Overwhelmed by Organization Tasks

"I have a very hard time getting organized because one thing always seems to be contingent upon another. For example, I have a great bookcase but can't bring myself to use it — because I'm planning to move it to my daughter's room (eventually, after I get it painted). Any suggestions?"

ADHD expert Sandy Maynard helps your ADHD child learn basic skills

sandymaynard.com Sandy Maynard

Like many ADDers, you tend toward "circular" thinking. One task is connected to another, and another, and so on. Eventually, everything becomes connected in an overwhelming mess. The best way to interrupt that circular pattern is to insert a "starting point."

Instead of dwelling on what you can't do, identify what you can. From there, break your problem down into other manageable steps. For example, begin by moving the bookcase to the garage or porch where it will be painted. The next steps should flow from there - sanding it, buying the paint and brushes, and so on.

Watch out for perfectionism. Are you not doing something that can be done easily, just because you feel that you don't have time to do it the "correct" way? Ultimately, you must choose between "doing it" (even if imperfectly) and "not doing it" (and waiting and waiting until you have the time). If this is a hard decision for you, your delays may be rooted in a need for perfection. Take it from me: The world won't end if you don't do things perfectly.

A pioneer in the field of coaching people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ms. Maynard was instrumental in the development of The National Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Coaching Guidelines and a founding board member for the Institute for the Advancement of AD/HD Coaching (IAAC). She is a certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and utilizes a holistic health and wellness approach with her clients. Ms. Maynard lives in Washington, DC where she operates Catalytic Coaching. Sandy lectures internationally and is a regular contributor to ADDitude magazine.

11 Comments:

Posted by BellaDotka - Aug 7 2009 @ 9:35 AM
Love It :))
Before I didn't know about MY ADD , I was thinking ,why I had a problem to finish a single thing... When I did the dishes , after third one , I had to go and take a break for a cigarette ( I didn't know yet ,that's was too boring :) ) Of course , when I was smoking my cigarette , I forgot already about the dishes , because watering the plants , was more important ...etc. All of my things have to be on the right spot:) , but the "right spot " can change location very often :)) . I used to have around 30 magnets on my refrigerator... ( till we moved to new place 2m ago , I'm 37 , honestly in my opinion , that's insane ) My husband couldn't believe it , that when he changed the location of some of them , I did recognized it, and got angry ...:)) I never memorized their order ... is't that what they call perfection ? hihi No matter , if I find the right place for all the stuff , in few hours,days,weeks I'll get better ideas ...(but again ,some of them I'll not move it for years) Since I was 16 , I called that, a organized or artistic mess :)) I love my circles , they drive me crazy, but also, they are keeping me alive ... :))
Posted by MrsMagnum - Jul 13 2009 @ 6:16 AM
written in stone
I am newly diagnosed ADD and brand new to this site. This discussion reminds me of something a friend said to me years ago, when she saw me struggling with simple decisions, and she said to me "It's not written in stone", meaning that I could always move the picture to another spot if I didn't like where I put it, etc and most things didn't have to be perfect the first time.
Posted by Sean Hill - Jul 12 2009 @ 6:34 PM
"circular" thinking
Good question, I once spent two days trying to solve a MS access issue for my team and still didn't resolve the issue, it's very frustrating.
Posted by butterflymom - Jul 11 2009 @ 10:43 AM
a site that might help
I'm not sure if anyone knows of this site, but www.flylady.net is free and gives you help in doing things in baby steps. It has helped me to think differently about things and to just jump in and not expect them to be "perfect". I didn't even realize I had ADD when I found this site. Maybe it will help someone else too.
Posted by butterflymom - Jul 9 2009 @ 11:49 PM
a site that might help
I'm not sure if anyone knows of this site, but www.flylady.net is free and gives you help in doing things in baby steps. It has helped me to think differently about things and to just jump in and not expect them to be "perfect". I didn't even realize I had ADD when I found this site. Maybe it will help someone else too.
Posted by Amy2838 - Jul 9 2009 @ 12:39 PM
Woah!
This is a major problem in my life! It's very frustrating. I agree with the author that there is a huge setback when you have that need for things to be done "right." It trips me up every time, because I just wouldn't want to drag a bookcase out to the garage and get half way finished painting it to find out that I'm making it look like a piece of junk! Then I'd have to decide whether to finish making it look like a piece of junk, get somebody else to finish it for me, or just get rid of it and start over! Circular thinking...I'll have to remember that phrase!
Posted by joe_p - Jul 9 2009 @ 9:09 AM
Yes! Yes! - Me Too!
I've been spending so much time (and money) trying to come up with some system/software tool to help me with that. I've just started my own business and am still stalling myself out each time I try to do anything. Hopefully, I can do what you say and make it stick. Grrr...
Posted by Dana - Jul 8 2009 @ 3:19 PM
O.....M.....G!!!
I didn't know there was a name to this either! Until now! I do this CONSTANTLY. Example: I can't wash the dishes until I clean out the cupboards to put them in (otherwise dirt from the cupboards could fall on the clean dishes below), but I can't clean out the cupboards until I unpack the cleaning chemicals, and so on. It's sooooo frustrating! Similar to what Nay said below about his/her bare walls...I've lived in my apartment for 3 years and am only about 40% unpacked. It's insane! Ugh!
Posted by jhevans - Jul 8 2009 @ 11:06 AM
oh yeah...
This is definitely ME - so many things undone because something else needs to get done "first". Of course, the first thing never gets done. Glad there's a name for it, so I can share it with my long-suffering husband!
Posted by tnd3 - Jun 20 2009 @ 3:14 AM
thank you!
that is "so me" and your answer was helpful - never heard it explained that way.
Posted by Nay - Apr 16 2009 @ 5:02 AM
Circular thinking
I didn't know there was a name for it, but I too am this way, I have a ton of things that I want to do, lots of ideas and visionsm things that need to be done, but because of this type of thinking, I'm lucky to get any of it done ever! Sometimes it can take years. No kidding, It drives me insane that I think this way. It would seem so easy for the non-adder,yet this thinking that we adders have is so overwhelming sometimes, I find myself saying, "Well I can't do it correctly, I'll just end up having to start over, waste money and time...so there comes the procrastination..Iv'e lived in my home for 10 years and still have some bare walls ( don't want to get the wrong thing, what if I hate it later?? so I end up with boring walls! So I totally understand what your talking about..a work in progress I guess right?

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