| For adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, | | | | before bed." |
| tips for daily planning. | | | | |
| | | | Most adults with ADD find that the best time |
| Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky | | | | to plan is late in the day, when they are |
| | | | more alert. This works easily, as you can |
| For adults with Attention Deficit Disorder | | | | plan for the following day rather than |
| (ADD), details are a drag. We tend to see | | | | stressing about it before you go to sleep! |
| the big picture and want to jump straight to | | | | |
| the finish line, wishing we could skip all | | | | 2. Review Your To-Do List. |
| the steps in between. Unfortunately, this | | | | |
| perspective often causes us to become | | | | If you don't already use a to-do list, create |
| overwhelmed when it's time to start a | | | | one! Review it during each planning session |
| project. We know where we want to end up, | | | | so that you can see not only what you have to |
| but we don't know where to start. | | | | do, but also what you have actually |
| | | | accomplished during the day. |
| The same is true for day-to-day life. Adults | | | | |
| with ADD often start the day knowing what | | | | Re-write your to-do list, removing completed |
| should ideally get accomplished, but not sure | | | | items and adding things that came up during |
| where to begin or how to prioritize. Boredom | | | | the day. Move the most important and urgent |
| and frustration set in, making it difficult | | | | tasks to the top of the list. Break large |
| to finish what we set out to do. This often | | | | projects into 3-5 steps that all go on the |
| leads to stress and guilt, which can spiral | | | | list. |
| into more bad feelings, and less action. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Review Your Calendar. |
| In order to avoid this scenario, adults with | | | | |
| ADD can learn to make daily planning a | | | | Take a look at your daily planner (you are |
| routine. | | | | using one, I hope!) See what appointments |
| | | | you have scheduled the next day. Block off |
| Here are 3 Easy Steps One Can Take to Develop | | | | the times in your planner, along with your |
| a Daily Planning Routine: | | | | travel time. Then, begin to schedule in time |
| | | | for the tasks on your to-do list. |
| 1. Plan the Time to Plan. | | | | |
| | | | Taking just 15 minutes a day to plan |
| Decide on a time of day when you can | | | | alleviates much of the day-to-day stress of |
| consistently take 15 minutes to plan. It can | | | | life with ADD, and helps adults move forward. |
| be a set time (8:00 PM) or simply "right | | | | |