Scheduling??? | ADHD Information
Good luck!
My ex husband tried to make a schedule for me.....Please note ex husband!
Does anyone here have schedule for themselves? What I mean is, something that says at this time you are to do this and then at this time you do that...and I am not just asking about work, but for the home issues as well. What about contingencies for if the thing doesn't take as long as you thought or if for some reason a planned event is cancelled?
Also, how did you go about setting it up? Did you have help? How do you keep it updated?
I am thinking about pre-arranging certain things and having alternate plans for things...???
Anyway, anyone have any comments, suggestions, ideas???
Tell me what I'm doing/thinking wrong???
We are not at home enough to live on a schedule and it drives me crazier. No one wants to work as a team here. Kids have had things taken away doesn't work. They just finding something else to take it's place like sleep.My husband also isn't home a lot and we 3 eat when we are hungry. Our kids have always eaten better then this way. We keep a very healthy home. Junk isn't brought in our home.This is used as a treat like we both were raised. My husband contolls all finances and manages all of this. Charts don't work here either. The meaner I get the less the kids will do.The kids both are I don't care kind a people.I was this way as a kid.
Crockpot meals would be great for full time working parents.It cooks while you work. Cook all meats in advance also helps. Briskets, hams, Turkey, cooking while sleeping also good cause can be used more than once a meal. Jusat some ideas.
[QUOTE=LTC1]
Good luck!
My ex husband tried to make a schedule for me.....Please note ex husband!
[/QUOTE]AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! I actually DID laugh out loud.
[QUOTE=Joyous56]
Oh my gosh loveactuary.....my eyes glazed over when I saw how long your post was. I'm sure it's an excellent system, but something in me prevents me from visualizing what it is you're talking about!
Am I the only one who has this reaction?
I used to think I had a pretty good plan when I would make a list of all the things I have to do, label each item "A", "B" or "C"....depending on priority..... cross out items as completed...and do the whole thing over the next day!
I think this is a good example of the variations within ADDers. If ONLY I could be that organized!
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hee hee, me too. I actually want to print loveactuary's post out though and think about it. i would LOVE to be that organized. Actually, when I take Adderall I can think that way, but for some reason I come up with amazing plans and then can never follow them.
On thing that has helped in the past that I'll try to get started today (besides doing my dishes as I dirty them) is to write a daily list and put it in a plastic sleeve. As I accomplish the tasks, I use a write on/wipe off marker to check off the items and then just erase at the end of the day and start over the next day. I got that idea from an organization website.
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Well, I wouldn't congratulate me just yet...it is a work in progress...if we can get it figured out, implemented, and actually stick to it...make it a habit...
I really cannot take credit, as I said it is a combination of previous ideas from other people...and is still being modified. We already do the menu/shopping list (we actually have index cards with the entree written on them...we go through them to choose the weeks menu taking into consideration our work schedules and stuff...they are then posted on the fridge...and the shopping list is made).
I cannot meditate to save my life. It is something that she (sig-ot) does and hopes I will do. My morning is taken up with coffee and forums such as this.
I've considered riding my bike to work...what about rainy days? I'm not worried about cold days...they mostly don't exist here...
I will try to update the staus and the affectiveness of the plan once it is finished.
Peace.
Yes, yes and yes.
I live by my schedule – which covers both home and domestic! Everything goes in it. In my opinion, it is an excellent strategy and I found it’s the only way I get things done. You are entirely along the write lines.
I have a strict system I apply each day with tasks:
Diarise
Prioritise
Organise
I also employ project management ideas in my list system:
Task – what do I have to do/aim
Resources – money, people, tools etc
Time – how long
Reverse plan from deadline/completion
Contingency.
Here’s how my system works:
DIARIZE
I sit down at breakfast and go through what I have to do. This includes things such as mail, emails, and briefs and of course my diary. If the task is not to do with that day – it goes in the diary. If I need to do something before hand to support it (eg a birthday – buy a birthday card), I also write a reminder a week before hand. Anything major I’m going to do or have done also goes in the diary – basically anything I may need to recall, such as paying a credit card bill.
PRIORITIZE
Once I’ve got rid of all the future stuff I start to identify the tasks for that day: items carried over from the previous days list, items in the diary for that date and any loose ends or other small tasks (eg shopping, dusting etc) for that day. I try to avoid writing little domestic tasks in my diary, like dusting etc; otherwise, it becomes too cluttered. As I identify them, I write all these tasks down in an A5 notebook (I call it my DayNotes) I keep with my diary. They are never separated. Once I have my list for that day I then prioritise the tasks. I consider the priority of each entry separately in terms importance and urgency: those which I MUST do; which are best to do that day and which are don’t really matter if I don’t do them and carry them over to the next day.
