Helpful Hints

O.H.I.O: ONLY HANDLE IT ONCE. This is a great rule of thumb, especially for us "pilers"--you know, the people whose idea of organization is several different piles around the house. Do it with mail as soon as you get it, and you'll never have stacks of junk mail or lost bills. Thank you to Norm Hutchens, who signed the guestbook with this crucially helpful hint.

SIT IN THE FRONT ROW. Class, meetings, seminars, church, and wherever you need to pay attention. This way you won't be distracted by what the people in front of you are doing. You are also more accountable to the speaker if you fall asleep. This has worked wonders for my grades.

EXERCISE. I used to hate it, and now I can't say enough about how wonderful it is. It's a good way to get rid of that excess energy so that we can sleep better. It releases endorphins, which make us feel better. You also cannot beat the sense of accomplishment you get. You can see the results. I like to exercise outdoors rather than the gym. ADDults need constant stimulus of the senses, and a boring gym doesn't do it. Outdoors, we can see the wonders of nature, feel the breeze, and hear the animals. I really like to hike, myself. I don't mind weightlifting in the gym, however. Weightlifting helps you to focus, even outside the gym. Thanks to my ex-boyfriend, who taught me how to lift properly. He says he likes to exercise because "You get out of it exactly what you put into it." If you find it boring or difficult to discipline yourself to exercise regularly, grab a workout buddy who will help to keep you on track. My ex was really great about pushing me to go the extra mile.

TAKE TIME OUT. It is important to have time to wind down at the end of the day. A friend of mine who suspects he has ADD and is going to be tested just can't sleep without having time to himself first. He requires a hour of t.v. or quiet. Personally, I like to have a cup of decaffeinated tea and do a devotion with my Bible before calling it a day. The routine helps me to get in "sleep mode."

PRAY. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phillipians 4:13)." Christians know that when they think they can't achieve something, they can ask God to help them out and have faith that He will. Prayer also helps to focus you, to get your priorities in order. I find it to be essential to the beginning and end of my day, as well as in between! Putting God first has helped a lot with my ADD.

KEEP A DAY PLANNER. Pick one out that best suits your needs, and use it faithfully. I've been using the Franklin Planner, which I really like. A friend who suffered a brain injury in a car accident lives by hers. I highly suggest a planner like this, which breaks your days down into hours. This planner isn't just a planner, but a system of time organization to help you accomplish your personal and professional goals. Franklin Covey even offers workshops for it, which I found very helpful. It isn't cheap, but worth every penny, and your employer might even be willing to cover the cost. Learn more about the Franklin Planner.

ALWAYS WEAR A WATCH. ADDults like me who have trouble accurately measuring time should never have an empty wrist. Without a watch, I think 15 minutes is 5.