Organizing the ADD Household

I came across an article by Keath Low entitled ADD and Organizing Your Home. His tips are great whether or not you have a family member with ADD.

"Organizing a household can help a person with ADD or ADHD function more effectively from day to day. It can also help relieve some of the responsibilities that family members without ADD/ADHD take on. David W. Goodman, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, provides some ideas on how you can better organize your home if someone you love has ADD/ADHD. 
     

Central Calendars

 

A family calendar organizes all of the information for the household in one centralized location. Social engagements, doctor appointments, school events, birthdays -- all of these important dates can be written down on the calendar. 

The calendar is like a “the memory bank” for the ADHD individual -- a place to consult about upcoming events or appointments. The calendar relieves non-ADHD family members of having to be the source of this information. This ultimately reduces feelings of exhaustion, frustration and resentment that can arise from having to be consulted about every coming and going. If questions continue after consulting the central calendar, then the individual can go to a family member for clarification.

     

Visual Cues

Visual cues include any visual prompts, such as lists or colorful notes, that remind the ADHD individual about important things to do. Visual prompts may include taping a colored index card with a written message (such as directions to take a morning dose of medicine) to the mirror. Even better, says Goodman, “Velcro the medicine bottle to the mirror!” That is a prompt that is hard to miss. 

For many people, routines are simply an integral part of the day, often performed mechanically and without much thought. Individuals with ADHD don’t have these automatic routines. Each day is a new experience for those with ADHD. That is why lists, order, and prompts are so vital. 
     

Auditory Cues

Audible alarms can be set to go off to remind an individual to do something. Watches, cell phones, digital organizers, and computers --these items have alarms that can be set. 

All of these types of reminders can be incorporated into an individual’s life. It is very difficult for ADHD individuals to remain consistent; however, this is where a non-ADHD family member can provide oversight and additional support. 
      

Routines

Doing things in the same sequence, at the same time day after day -- these are routines. Routines are regular and unvarying. They follow a repeated course of procedure, and are often common tasks or chores. 

One simple routine that is extremely effective for organization is for the ADHD individual to empty his/her pockets in a central place immediately upon entering the door when returning home at the end of the day. The identified location may be as simple as a wicker basket that will hold keys, a wallet, glasses, etc. The main point is that the location contains all these necessary items, and that the routine of putting these items in place is repeated day after day after day. This strategy keeps things from getting scattered throughout the house, making the morning rush a little easier. 
      

Divvy Up Household Responsibilities

Another way to relieve some of the burden off those without ADHD is to systematically divide up household responsibilities. This makes it clear who is responsible for which tasks. It may be that a non-ADHD family member is better at the details that come along with paying the bills. Perhaps the ADHD partner enjoys the creativity that comes along with cooking. Spouses can get together and identify who is going to do what. This helps to ensure equity in the relationship."


More on ADD: 

Visual or ADD Organizers - Keeping Your Desk Organized

Understanding the ADD Mindset

ADHD Organization - Decision-Making

Helping Your ADHD Child Get Organized

More Tips for Helping Your ADD Child Stay Organized

 

Organizers' Choice Award

       
At the recent National Association of Professional Organizers annual conference, Smead's TUFF hanging folder with easy slide tab was given the Organizers' Choice Award. Its tab just slides across the top of the file to the location you choose. Thought you'd like to know!

More on filing:

Managing Paper

A very simple filing system for email and paper

Get Organized Month 2009 - Rethink Your Desk

Spring Cleaning Bedrooms

     
Isn't it freaky that I posted a blog on organizing for tornadoes yesterday and a tornado hit my home town where my parents and brothers live? A little too close to home! Everyone is fine, though.

Thought I'd repost this blog from last year on spring cleaning bedrooms. It feels so good to freshen everything up!

Spring Cleaning Bedrooms

When the weather starts to warm up, it's a great time to spring clean the bedrooms. Spring is one of the times during the year I like to wash all the bed linens for each bedroom. When the girls clean their rooms this week, I will ask them to completely strip their beds down to the mattresses. If you have children and they are old enough, they can do this chore for you, too.

