What tools do you use to keep yourself on track?

[Sorka]

I was wondering what tools you all use to keep yourself on track and on schedule?
Fly lady is starting to work.. I am getting things a a really managable level.. but homeschooling will be starting soon and I am having a hard enough time (me not his fault) getting my son to do his online summer reading program let alone a full day aof school work..
So any good tips..

I have been using a few tips in the book I picked up Add friendly ways to organize your life..

I guess I just feel like I need time management and anti hyperfocus ideas!
D

[rosyred45]

Let's see, your kidding right OK, never mind.

I don't really know what or how, but I now if I make my list, then I can at least look at it and see what NEEDS to get done. When all else fails, I sort. I mean little thing sorts, like coupons, buttons, pencils, pens, then that way, for some odd reason it works me up to get other things done.

What I really just need to do is take the time when I think of something and do it. Not procrastinating is my biggest thing when I need to get anything done. Like now for instance, I have laundry sitting in the Living room that needs to be put away, but this is my biggest distraction, so I have been limiting and bouncing in and out during the day.

Basically like my reward in a sense, dishes are done, laundry is getting there ::)but is never all the way done, God forbid I actually get all of the dirty clothes when I ask for it

BUT what has really helped in getting the house organized os getting rid of clutter, the benefit of fly lady has tremendously helped there. I'm not flying right now, my wings hurt, but I will be here soon I hope.

And I did go get a timer, I don't do the 15v minutes, but it hepls keep me on track even if it isn't set

What kind of stuff are you doing?

[sweety]

;D ;D Iagree with roseyred. LISTS are very important. I run most of my errands on saturday and always have a list or I forget something.

[Allanque]

Sorka said:

I have been using a few tips in the book I picked up Add friendly ways to organize your life..

I read that book. Lots of good ideas. About 4 months later, after receiving no notices, nothing from the library about that one, they told me it hadn't been turned in. Yes it had, with a bunch of other ones. They had put it back on the shelf without checking it back in.

[buttercup]

I go to this organization website and it has helped me a bit.

www.getorganizednow.com/

One of the best techniques I have found from there was to write a list of your daily stuff (mine is long and it's stuff that I always forget to do otherwise, like take supplements, charge cell phone, check calendar for next day). Then put the list inside of a plastic sheet--you know, like in a notebook. Then, use a write on/wipeoff marker to check off the things during the day. At the end of the day, you get to erase your list and it is ready for the next day. This worked really well for me for awhile. I need to pull it out again.

Another good list technique that I learned in a Franklin Daytimer meeting was the ABC/123 method. Basically, make your list in any random order. Then, go through and assign each task an ABC (A=MUST DO OR ELSE (pay light bill) B=Would be nice to get done (filing) . C=Fun stuff, not necessary (Make dinner reservations) Then, go through each thing in your A list and give it a number (1,2,3). This gives you the order in which to do it. Now you have a list. Do your A things, and reward yourself with a few C things.

A good paper organizing scheme is to first just throw all your papers in a pile (you should see how high my pile is). Then sort them into READ, ACTION, and FILE. Set aside time to do the filing once in awhile. Grab things out of your read pile and take them with you when you go places like getting your oil changed or a dr. office. Also, use the rip 'n tear method with magazines. Just scan through the magazine and rip out any articles that you might be interested in reading later on (put articles in your Read pile). Then toss the magazine immediately.

These little tips have helped me quite a bit.

[eaccae]

Okay - how do you guys FOLLOW your lists? I am the QUEEN of list making! Drives DH crazy! I can make lists for lists! But FOLLOWING the lists would require that I actually REMEMBER the lists!! And don't tell me that if you put it on the fridge you actually see it?! This is a serious question!!

[buttercup]

Yah, that's the problem with lists for an ADHDer. I LOSE my lists...except the one in plastic that I haven't seen in awhile.

I will leave the house and start heading out to do the errands on the list, and surprise of all surprises...the list is still at home and now I don't even know where I'm driving or what I am supposed to get...except gas, because the red light is flashing.

I think I probably need a cork board by the front door.

[rosyred45]

I have this clip board that I picked up SPECIFICALLY for lists. I originally meant for the kids to use it, BUT I use it all the time. I leave it on the dining room table on top of the piles

BUT I"M ALMOST DONE CLEANING the downstairs It is a 4x6 clip board and the paper that I use is well, let's just say I was collecting scrap paper because I felt guilty throwing it out and well, a couple shoe boxes later. Yeah, yeah fly lady smylady, I don't have the bucks to go get some fancy stuff, so I am recyling school notices and that kind of stuff ;D

But it is always left out where I will look over and over for it and it be right under my nose so I know it's there somewhere, and I find it.

[eaccae]

I tried the clipboard thing! But even if it was directly in front of me on the kitchen table with NOTHING else - I would honestly forget what it was! But then again both my sister and I are the two that can never find our cell phones or our keys or remember why we opened the fridge . . . if I could only notice or remember those lists (I have even tried colored paper. . .) And yes, I too always make a wonderfully typed up grocery list, organized by aisle - and does it EVER make it with me to the store? Well, that would be just too easy!! ;D How do nonadders function?

