ADD and ADHD are real conditions that affect concentration and do not reflect laziness or lack of intrinsic motivation.
For these
individuals getting organized is a challenge because they do not have personal organization skills to help them sequence
steps in a procedure or focus attention for prolonged periods.
The result is often that others see people with Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
as disorganized or careless, or lacking the intrinsic motivation they need to get themselves organized.
The reality is they can't do it!
An armload of organizing tips and hints will never improve the situation
because the individual with an attention deficit disorder does not have the
ability to use these skills consistently and for a prolonged period of time.
A simple explanation
ADD is the abbreviation for Attention deficit disorder. It is a condition of the brain that affects a person’s ability to pay
attention. While it can occur into adulthood, it is most common with children in school.
It affects many facets of the every day life, getting organized is one of the most highly visible
challenges.
Someone with ADD or ADHD commonly struggles with concentrating on one specific thing.
There is a tendency for the mind to wander from one thing to the next. This makes it difficult to
completely finish tasks complete one thing at a time. Starting something and moving on to the next
project within a few minutes is common.
Personal organization can present a significant challenge for people with ADD and ADHD, particularly those spects that require planning.
There is simply too much to think about to stay focused for long enough to make plans.
This creates constant challenges with getting organized or even making decisions.
The nature and severity of this challenge is highly variable as there is a wide spectrum of
ability and disability in personal organization skills when it comes to ADD and ADHD.
Although making plans or getting organized is difficult, when activities are personally
favoured or enjoyed by the individual with attention deficit disorder, the attention span improves.
Similarly, organizing and planning improve if there is a personal excitement anticipation and
enjoyment of the future activity.
The main reason people with this condition struggle with personal organization is because of the multiple
steps that are required to accomplish organizing tasks. It is simply too challenging to concentrate
long enough to plan out a step-by-step analysis for something. Instead, after the first few steps the
person with an attention deficit disorder wants to move on to the next project. Because of this,
getting organized and staying organized presents a constant challenge. Others may see the individual as
simply a lazy person or a person who lacks the intrinsic motivation to carry through on things or look
after their own personal business.
It is also very frustrating for their loves ones when they constantly lose things.
Do you:
think about getting your taxes done but never actually do it?
start a project but never finish it?.
lose important papers?
have difficulty managing money?
forget appointments or arrive late all the time?
If you find that your personal organization skills are lacking it might not be a character flaw.
There might be something actually causing these problems to occur over and over in your life!
It could be ADD or ADHD.
Until recently, the conditions known as Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive
Disorder (ADD ADHD) were thought to be conditions that only affected children. Now a surprising number of
adults are now being diagnosed.
Children with ADD and ADHD will forget where they put their homework,
where they put their books, or where they put that permission slip necessary for the school
field trip. In fact they might not even remember that they were supposed to present the permission
slip for signature!
Adults with dyslexia commonly misplace their keys or important papers, and difficulties with
personal money management
are common.
For some children in school, learning becomes more arduous if they have ADD or ADHD.
It can even be difficult for them to process three instructions in a row.
Verbal directions like "Get out your Science book, turn to page 225 and do problems 3-8"
can be challenging to remember.
If they cannot remember the instructions they cannot follow through with each step and
because they do not follow through they may be accused of not listening.
Although it is not the biggest challenge people with ADD face, getting
organized is certainly a struggle. With their mind racing as fast as it is and little
concentration, personal organization is a challenge they will always face.
Fortunately more is being learned every day about this condition and how it affects people
in daily life. Some professional organizers even specialize in working with ADD and
ADHD individuals to set up systems for them that will help them to get and stay organized.
Ultimately this can help them improve the way they manage the everyday tasks of organizing, both in their work and
their everyday lives.
