Motivation - w/ or w/o meds-- Help! | ADHD Information
Have already done that, drawer is already FULL.
But thanks, Taag Man.GypsyWomyn38430.5149189815Then throw out all the stuff you don't need in your drawer hehe... I usually empty mine in a big carton, and store it somewere... and if there is a carton already, were i wan't to store it, I throw that case out... That will teach it...ha ha . Oh if you could only see! Taag Man, that's basically what I do...box to box to box....and THAT'S why I have piles of stuff AND Boxes. It's like that old game in a small square with little tiles (and one empty spot), usually to make a picture, and you move one tile in order to move another one, so on and so forth. If I buy a lottery ticket, perhaps I can win and get a larger 5th wheel or travel trailer!I figure that, If there is a box at the place that I have not had open for months I just throw it out.... no regrets...
You can either chose to take control, or not... You know what you SHOULD do () So get on with it... 
But hey, I know that it is hard to keep everything in order when you live in a small place... I understand... 
Now get that smirk off your face, will ya? I am trying, really 
GypsyWomyn38430.5388773148
[QUOTE=bcgirl1978] I have to agree with Mark. I use the reminder feature in MS Outlook at work to tell me to do things - a big angry pop-up appears on my screen and simply results in setting my annoyance aflame, and the task still doesn't get done.
[/QUOTE]
I use that thing to remind me to take out the garbage, but my computer is so screwy that I end up losing my appointments sometimes. Since I can't rely on technology all the time I try to get other people to remind me of things like that, for example, the offgoing shift at work; they'll come in the next morning as I'm leaving and say "hey, do'nt forget to mail your rent check." Not always, but it's like having backup batteries in your alarm clock. They might eventually run out of juice and if the power goes out, you're still SOL, but it's something..
I've kind of digressed, haven't I?
Sorry.
Well, as far as getting motivated, sometimes it's very hard and I think we all leave things to pile up. For me it gets to a crisis point where I HAVE to deal with it. Often I'll build in rewards to tasks that are taking forever, or try and figure out what I can just skip (not procrastinate- just eliminate the task entirely, not do it). Like when I made these cookies to mail to Iraq, I realized I'd have to take them to the post office, but I didn't get there in time and since I'm working for the next few days I wouldn't be able to mail them till wednesday. That's no good. I decided to bring those cookies to work tomorrow and give them away, then make another batch for Iraq some other time. Sometimes taking some of the pressure *off* is just as motivating as putting pressure *on* - it depends on the task.
If you could be more specific on what you're having a problem with, maybe all the creative minds here could find a way to help motivate you for that task.
So what's the biggest thing you need to get done?
Right, I didn't notice there were like 3 pages of replies that went into more detail, erm.
So, here's one idea. Get a box of garbage bags and see how many you can fill with stuff you don't want anymore! Then throw the garbage bags wherever you put your garbage or, if you're like me, they'll stay there for days.
Time yourself!
How many bags can you fill in 30 minutes??
(This is how I cleaned my room in high school)
I started the flylady thing and oddly, 6 months later, am sticking to it religiously. If there is something that needs doing, I write it into my weekly plan or onto my wall calendar. I consider that it has to be done by the end of the week or by the date listed on the calendar. Then I mark it off when I'm done- I dont know why but it gives me bizarre satisfaction to draw a black line through somehting and make it go away forever.
I hate that I have to live so structuredly to function well, but if I dont live in some structured fashion such as this my life just plunges into a confused as hell state really really fast! [QUOTE=DesertHanyou]So, here's one idea. Get a box of garbage bags and see how many you can fill with stuff you don't want anymore! Then throw the garbage bags wherever you put your garbage or, if you're like me, they'll stay there for days.
Time yourself! How many bags can you fill in 30 minutes?? [/QUOTE]
Good idea! I have done that once in a blue moon, and it felt soooo good to carry that bag out to the dumpster. Or placing clothes in the "rec room" for others in need that live in this RV park to help themselves to. I'm just working on getting motivated to try this agin. (And it is a crisis at this point.) Thanks everyone!Urgh! That clean spot on my counter...where did it go???
You should get a drawer under your counter.... you just pull the drawer out and scoop the junk down into it.... efficient...
Gypsy,
I am all about rewarding myself! I am an addictive personality, so there are times that I'll be hooked on playing majongg or scrabble to the point that I have to force myself to get other things done. So I'll reward myself with a couple of games after a respectable amount of work has gotten done. Of course there have been times that I cheat and keep playing! but I do think this method is a pretty good one.
