What's your day to day?

[Phentex]

Like most people, I find myself pretty busy from day to day with a constant to do list running through my head. Higher stress days, where I feel I have no time to breathe, kick my add into overdrive and then I start making mistakes and feeling overwhelmed. Yesterday was one of those days, on the end of one of those weekends, but eventually I just told myself that letting some things slide would not be the end of the world. Plus, I knew I would find a little more time today to get myself back together again.

A printed list helps me focus on days like yesterday. Helps me knock off some of the less time consuming things to take care of.

Another huge help to me is down time. Not literally sleeping or sitting but just a day like today where I can plug away at things with no major consequences if I haven't met a deadline or if I've forgotten something I planned to do.

What are some of your strategies? And if you have kids with ADD, do you schedule down time for them too?

[Whisp]

1. Hi Phentex. I wonder if you can educate me, please.

This is one of those subjects I know almost nothing about.
Would you mind helping me out - I know I can google but I get so overwhelmed with info that way I find it better to ask people who know.

1. Is ADD/ADHD originated in childhood or can it appear in adulthood?

2. what would be some of the more apparent symptoms of an adult that has ADD?ADHD

3. for #2, would an appearance of a lack of empathy be a clue? How about difficulty in concentration or being able to do more than one thing at a time?

I have a dear one that I worry about and if there is something out there to help that would be glorious. How to get the person to the doctor would be another whole matter tho.

[Phentex]

2. Hey Whisp!

1. It can most definitely appear in adulthood. And it can present itself in different ways from childhood to adulthood.

2. The symptoms can be different for different people but the more common systems are impulse control issues, interrupting, blurting out, lack of concentration, wandering attention span, rambling conversations...that sort of thing. Not everyone has the hyperactivity side that can accompany ADD. I think I had the hyperactivity more as a child than I do now, although I still have my moments.

3. I don't think I've ever heard of lack of empathy being associated with ADD. I have heard that about people with Asperger's. Difficulty in concentrating is very much a symptom. I think of it like being in a room with 20 tvs blaring 20 different shows. You find yourself unable to focus on just one or you move from one to the next. Multi tasking isn't a problem but multi tasking well can be a problem.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I started using a personal organizer, electronic

well before they became as automated as they have these days. Things like Bills, I know I have to definitely have them ready to go by the 27th. And I make sure I do.

My problem is not organizing the day to day priorities, it is keeping the house in some kind of order. Now that I have yet to figure that one out.

[Phentex]

4. There used to be a joke about cleaning around the house...

I think it was supposed to be about a person who is aging and becoming forgetful but it read to me like someone with ADD. I don't think I keep an orderly house but when I do have a day to dig in and clean, I HAVE to have a list. Otherwise, I will get distracted by something in one room and forget what I had been doing. I usually set a timer in the kitchen to match the time on the washer or dryer so I don't forget the laundry. Some days none of it really matters but other times, I have a limited amount of time and it becomes imperative that I stick to the list to get things done.

[clinton_2020]

6. Rarely get anything done

it's hard to finish anything really. But I get a lot started! XD XD

[elmerh]

7. dayli lists

Using daily lists are really effective. I'm going to find some "to do" app for that.