ADHD Task Management

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    Why Do I Seem Put Together But Feel Totally Disorganized With ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Podcast

    Episode Summary You’re capable, competent — maybe even the go-to person at work. But behind the scenes? Emails pile up, tasks slip through the cracks, and it’s hard to keep up. In this episode, I’ll share why this disconnect happens with ADHD — and how you can start building real support systems that match your strengths. What You’ll Learn About ADHD and Disorganization Transcript: ADHD and Disorganization The Hidden Chaos Behind High-Functioning ADHD [00:06]Ever feel like you’ve got it all together well on paper, but secretly your inbox is overflowing, your desk is a mess, and you’re behind on a dozen small but important things? You’re not alone. You’ve tuned into Scattered, Focused, Done – Reimagining Productivity with ADHD, a podcast for ADHD adults, like…

  • How ADHD Adults Avoid These 4 Mistakes and Execute Better

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    When you are having a hard time starting and following through on a task it is possible you have not clearly defined the task and/or the outcome you are seeking. So, because of your uncertainty you may: Below are 4 mistakes you can avoid so it is easier to start and follow through on your tasks Mistake #1 – You Don’t Know What You Want To Accomplish As an Adult with ADHD you know making decisions about how to do a particular task can be challenging. One way to minimize the difficulty is to begin by visualizing your desired outcome. As David Allen of Getting Things Done notes, when you have clarity on your outcomes you can: For example, when I visualize an outcome for…

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    Tips to Help ADHD Adults Choose the Right Task Manager

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      In the previous post, Why Adults With ADHD Need A Task Manager, I shared with you the importance of a to-do list for ADHD adults. In this post I want to help you decide what kind of container might work best for you. My hope is that, at the very least, this provides you with food for thought. Because, while you absolutely need a container for your tasks, it does not matter what kind you choose. Paper Planners For ADHD Adults If you prefer paper, Planner Pad is a good option. As you think about your options, you might want to consider: What do you need in your paper planner? Electronic Planners for The Way Adults with ADHD Think If you are opting for an…

  • Why Adults With ADHD Need A Task Manager

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    Decisions about where to put your tasks so you can remember and manage them can be confusing for many adults with ADHD. But, of course, you want to figure this out. Because you want it to be easier to manage and complete your important work. If you’re currently trying to keep tasks in your head, you know it is stressful and often doesn’t work. Because you need to remember to remember. And, if you’re keeping tasks in your head, you may remember them at some point. But it may not be at a time when you are able to act on them. Alternatively, maybe you have some sort of system to capture and see your tasks. But I imagine, if you’re reading this article, it…

  • ADHD and Deciding What Work To Do

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      One of the biggest challenges for many adults with ADHD when it comes to executing is deciding what work to do. Ideally, what work you decide to do is dictated by your priorities. And your priorities come from knowing what is important to you. But for many adults with ADHD, an inordinate amount of your time may be taken up by the urgent, especially until you learn to work better with your ADHD. And, if your day to day life feels somewhat out of control, it can feel impossible to even think about what is truly important to you – never mind taking action in those spheres. As a result the important stuff (time with family, professional/business development, self-care, community involvement, etc.) continually gets…

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    Creating A Work Environment That Works With Your ADHD – Part III

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

      Yes, everyone has challenges at work. But, as an Adult with ADHD, some of your challenges are more acute because of your ADHD. You knew that… This series of articles will help you be more aware of those challenges, as well as the workarounds. In Part I I shared strategies for deciding which tasks become part of your work. And in Part II I began the exploration of common workplace challenges for Adults with ADHD. Read on to continue this exploration in the article below, the last in the series. Working With Time – Time Sense When dealing with time the question is, “When am I going to do….?” And, because time is often an elusive concept for adults with ADHD, this may be…

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    Managing Your ADHD With The Right Tool

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    I am sure you have considered many different types of tools available to help you work with your ADHD. And you may have a difficult time deciding which of the many options to explore and eventually try and which to ignore or at least table. You may even find yourself attracted to the novelty of new technologies, new systems, new strategies… the next “shiny penny.”  As an adult with ADHD this may feed your need for stimulation, while also making the process of choosing the right tool from among the many options even more challenging. Yet coupled with the right strategy, the right tool can certainly help you. My intention in providing you this list is to help you think about how the various types…

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    ADHD and Using A Task Manager

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    What does your To Do List look like? Is it those scribbled notes that you have lying around that are supposed to remind you to call Bob, email Sue, pick up the milk, etc.? But what happens when you leave: the piece of paper with “milk” written on it still on the counter? the sticky with “call Bob” stuck safely on your monitor at work… and you are working at home? the reminder to “email Sue” on your calendar for last Tuesday… and it is a week later? your To Do’s in your head? I know, leading questions, right? If the above sounds familiar, and you are feeling overwhelmed and disorganized, maybe it is time to give up the system that works… kinda, sorta, some…

  • ADHD and To-Do Lists: Planning Your Projects

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    After writing for a while about David Allen’s GTD and how to adapt it for Adults with ADHD, I thought I had covered some parts sufficiently. But judging by the questions I have been receiving, this is just not so. And I’m not surprised. Creators of many tools and systems assume you are proficient in skills, like decision making and prioritizing, for example.  And, as an Adult with ADHD, you may need help strengthening these skills in order for a tool or system to work well for you. So, if you have tried a tool or system, please don’t assume it will not work for you because a part of it did not come easily.  Get support. Ask questions. In this article I’ll address the…

  • ADHD and To Do Lists: Do You Use This Method?

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    Ok, are you ready for a brain dump? I wouldn’t answer either  – until I knew what it was. I am referring to unloading all of the big and little to dos that you are carrying around in your head.  You know, those things that  pop up at random times. Like when you pass the pet store, you remember that you need to pick up food for Fido. But you don’t have time to stop because you are already late to pick up Ben from soccer. As you get a block from the store, racing to pick up Ben, the image of Fido salivating as he waits for his kibbles, leaves your head. Your only thought is of Ben, sitting on the curb, waiting for…