I am a person who loves a mostly clean home.
I like sparkling windows, the smells of pine-sol and windex. Ahh, refreshing
However, I have a little problem with organization and time management.
Part of my husband's job is working with boys who have been diagnosed with ADHD and ADD.
He has come to be very familiar with these social/emotional issues.
Though, I believe these words and diagnosis are too frequently tossed about in our society,
I do think certain personalities lend themselves toward acting out facets of this disorder.
As a child I was one of the ones singled out and diagnosed, after having much trouble concentrating in school.
At that point I was removed from school and home-schooled which I feel was the best choice at the time.
As I grew older, my ability to focus grew better and things improved.
Although, I have never been able to settle down like others. I still show signs of this particular social disorder.
All this to say my husband has been a vast help in the last few months in helping me overcome some of the issues that I have never sat down to deal with in my life.
He has given me what he calls coping skills in my every day life.
I would love to share some of those that I am working on.
1. Prioritizing what is truly important to get done.
I struggle with where to start in projects and tend to start a bunch of little things that never get done. Prioritizing means to make a mental list of most important to least and not start non-meaningful unimportant tasks till the big ones are finished. i.e. hanging pictures while dirty dishes are in the sink.
To some people this might seem normal, to wash dishes first but, to a person like me it can be difficult to pick what is most important.
2.Doing it right the first time.
It is very tempting to not screw lids on, drop laundry in a pile on the floor or shove things in drawers because this personality type is in such a hurry to get on to the next exciting thing.
Doing it right means going all the way in a project. Finish one thing the right way.
3. Do not stop a project until you complete.
I have the most trouble with this. This personality task keeps running around in mental circles adding more projects to be done and meanwhile the laundry is partially folded on the bed.
So, this means struggling through all the way and then going on to the next thing.
4. Cleaning as you go.
Each morning, I clean myself out of the bathroom and bedroom. Stopping to take the time right then to clean the problem areas. It kind of keeps coming back to doing it right the first time.
5. Rewards
I set myself a goal of paperwork etc and if I get it done I get this much computer time, book time or a cup of tea etc. Rewards have been a great help in getting my focus down.
6 Taking a break to breath
This type of personality can become easily overwhelmed and scattered. Sitting down and refocusing energy is very important. That way you can avoid mental blow outs. Sit down and calmly re-evaluate what needs to be done and go through the different steps to prioritize.
7. Lists, Lists and more Lists
Keep neatly stacked pads of paper and pens in key spots around the home.
When something happens or you think of something that needs to be done, it can be written down so it is not forgotten and can be come back to later. This way some of the partial project starting can be avoided.
Plus you always know what needs to be done. I am a big list maker now and before I was not.
8. Do it right away
If there is free time and another project is not started. Do what needs to to be done right away. The old adage is true. "Do not put off until tomorrow what can be done today" then, it is finished and mentally another goal is reached. This way if you work a little bit each day it never becomes too overwhelming.
Hopefully my "Coping" skills can be of help if anyone else is struggling with this personality type.
In the last few months these have been a blessing to me. From time to time I will be writing about my journey on becoming a more organized person. If people have suggestions of things that worked for them I welcome those too.
Blessings!
I like sparkling windows, the smells of pine-sol and windex. Ahh, refreshing
However, I have a little problem with organization and time management.
Part of my husband's job is working with boys who have been diagnosed with ADHD and ADD.
He has come to be very familiar with these social/emotional issues.
Though, I believe these words and diagnosis are too frequently tossed about in our society,
I do think certain personalities lend themselves toward acting out facets of this disorder.
As a child I was one of the ones singled out and diagnosed, after having much trouble concentrating in school.
At that point I was removed from school and home-schooled which I feel was the best choice at the time.
As I grew older, my ability to focus grew better and things improved.
Although, I have never been able to settle down like others. I still show signs of this particular social disorder.
All this to say my husband has been a vast help in the last few months in helping me overcome some of the issues that I have never sat down to deal with in my life.
He has given me what he calls coping skills in my every day life.
I would love to share some of those that I am working on.
1. Prioritizing what is truly important to get done.
I struggle with where to start in projects and tend to start a bunch of little things that never get done. Prioritizing means to make a mental list of most important to least and not start non-meaningful unimportant tasks till the big ones are finished. i.e. hanging pictures while dirty dishes are in the sink.
To some people this might seem normal, to wash dishes first but, to a person like me it can be difficult to pick what is most important.
2.Doing it right the first time.
It is very tempting to not screw lids on, drop laundry in a pile on the floor or shove things in drawers because this personality type is in such a hurry to get on to the next exciting thing.
Doing it right means going all the way in a project. Finish one thing the right way.
3. Do not stop a project until you complete.
I have the most trouble with this. This personality task keeps running around in mental circles adding more projects to be done and meanwhile the laundry is partially folded on the bed.
So, this means struggling through all the way and then going on to the next thing.
4. Cleaning as you go.
Each morning, I clean myself out of the bathroom and bedroom. Stopping to take the time right then to clean the problem areas. It kind of keeps coming back to doing it right the first time.
5. Rewards
I set myself a goal of paperwork etc and if I get it done I get this much computer time, book time or a cup of tea etc. Rewards have been a great help in getting my focus down.
6 Taking a break to breath
This type of personality can become easily overwhelmed and scattered. Sitting down and refocusing energy is very important. That way you can avoid mental blow outs. Sit down and calmly re-evaluate what needs to be done and go through the different steps to prioritize.
7. Lists, Lists and more Lists
Keep neatly stacked pads of paper and pens in key spots around the home.
When something happens or you think of something that needs to be done, it can be written down so it is not forgotten and can be come back to later. This way some of the partial project starting can be avoided.
Plus you always know what needs to be done. I am a big list maker now and before I was not.
8. Do it right away
If there is free time and another project is not started. Do what needs to to be done right away. The old adage is true. "Do not put off until tomorrow what can be done today" then, it is finished and mentally another goal is reached. This way if you work a little bit each day it never becomes too overwhelming.
Hopefully my "Coping" skills can be of help if anyone else is struggling with this personality type.
In the last few months these have been a blessing to me. From time to time I will be writing about my journey on becoming a more organized person. If people have suggestions of things that worked for them I welcome those too.
Blessings!
1 comment:
mel, this makes me smile so BIG!! this is my forte :) and wow! what a GREAT list you have of tips and reminders for yourself. i happen to have the opposite problem... too organized, too busy constantly being organized, that often my wonderful husband has to remind me to SIT DOWN and put nicely "give him some attention" :) hehe.. ps. i love your new background! keep up the good work, love and hugs to you!
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