ORGANZIE
I then organize the DayNotes list based on my allocated priorities and the basic structure of my day (where I’ll be when and with what), aiming to complete all top and medium priority issues, plus some low priority ones, in an optimal way. Eg a trip to the recycling station may be a low priority, but if I’m stopping at the nearby supermarket anyway it’s more efficient to do then, rather than come back later on once other tasks are finished. I usually then re-write the list as an ITINERARY for my day, with the items now in the order I’ll do them making the list easy to follow throughout the day.
I jot the priority down in brackets next to it, just in case I run late or plans change, so I can make a sensible (not impulsive) decision on what is sensible to leave and what tasks I must/should to do. I may also consider making a contingency plan here too (see below), in case of larger changes. Writing all of this in the A5 notebook makes a huge difference, as it stops my diary becoming an ineffective cluttered mess of scribbling out, arrows and tiny scrawl.
This is great because everything I have to do is in my diary or on a list, as appropriate. It’s also very satisfying and reassuring for confidence as I can tick off things that are done. If I do drift off task, I can simply refer to the list and pick it up again. Moreover, lists are all in the same place so I can’t loose them. I only write stuff down in there, never anywhere else. If I don’t have my diary & book on me, I tell people to either text me or email me and firmly state that if they do not, I will not remember and I will not be able to do the task. The new items then enter into my system in a controlled and manageable way, such as email etc. I even make my parents do this.
If anything new that comes along in the day goes though the same system.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Now the project management bit comes in: for me actually to organise things practically so the system works, I have to be very realistic about things, especially time. For most activities I do I make a list (in a dedicate list book, folder on my PC, or on a post it note stuck to the item) of what I needed, used, need to get etc and how long it took. This helps avoid me forgetting things. I actively time how long things take me to do. A shower needs 20 mins, from bed to car in the morning takes me an hours, the journey to my parents takes 40mins and so on. By having definite times I can realistically plan my day; I estimate unknown quantities by the times I do know. Eg If going on a drive I do not know, I measure it in units of distance to my parents. Not perfect but reasonably accurate. I tend to even then overcompensate in my plan by 30-50%, especially if it’s something important. I know (by experience) that I would otherwise make vastly optimistic time allocations and end up in a mess.
Contingency planning is vital for survival. As an ADHDer you’ll know that if it can go wrong, if you take a chance etc it will happen to you. Whilst this is annoying, look past that and use it here to your advantage. Plan for it: you avoid poor, impulsive judgment when under the pressure of the change. It is frustrating that everyone else seems to get away with it but you’ll have the last laugh if you’re prepared. If your instinct says, ‘I bet I’ll spill coffee down me’ pack an extra shirt in the car. If you go to a theme park and think, you’ll be the one soaked on the water rides, take a change of clothes. Don’t take short cuts in planning. Furthermore, if you think that a certain meeting at work will be cancelled, or a colleague may let you down etc, again actually realistically plan for it. Don’t ignore or procrastinate. I make a full second itinerary just in case for larger things. If the initial plan or your routine is then ruined it is not catastrophic: you just swap lists! As you already have thought out a plan for it, the unknown isn’t the unknown and you’re not disorientated.
I’ve found that by
using this I’m
now better organised that the ‘normal’ people. Just don’t forget to
leave a bit
of slack and space for you to be yourself: I’m supposed to be doing the
dishes
now and haven’t a clue how I got to writing this. Good luck! Contact me
if you
want a more refined or example of how this works: I know it’s a bit
wordy. It's based on ideas taken from my old school home work diary,
normal lists, risk assessment principles and credit scoring!
Oh I forgot: if you’re medicated always timetable in food! I am and don’t have any appetite at all. I initially lost 2 stone in weight because I didn’t make time to eat. Always plan for time to eat: I find it’s good socially and having a break aids concentration.
Definitely pre-arrange things and have little ‘nests’ or stashes of contingency stuff. I commute a lot and always have a full overnight bag in the car in case I get tired. Previously I would have either not realised I would be tired or be overly optimistic. I have stashes of spare Dex in every bag, in my car and at other peoples’ homes (they don’t even know the drugs are there) just in case I get separated from my tablet carrier.
Food shopping can be ‘scheduled’ too. I write only one shopping list. It’s always in the same place, by the cooker and anything I need, want or that runs out is added on. This way I don’t forget important stuff (like loo roll) or impulse buy the wrong stuff.
