http://www.thisnext.com/list/422611D7/Survival-Tools-for-ADD/ http://www.thisnext.com/item/88773B11/26586BB7/Sony-ICDB300-Digital-Voice

Recommended by LISAJAY on Apr 18, 2008

Here's my most important use for this product: when I'm going some place and need directions, I dictate the directions step by step into the recorder. That way I'm not looking at a map or a MapQuest printout while I'm trying to drive. Not everyone with ADD totally lacks a sense of direction, but for me it's an associated feature. Having the directions in the voice recorder just helps me feel safe on the road.

Also, I get some of my best ideas on the road, and having the recorder keeps me from losing them without reaching for a pencil while driving. Great when I hear something on the radio I want to follow up on. Just make a note.

I go through times when I use mine a lot, then I don't use it for a while. I guess I mostly use it when I'm on the go, and otherwise use pencil and paper lists.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, directions, notes, reminders, voice recorder

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/88773B11/26586BB7/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:01:29 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/89A83E32/D5D95918/Magnetic-Pencil-Holder

Recommended by LISAJAY on Dec 10, 2006

This tiny kit consists of an amazingly strong magnet worn outside the shirt, a metal disk worn inside the shirt (for the magnet to cling to), and metal clips that can be put onto pencils or pens to make them cling to a magnet.

As someone who loses her pencil every time she puts it down, this is one system I can't wait to try! I would wear it on the sleeve of my shirt, down toward the wrist, to keep the pencil handy (and as a visual reminder to put the pencil there).

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD, Way Cool Stocking Stuffers
Tags: ADD, adhd, pencils, pens, stocking stuffers

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/89A83E32/D5D95918/ Sun, 10 Dec 2006 08:54:27 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C1A7E764/236E8879/Harry-Organizer

Recommended by LISAJAY on Dec 7, 2006

I know it's wrong to covet things . . . but I do covet this, yes I do. It would keep oft-used things right there in sight and easily grab-able. And let's face it, Harry's got character, yes he does.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Just My Style, Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: design, desk accessories, organizing

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/C1A7E764/236E8879/ Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:10:30 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/6716E5F2/280C1F38/Timer-on-a-Rope

Recommended by LISAJAY on Nov 12, 2006

Great way to make sure you hear the timer if you're cooking something, and easy to use.

For those of us with ADD, this is a great way to keep track of time for anything. Need to get in the shower in half an hour? If I'm on the computer, I might lose track of that. But not if I set this baby. It's right around my neck, so my chance of losing it is greatly reduced.

Also, we ADDers have a hard time getting started on tasks, especially big ones. What I do is tell myself "I'll just work on it for 10 minutes; I can do anything for 10 minutes." (This is where you set the timer.)

Ten minutes is usually enough to get my hyperfocus to kick in, so I often keep going and get a good part of the task done. Also, I'm very oppositional and I don't like being interrupted by timers, so this is a great way to be able to blow it off without getting in trouble.

I think only someone else with ADD would fully understand that last bit.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD, Way Cool Stocking Stuffers
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit, cooking, gift guide, stocking stuffers, time management, timers

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/6716E5F2/280C1F38/ Sun, 12 Nov 2006 08:09:55 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/D186DF08/8FB705EE/Active-View-Project-Platform

Recommended by LISAJAY on Nov 8, 2006

I've had this on my desk for a couple of weeks now, and it really does keep information I need right at eye level for me. My to-do list goes on a sticky note on it. I put my planner there, open to the calendar monthly view, so I don't lose track of upcoming appointments and events.

I can also put things in it to get them out of my way when I need more desk space. It's a good place to put my palm pilot so I don't lose track of it.

I'm still playing around with this one, discovering how to put it to best use for me. Overall, a useful product for a reasonable price.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, desk accessories, organization, planning

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/D186DF08/8FB705EE/ Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:08:21 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A97BF953/2D65A03E/FranklinCovey-Training-Course

Recommended by LISAJAY on Nov 1, 2006

For me, this was the starting place on the road to effective organization, time and information management.

My brother and his colleagues had been sent to this workshop by their boss, and he just raved about it. In fact, he became something of a zealot. He convinced me to attend, and I'm so glad I did.

This convinced me that storing information on little pieces of loose paper or post-it notes, which I would immediately lose, was a bad idea. It helped me learn to prioritize.

It's like any other life-changing system: it works if you work it.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit, organization, productivity, time management

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/A97BF953/2D65A03E/ Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:43:37 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/E4092D1A/A89B2F3E/Pendaflex-Project-Sorter

Recommended by LISAJAY on Nov 1, 2006

We all know the "stacks of paper on the desk" system of organizing papers isn't good. Heaven knows we've been told often enough. Yet we persist. Why? Because those of us with ADD can get JUST A LITTLE stuck in our ways.