Congratulations - 
i'm so happy for you!!
I'm glad i could be of help.
Guess what? I cleaned off my counter....and guess what I found I own? A toaster oven! Kewel! And that was in only 20 minutes. 
I'm only imaging what I could find in an hour.
And my cat found a new place to light upon!
Couldn't have done without you guys! GypsyWomyn38429.8349884259[QUOTE=bcgirl1978] [QUOTE=Mark Goode][QUOTE=Taag Man]
Well... If you want to take control, do it in a German fashion... structure, planning and will power...
Other people just do what needs to be done... ADHD people need to plan their duties and follow some sort of structure/schedule...
If there is something I have to do, i punch in a time in my Pocket PC calendar, and do it when it yells at me... no other way
[/QUOTE]
You sure you've got ADD?
[/QUOTE]
I have to agree with Mark. I use the reminder feature in MS Outlook at work to tell me to do things - a big angry pop-up appears on my screen and simply results in setting my annoyance aflame, and the task still doesn't get done.
[/QUOTE]
Hey now-
Cuz this disease comes in many delightful flavors there is no one answer. If something works for you so much the better.
My feel is that many of us are sick and tired of setting up process that we cant or dont stick to and then fail at. Who needs another failure to add to the long list -- like the 3 cell phones I have sent through the wash -- I'd just lose a pocket pc.
For me, I have found that the long lists I used to create were full of style and not much substance. I need to be precise about the things I have to do, the things I want to do and the things I hate doing.
Then I work through it, and I dont beat the crap out of myself if I don't get through the whole list every day. I just try and give my it my best shot and to improve by being honest about why I didnt finish everything.
By the way, cell phones dont like water. And eletronic car keys only work if you can find them.
How about if you just required yourself to deal with 5 minutes of pile - or one thing in the pile - before you made your next post ...
Just an idea -
[QUOTE=bcgirl1978]If it is a physical task, like cleaning the bathroom, I find I can do them if I just do it.How do I "just do it"? I can be sitting on the couch, heave a huge sigh, and just get off my ass. Once I am up and physically gathering my supplies, it's not so bad. With physical tasks, I find it is never so bad once I am actually doing it. But... it still takes weeks and weeks to clean my bathroom. [/quote]
Ha ha ha...but it still takes weeks and weeks to clean the bathroom....that's funny!
Yet you still get the motivation to gather those cleaning supplies. So I guess it's the mental task of getting motivated. You'd think just sitting here looking at everything (and even planning what I would do with the stuff) would be enough to motivate me. I just KNOW if I got started, it wouldn't be so bad. I'd probably even enjoy it.
[QUOTE=yellowdog]How about if you just required yourself to deal with 5 minutes of pile - or one thing in the pile - before you made your next post ...
Just an idea -
[/QUOTE]And an excellent idea, too!
But oh oh, it was too late, I was in fact working on a post before I read your reply. But I think I shall do that right now! I'm going to start by collecting all my med and vitamin bottles together...and who knows where that will lead! THANK YOU yellowdog!
I'll report back in an hour or maybe even longer....wheee!
As I need to think more with my heart and less with my head, I am removing what I had originally written.
theoptimizer38431.5373263889
I feel certain that Taag was trying to be helpful. Why attack him? It offends me when someone on this board attacks another person on this board.
It may be more polite or safe to sit back and say nothing but i have to stand for something.
Taag Man...I do have a favor to ask of you...my birthday is coming up this summer...I wish you could send me one of those Pocket PCs I've heard so much about. I'm serious, I'm not at all being facetious...have not $$ to buy one myself. Pluueeeze! [QUOTE=theoptimizer]
Taag Man, at first I was truly offended by your comments but then I realized that you may have been given the wrong diagnosis. I can't believe that you would actually think that none of us has tried that three step method. If you did think that, well then that's just plain silly.
You see, I am one those people with a plan, structure, and willpower. I use a planner daily. For me it is difficult getting done what needs to be done in a timely fashion or even showing up anywhere on time for that matter. But, it has been through awareness, encouragement, and support that I have actually seen myself improve, not through someone telling me the standard line of pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality.
I do, however, hope that you get the help you need.
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First of all I am sorry that you find my advice offending...
Second, ADHD comes in different forms and variation... I were helped to overcome some of my symptoms by structure and planning, and I wished to share that experience... 
Third, I hope you will be encouraged to be more aware, because your outburst really serves no purpose....
Yellowdog, your name doesn't do you justice... thank you
GypsyWomyn, I really have no money to buy one.... but you can save for one... 
