I, like so many ADD parents, used to be unable to cook or face the grocery store. I can cook well, actually; it's just that planning is overwhelming of course. So this is what i did. I went to the store and bought a colorful binder and dividers, and put lots of notebook paper in the pocket. Then, during my middle of the night obsessive internet surfing, I would go to recipe websites like allrecipes.com. I looked ONLY for simple recipes; mainly crock pot and casseroles. Not only is that easier for add ppl, but i work nights also. That way I could actually make dinner so my hubby didnt have to all the time. Anyway, I would open up Word docs, and copy paste recipes on each. You can make any adjustments or type up your family favorites also. I save them all in a recipe file on my computer. Then I print them, hole punch, and voila! I have a cookbook I will actually open. So once a week I sit at the table with my binder and plan 3-4 meals. If I try to do like 2 weeks, all hope would be lost. that's just overwhelming, and i have found the key to getting stuff done is just a little at a time (compared to all the long lists of to do's). I write, and my daughter helps by checking the fridge and pantry for stuff. Then we go to the store, remembering to take the list AND recipe binder. That way, when I realize I don't know how much sour cream I needed....there's the recipe. Problem solved, no panic or frustration. I'm pretty proud of myself. I've kept up with this surprisingly well. For years I wouldn't cook or step foot in the store. Now I can do a "normal mom" job, and it feels great.

Another thing that helped my organization in general was using a planner. I'd tried in the past and couldnt stick with it. But then on another add website i read an article about how to use one and make it work for you. I bought one made by Frankling Covey (sold everywhere....Target, Office Max, etc), and it also had a whole section of "instructions" of how to get the most of using one. It's great! It's my hub. I always have it in my purse, which I now always have with me. When I go to bed I take it with me. Then when I wake up I can grab it and see.....crap! I have an appt in an hour! ;-D If I'm downstairs watching tv or whatever, i have my purse nearby so that when I think of some random thing i need to do, i have it right there to write down. I keep my shopping list on the notepad also, so i never get there and realize i forgot it again. btw, i only buy food at the grocery store and buy household goods at Target. so it's the target list that's in my organizer. All the misc crap you shove in your purse (only to be found 2 months too late) you just put it in there. The calendar in mine has a month view, and then a week view. at first i thought there wasnt going to be enough space on each day to make my to do list. but that's turned out to be a good thing. There's only enough room for like 6 things. So everyday i can actually accomplish what i am supposed to, instead of sadly looking at a huge list i never finish. stuff that i get done that wasnt on there, i will go back and write it down anyway. now i can look back and see what i do accomplish and move forward with my life, instead of being depressed that im a lazy, messy loser.

I hope this helps any. i know I feel better about myself. One more thing; I'm not sure why or if it has anything to do with ADD. Using fun and colorful stuff helps me organize better. I love writing my lists with purple, teal, and pink pens. If I had purchased a black day planner, I might not use it as much. Maybe I'm just a colorful person. i do drive an orange car, and my house is rainbow-brite. But I am thinking that maybe because we ADD folk get bored easily.....maybe i see colorful and unique stuff as more fun and stick to it .

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