Here is a product that lets you keep those stacks organized. Each stack gets a tab, which keeps it separate from the other stacks, and each tab gets a label, so you can find things quickly.

I've just started using this at work. I have great expectations. I'll let you know.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit, desktop, filing, office, organization, work

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/E4092D1A/A89B2F3E/ Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:22:34 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/02FE14C5/D8DC5606/Purseket-Purse-And-Tote-Bag

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 26, 2006

You know how a purse can become a black hole? And that thing you need, you know it's in there, but it must be buried. . . so you end up taking everything OUT of your purse and stacking it all there on the counter. . .

We've all been there, right?

Well these combat that. Not only do these little pouches keep things from getting buried, but if you have to take everything out, it all stays where it should.

They come in different sizes, so you can pick the one that best suits your level of junk

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit, organization, purses, Solutions

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/02FE14C5/D8DC5606/ Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:35:44 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/5E6C9CAE/4C222613/Google-Notebook

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 22, 2006

Google Notebook is a tool you can download from the internet to your computer. When you're on the internet, its icon sits at the bottom of your browser and you can open it up and use it whenver you want.

It's a way to store information, either from websites or just notes to yourself, when you're online. A way to keep track of things: images, ideas, quotes. . . you can make a note about whatever you want.

You can have numerous notebooks; for example, I use one for a to-do list, one to keep track of ideas for my blog, one for my geneology research, and so on. I use it every time I'm on the internet, and I don't know how I ever functioned without it.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: book marks, internet, notes, organization, software

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/5E6C9CAE/4C222613/ Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:57:10 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/932BE2EB/053E5861/uten-silo

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 19, 2006

Sometimes the classics need a nod. This unit, designed by Dorothee Maurer-Becker, was great when it was introduced in 1969 and it's still great now.

As someone with Attention Deficit Disorder, I can especially appreciate any design that keeps things visible, organized and close at hand. I WILL own one of these some day.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Just My Style, Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Classic, design, modern, organization, storage, Vitra

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/932BE2EB/053E5861/ Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:29:20 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/0AEF4AF6/08F0CFEC/Birth-Control-Pill-Alarm-Case

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 18, 2006

Birth control pills have to be taken at the same time every day in order to be most effective. This container has an alarm that you set once, and then it will remind you every day when it is time to take your pill.

Now all you have to remember is to refill your prescription at the pharmacy every month before you run out, and get to the doctor who prescribes it every year to get a new prescription. . . well, I guess one gadget can't do everything, but at least it helps!

(And aren't they stylish? Oh my, yes.)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, birth control, containers, reminders, Solutions

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/0AEF4AF6/08F0CFEC/ Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:47:37 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A65B14E4/7A64CCA3/Pill-Case-with-Reminder-Alarms

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 18, 2006

Most of us with ADD take some sort of medication for it--and of course we have whatever other medicines we take for whatever reasons. Two problems with this, if you have ADD: remembering to take the pill, and remembering whether you took the pill. This one solves both of those problems. You do have to remember to set it up for the next day.

This one seems awfully big. I'd like to find something smaller that does the same thing. My current solution is a regular pill case combined with the alarm on my Palm Pilot. It works pretty well.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, medication, memory, organization, pills, reminders, Solutions

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/A65B14E4/7A64CCA3/ Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:36:28 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/20C7F999/DFFE399F/IKEA-SONNE-Storage-unit-on

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 18, 2006

Mine sits in front of my couch, and is the hands-on storage unit I use every day. It is "bill paying central" and "office supplies central" and "my online used book business central." It is four-sided and is on castors; I can spin it to whichever side I need. One side has three drawers and two shelves. Another side is designed to hold file folders. Another has shelves, and the last one has a bar you can hang things off of.

Incredibly versatile, keeps the important stuff at hand, and can be rolled out of the way when you don't need it.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, organization, Solutions, storage

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/20C7F999/DFFE399F/ Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:27:21 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C73E99B3/EED074AA/Ziploc-Big-Bags

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 16, 2006

This is a must-have for anyone who has trouble staying organized. They are huge, so a great many things will fit inside, and they are see-through, so you can tell what's in there. Also, since they close tightly, you can use them to store things in the basement or garage that you otherwise might worry would get moisture damage.

If someone is coming over to visit and the house is a mess, just stuff all the clutter into these and take them to the basement. If you don't get around to bringing them back up for a while, nothing gets mildewed. And when you need to use something again, you can see which bag it's in.

Of course, those of us with Attention Deficit Disorder may forget to look in the basement . . .

