Daily Living Tips for Adult ADHD

 Daily Living Tips link

1. Check Your Planner 3 Times a Day.  Whether you have ADHD or just too much to remember, organizing tips can help you manage your time and activities better. Get into the habit of putting all your appointments and activities on a calendar. It doesn't matter if it's a day planner, a smartphone app, or just a plain old desk calendar. Keep it in one spot and check it at least three times a day. Make it a habit to check at the same times each day.
2. Make a New "To Do" List Every Day. Each morning, make a list of the things you want to get done that day. Try to keep your list realistic, so you'll have a good chance of getting to everything. Arrange your tasks in order of importance, putting the most important tasks first. Assign each task a specific time of day. Cross off each task when you complete it.
3. Start Organizing - one room at a time.  Don't be intimidated by the idea of "getting organized." Start by putting things back where they belong and throwing away things you don't need.Tackle one room at a time -- start with the easiest. Divide the room into sections if you need to. Schedule organization time in your planner. Use a timer to manage your work sessions. Ask yourself whether you want to keep items or toss them. If you're not sure, put them in a separate box to go through later.
4. Make Organization a Daily Habit.  Don't think of it as cleaning up. Think of it as following your organization plan: If you keep items, they should have a home. Use filing cabinets, labels, clear storage boxes, and over-the-door organizers. Take 10 minutes each day to pick up and return items to their proper places. If you take it out, put it back. Keep a box for loose papers and other mislaid items to be put away. Go through it at the end of every day.
5. Have a rotating Menu. Planning regular meals for the entire family may be a challenge. Create a "Top 10" dinner list or regular rotating menu of dishes that you can cook easily. Try to keep those ingredients on hand, or list the ingredients on index cards that you can take with you. Don't carry the burden of feeding everyone yourself: Have a floating "free" night when you order takeout, or share the kitchen responsibilities with other family members.
6. Use electronic reminders. Forgetting meetings, deadlines, medications, or other responsibilities can create problems at work and in your personal life. For help, turn to computer programs and other electronic devices to remind you of appointments and deadlines. For example, set your computer or smartphone to alert you five minutes before every event in your calendar.
7. Fight boredom. Break up big tasks into little ones.  Between tasks, take a walk or get fresh air, take notes in meetings
8. Simplify your life with Fewer tasks.  Simplifying can work for your schedule, too. Don't start a new project or task until you've finished the current one. Try not to overschedule yourself with too many projects or tasks at once. You may need to practice saying no to new tasks to stay focused.
9. Get a lot of exercise.  Yoga and karate.
10. Start tasks (esp tough ones) with 15-minute blocks.  Do 15, if you still have gas, do 15 more.
11. Use color coding. Colored files, folders, and notes can help you stay better organized. Here are a few examples: Use color-coded files to keep track of different types of expenses, such as groceries, auto, entertainment, and utilities. Use different colored pens or highlighting in your planner to separate work, personal, and family commitments.
12. Learn from to-do list. If you see a lot of unfinished tasks left on your "to-do" lists, try to figure out why. Did you try to get everything done at one time? Did you list big tasks that could have been broken down into smaller ones? Or did distractions keep you from completing your tasks? Use this information to help arrange future "to-do" lists, or to find ways to work more efficiently.