Organization: Difficulty managing daily schedule

Today, most of us lead hectic lives. For anyone, managing a daily schedule can be difficult. However, for some people managing a daily schedule is incredibly taxing. This topic was originally organized under the "math" heading. The issue could be with reading the numbers on the clock. It could also be under ADHD or memory issues where the trick is to remember to look at the calendar and to put appointments into the calendar.

Vocational/Educational Impact
This can be an exasperating topic for employers. Being late is not a good thing. Following a set schedule of work tasks is very important. Following time tables or a route map can be infinitely challenging

What to do about it?
Technology can be the savior here. There are so many ways and so many machines today that I believe there is an answer out there if you are willing to work at it. I have students who program their cell phone to remind them when to take medication. Others use the phone to leave voice messages in an auditory, to do list.

Of course, the tried and true "to do" list works for many people. Not for me, but my husband swears by it.

I might even suggest going into a major technology store and tell the salesperson, "I have difficulty ....." you fill in the blank, " and what could you suggest that would help me."

Planners are great if you know how to use them. They can be monthly calendars, weekly or daily. I have often created hour by hour schedules for my students. We included times for eating, sleeping, bathroom breaks, school, travel to school, you get the picture.

I always tell people that when my boss bought me my first day planner, she insisted that I take the Franklin Covey workshop to learn how to use a planner. Many people skip this step and think that using a planner is a piece of cake. That would be wrong. Starting a new habit is very very difficult.

Good News
Although unscheduled people can be very frustrating, the spontaneity can be refreshing and fun. Life is always an adventure.

Also, I find people who have difficulty maintaining their schedule get really good at finding efficient ways to complete tasks. They are so frequently late that they have little time to get things accomplished and so often find new ways to achieve things in very little time.

ADHD: often causes feelings of restlessness

One of the most common issues for people with ADHD and those around them is fidgeting. It is hard to sit still and hard to put up with someone who cannot sit still. One leg starts to shake, under the table to start with, but then the table starts to shake. Another outlet is fiddling with pencils or items on the table. Extra energy builds up and needs direction, needs somewhere to go.

Vocational/Educational Impact
Sedentary jobs are not a great idea! That includes sitting in a classroom for 6 hours a day.

Difficulty concentrating on tasks.

All this fidgeting agitates co-workers/supervisors to the breaking point. Doesn't it drive you crazy when someone is constantly clicking their pen. Click, click, click. Click, click. Stop it already!!!

Increase risk for accidents

Low stress tolerance

Strategies or What to do?
Build movement into activity. One of teachers I work with does her best thinking while she is ironing. Don't just sit there all day. Even something so simple as standing up and sitting down again can relieve that energy build up. Take a walk, but make sure to return to work asap.

Work standing up. Surprisingly, there are many work stations designed for people who need to work standing up. Not only does it allow for movement, but it is actually much better for your blood flow.

Chart/time productivity or work rate. This works really well. If I am stuck at a certain level on a computer game, I find that if I simply start writing down my scores at each level, suddenly I can do better. Somehow the statistics start to make sense to my brain and I start improving. Just chart what you are doing and what the outcome is. Things will start to improve.

Break tasks into small pieces. I plan on doing this blog one strategy a day because it would just be too hard to accomplish everything in one hit. Spend some time planning on how to break the tasks down. This could also be done with the help of someone who is really good at chopping things into small components. That way you get a lot of little things done. Plus the whole thing gets done as well.

Frequent breaks I can focus really well for about 30 minutes. If I am working hard, I know that every 30 minutes, I need a 30 second break: walk around the office, go to the restroom, drink some water. Then GO BACK to what I was doing. This is very important.

How can this be a strength?

A good friend loves her ADHD. If she wants her house clean, all she has to do is take a medication vacation. All that energy can move mountains. All that energy, captured and tamed, can get so much done.

Here's a treat: a little youtube video to assess your own attention power. Enjoy.
Attention video

Getting started

Working with people with disabilities is always an adventure. Just when you think you know what you are doing, Wham!!!!!! Right in your face. Then you need something new to put in your toolbox.

Well, this blog is an attempt to create a toolbox. Strategies upon strategies. Hopefully, I can overcome my own short attention span and keep them coming.
Strategies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, each one good for just a right situation. I plan on discussing the various negative characteristics of people who struggle in school and work. Then move on the vocational impacts... Next talk about some strategies to deal with all this. Finally, I want to brainstorm how the negative characteristic can be turned around and used as a strength.

Successful people with learning disabilities (and I am humbled to know many), are masters of using their weaknesses as strengths that move the world. Hopefully I can share some of the wisdom that I have gleaned from successful people I have known.

Please join the discussion and share your wisdom