Tuesday, January 67th, 2020
Welcome to the leADDership brief
A weekly newsletter for creative and innovative people, like you, with ADHD who want timely, helpful, and interesting resources
for leading and living well with ADHD.
Organizing Your Workspace Part Two:
Getting Started
Getting and staying organized is a real challenge for many of us with ADHD, we struggle with clutter and feel overwhelmed or stuck, mostly because we aren't sure where to start or how to start.
Getting organized has many benefits including:
increasing productivity
freeing up time spent looking for things
reducing anxiety
making more money by being efficient
improving your self-confidence
improving your working relationships
improving time-management
increasing your sense of personal satisfaction and joy
improves focus and attention
Today’s edition of the leadership brief is the second in a five-part series this week on how to tame your desk and work space creating an environment and esthetic that works for you.
It’s all about getting started: how to start, where to start, and how to keep going.
One of the hardest things to do when making the decision to get organized is getting started: knowing where to start and how to get started.
Positive reinforcements or rewards can help motivate you to become more organized. Before you start your organizing project take a moment to consider what motivates you and then select a reward to give yourself when you’ve finished. When you’ve completed the project make sure you give yourself the reward.
Getting a friend to help you can make the job easier and go faster, especially if you need to de-clutter because they don't have the same sentimental attachment to items that you have.
The use of a timer, music, podcast, or show can help as well.
Set your timer for 30-minute increments, with 5-minute breaks in between
Put on a favorite playlist and work until the playlist ends
Listen to a podcast and work until the podcast ends
I love to put on an episode of The Great British Baking Show I've already watched and get as much done during an episode as I can, then take a break
GETTING STARTED
The best approach to starting a complex or new project is to break it down into smaller steps and tackle these steps one at a time. Organizing any space, big or small, can be broken down into the following steps:
Select the spaces to be organized: ex. the top of your desk, beneath your desk, credenza, sitting area, etc..
Put them in order from easiest to most difficult: ex. beneath desk, top of desk, sitting area, credenza
Start with the easiest space
Schedule time to work on it: what day will you do this? how much time will you dedicate to it? how many days do you want to dedicate to this project?
Put the dates and times for your organizational project on your calendar with alerts and reminders
Decide on the reward or motivation to encourage the completion of each step
Gather the tools you will need: timer, music, garbage bags, boxes, tape, scissors, markers, etc.
Divide the space into sections
Work on one section at a time, sorting, discarding or re-organizing each object in that section until it is finished
Once you've completed the easiest project move on to the next easiest on up to the most difficult and time consuming project. Repeat the steps for each piece of the project, refining as you learn and do each step.
Don't forget to reward yourself along the way.
Go!
Where do you work?
What is your primary work surface?
What needs to be organized in your work space?
Whats the easiest space?
What's the most difficult and time consuming space?
What day would be the best day for you to organize your work space?
What time of day are you the most motivated and energized for an organizational project?
When do you want to be finished with this project?
What kind of reward motivates you?
Who could you ask for help?
What is your. bandwidth for this project? Can you do 15-minute stretches, 30-minute? 60-minute?
What day are you scheduling to get started? Write it on your calendar!!
Tomorrow edition is all about the kind of space you want to function in: the esthetics of your space and your organizational style.
If this has been helpful and you’d like some one-on-one help with your desk contact me today for your complimentary, no strings attached, breakthrough coach call.
Click on the link below to schedule your 60-minute coach call today!
What Else Do You Need To Know?
Coach Pam