FIFTY TIPS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADULT ADD
                     Performance Management
     14. Establish external structure. Structure is the hallmark of the
nonpharmacological treatment of the ADD child. It can be equally useful
with adults. Once in place, structure works like the walls of the
bobsled ride, keeping the speedball sled from careening off the track.
Also make frequent use of: lists, notes to self, color coding, rituals,
reminders, and files.
     15. Use pizzazz. Try to make your environment as peppy as you want
it to be without letting it boil over. If your organization system can
be stimulating (imagine that!) instead of boring, then you will be more
likely to follow it. For example, in setting things up, try color
coding. Mentioned above, color coding deserves emphasis. many people
with ADD are visually oriented. take advantage of this by making things
memorable with color; files, memoranda, texts, schedules, etc. Virtually
anything in the black-and-white of type can be made more memorable,
arresting, and therefore attention-getting with color.
     16. When it comes to paperwork, use the principle of O.H.I.O.: Only
handle it once. When you receive a document or a memo or any kind of
written material, try to only handle it once. Either respond to it right
away, on the spot, or throw the document away, or file it permanently.
*Do not* put it in a TO DO box or pile. For people with ADD, TO DO piles
might just as well be called NEVER DONE piles. They serve as little
menaces around one's desk or room, silently building guilt, anxiety, and
resentment, as well as taking up a lot of space. Get in the habit of
acting immediately on your paperwork. Make the wrenching decision to
throw something away. Or, overcome inertia and respond to it *on the
spot*. Whatever you do with the document, whenever possible, only handle
it once.
     17. Set up your environment to reward rather than deflate. To
understand what a deflating environment is, most adult ADD-ers only need
to think back to school. Now that you have the freedom of adulthood, try
to set things up so that you will not constantly be reminded of your
limitations.
     18. Acknowledge and anticipate the inevitable collapse of X percent
of projects undertaken, relationships entered into, obligations
incurred. Better that you anticipate these "failures" rather than be
surprised by them and brood over the. Think of then as part of the cost
of doing business.
     19. Embrace challenges. ADD people thrive with many challenges. As
long as you know they won't all pan out, as long as you don't get too
perfectionistic and fussy, you'll get a lot done and stay out of
trouble. Far better that you be too busy than not busy enough. As the
old saying goes, if you want to get something done, ask a busy person.
     20. Make deadlines. Deadlines help you focus. This was put best by
Samuel Johnson, who said, "Nothing focuses the mind so wonderfully as
the knowledge that a man is to be hanged in a fortnight."
     21. Break down large tasks into small ones. Attach deadlines to the
small parts. Then, like magic, the large task will get done. This is one
of the simplest and most powerful of all structuring devises. Often a
large task will feel overwhelming to the person with ADD. The mere
thought of trying to perform the task makes one turn away. On the other
hand, if the large task is broken down into small parts, each component
may feel quite manageable. (For example, it was only by using this
technique that we managed to write this book.)
     22. Prioritize rather than procrastinate. If you cannot handle it
only once (tip 16), then be sure to prioritize. When things get busy,
the adult ADD person loses perspective: paying an unpaid parking ticket
can feel as pressing as putting out the fire that just got started in
the wastebasket. Sometimes one becomes paralyzed. Prioritize. Take a
deep breath. Put first things first. Then go on to the second and the
third task. Don't' stop. Procrastination is one of the hallmarks of
adult ADD. You have to really discipline yourself to watch out for it
and avoid it.
     23. Accept the fear of things going too well. Accept edginess when
things are too easy, when there's no conflict. Don't gum things up just
to make them more stimulating.
     24. Notice how and where you work best: in a noisy room, on the
train, wrapped in three blankets, listening to music, whatever. Children
and adults with ADD can do their best under rather odd conditions. Let
yourself work under whatever condition are best for you.
     25. Know that it is OK to do two things at once: carry on a
conversation and knit, or take a shower and do your best thinking, or
jog and plan a business meeting. Often people with ADD need to be doing
several things at the once in order to get anything done at all.
     26. Do what you're good at. Again, if it seems easy, that is OK.
There is no rule that says you can only do what you're bad at.
     27. Leave time between engagements to gather your thoughts.
Transitions are difficult for ADD-ers, and minibreaks can help ease the
transition.
     28. Keep a notepad in your car, by your bed, and in your pocketbook
or jacket. You never know when a good idea will hit you, or you'll want
to remember something else.
     29. Read with a pen in hand, not only for marginal notes or
underlining, but for the inevitable cascade of "other" thoughts that
will occur to you.
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copyright 1992 by Edward H Hallowell and John J Ratey
 * SLMR 2.1a * Ever stop to think and forget to start again?
--- I killed my WildCAT!
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