[Sorka]

Yeah Elizabeth!!!! Some one who gets it!!!
I have my stubby list.. a list of 4-5 things I want to get done each day.. but I reallly need that tap on the shoulder saying.. hey wake up!!! And go do something on your list..

And if I do the thing I just thought of...what just popped in my head.. then I gat distracted and don't do the thing I was doing!!

Then there is the walk across the room and bang the old brain miss fires and I am opening the pantry door instead of looking at the calendar on it.. and stand there for three minutes wondering why I opened the door!!!

It's driving me nuts!
D

[rosyred45]

My list, which I lose frequently-shhhhhh

very detailed, so that I can cross it off and feel like I accomplished something ;D

I then usually think that because I got something done, I can piddle or what ever

That's why I have specified things in specific rooms. Laundry is washed and dried off the kitchen-which is the only place it can be, THEN while I'm waiting for the washer to fill, I pop in here, in the dining room...if it is running slower than usual, I piddle and put things back into place, or look at it and think I need to put it away

When the washer fills, I get my dishes done. and while they are air drying I can either pop back in here or sweep. Then when the drier is done, I get my TV time while I fold the clothes and sort them in to piles..
YESSSSSSS, the kids are finally old enough to put them away .

It has become a routine, as I need one to actually get things done. But I make myself do things too, the ones that really need to get done so I DON'T get side tracked.

It's hard, and I feel like a total idiot when someone stops over because of hte clutter, BUT it feels good when people do come over and can sit on the furniture that were covered with clothes

[eaccae]

All right, laundry fairy! You sound way too organized - I am jealous! Can you come up and teach me some things?!

How many on this board have left the water running for a long period of time? It is driving DH nuts - I am constantly turning the water on - to either rinse some dishes, etc. and I forget and go on about life . . . even when I am brushing my teeth - I have a tendency to turn the water on, start brushing and then wander into the kids bathroom to spit. Something usually happens and I don't immediately return my toothbrush, I eventually walk into my room and realize the water is running!

When dd was 2 months old - good old me started a kitchen fire. Granted alot was going on - my sister-in-law was in a terrible car accident and was in the hospital (she died shortly afterward) but I was sterilizing the breast pump (I actually had a sterilzer but ADD me actually forgot that I did . . .) - anyway, completely FORGOT about theitont he stovetop, suddenly fire alarms going off, smoke everywhere . . . in the kitchen there is a wall of flames where the oven should be . . . thank goodness for fire extinguishers and my obsessive need to have them everywhere!! Anyway - just one example of how I can completely forget that I am doing something. I have to triple check that I have turned the toaster oven off or the oven - I am so nervous about leaving those on now!

The funny thing is that I am extremely organized about GETTING organized - if that makes any sense at all. I have the bins, the labels, the paper, the pens and pencils, the lists and lists and lists (I do so love my lists - just wish that I could get as far as you, Kaiti, and actually cross something off) . . .

Can you send me some fairy dust! I am still hoping that someday I wll get there!!

[buttercup]

eaccae said:

All right, laundry fairy! You sound way too organized - I am jealous! Can you come up and teach me some things?!

How many on this board have left the water running for a long period of time?

I have to triple check that I have turned the toaster oven off or the oven - I am so nervous about leaving those on now!

The funny thing is that I am extremely organized about GETTING organized - if that makes any sense at all. I have the bins, the labels, the paper, the pens and pencils, the lists and lists and lists (I do so love my lists - just wish that I could get as far as you, Kaiti, and actually cross something off) . . .

I do the water thing all the time. Had company come over the other day and the ignisecond I opened the door I turned around and went "OMG! I left the kitchen sink running! Just a sec." (cause it was overflowing). Typical of me, very typical.

I'm a freak about the toaster oven too. I have left it on and had to call my mom from work several times to ask her to go over and turn if off. Sheesh. When I would use a curling iron or an electric blanket in high school, I came home constantly to discover them flaming hot. Yow. I was REALLY lucky nothing ever happened.

And, I am the exact same way about getting organized. I have all the cool supplies...just sitting there...waiting patiently to feel necessary.

[rosyred45]

You know, I miss going to the laundry mat...seriously, get it all done in one shot and your good to go for the next week or so

It has taken me this long to realize there is a method to the madness, it just depends on the angle you look at it from.

I was SCOURING THE HOUSE YESTERDAY, as the realtor was stopping by with some clients to look at the property. They were supposed to be here around 10, well, at 9:30 I decided to finally tackle the basement I said I was going to clean yesterday That's pretty much taken care of, except the big trash-husbands gonna use it for a deer stand scrap wood >:(from 5 years ago. BUT we can't toss it because he might need it. Did I meantion he's not here ;DBut my truck isn't running so I can't take it to hte dump

That's what you do, at least what I used to do:
Have a different in home party a month, that way the cleaning gets done and you have visitors....if I had the money or space I would, but too much junk from those parties fills my house

(((((((((((fairy dust)))))))))) and a BIG THANKS....some one called me organized, I can die happy now ;D