Oh my gosh loveactuary.....my eyes glazed over when I saw how long your post was. I'm sure it's an excellent system, but something in me prevents me from visualizing what it is you're talking about!
Am I the only one who has this reaction?
I used to think I had a pretty good plan when I would make a list of all the things I have to do, label each item "A", "B" or "C"....depending on priority..... cross out items as completed...and do the whole thing over the next day!
I think this is a good example of the variations within ADDers. If ONLY I could be that organized!
loveactuary that is absolutely astounding and I truly appreciate the time and effort it took to write all out. I think I understand what you are doing and can see how it could work. I'm planning on doing something similar...sort of an amalgamation of things...I just need to get it worked out and implemented by 8/29 when I am back to work full time.
Since I posted the query, I've done some research and my sig-ot has too. Since we both feel that we need more time management and life/work organization, we are working out a plan for us to use that will allow us to have our own daily schedules and still be able to stay on top of the daily living tasks and also the enjoying of life and each other.
As luck (fate?) would have it, PBS just recently showed a special with Julie Morgenstern, and we recorded it. We discussed what she had to say. I think we are going to take at least part of what she talked about and use it. She talked about categories of time and meant things like "work" "family" "me" etc...these were to be broad and not activities the make up the things. Upon my suggestion, we are going with the following categories: My Time (MT), Our Time (OT), Their Time (TT) and Life Maintenance Time (LMT). MT would be for personal time--reading, internet, etc. OT would be for shared ativities--NOT housework--biking, hiking, etc. TT would be for work, volunteering, required things, etc. LMT is things like cooking, cleaning, shopping, paying bills, etc.
Form there, you create an overall weekly schedule that has a sense of balance...that gives you time for all of the things that are important and/or necessary to your life. Below is a very rough beginning for this idea...Of course you would still need to review and insert new things as they arise...
Italics = MT; Underline = LMT; BOLD = TT; Normal = OT
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 6:30am Meditate Meditate Meditate Meditate Meditate Sleep Sleep 7:00am Shower Shower Shower Shower Shower Wake Wake 7:30am Dress Dress Dress Dress Dress Exercise, Fun Newspaper 8:00am Breakfast, Travel Breakfast, Travel Breakfast, Travel Breakfast, Travel Breakfast, Travel Exercise, Fun OR chores 8:30am Work Work Work Work Work 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm Lunch Lunch 1:00pm Errands Cook lunch for week 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm Nap?? 3:00pm Nap Call Home 3:30pm 4:00pm Fun, Chores or Relax 4:30pm Chores 5:00pm Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel 5:30pm Dinner Grocery Gym Gym Gym 6:00pm Travel 6:30pm Class 7:00pm Travel Travel Travel 7:30pm Papers Laundry (ongoing) Dinner Dinner Dinner 8:00pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Relax Relax Relax 8:30pm Relax Laundry (ongoing) Relax 9:00pm Travel Relax
So, with that in mind, I have a new planner/calendar and I am trying to implement those ideas and some ideas gleened from another time management expert who was recommended to me--I just scanned through his latest book...I am planning to read it. I am hoping to be able to get this done and get it going. I would like to be able to plan what I will wear for the upcoming week, and get it all ready, so that during the week I don't have to think about it. The challenge for me is that everyday is a little bit different, but a little bit the same.
Anyway, that's what I'm planning...now, if someone could just pry me the heck away from this computer...and get me to finish something...it just might work.
Peace.
It didn't work like I hoped...I had to change it a bit...I hope it is clear enough...
Deep_Diver38575.8092592593
Lol I did get a bit over eager there. It sounds like exactly the same idea you mentioned. It’s though to describe: as you indicated, it’s a very visual thing. I can understand it easier then and find it harder to lose!
I’ve probably gone too far with my system: it can make me rather clinical, overly driven and perhaps a bit inhuman. However, it seems to be all or nothing when it comes to organization with me. I’m either military or Sesame Street.
If it’s any consolation, I didn’t proof read it before posting! It was too long and boring to read after writing it. The irony!
Wow… and I thought I was organised! That's excellent.
What a superb idea. I really like the idea of designating the times too: it automatically priorities your day and gives you the rules for that bit of the day and activity. And it also makes sure you get things done. Setting aside time for life ‘them’ and ‘life maintenance’ I think are the biggest lessons I’ve learnt. I even have washing the car and the menu for each meal in mine!
Does the meditation work? I usually do tie chi in the mornings followed by a dare devil 13 mile cycle to work. The endorphin rush and activity set me in the right mood for work and help me calm down at the end of the day. Moreover, I save me money on the ridiculous UK petrol prices, now at 89.9p a litre (roughly .61 a litre)!