It's a logical time to clean all the linens, as it's time to remove blankets for spring and summer months anyway. And it will be nice to store a freshly washed blanket, ready to use when it gets cold again.

I'll take down the curtains since they are washable. If yours are not, send them to the dry cleaners or vacuum them, using the brush attachment.

While the linens are off, you may want to take the opportunity to recruit the family to sweep the ceiling, wash the walls, clean ceiling fans, vacuum, dust, and wash windows. While you're at it, flip the mattress, too.
Even little ones can dust or wash walls with Mr. Clean Magic Sponges. All you have to do is wash the walls and rinse the sponge - no rinsing of walls!

If it takes longer than an hour or so, you may want to break it up into hour-long segments so as not to overwhelm yourself or your family. Repeat for each bedroom until you're done. You'll be surprised at how quickly it goes!

It's a lot more fun if you all work together. Put on some fun music and enjoy! Tell jokes or funny stories. Then do something fun to celebrate everyone's hard work.

It's amazing how washing walls brightens the room! And freshly laundered comforters, sheets and curtains add a spring crispness to the room! It's a big job, but a clean fresh bedroom is worth the effort!

More blogs on spring cleaning:

Spring Cleaning the Walls and Windows

Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Lemons

Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Salt, Newspaper, Coffee Filters, and Olive Oil

If cleaning isn't your thing, and you need a little help, try Three Steps to Clever Cleaning - a short, colorful, glossy, fun little book.

Getting Organized for Tornado Weather

   
Don't know if you remember a while back when I did a series on National Preparedness Month (September). During that time I bought a NOAA emergency radio.

We had a tornado watch last Friday night and had a chance to test it out. It was cool in a nerdy sort of way. When you turn to the weather channel, all it plays is notices from the National Weather Service.

So you don't have to wait for the TV or radio to get around to telling you what is going on, you're listening to the real stuff as it happens! The radio runs on batteries, an adapter or via a hand crank. It can even charge your cell phone with the proper adapter!

When a new alert comes on it is preceded by an annoying noise like the "This is Just a Test" noise on TV, which is then followed by a siren. But you can turn off both of these features if you wish.

I left them on but turned down the volume as it scared our foster daughters. I wanted to be aware when something new was happening. 

We also talked calmly to the girls about what we would do if the tornado watch turned into a warning. We were already in the rec room in the basement, and we would all pile into the powder room and cover ourselves with pillows.

Just around the corner from the powder room is a storage room which has food and water supplies. We had our cell phones with us and our wallets and our laptops. That pretty much covers our lives, doesn't it? LOL! 

Are you prepared should you have a tornado watch or warning? Have you designated a place where you would take shelter? Do all family members know the plan? 


More on preparedness:

National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio

National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan

 

Living with Imperfection

    
One of the best time management skills to master is knowing when to do a top-notch job and when to live with imperfection. It is impossible to expect perfection from yourself on everything you do. Otherwise you get bogged down in the details and overwhelmed.

I've been under the weather this week, and it's amazing how quickly I settled for imperfection in several areas. In fact, I did what I absolutely had to do and shelved the rest. I have tried to listen to my body and get some rest so I can recover quickly. 

But you don't have to be sick in order to live with imperfection. Some tasks are just not important enough to require perfectionism. Knowing the difference is the key.  

Allow yourself to be human and imperfect!


More on perspective:

Priorities and Perspective from a Ninety-Year-Old

Feeling Overwhelmed? Organize Your Priorities

Backlogged?

 

Spring Cleaning Relationships

  
We celebrated one of our girls' birthdays yesterday by having fondue - a great activity for relationship-building. Since it's still spring, I thought I'd repost this blog on relationships. The people we have around us are so important! 

Spring cleaning usually brings to mind decluttering and purging and reorganizing. Why not look at our relationships in the same way? Rather than let our lives get cluttered with unproductive relationships, let's be intentional! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Do you have people who clutter your life and don't fit with your priorities?

Are there those with whom you'd like to spend more time?

Are there people who interrupt you from accomplishing those things that are important to you?

