Desperately need help setting up an organization/planning system from the ground up.

Hello all!

This is my first post here, so I apologize if it breaks any rules.

I am looking for advice on how to build an organizational system to help me organize, plan, and schedule my life. Once it is made, I can follow it! But I am starting from scratch in actually building a system, and I am totally lost.
I am a 33 year old newly graduated professional who is just starting my career. As my schooling is now done I am able to take better charge of more than just the bare-minimum survival level tasks involved in, well, being a grown up.

I have SO MANY task lists that are all miles long. I work shifts that are constantly being switched around, as my seniority in my new position is non-existent. Best of all I have NO consistent way of keeping track of or organizing the chaos in my head and my life. It is literally driving me crazy, and I spend so much time panicking over everything I need to get done that I get pretty much nothing done. Pretty typical ADHD story.

I was diagnosed as a child, and am medicated. I welcome any and all questions/comments/advice. It's nice to meet you all!

Hello sophie: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

Here are links to some articles from PsychCentral's archives that may be of some interest:

https://psychcentral.com/lib/organiz...gies-for-adhd/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/staying...zed-with-adhd/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/12-tips...lts-with-adhd/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/32-of-t...you-have-adhd/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/7-tips...tay-organized/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/adhd-...lanning-ahead/

I don't know, of course, if you're here simply seeking advice with regard to this particular concern or if you plan to hang in here with us. However, should you be planning to continue on (we hope you do)... may I suggest you introduce yourself over on PC's New Member Introductions forum? Here's a link:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/new-...introductions/

There's a lot of support that can be available here on PC. The more you post, & reply to other members' posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are the chat rooms where you'll be able to interact with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) So please keep posting!

Thank you for your reply, I’m sorry I haven’t responded sooner.

I would love to engage with this forum, I’ll write an intro post as soon as I can.

In terms of this original post, my goal was to get some guidance as to which resources (of the many, many available) you all actually find useful. There are dozens and dozens of apps/programs/systems I’ve either tried or read up on, so my problem is more of an information/choice overload. I just don’t know where to start.

Hi shortforsophie,
I would start with a blank, lined piece of paper, and list your priorities, starting with the thing that is MOST important to your life right now. Several will come to mind, so just write them as they come to you (you'll have to write fast!). When the ideas stop flowing so fast, go back and single out the top three. There's your starting point. Take one of the three, write it on the next page, and write down what you need to do to get to that goal. Then do that for the next two items.
Just having these down in writing helps, but then it's time to take action and take the first step towards the first goal. As you complete the steps, check them off and congratulate yourself on your forward progress!
My favorite app for organizing is Color Note Notepad Notes; I use it daily for reminders, shopping lists, to-do lists, wish lists, songs to remember, recipes, my husband's sizes, etc. It lets you write either text notes or check-off lists, color-code the notes, email them to yourself or someone else, put them on a calendar, alphabetize them, all kinds of things.
Good luck and happy organizing!

Hi - I was diagnosed later in life when my professional life got out of hand, similar to what you are describing. Then I found this amazing expert in adult ADHD. She does coaching and will work via Skype. She is amazing...totally saved my career. I can ask her if she would accept someone she hasn’t met in person and let you know if you are interested. She takes insurance, but is a bit pricey otherwise.

Otherwise check out the additude magazine website....so many great articles and tools. That and YouTube...there are channels devoted to managing life with add.

Lastly, your job isn’t worth sacraficing your mental health. Some jobs aren’t for adders. Try closing everything, picking one task, and doing it to completion. Multitasking is an adders worst enemy. Also, highlight the strengths that come from your ADD. Creative problem solving, reading rooms, quick on your feet, etc. And stop thinking you have to accomplish everything in front of you. Companies like work on ADDers because we will work ourselves to death to prove we are perfect and have no defect. It’s ok to say no.

Good luck! My guess is you are in good shape and being hard on yourself.

Oh boy! Do I understand this! Even meds don't fix it all! I have a "life book" . I got it at Staples and it is half the size of a three ring binder. I a low it to be a mess. I am goal oriented believe it or not and love crossing stuff of my to do list. I have dividers in it. Budget grocery, to-does (in the front). Work info...i take it everywhere and open it over coffee in the morning. Some days are bad...i write down that I have dishes to do or to make my bed. Make sure it is chronological order.