my car from the outside. I do not EVER press the lock button as i
get out. You know why. Have you ever been standing outside a locked
and running car? In front of someone you have a crush on? Not cool.

I now have the tivo like thing with dish TV. I don't worry about missing
shows I want to see because they all get reccorded. All remotes of all
sorts go in a large colorful ceramic container.

Get a dog that chews up all your kids' toys. Then you can throw them
away guilt free AHAHAHAHAHA!

I forget about produce in the drawer where it rots. I just buy a little and
leave it where i can see it. I put cheese in the drawer. Funny, I never
forget about cheese.

This tip from my mom- On a trip - i count the bags/objects i am toting.
1-2-3-4-5 in the car 1-2-3-4-5 at the check in 1-2-3 HOLY C$%P
where's my camera?.

Bills- other than automating everything, where do you put them? how do
you remember to pay them? My credit is lousy- and not from not wanting
to pay or not having the money, just spacing it.