Organizing for Creative and ADD/ADHD Adults and Children

Most creative and ADD/ADHD adults and children feel frustated with the inability to be and stay organized. My goal is to quickly assure you nor your friend is the problem. The fact is, most people unsuccessful with organizing are often trying to work within a standard organizational system that was designed for those who are relatively focused and organized.

On the other side I have also seen people try to organize too much within the creative thought process by organizing in random. Organizing in random is the placement of like items in various locations to try and enhance creative thought. This only makes items hard to find and promotes a lack of focus. Remember for all organizational systems it is important to bring and keep ALL like items together, this will promote cohesion and flow of the thought process.

For a creative or ADD person to achieve success in organization, it is extremely important to work within your habits, realize limitations, and individual needs. If you are used to doing something, task/movement, a certain way you should not try to change it. Once habits, needs, and limitations are identified you are ready to start building an organizational system guaranteed to work for you. Remember, not all habits are bad rather the way a person is used to moving and thinking.

When working with a short or hurried attention span, the goal in organizing is to "Keep it Simple," a phrase we have all heard and used; but what it means when organizing is to reduce the number of steps needed before and during a task.

* Steps are defined as ANY movement or thought required before and during the task.
* "Keep it Simple" means the ease of finding, using, and putting items away regardless of the mood or hurry we are in.(reduce steps for the mind & body)

When deciding which organizing product to use, remember "Keep it all Together." A good organizing product should hold all of the like items you want to keep, if it does not then it is not the right product.

* Product must hold ALL designated items
* Open containers (avoid lids unless containing small easy to lose items.)

What I have found to be the most instrumental in helping my creative and ADD/ADHD clients is the use of both visual and tactile sensations. Using these simulations together engages the eyes and hands in the project or task and can help prolong the attention span.

To help students and my clients who prefer to write things down, I developed Snap-In Dividers for spiral notebooks. The uses vary from organizing thoughts, To Do's, Subjects, ideas, job training, and much more. The rich colors provide the necessary visual stimulation while the use of the heavy plastic provides a tactile stimulation.

I hope you have found this article to be helpful.