The PDA Solution: How to Organize Your ADHD Life

16 creative ways for ADHD adults to use a "pocket computer" to manage time—and stay on task!

by Terry Matlen

As the title of Dr. Ned Hallowell's book would suggest, these days, we all seem to be “crazy busy.”

Throw adult attention deficit disorder (ADHD) into the mix — and staying organized and on track can be a tall order.

A personal digital assistant, or PDA, can help. A handheld metal “brain” that stores information, like numbers and addresses, a PDA also offers a calendar (extra handy for those of us with adult ADHD!).

Other uses for this ADD-friendly gadget:

• record notes and lists
• download games and digital books
• input events, appointments, and “to-dos”
• program reminders, with beeping sounds that alert you when it's time to take action

Even the PDA veterans among my clients can learn new tricks to get their lives to run more smoothly. Here are suggestions for using a PDA to do just that.

Next: About All Those Bits of Paper on Your Desk...

Adults with ADHD Can Organize–The PDA Way!

Store It in One Spot

1. Jot down the location or the number of your parking space, so you can find your car after a stint at the mall.

2. Store a grocery list on it, and throw out all those little scraps of paper. Add your favorite recipes and note the ingredients needed for each. The super-organized can jot down which aisles their favorite grocery items are in.

3. Input the clothing sizes of all your family members, in case you need to buy a present in a hurry.

4. Jot down driving directions to places you don’t go very often — the dentist’s office you visit every six months or a new shop you’ve discovered.

More Tips to Streamline Leisure Time

5. Download e-books and digital magazines before going on vacation, instead of packing magazines and books you may lose.

6. Enter a list of your favorite TV shows and set the device to beep a half-hour before they start, so you’ll be ready to watch them — or to Tivo them to view later.

Next: Missed Meds?

Adults with ADHD Can Organize–The PDA Way!

Never Forget Another Dose

7. Set your PDA to beep when it’s time to take your ADD medication.

8. Input a list of the questions you want to ask your doctor at your next visit.

9. List your family members’ medications and dosages, as well as your pharmacy’s phone number.

10. Download games from your computer, to keep yourself (or your children) amused while waiting in line at the doctor’s office or at the bank.

More Tips to Stay on Schedule

11. Keep track of the dates when all of your bills should be mailed, so that they aren’t late (not the dates they are due).

12. Record school schedules, including days off, parent/teacher meetings, and mid-term and final exam dates.

13. Equally important, set a beeping reminder to recharge your overworked PDA.

Next: For the Frazzled Worker

Adults with ADHD Can Organize–The PDA Way!

Timesavers at Work

14. When you meet someone new, enter his name, a brief description of where you met him, and any important information. Note his job and family details, if you know them.

15. Buy a portable, foldable keyboard, and take notes at a business meeting or in class.

16. Store computer passwords to all of your online accounts (and be sure to password-protect the file!).

MORE: Articles for Adults with ADHD

• What to Consider Before You Buy a PDA

• ADHD Q&A: Medication and Schedule Reminders

• Paper Management: Strategies to Keep Organized at Work