Is there a person you'd like to have as a mentor?

Do you have clients whom you need to fire because of the time it takes to deal with their complaints, missed appointments, etc.?

Are there people you're attracted to and would like to get to know better?

Are there people who drag you down rather than encourage and motivate you?

Do you have people in your life who are infecting you with their unhealthiness?


We have one life to live and 24 hours each day. If we don't examine our relationships, we could find ourselves at the mercy of others rather than using our gifts and talents in a meaningful way. There are times when we choose to invest in people who drain us, but that is a choice, not a haphazard circumstance.

As we intentionally choose to spend time with those who have similar priorities, who motivate and encourage us, we will have less time to spend with those who have a negative impact in our lives. It may be necessary to create boundaries and margins to maintain health. But we can't be passive!


Similar blogs:
Reduce Your Stress - Say No
To Do List or Not To Do List - That is the Question!
Spring Cleaning the Noise


If you need help in determining your priorities and passions, see any of the time management books in the 1-2-3...Get Organized series

One Sign That Your Clutter is Out of Control

     
I had such fun yesterday speaking at our local Women's Connection group on Lightening Our Summer Load. We started out by organizing our purses - what a hoot! I gave prizes for the most unusual item, the oldest receipt and the most things purged.

Some of the funny things women had in their purses: a pair of underwear, false teeth, a hearing aid, a cabinet door knob, a tool kit, a road atlas, a buckeye (it's an Ohio thing), and several kinds of foreign money. The underwear was the hands-down winner. LOL 

Now on to our blog ...


What is one sign that your clutter is out of control? When you start making stacks on the floor! When life gets too busy or chaotic to put things away or find a place for something new, something needs to change!

If it's a short term problem, you can recover as soon as the busyness subsides. But if it's an ongoing problem, you need to be concerned. Do what you need to do to reduce the chaos and busyness in your life so life is manageable. Otherwise, stacks will accumulate and you might be nominated for the hoarding show on TV!!! Just kidding ... sort of. :)

What are your signs that clutter is out of control at your house?


More on clutter:

Overwhelmed with Clutter? Make an Appointment with Yourself!

Guilt-Ridden Clutter

Emotional Depreciation - A Long-Term Approach to Clutter

 

Teaching Children to Organize

 
How soon can you start teaching your children how to organize? In my opinion,  you can start teaching your children organization skills when they are small.

When you help them put away toys, you can talk about putting books away with the other books. Putting a truck in its special spot on the shelf. Legos in the box with other Legos.

When you do laundry, have your children help by folding their own clothes. It doesn't have to be a perfect job! Teach them to put like things together while folding and while putting them away. 

Yesterday while helping a client downsize for a move and we were in her son's bedroom, he pointed out to his mom that a shirt was in his pajama drawer. He put it away where it belonged. And he was only three or four!

While emptying the dishwasher, talk about spoons going with spoons, forks going with forks, bowls stacking on each other, etc. It teaches your children that everything has a place and like things go together.

There is something comforting to a child when there is order - life is predictable and safe, not chaotic and haphazard. Did you ever think about organization providing safety and security for your child? That's motivating, isn't it?


More about children and organization:

Get Organized Month 2009 - Family Five Minute Challenge

Organizing "Messy" Toys

Helping Your Child Declutter Toys Before Christmas

 

Recycling Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Lightbulbs)

    
We finally had one of our compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) go out and were in a quandary about how to dispose of it. We found out we could take it to Home Depot.

If you have similar questions, go to Earth 911. Just type in your zip code and the item you want to recycle, and they give you a list of places where you can dispose of your item.

Sure makes it easy to be green!


More on recycling:

A Refresher on Recycling Plastics

More Eco-Friendly Recycling

Recycling Cell Phones to Our Soldiers

 

Got a 17,000 Square Foot Attic? Here's Some Organizing Advice.

  
 Here's an article by Candy Spelling (wife to Aaron, mom to Tori and Randy) on how she organizes her 17,000 square foot attic. I'm sure it will come in useful to you!

