Procrastination? — or Not? — ADD Tip o the Day 351

With ADD or ADHD, you’ll know about procrastination, one of our main symptoms. But I think this is about a problem with time, not procrastination. I wasn’t putting off getting my wife’s Christmas present, it’s just that Christmas seemed so far off. So when I realized today that it’s not really so far off, and started shopping for the present, everybody was sold out. But I don’t think December 17 is so bad; it’s not like I waited until Christmas eve (again).

I have the big three month at a glance calendar on the wall to cope with this kind of time problem – “Oh, I have plenty of time; that’s not ’til late December, way off.”- but having it isn’t enough by itself, I need to develop the habit of looking at it frequently, like I do my appointment book.

If you have ADD or ADHD, a good strategy is to pick a partner/mate that has lots of patience, tolerance, understanding and a good sense of humor. I have been very blessed. (Although even the “lots of” can become a little strained at times.) (more on relationships later)

doug

I had a good picture to insert here, but I think wordpress has changed things again???? maybe next time?? if I can figure it out??

bonus link: Leslie on relationships, (see above; more to come on this) clik

extra bonus, free book give away Wrecked clik

About doug with ADHD

I am a psychiatric physician. I learned I have ADHD at age 64, and then wrote two ADHD books for adults, focusing on strategies for making your life better. I just published my first novel, Alma Means Soul. Your Life Can Be Better; strategies for adults with ADD/ADHD available at amazon.com, or smashwords.com (for e books) Living Daily With Adult ADD or ADHD: 365 Tips O the Day ( e-book). This is one tip at a time, one page at a time, at your own pace. It's meant to last a year. As a child, I was a bully. Then there was a transformation. Now I am committed to helping people instead abusing them. The Bully was published in January, 2016. It's in print or e book, on Amazon.

View all posts by doug with ADHD →

5 Responses to Procrastination? — or Not? — ADD Tip o the Day 351

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CraftyChica29 says:

December 21, 2012 at 12:17 pm

I have a very difficult time with managing my time…ex: arriving to appointments on time and managing my time. I am also not good at trying to figure out how much time I need to complete certain tasks. I also have the bad habit of trying to remember my appointment times and get too lazy to write them on my calendar. I wonder if I like the adrenalin rush of trying to get somewhere on time when I am running late. If I have to be somewhere I really want to be, I will be more likely to arrive there on time. I agree with you about finding a good mate. My husband is amazing and very understanding of my ADD. If he wasn’t, my life would be a disaster. He jokes around about my ADD, and it makes my life so much easier.

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- addadultstrategies says:
  
  December 21, 2012 at 1:15 pm
  
  chica, congratulations on picking a good husband, that’s not easy to do!
  sounds like ADD – the plan is to pick which problem bothers you the most (or two), name as specifically as possible, and then make a strategy.
  for ex, mite be the not writing appts down. (you are not going to remember them) if that calendar isnt working for you, try a different plan. then the next step would be to make a habit of checking it several times daily.
  best wishes
  doug
  
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addadultstrategies says:

December 18, 2012 at 7:12 pm

patty,
thank you for your understanding and support. you might want to pick just one planner to use, and then make a habit of checking it 5 times a day (or more, or less, you could use mealtimes as an anchor for example). at least thats what i need to do with my appointment book, or else I’m lost in time.
best wishes and thank you for commenting
doug

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Patty@homemakersdaily says:

December 18, 2012 at 10:37 am

I know exactly what you mean. Christmas has seemed so far away and now it’s almost here. I do have the gifts all purchased but not wrapped. It’s Christmas dinner’s menu that I need to get going on. I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow and I don’t have my list made. I wish I’d been doing this all along but I thought I had more time.

I did better in the past when I used my planner more faithfully. But I’ve been doing this planner dance (between 3 different sizes and styles) and one of the biggest problems I’ve noticed is that I don’t know what day it is. I’ve lost my concept of time.

I took your advice and put a couple of wall calendars up in strategic places. I won’t probably write anything on them – they’re just to help me know what day it is and what’s coming up.

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