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, clutter, organization, storage

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/C73E99B3/EED074AA/ Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:15:51 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/9125E637/7CE9E90C/Key-Caps

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

These help me find the key I need quickly and easily. I recommend them for anyone who has a bunch of identical keys. These funky designer caps, discontinued by the Container Store, just turned up at spoonsisters.com. Yay! Regular ones are so bo-ring.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD, Way Cool Stocking Stuffers
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, design, life tools, organization, visual

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/9125E637/7CE9E90C/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:02:19 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DD1177EA/16497331/ADD-Friendly-Ways-to-Organize

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

This is the most helpful book I've ever read about Attention Deficit Disorder. I keep it in the bathroom so that I will see it every day and consult it as needed. It's not just the "OMG THIS IS ME!" experience that makes it good. This is where I learned to keep things visible, use quick keyword filing, make and use a bill-paying kit (envelopes, stamps, pen, calculator, etc. all in one place), and numerous other strategies for managing not only things, but time and priorities too.

Am I organized now? No. But I'm BETTER.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, books, organization

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/DD1177EA/16497331/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:01:56 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/470D9C5C/AF2DA751/Locker-Pak-Backpack

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

Boy, would this have helped when I was in school! My backpack was a bottomless pit into which things would disappear forever. This looks especially well-designed so that items are organized and accessible--and visible, so you know where things are. It's a long time since I've carried a backpack (unless, well, backpacking), but I may need to get the adult-sized version for myself.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, backpack, bags, organization, visual

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/470D9C5C/AF2DA751/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:41:47 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/9FA3099E/D2DB769A/Post-it-Durable-Index-Tabs

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

These are sturdy, they stick well, and you can write on them. Great for labelling a piece of paper with a "to do," such as "CALL THEM," or for just making it easy to identify in a meeting or a file full of papers. My best use for them is for reference papers. I have a 3-ring binder full of papers I refer to frequently, such as phone lists, billing codes, instructions and so on. Each one is in a clear document sleeve, and is labeled with one of these tabs for easy reference.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, organizing, paperwork

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/9FA3099E/D2DB769A/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:54:49 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/FC068C6E/8356D0B6/A-Z-Reinforced-Expanding-Files

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

If you have ADD, the key to quick filing is key-word filing. For most papers, there will be a few key words that jump to mind. Your latest auto insurance policy comes in the mail. You grab your A to Z expanding file and put it under A for Auto or I for Insurance. When you need to find your auto insurance policy, where will you think to look? A for Auto or I for Insurance. Using this system, it will be one of those two places, which is a pretty quick search. This really keeps it simple.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, filing, life tools, organization, storage

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/FC068C6E/8356D0B6/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:08:01 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/90D4800D/DFCEC5EC/Pendaflex-PileSmart-Label

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

This helps a lot in meetings, where I tend to become quickly disorganized with regard to my reference papers. I used to use a paper clip, but being able to label the clip is the difference between success and chaos. Also great for organizing those piles of papers on your desk.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, life tools, organization, visual

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/90D4800D/DFCEC5EC/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:32:33 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C676F00B/797CE74B/EZPocket-Wall-Hanger

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

This is great because it provides visual reminders while keeping track of key items. Tickets to a play the 27th? Put them in the 27th pocket, and there they are when the time comes. Sort of like a 43 Folders system, but without hiding the things you need in a place no one with ADD ever looks: the file drawer.

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: ADD, adhd, Attention Deficit Disorder, life tools, organization

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/C676F00B/797CE74B/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:26:20 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A5218006/0F0B4054/Palm-Z22-handheld

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 11, 2006

This is Palm's least expensive, most stripped-down model, and is the tool I use every day. I keep it at my side, even as I go from room to room in my house. The function I use most is the calendar with the alarm. Every time I have something I have to do, I enter it and set the alarm to remind me. It's like most systems: it works if you work it!

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder, palmpilot, PDA

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/A5218006/0F0B4054/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:09:05 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C79D9D04/CF0E51BB/Lillian-Vernon-Canvas-2-Sided

Recommended by LISAJAY on Oct 10, 2006

I have one of these, and I love it. I can see where everything is instead of hunting for something among several disorderly jewelry boxes, which saves time when I'm trying to get out the door. For those of us with Attention Deficit Disorder, it's important to be able to SEE where we have put things. We tend to be "out of sight, out of mind" sorts.

This would also be great for storing craft supplies or any number of other things. If I I get another one I'll use it to keep my beading tools organized--not just scissors and pliers and such, but wire and and needles and Thread Heaven and . . . I think I need to get another one!

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Bead Necessities, Survival Tools for ADD
Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder, crafts, jewelry, organization, storage, visual

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PermaLink ]]> LISAJAY http://www.thisnext.com/item/C79D9D04/CF0E51BB/ Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:42:02 PDT