ADD ADHD
Getting Organized Can be a Challenge

It might be add, adhd and not a lack of intrinsic motivation that is preventing you or someone you know from "getting organized".

ADD and ADHD are real conditions that present challenges to focusing and sequencing steps in a procedure. These are essential skills for getting organized. 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

ADHD 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.

As mentioned a big problem people with ADD and ADHD face is planning and organizing. 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 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 organizing 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.

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 commonly misplace their keys or financial papers, and difficulties with managing money 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, organizing themselves and completing tasks 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 eveyday lives.

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