Hi chaz:

Check out some great resources for ADHD college students (including organization tips) in our new ADDitude college guide: http://www.additudemag.com/guide/college.html

I hope it helps!

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http://www.exefind.com/instant-boss-P28930.html

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I went thru college in my early twenties, Also. I don't know if this will help or not, but it got me thru.

After going 5 straight quarters and working my tail off, I dropped out, got married, and had a kid. After a couple of years of seeing no future, I started back. I was grading papers and other odd jobs to stay afloat. But my grades got better.

I quit taking notes in class because I lost track on what was going on and my notes were so criptic that I had a hard time understanding them. I started just paying attension in class and cramming for exams. It worked for me but I was lucky enough to have a pharmacist friend that gave me some 5mg Dexadrine pills so I could stay up all night and be alert enough to cram. This was a very mild dose of an ADD amphetamine and I never abused it. I only took one on cram night. ( I now take 25mg Adderall every day and it's much stronger.)

I never knew what organization was. My mind was everywhere except on cram night. I don't know how I could have done that but, I do respond to deadlines and commitment to others. That may have been my salvation. Now, I make a new 3X5 card every day and spend 2 hours trying to figure out what to do first. I'm still doing thing that I've 'gotta' do and not what I 'wanta' do but I can't imagine how things would have been if I had not made it thru college. I think persistance and hard-headedness kept me going and I sure hope you do better.

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I would suggest getting a smartphone ONLY if you are used to carrying around a cell phone. If you aren't, then it's something brand new you'll need to get used to.

Back in 2000, I was watching "Oprah" and her annual "Favorites" gift shows. She showed a Palm Pilot--and someone beaming information to someone else. THAT was just so wicked cool to me, that I just HAD to get one!! After a lot of research I ended up getting a Palm IIIxe, which took regular batteries (AAA)...it was monochromatic, but we're talking almost a decade ago!!

After that, I upgraded to a Handspring Visor...then a Palm M515, and now I have the Sprint Palm Centro. It really has helped me with keeping track of appointments and information. Yes, you will need to input data but the good part is you can input it to the desktop and 'sync' it to the handheld. THAT is so convenient!!

As far as I know, you can sync Outlook to a Palm PDA...and there are others that run the Windows platform, so of course Outlook will work on it since they are both MS products.

Another way to organize yourself is to put things in the same location...do you have a "launchpad" by the front door? It can be a basket...a crate...whatever--something to put all your things you NEED to get out the door...keys, cell phone...PDA, books, pens, etc. When you come into the house/room, place all your stuff there. If you can, set up a 'charging' station right there as well for a cell phone, PDA, etc. Plug in a power strip for those things that need to be charged!

A really good author I enjoy is Deniece Schofield. She has a plethora of ideas to help you get organized!

Oh, one thing I have a big problem with is paper...receipts from the stores, mail that needs to be filed, etc. I have designated ONE drawer in our desk for all paperwork. When it gets full, I go through it--and sort things into 3 paperbags--one labeled SHRED, one labeled RECYCLE and one labeled FILE. It's helping get a handle on the paperwork floating around the house.

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On a whim, (go figure!,) I ordered the book: Organizing Solutions for people with ADD. I am so glad I did! At 40 years old, and a recent diagnosis, I am finally getting organized, and it is so empowering! The step-by-step instructions for specific rooms or tasks, like bills, are great, but I also love the way she outlines how to apply the steps to anything. Before I was diagnosed, I got a Blackberry Curve and I LOVE IT! I don't know how I ever got by without it! I was actually getting to appointments on time! Between myself, my mom, my three kids, two of whom also have ADD and lots of appts, and my DH, it was nothing short of a miracle! And I wasn't forgetting imporant dates and tasks. I sync with MS Outlook, and I also use Google Calendar, which I also sync with my Blackberry, to keep track of financial stuff, like paydays, bills due, etc. (I have had a Palm and a Windows PPC, but for some reason, probably the writing-entry, they never lasted.) Now that I'm taking meds, the whole process is so much easier! Every morning, I look at my day and add tasks from my tasklist to specific times to get them done. Long tasks, like going through the large box of old, unopened mail, I do in 15 minute increments. 15 minutes a day until it is all done. A cheap kitchen timer does the trick. Every night, I look at the next day and the next few days to see if there are things I need to add to my tasklist or prep. That way I don't get surprised by stuff. As soon as you get an appt, add it immediately and sync daily! No matter how small a task or idea, I put it into my Blackberry! Now I have a place to store those random thoughts! Some days I get more done than others, but at least I'm getting stuff done, now! Bonus, I found a check from the cable company from two years ago for over $100. I called the company and asked them to re-issue it and they did, to my surprise. So, getting organized pays! Good luck, and don't get discouraged. Start with one area and get it organized and move to the next. It will come, as long as you keep at it. And for financial sanity, I use Quicken 2009. It was much easier for me to use than MS Money, and I just set it up little by little until everything was in it. Our goal is to pay off the credit cards, then have payments autodebited to one card so that I can just pay that card off each month, since I will know exactly how much it will be. So far, so good.