"My attic, like most things in my life, is oversized. At 17,000 square feet, it’s larger than the condominium where I plan to move.  But, I’ll write about downsizing another time (just the word causes me great anxiety), and, instead, invite you in to this special part of my haven.  I know that, when people think “attic,” they usually visualize stuffing things away and going back “someday” to sort them out. Not me; I’m not only a chronic sorter, but I think more of the attic as “my special storage space” than “out of sight, out of mind.”

Candy's 17,000 square foot attic

One friend said, “You treat Randy and Tori’s school awards as importantly as Aaron’s big TV statues.”  I liked that. Each item is a piece of our lives, and they deserve better than to be poorly packed away until the dreaded clean-out-the-attic day finally arrives.  I actually look forward to going to the attic and climb up there at least four or five times a week, and sometimes every day. There’s too much of our lives up there to be stuffed, piled and forgotten.

We’ve collected a lot of stuff, and I wasn’t sure where to start. So, I studied storage areas in hardware stores, hotels and big box retailers to figure out the best way to keep the original floor plans, architectural drawings and charts that show what’s connected to what and how to find the wiring for every piece of equipment in the house.  I have almost a hundred different kinds of light bulbs (for everything from koi pond reflectors to French lampposts), plus unique duplicates of every carpet, wall covering, upholstery fabric, stone, and paint used in the house. Everything is labeled, and I even wrote stories about some of the rare items, such as the tale of how I found the silk for our entry hall walls.

I’ve organized and captioned everything from Aaron’s amazing career, so a large part of my attic looks and reads like a "TV Guide" from a past decade with his scripts, photos, memorabilia, notes, videos and awards from the thousands of hours of TV he produced.  Next to scripts from "The Love Boat" for example, I have a display of family photos from our cruise, photos of the cast, awards the show received and even a TV version of a cruise ship captain’s uniform.  It’s like being on “The Love Boat,” without ever getting seasick.  Multiply that times “Dynasty,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Mod Squad,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” and dozens of other shows, and people feel like they’ve stepped back into their favorite parts of TV nostalgia instead of a climate-controlled attic.

Holidays have always been very special times for me, so decorations take up a lot of space. Nothing makes a home a haven more than celebrating the holidays with festive and special items.  So, I have 59 boxes of Easter decorations, filled with everything from bunny costumes Tori and Randy wore (soon headed for Liam and Stella), to every shape and color of Easter eggs for the children from various charity organizations who come over to hunt for Easter eggs. More attic space is devoted to Christmas than any other holiday.  In fact, I have 180 boxes of Christmas decorations, which hold everything from the seven-foot toy soldiers who greet visitors outside in December, to the Mrs. Claus dresses I put on my dolls.

A big dilemma was organizing all these different memories.  I have labeled every box (“big white rabbit husband and wife drinking tea” and “cushions from Tori’s Sweet 16 party” are examples), and I have photos on the outside of every box.  I often thought I solely supported Polaroid for years because I took almost as many photos of decorations as I had actual decorations.

I always liked walking into public libraries because I appreciated the organization and order. I realized that I used some of those old filing systems for my attic over the years, but with a much warmer feel to it.  After all, my attic is full of years in the lives of Aaron, Tori, Randy and Candy.  I want to be able to visit those times whenever I can.

Here are some tips to make your attic more of an attraction than a house of horror.

Candy's Storage Tips:
1) Be discriminating.  Everyone’s attic holds something special, or else the items should be in the trash, not in your home. So, for those special memories – even if you’re not as compulsive as I am to check on them all the time – you want to make sure they are protected and easy to find.

2) Label your items as you put them away.  Don’t put this off, or chances are, they’ll just get piled and pushed and never be where you want them.

3) There are great storage boxes, cabinets, holders and files today, available everywhere from the local discount store to the storage stores. Get those that are designed to hold photos or clothes or books, to make sure they stay in good condition and protect your valuables against the elements in a cold or warm or musty attic.

4) Look for acid-free tissues, boxes or wrappers to store your valuables and delicate items. Archival storage solutions are available from many retailers, container stores and online photo accessory retailers, and it’s worth finding it.  No matter how carefully you may pack some items, they still might wilt over time if not stored in an acid-free environment.

