| I gave a good friend of mine with Inattentive ADHD a | | | | enemy of production and people with ADHD can find |
| baby gift of a weekly housekeeper for a month. I | | | | themselves over focusing on some minute detail of the |
| thought that the challenges of the new baby coupled | | | | project while ignoring the fact that much of the task is |
| with the demands of two children and a household | | | | yet to be completed. |
| might prove too difficult for her. Someone had given | | | | ** The use of family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors |
| me this baby gift after my eldest son was born and it | | | | as partners and reminders of the tasks that need |
| was, by far, the best baby gift that I was given. Some | | | | completing. |
| housekeepers do nothing but clean and some | | | | Assembling a 'team' of people who will hold you |
| housekeepers do much more. | | | | accountable and that will cheer you on as you trudge |
| The greatest housekeepers organize drawers, | | | | through your tasks makes the task completion more |
| cabinets, laundry closets, and individual rooms in such a | | | | thorough, more predictable, and more satisfying. |
| way that will enable the housekeeper and you to keep | | | | ** Breaking down tasks into smaller pieces and making |
| things clean and organized. Great housekeepers can | | | | goals that are accomplishable. |
| start you on a sustainable cleaning schedule and teach | | | | Rome was not built in a day but when you are so far |
| you the tools and tricks of keeping a house clean and | | | | behind, the urge is to try to do everything in an attempt |
| organized. If you cannot afford to hire someone to | | | | to 'catch up'. When the task at hand is huge, it is likely |
| come in weekly, get cleaning help on a monthly basis. | | | | to appear undoable. Dividing the task into smaller |
| Having someone organize and clean your house once | | | | pieces makes it something that appears manageable. |
| a month will make it easier for you to keep your house | | | | ** Recognizing and removing the obstacles that are |
| neat and clean. | | | | getting in the way of your task completion. |
| When you have ADHD anything that helps you get | | | | If every time you set out to accomplish something, you |
| and stay organized is a huge blessing. A good | | | | get sidetracked by something else. It is time to |
| housekeeper is especially helpful but a good ADHD | | | | recognize and remove that barrier from your ADHD |
| coach can make an even greater positive impact in | | | | life. For many people with ADHD, things like the phone, |
| the life of a person with ADHD. | | | | email, computer surfing, friendly neighbors, and |
| The strategies that ADHD coaches can help you with | | | | disorganized homes and/or offices can occupy them |
| include: | | | | for hours and keep them from accomplishing their |
| ** The use of watches, timers, and deadlines both for | | | | goals. Recognizing and removing these barriers is an |
| accomplishing tasks and for the planning phase of task | | | | essential component of managing. |
| completion. | | | | For people with ADHD, getting the right home care and |
| Some people with ADHD spend so much time planning | | | | coaching help is as essential as being on the right |
| what they need to do that they never actually do | | | | medication. Good housekeepers are best found by |
| anything. People with ADHD also have a very poor | | | | word of mouth and this CHAAD web page has a |
| sense of the amount of time it takes to complete a | | | | great link to help you find an ADHD coach. Don't delay, |
| task and they can spend hours on something that | | | | these two professionals may change your life. |
| should have taken 20 minutes. Perfectionism is the | | | | |