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Hi Chaz,

As an ADHD person I can tell you I once shared your desire to find a quick fix. A smart phone might be a terrific purchase that solves many of your organizational problems, but it’s not going to be a silver bullet. If it allows you to set alarms to remind you when to go to the dentist and when to take out the trash then you might find some use in it. I have a watch that has these features (unfortunately it’s no longer being sold). Perhaps an inexpensive PDA can give you these things too? Also, there is little in a smart phone to organize your college work. Are you going to organize your notes in your smart phone?!? Your ADHD brain craves the excitement caused by purchasing a shiny new box of awesome, but unless it fits your needs it will probably end up in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.

Honestly, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I hold a job where I have to juggle massive amounts of information and manage 3 to 5 meetings each day. My wife will tell you I’m still ADD enough to drive her insane, but I’m a world away from where I began my journey. Of those that have made progress, each has found a different solution. Sure there are some common elements, but we’re all wired differently. Some great advice has already been given to this post and in this forum. That Instant Boss thing looks cool.

My advice is to master TIME first. Create a schedule and obey it. Don’t schedule every last minute. Only schedule the things that MUST be done. You can leave your free time entirely blank. As an ADHD person you may prefer to leave Saturday completely open and just write “adventure” for that day. In your schedule, put aside 10 minutes per day to getting organized. You don’t magically fix a clutter problem, much the way an overweight person doesn’t become skinny in one day. For example you make clean up a standard part of leaving a room.

Another tip is to write down a few of your goals at the start of each day. Again, it must become part of your routine. This means it must be a 5 minute task or less, else you’ll ditch it with your Franklin planner. Put a star by your MUST-DO tasks. Carry the list around and cross the items off the list as they are done. We ADD people LOVE to cross things off lists!! At the end of the day spend another few minutes cross-checking those goals to make sure they got done. If you didn’t achieve any of your goals, figure out where your time went instead and then determine if how you actually spent your time was more useful to you than your unachieved goals. If they weren’t, then come up with strategies to stop getting derailed. This is a baby step towards prioritizing your time so that you achieve what is most important to you.

It seems like a lot, but anything that becomes part of your day to day routine is simple. Do you forget to eat breakfast or brush your teeth? The key is to keep it a LIGHT-WEIGHT process, so you don’t get bogged down. You can’t spend 1.5 hours every day drafting up a set of goals. LIGHT-WEIGHT process is the key to success.

Lastly, I find organizer software to be incredibly important. So much that I wrote my own. There is a free version and a professional version at http://www.zipxap.com/HomePage_Products_ZxAppIt.html. The functionality is nearly the same, so feel free to try it out using the free version. If you like it and find it useful then email me and I’ll give you a free license for the professional version.

Sorry I type too much… Best of luck to you.

Kurt

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I tried every organizational system I could, but what finally worked for me was color-coding everything. Each class had a color. The binder or folder for that class was that color, as was the notebook, and the book was hardcover, i got a matching book sock for it too. I also had highlighters in each color so i could color-code my planner accordingly. Anything having to do with a class would immediately get colorcoded and filed. The second due dates were announced, they went in the planner. Then, once every week or two weeks, I would go through my desk to make sure I hadn't missed anything. This way, when I procrastinated a project to the last minute, I knew exactly where everything I needed to do it was.

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chaz0426 said: I'm 20 and a rising junior in college. I wad just diagnosed with ADHD and in the process of finding medication and counseling starts in the fall. My first 4 semesters of college was a combination of C's and D's and a few B's followed by poor organization. I had two desks. One desk was my clutter desk where I'd put something and deal with it later most of it was papers. My other desk was my computer desk which also turned into a clutter desk if my other one was full. Every few weeks I'd sort it all out but it was hard to get started doing that. I tried keeping a filing cabinet but didn't know how to organize it into sections. I had papers anywhere from course information, to job papers, and random other things I just didn't know how to categorize.

I tried keeping a day planner and that lasted about a week and I just couldn't find the time to sit down and plan it out. Also everytime I planned out my day it went completley different and I would never get the tasks and goals done so I ditched it. I now try and use microsoft outlook and it works pretty well since It reminds me when things are due and what things come up ect. However I dont' have my computer on me at all times so its tough. I am in the process of getting a smart phone to see if that can help me. (side note: does anyone know what smartphones are best for organization?)

Usually I just do things that come to mind and what I remember needs to be done in the day. Its kinda do as it comes mentality that I have. And because of it I find a lot of time just sitting around or watching TV and doing things last minute. In need structure and organization and I'm having trouble putting one together. Does anyone know of any that work best for college students in paticular? If so what are the details? I could use all the help, thanks!

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You should take a look at this website.

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