For the 37 years my husband lived without benefit of ADHD diagnosis, he developed many coping strategies. One was implementing organizational systems so he would not waste time or unnecessarily frustrate himself by hunting down often-used items — keys, Swiss Army knife, umbrellas, and the like. For the pre-diagnosis years of our relationship, I also developed systems, such as installing a white board (such as the one featured below) in the kitchen for important communications.
These days, when people ask my advice in addressing their own or their partners’ ADHD-related challenges, I suggest they first focus on organizational strategies. Perhaps even consulting a professional organizer before seeking therapy or couples counseling. Yes, therapy can be important. Yes, medication can be foundational. But so many individual problems and “couples troubles” around ADHD stem from chronic disorganization. In the early days of diagnosis, I consider it vital to instill a sense of optimism that life can truly get better. And one of the best ways to do that is to immediately focus on environmental strategies.
As I listen this week to all the reports of “Black Friday” shopping, I decided to highlight some products on Amazon.com that can help you get organizational traction. Quickly and cost-effectively. The list is not exhaustive; I plan to highlight specific categories in the future (bedroom, closet, office, etc.). The idea is to get you thinking strategically about problem-solving. Enjoy the slideshow, with my captions on each product! Click on any product to place it in your shopping cart. (Might not work in Google Chrome browser.)
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Those desk organizers are really a good, Gina! Thanks.
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I’m Gina’s husband, and I can attest that simple organizational strategies can be highly effective in diminishing the cognitive load felt by many ADDers. It doesn’t take much: the right tool and the power of habit and you’re off to the races.
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Gina,
Where is the actual listing of your Amazon.com picks for “Get organized!”?
It appears that only the initial part of this 11/23/12 article was published to the web. . . . Hope you can post the list soon! Thanks. -
Gina, Thanks for your reply. I was able to access the 3-page list by using an Internet Explorer browser–couldn’t access using Google Chrome. Reg
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I ordered a book for getting children (teen agers) organized. Gave it to one family but not the other and now need the name again. Any body know it?
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looking for anything and information to help me survive my life with ADHD


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