Organizing: Getting in Gear

Identifying where to start:

What is the one thing would have the greatest effect on you if you could change it? It doesn’t have to be the most “important” or most “obvious”.
What would you tell someone else to do first?
Roll up a piece of paper like a telescope. Work on just one corner of a room or one pile on the desk.
Start with something visible — a counter, desktop, not a drawer.

When have I used this?
When will I use this?
Why would I use this?
Where would I use it?
What would happen if I lost it?
Could I recreate it?
When was the last time I saw this? Have I missed it? Would I miss it if I didn’t have it?
Create rules i.e.: All magazines that are over a year old are garbage. All credit card applications get tossed. Catalogues that you haven’t bought anything from in 12-months get tossed.

When will I do this?
What tools/supplies/questions do I need/have before I can do this?
When does it need to be finished?
Why do I want to do this?
What would happen if I didn’t do it?
Could/Should someone else do it?
Create rules ie: 9:00 – 10:00 is my designated “long” stretch of time to work on long term projects. Don’t schedule other things during that time.

What is your strong time of day? Are you a morning person? Evening? Night? Plan on doing tasks more difficult during your strongest time of day.
What is one SMALL step you could take regularly to get you closer to where you want to be? Can you sort through 3 pieces of paper every day? Can you go put away things for 5 or 10 minutes every day? Can you wake up 10 minutes early to go through your “to-do” list, or maybe review it before you go to sleep or with your morning coffee?

by Carrie Greene, ACC, CarrieThru, LLC, ADHD Coaching & Organizing Services.