5) Take photos of what you’re storing, and number each box with a Sharpie or long-lasting ID.  Keep the records in a scrapbook, three-ring notebook or on your computer, along with a drawing or map of the attic to show where you placed each item. The reference numbers and maps will certainly be useful when you need to find something. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

6) Check in on your attic from time to time and don’t be afraid to move things around.  You might also want to move some things back downstairs to be more prominent in your life again. Life moves very quickly, and there’s no reason to shut out the past."

Planning Ahead for Dinner

     
My husband and I had a wonderful vacation with one of our daughters last week. Because of distance, we don't get to see each other very often, so we relished every moment. 

When we got home, it was definitely time to go grocery shopping! I decided to plan menus for three weeks this time. While my mind was engaged in this direction, why not plan for longer than a week?

Last night I baked a bunch of chicken breasts. We had make-your-own quesadillas last night. We'll have chicken chow mein tonight. And we'll have chicken cranberry salad and wraps later on. 

I cut up chicken while everyone else was doing their after-dinner chores. I froze the chicken for the latter two dishes, refrigerated the chicken for tonight, and I've just taken a big step out of three dinners! Oh, that feels good!

All it took was looking ahead to see what was on the menu and thinking strategically. We'll have steak a couple of times and use leftovers in beef fried rice and fajitas. 

What do you do to streamline dinnertime? I use my Hassle Free Dinners, my own family cookbook, the internet, and recipes from magazines as resources when planning menus. 


More on streamlining dinner:
Hassle Free Dinners
Three Steps to Planning Dinner (includes my family cookbook) 
Planning Dinner

Make it Easy to Get Rid of Things

Here's an idea that makes it easy to get rid of things: place a shopping/grocery bag in each closet in which you can deposit items no longer wanted or needed. 

Don't forget to put a bag in the laundry room, too. As you're removing clothes from the dryer, it's so simple to get rid of outgrown children's clothes if you have a bag right at your fingertips.  

If unwanted items are to be trashed, take them directly to the trash can. But if they are to be donated, drop them in your bag. When charities call, you're ready with your bag of donations! Empty out each bag and start fresh.

If you find your bags are overflowing and want to get rid of your unwanted articles quickly, toss them in your car so you'll remember to drop them by your favorite charity. 

If your hand-me-downs are going to a particular person, label the bags accordingly and put them in your car so you'll have them on hand the next time you see that person. Better yet, drop them off personally and get them out of your car!


More on decluttering and donating:

Decluttering and Donating

Save Time and Clutter by Making Decisions

Donating Business Clothing for Job Interviews

Overwhelmed with Clutter? Make an Appointment with Yourself!

Having trouble getting that decluttering done? Make an appointment with yourself! 

Put it on your calendar just as you would a doctor's appointment or a luncheon appointment. 

AND SHOW UP!!!

Start with one hour a week. I think you'll be surprised at how much you can do in just one hour! In fact, you'll probably be motivated to go longer than an hour once you get started. 

But don't schedule your appointment with yourself for longer than an hour because it may overwhelm you. Just leave some extra time in your schedule in case you're still motivated after an hour.

Put on your favorite music and have some fun!  

If you really want to get serious, set a deadline for each decluttering job and celebrate after accomplishing each one!

One of my current clients has been enjoying having friends over because her house is no longer filled with clutter. You may enjoy doing the same.

More on decluttering:

Three Steps to Decluttering

A Simple Way to Stay Focused on Decluttering/Cleaning

A Tisket A Tasket - Decluttering with a Basket

Organizing An Intentional Summer for Your Children

    
I loved creating an intentional summer when my girls were small, and try to do it as much as possible with our teenage foster daughters. The following is a blog I posted a couple of years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

Rather than enduring through the summer, make it intentional! If your children are old enough, have them think through some goals for themselves over the summer. These could includes the following categories: physical, social, financial, vocational, spiritual, educational, mental, artistic, musical, and life skills.

If you have grade school children, you may need to talk about this with them. If your children are younger, think through the areas that would apply to your small children and come up with ways you'd like to see them grow over the summer. 

