Organization and ADHD

I know it's good to be organized, manage your time and manage your life. I realize that clutter can be overwhelming and can drag your energy down. I have been working on my organizational skills for my entire life. It's one of the biggest challenges I face to this day. I have been diagnosed with ADHD for 10+ years now. I have been blessed with having a good response to the meds I take. I have been through a little psychotherapy, and lots of coaching. I have read 40+ books on ADD/ADHD, and read lots of research/articles on it, taken several neuroscience classes, and participated in many online communities that address ADD/ADHD. I have read many strategies and tips for getting organized, decluttering, and so forth. They are good strategies and very effective, and they help me. However, I still have a messy room and struggle to maintain order.

I have not let my organizational challenges keep me from making a difference, go to school, receive training, get involved in the global community, and I haven't let that keep me from becoming an ADD/ADHD Coach. Dr. Edward Hallowell, talked about getting well enough organized to make your life work for you in his book Delivered from Distraction. Take this too heart because if you're like me you have severe challenges in organization, spending your life getting organized before you do anything in this world is an exercise in frustration and futility. I'm not saying don't work on it, I'm not saying don't improve in this area, or don't build your skills. If you wait until you're perfectly organized, you might never get organized.

There are organizational tips and ideals that are wonderful, but seem completely out of reach for me. For example, every thing in it's place and a place for every thing is completely beyond me. The best I can do is make sure it gets in a general area, organize small pockets of my space, organize my backpack, or organize around a project. I am not sure if this strategy or organizational philosophy is realistic for me. It might not be realistic for you either.

Some strategies I swear by are the "five easy pieces" method and using a sheet to sheath a massive pile to reduce overwhelm. I have some learned organizational strengths too. I am better at self-management and time management than I am with spatial management.  So my two cents are figure out which areas of organization seems to be doable and those areas that don't seem doable. Make the doable areas a priority to work on with a coach, a friend, doctor, therapist, consultant, or any other assistant. Then after you've mastered that area, consider pecking away at the less doable areas. Focus on what you can do and your strengths and forgive yourself for your lingering challenges.

Are you letting your organizational deficits/impairments, keep you from pursuing your dreams and focusing on your strengths?

AD/HD education-How ADHD Coach can help

What would you like to know about ADHD? Do you know what it is, how it shows up, when it shows up and how it impacts your life or the life of someone you know? If you are diagnosed have you read any books, joined websites, support groups, watch videos,? Where do you find your information? Do you know what type of services and resources can help you manage your ADHD and even enjoy it?

There are lots of resources and services available to make life with ADD/ADHD fun, exciting and fulfilling. There's medication, therapy, coaching, websites, eNewsletters, blogs, social networks, facebook pages and groups, twitter and so forth. Education entails learning about the basic neurology and symptoms of ADHD, learning what it looks like generally and personally. A good, well trained ADD/ADHD coach can help you learn about your ADHD and help you build a life that you want. An ADD/ADHD coach provides support, helps you learn strategies, about the ADD/ADHD brain, develop better self-awareness and build a life that helps you harness all your strengths. You learn that you aren't "broken", or defective, but uniquely wired. You learn it's ok to do things differently, to be curious and do more of what you enjoy and build a healthy, positive outlook on life. My coach helped me with all of these things and more. I would love to help others do the same.

I am now an ADD/ADHD coach. I can give you the same if you would like. Send me a email sarah.gogstetter@gmail.com or find me on Skype: sarah.gogstetter is my Skype name. We can set up a complementary session.

I'm offering 2 packages:

1. Those who sign up for at least 3 months coaching will get 2 weeks free. 
2. Those who sign up for at least 6 months coaching will get 1 month free.

I will offer these packages until 12/31/13. My fees are reasonable and I have sliding scale. Mention this blog post in your email or Skype message to get the packages.. :)

10 Ways To Overcome Overwhelm

This article has good tips for dealing with overwhelm...my only word of caution is for those of us with ADD/ADHD. Some of the stimulation reducing strategies might keep us awake instead of helping us to sleep. The other strategies are definitely good.
10 Ways To Overcome Overwhelm

My ADHD Awareness Expo booth

You can come find my booth on the resource table at the ADHD Awareness Expo week of 10/16/22. Come find out what I am offering for attendees.

Here's the link: http://www.adhdexpo.com/expo2011/?page_id=111

Why is self-care so important?

Why do I harp on the idea of self-care? What is the big deal? Can't I get through the here and now before I take care of myself? How can I take care of myself, when I don't have time? " I got deadlines looming and responsibilities. I can't stop to eat, drink, sleep or relax or take a break. I don't have time to get organized and plan."

How long do you intend to put off taking care of yourself? I know we have responsibilities and people need us. I know we have to work, go to school, take care of our kids and our partners/spouses. I know we have to study and get ready for tests. I know we have to get our projects in by a certain time at work. I know kids need their parents. I know our customers/clients/parishioners need us. However, if we never take time to take care of our needs too, we will become depleted of resources and we develop health problems. A cell phone battery is great and can keep you connected until the battery runs out of energy. However, it will not be of any use unless you take time out to recharge it's battery. Fortunately, you can recharge the battery and keep going. Well us human need to take time to recharge our batteries no matter how busy, stressed or overwhelmed we are.

How do we recharge our batteries? We can recharge our batteries by remembering to eat healthy most of the time, drinking enough water, getting enough rest, getting enough sleep, taking care of our medical challenges to the best of our ability, and taking time for recreation and spending time with people we love. Take time to get out and move around, make sure you replace electrolytes when you've been sweating, eat a high protein breakfast, and enjoy life. Set up your environment and lifestyle so that you can move forward.

ADHD can make practicing good self-care harder because of the lack of self-awareness, distractibility, tendency to get hooked on the interesting stuff, losing track of time and so forth. An ADHD coach can help you develop systems, strategies, and supports to help you learn more about yourself and succeed in your life. If you're interested in taking this further, email me at sarah.gogstetter@gmail.com so that we can get to know each other and set up a free complementary session, to determine if we are a good match.

Tired of missing the boat?

I am sure all of us have missed the boat or the "Noah's ark" in our lives at one point or another, but some of us repeatedly miss it. Would you like to for once make it to the boat on time? Would you like to quit having to say "oh Shit"?

Who knew the dinosaurs extinction was caused by their ADHD? Maybe they needed reminders. Maybe they could have used an ADHD coach to set up systems so they participate in the 40 day voyage. Would you like to be able to participate more in events that matter most to you? If so, consider hiring an ADHD coach. To find out how you can receive a free complementary session, email me at sarah.gogstetter@gmail.com.

ADHD Awareness Week Expo Affiliate packages

ADHD Awareness Expo Affiliates Earn:

$15 for each Bronze package sale

$25 for each Silver package sale

$75 for each Gold package sale

$150 for each Platinum package sale


You can also earn your own virtual exhibit booth:

Any 5 advertising package sales  =  1 Complimentary Bronze Package

Any 10 advertising package sales =  1 Complimentary Silver Package

Any 25 advertising package sales =  1 Complimentary Gold Package

Any 50 advertising package sales =  1 Complimentary Platinum Package

Here's a Affiliate link, check it out for details.