This is what you can accomplish in 15 minutes. Both of these are the before and after images that were discussed in episode 42 of the ADHD Big Brother podcast.
If there is a task you really do not want to do, but your life would be so much better if it were done, then try and crank it out in 15 minute chunks.
Set a timer.
Be specific about what you are doing.
Promise yourself you will quit when the timer goes off.
You'll be amazed at what you can get done.
This was my bedroom. I did not stage it for this photo. This is the result of days of laundry, a really hot apartment, and me avoiding my bedroom at all costs. I set the 15 minute timer and...
This is what I was able to complete. I don't hustle, and I don't race the timer. I go at whatever energy level I'm at. This is now a room that I would be able to relax in.
Let's take a look at dealing with a paper pile!
This is where I keep my one paper pile. I used to have many, but hey, I'm not just your ADHD Big Brother, I'm also a student. Some of this stuff I've got dialed in much better now. I'm a one pile guy now.
When it gets to be overflowing like this, I set the timer for 15 minutes and I dump the bin out on my clean bed.
I sort the giant pile into various piles:
- Garbage
- To file
- To shred
- Unopened letters
It'll start looking something like this. After 15 minutes I was able to put everything into appropriate piles AND clear my bed.
This was what my bed looked like after 15 minutes.
Doesn't look quite done. But the timer is goes off, so I stop.
Letr on, I set another timer for opening the letters, and dealing with the remaining "stuff" on the bed, and the results are in....fresh, clean, and ready to be stuffed up paper pile bin!
Need help with these tools?
If you want to learn the tools that go into a well-managed ADHD life, then check this out
I put together a series of videos in an online course format that are short, manageable, and they take on those ADHD hurdles that we face every day. Answers to:
- What if I am overwhelmed with too many choices?
- What if I don't know what I should work on?
- What if everything has equal weight and I can't decide what to do?
- What if it's too hard to get started?
- What if it feels like it will take forever and I can't motivate myself?
- What if there's nothing in it for me?
- What if I can't meet my standard of perfection?
- What if I'm too scared to finish my project?
- What if I don't know what it means to be "done"?
What if I'm too burned out to finish my projects? - What if I keep forgetting what I'm doing?