Getting the right medication was only the first step. Getting organized is the other continual struggle. I was happy to find, as I worked on this that not only ADDers have this problem. David Allen's Getting Things Done book is a great start. If you think it's too much, a web site called Zen Habits has a simplified version of the process.

My favorite thing is my Fisher Space pen (staples for about $15) and some index cards. I now write EVERYTHING down. Just that is a big step.

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Hey I really liked zen habits. Thanks

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I just wrote about this under another thread in this topic, but PDA & paper notebook are essential.

Re home, I'm still working on that one. Many, many clear plastic shoeboxes, boxes of all kinds for everything. I like pretty boxes but I have to know what's in them, so they have to be clear. Clear plastic folders, envelopes really, 9x12 or so that have a flap and a string closure. I for some reason evolved out of regular file folders; maybe b/c I never really know what's lurking in there. So those clear plastic envelopes are essential for just about everything.

I use notebooks from Staples that are low-end versions of Levenger's Circa notebooks. They are great because they work like Rolodexes--you can use them like binders, but you can also pull out one page and put it someplace else without the drawbacks of a ring binder. These are also the same as Rollabind notebooks. Notebooks are much more reliable for me than loose pieces of paper that might end up anywhere (accidentally falling into the trash can, for example. I've lost PDAs and other things that way too.)

I'm always looking for new ideas. Great topic.

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I am also a fan of Getting Things Done and the whole GTD philosophy of a "bottoms up" approach to organization. Therefore, I always keep these things handy:

Electronic Labeler File Folders Sticky Notes Index Cards Pens Binder Clips, various sizes Moleskine or other small portable notebooks.

I also love using the web to stay motivated, inspired, and excited. Here are some sites and web tools I like a lot: http://www.hassleme.co.uk/ This site lets you put in tasks that you can then be "hassled" about in whatever pattern you want. Random, every 2 days, whatever.

http://unclutterer.com/ This is a blog about organizing everything. Usually good advice.

http://www.minezone.org/wiki/MVance/GettingThingsDone?action=print While nothing beats reading the Getting Things Done books, this is a superb breakdown of the way the process works. I keep a printed copy at my office to remind me how to deal with "stuff".

http://www.pocketmod.com/app/index.html These are super cool, customizable notebooks you can make yourself from one piece of standard printer paper. Pretty Hip!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601100035?ie=UTF8&tag=myonlnov-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1601100035 Love those Moleskines.

Another cool creative way to make your own planner/task list/to do - http://www.diyplanner.com/

http://www.rememberthemilk.com/ Remember the milk is an AWESOME to do list organizer. Totally free, you can share to-do lists with other people in your family, send tasks by mobile phone, etc. Can't recommend enough.

http://www.jott.com/ If you need to get things out of your head before you lose them forever, like me, then you need to sign up for Jott asap. Free voice recognition task service that you call from your phone. You tell it who you want to jott, what the note is, and if and when you want a reminder. It actually does a great job of translating what you said into text. Also integrates with remember the milk and multiple other services. So I call Jott, and it sends me an email reminder and automatically adds it to my remember the milk list.

http://lifehacker.com/ Great site for interesting organization concepts.

http://www.lifehack.org/ Yet another great site for tips.

www.skoach.com - This is a life management system geared towards ADHD folks. It's still in Beta and working out the kinks, but overall a good application.

Great topic!

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My best resource is www.flylady.net. They are a free resource with plans for keeping homes organized, reminders you can sign up for, etc. They also have forums and ideas for at the office. All of their advice suits adult ADHD very well....right down to setting the timer! Enjoy!

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http://www.backpackit.com is neat. I've looked at http://www.skoach.com but haven't got the hang of it yet.

I love flylady!! I love free helpful websites!

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I recently read a book that has helped me immensely. My closet has never looked better! The book is Organizing for your Brain Type: Finding Your Own Solution to Managing Time, Paper and Stuff by Lanna Nakone and Arlene Taylor. This book taught me not only how to best organize according to the way I think, but also that it is okay to think the way that I do. In other words, in this book, a difference in modes of thinking does not equal a disability or disadvantage until you try to do things someone else's way. Now my closet looks great and has stayed that way, and I gained some self awareness and self esteem as a bonus. The book is on Amazon and it is cheap.

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I recently got a smartphone that syncs (via Internet access) with my Outlook calendar and contacts from my work computer. I can also check my yahoo and google e-mail accounts on the phone. I have a bundle of software that is helping tremendously. One is for bank accounts, one's for shopping lists (amazing!!!), and the other's for secure ID type information: like names and passwords for online accounts, serial numbers, voter registration info, library card number, account numbers for loans and bank accounts, etc. All of that stuff syncs with desktop software on my home computer (not work computer), so I know it's private. I can set up a password to access each program if i want to, that way if I lose the phone, nobody can access those programs. My phone is a Palm Centro, but there are several on the market that do the same stuff. I can't remember life without it. :)

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Thanks for the websites. I'm going to use them. Hope they help. Meds don't work for me. I think behavior management is my only hope.

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cedarswarm said: I am also a fan of Getting Things Done and the whole GTD philosophy of a "bottoms up" approach to organization. Therefore, I always keep these things handy:

Electronic Labeler File Folders Sticky Notes Index Cards Pens Binder Clips, various sizes Moleskine or other small portable notebooks.

I also love using the web to stay motivated, inspired, and excited. Here are some sites and web tools I like a lot: http://www.hassleme.co.uk/ This site lets you put in tasks that you can then be "hassled" about in whatever pattern you want. Random, every 2 days, whatever.

http://unclutterer.com/ This is a blog about organizing everything. Usually good advice.

http://www.minezone.org/wiki/MVance/GettingThingsDone?action=print While nothing beats reading the Getting Things Done books, this is a superb breakdown of the way the process works. I keep a printed copy at my office to remind me how to deal with "stuff".

http://www.pocketmod.com/app/index.html These are super cool, customizable notebooks you can make yourself from one piece of standard printer paper. Pretty Hip!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601100035?ie=UTF8&tag=myonlnov-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1601100035 Love those Moleskines.

Another cool creative way to make your own planner/task list/to do - http://www.diyplanner.com/

http://www.rememberthemilk.com/ Remember the milk is an AWESOME to do list organizer. Totally free, you can share to-do lists with other people in your family, send tasks by mobile phone, etc. Can't recommend enough.

http://www.jott.com/ If you need to get things out of your head before you lose them forever, like me, then you need to sign up for Jott asap. Free voice recognition task service that you call from your phone. You tell it who you want to jott, what the note is, and if and when you want a reminder. It actually does a great job of translating what you said into text. Also integrates with remember the milk and multiple other services. So I call Jott, and it sends me an email reminder and automatically adds it to my remember the milk list.

http://lifehacker.com/ Great site for interesting organization concepts.

http://www.lifehack.org/ Yet another great site for tips.

www.skoach.com - This is a life management system geared towards ADHD folks. It's still in Beta and working out the kinks, but overall a good application.

Great topic!

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The best tip I ever read was from the Sidetracked Home Executive to Put 10 things away. If every time you see things out of place you put 10 things away, you eventually get cleaned up. I do put 10 things away to unload the dishwasher or to load the dishwasher. Sometimes putting 10 things away leads to doing the whole job, but I don't have to. The corollary to this tip is Work for 5 minutes. I set the timer and work for 5 minutes. I can stand anything for 5 minutes. I think these things help me because I have what I call "Can't get started disease". These two tips have completely changed my housekeeping skills (or created some in the first place).

Sue

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