| Is your office no longer recognizable? Is the | | | | toss something into them. |
| clutter so bad that it engulfs every surface? | | | | |
| Is seeing the computer screen getting harder | | | | Things you use all the time should be readily |
| and harder because there's so much dust on | | | | at hand. Get yourself a 3-inch loose leaf |
| it? If you answered yes to these questions, I | | | | binder and a set of sheet protectors. Put |
| wouldn't be surprised to learn that you have | | | | everything into those, including disks, |
| ADD. | | | | papers, booklets, etc. Then, set it somewhere |
| | | | that you can grab it easily. |
| Attention deficit causes these things to | | | | |
| happen, and what's worse, though everyone | | | | After you've cleaned out that one drawer, |
| around you notices, you probably don't. Yet, | | | | stop for the day. Take another space and do |
| if you're in a structured office environment, | | | | the same thing with it the following day and |
| your boss may look at the mess and rule out | | | | the day after that, clean another. Keep this |
| any potential promotions because you can't | | | | system moving, until your entire office is |
| keep things together. Or, if you work out of | | | | cleared up. But you'll need to stop yourself |
| your home, how uncomfortable is it making the | | | | from the ADD-clutter during this process, |
| other people who live with you? Look around | | | | too. |
| and think about what you see. | | | | |
| | | | Set aside a large space where you can just |
| Finding that perfect mess isn't reason for | | | | toss things during the day. It might be a |
| falling into depression, throwing up your | | | | desk drawer, a file bin or whatever. Just be |
| hands and saying, "Oh well, it's my ADD." | | | | sure it's large enough to handle the stuff |
| Though that's true, it's no excuse for not at | | | | that comes flying at your throughout the day, |
| least trying to keep things straightened. You | | | | and toss everything that you don't know what |
| can do it in ways that are easier for your | | | | to do with into it. |
| ADD brain, if you think of cleaning the mess | | | | |
| in "chunks." | | | | Then, at the beginning or at the end of every |
| | | | day, take 5 minutes and go through your |
| First, choose a small spot, like a desk | | | | "everything" space. File things into the |
| drawer. Take everything out and pile it in | | | | folders in your desk drawer or into the |
| front of you. If it's something you haven't | | | | binder, or throw things away that you know |
| looked at in 7 days and it's unimportant, | | | | you'll never read. If you keep this |
| pitch it into the trash. For the things you | | | | ADD-friendly system going, the clutter that |
| don't need immediately, but can't throw away, | | | | comes from attention deficit will no longer |
| set up an ADD-friendly filing system in one | | | | be an issue. |
| of your desk drawers, if you can. Buy a set | | | | |
| of colored hanging folders, and then label | | | | Systems like this one that your ADD can get |
| them. Maybe make red for urgent, blue for | | | | behind are often the best kinds of systems. |
| reference, or whatever. After using them a | | | | Stick with this one for a while, and see if |
| while, you'll automatically know what the | | | | it can't work for you. |
| colors mean and it will be much easier to | | | | |