With our teenage foster daughters, we let them decide their own goals. Some of them have included losing weight, expressing anger appropriately, speaking gentle words instead of harsh words, saving money for a car, learning how to manage money, and making new friends.

Some ideas for each category:

- Physical: eating nutritionally, running a mile in a certain time, learning a new sport, swimming lessons, care of hair and skin, an athletic camp, honing athletic skills, riding a bicycle/tricycle, fine motor skills, etc.

- Social: table manners, fun ideas for dates, sharing, please and thank you, not interrupting, telephone etiquette, how to be a good conversationalist, how to be a good friend, how to protect yourself on a date, what to do if your friends want you to do something you shouldn't, etc.

- Financial: saving, tithing, budgeting, opening a checking or savings account, investments, generosity, etc.

- Vocational: shadowing someone in a field of interest, researching a profession, field trip, internship, volunteer work, getting a job, how to interview, how to write a resume, how to fill out a job application, etc.

- Spiritual: vacation Bible school, memory verses, prayer, how to study the Bible, seeing God in nature, how to know God, restoring your relationship with God when you've blown it, finding a church you like, joining a youth group, etc.

- Educational: brushing up on needy subjects, summer school, work sheets, college visits, thinking through a major, keyboarding or computer skills, how to study, how to take a test, how to take notes, learning the alphabet or numbers or colors, learning how to read, etc.

- Mental: learning more about an interest, field trips, logic exercises, games, challenge programs, learning skills, memory techniques, time management, etc.

- Artistic: art lessons or classes, art time for drawing, etc., crafts, woodworking, sewing, jewelry, cartoons, knit, crochet, etc.

- Musical: lessons, learning a new instrument, concerts, symphonies, outdoor music programs, voice lessons, choir, band, camp, etc.

- Life Skills: changing a tire, setting the table, ironing, mending, tying shoes, folding clothes, laundry, how to plan balanced meals, cooking, how to use household appliances, cleaning up toys, how to make a bed, etc.

Hope I gave you some food for thought. Tell me about your intentional plans for the summer!



More on Summer:

Peace-of-Mind Vacation Check List - What to Do Before You Leave

It's that Time Again - Swapping Out Your Seasonal Tools

 

Declutter Your Purse with Celebrity Hairstylist's Invention

Here's a new invention I came across in an article in the Palm Beach Post that may help declutter your purse or bathroom. 

"Hairdresser Melissa Peverini flies the country in private jets to style the hair of famous clients, including Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster and Paloma Picasso. The 39-year-old stylist from Palm Beach Gardens loves everything about her job, except one: the excessive amount of tools she needs to carry on a daily basis.

"I always had to travel with tons of bags full of brushes and combs that worked for different effects," Peverini said. 

"It was a huge clutter and became expensive for those clients who wanted to maintain the look, so I realized I had to come up with something that would bring all these tools together."

That was when Peverini, a stylist for 20 years, invented a hybrid that works as four styling tools in one. 

In December, after a year and a half of searching for a manufacturer and generating five prototypes, Peverini launched the VersiComb. "It eliminates the clutter and minimizes my clients' expenses," said Peverini. "I wish I would've had this over the last 20 years."

The ionic-infused styling tool has two sides. 

A narrow-toothed side has nylon bristles that detangle hair along with boar's-hair bristles to tease and add volume. The wide-toothed side separates curls while smoothing and polishing hair. 

The comb folds in half to become travel-friendly.

"It's a sleek, sexy and beautiful tool that my clients can take out in an evening bag to maintain their hairstyle all night," Peverini said. One West Palm Beach client, Sheilah Seidensticker, calls the VersiComb a "lifesaver."

"I don't even have to pack any other hair tools," she said. "I just pack the VersiComb in my purse and go."

VersiComb, priced at $14.95 on Peverini's Web site www.versicomb.com, is also sold in some salons and drugstores in West Palm Beach."

More on decluttering your purse:

Get Organized Month 2009 - Declutter Your Wallet/Purse

Pouchee Purse Organizer