If it is a physical task, like cleaning the bathroom, I find I can do them if I just do it. How do I "just do it"? I can be sitting on the couch, heave a huge sigh, and just get off my ass. Once I am up and physically gathering my supplies, it's not so bad. With physical tasks, I find it is never so bad once I am actually doing it. But... it still takes weeks and weeks to clean my bathroom. But at least it does get done.
Mental tasks, however, like studying, doing an assignment, or tackling a project at work, I find nearly impossible to do. Thank God I am not in school anymore. But my job is all mental stuff so I am slowly but surely going insane. I am hoping beyond hope that meds will help me here.
Well... If you want to take control, do it in a German fashion... structure, planning and will power...
Other people just do what needs to be done... ADHD people need to plan their duties and follow some sort of structure/schedule...
If there is something I have to do, i punch in a time in my Pocket PC calendar, and do it when it yells at me... no other way
[QUOTE=Taag Man]Well... If you want to take control, do it in a German fashion... structure, planning and will power...
Other people just do what needs to be done... ADHD people need to plan their duties and follow some sort of structure/schedule...
If there is something I have to do, i punch in a time in my Pocket PC calendar, and do it when it yells at me... no other way
[/QUOTE]
You sure you've got ADD?
[QUOTE=Mark Goode][QUOTE=Taag Man]Well... If you want to take control, do it in a German fashion... structure, planning and will power...
Other people just do what needs to be done... ADHD people need to plan their duties and follow some sort of structure/schedule...
If there is something I have to do, i punch in a time in my Pocket PC calendar, and do it when it yells at me... no other way
[/QUOTE]
You sure you've got ADD?
[/QUOTE]I have to agree with Mark. I use the reminder feature in MS Outlook at work to tell me to do things - a big angry pop-up appears on my screen and simply results in setting my annoyance aflame, and the task still doesn't get done.
I am not sure... no, I do not have all the angry, frustration, hyper symptoms... that much...
I have been like you people, with the anger, and the frustration.... but I have somehow learned to coop with that.
And the procrastination I have with some success learned to coop with aslo... by using my Pocket PC... but I can't say that it always works... but if there is a way to coop with it, then that's the one...
Breaking things into manageable pieces
Switching between things
Giving myself a time limit to get something done
Giving myself a reward when i finish something
[QUOTE=yellowdog]Breaking things into manageable pieces
Switching between things
Giving myself a time limit to get something done
Giving myself a reward when i finish something[/QUOTE]
The first one would be the most difficult for me, especially since I do live in 8x22 feet (travel trailer), and it's the unorganized piles that I need to attack. And since I don't have anywhere to break up the piles TO, it makes it even more difficult. If I move things to my bed, then at bedtime, I have to move them off...and then they're back in piles again!
I've been trying the time limit with online time. If I'm off line, then I MAY be able to get started somewhere, however, this is when I usually get my dishes washed and nothing else.
And my reward is logging on again.
Actually I know WHAT I "should" be doing, and how to go about doing such, were I to at least get started.
I just don't know how to get motivated to make that first move!!!
Thank you, all of you...and please don't stop now. I'd really like to learn from you good folks how you might manage to get motivated, WHETHER YOU ARE ON MEDS OR NOT--especially for getting things done that have been staring you in face forever, but still not getting done. I'm aware it does take some work once motivated, but am hoping for some tips on what works for any of you in getting motivated.
I just know some of you have some really good tips. Oh, thank you, thank you for any advice! Here's a big hug in advance.
GypsyWomyn38429.7787731482
Hey, Gypsy,
KEEP IT SIMPLE - no matter what you are doing. This is my first rule!
Turn on your favorite music whether the task is physical or mental. Someone posted a topic about music awhile back (i've still got a post to put on the board).
Music is an excellent motivator because it speaks to the soul and creates joy of spirit for most people.
Mentally, it actually helps the brain focus better. If you don't believe it try it sometime, especially with a repetitive mundane task.
Physically, most people know if the right type of music is playing then you will want to get up and dance, jump around, or clean the house like I do.
I wouldn't have asked for one if I could save for one, since I have NO income to save from.
But thanks anyway. There's always Santa!
Can we now perhaps get back to the subject at hand?
GypsyWomyn38431.527962963[QUOTE=GypsyWomyn]
I wouldn't have asked for one if I could save for one, since I have NO income to save from. But thanks anyway. There's always Santa!
Can we now perhaps get back to the subject at hand? [/QUOTE]
Oh well, that makes two of us.
Subject at hand... you mean the bickery?