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Executive Functioning Skills for ADDults |
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Project Management 101: Making Lists List-makers get a lot done. They do not rely on their ability to remember, but quickly record what needs to be done and then put all of their mental efforts into getting the job done. I will be honest here: if you are not a list-maker by nature, it will take a lot of effort to make yourself sit down and make lists. But if you skip this step, and you are in the midst of a serious brain fog, you will get virtually nothing accomplished. I highly recommend that you make your lists within your planner. You can use Outlook if you prefer, or Excel or Word. Choose your list application and stick with it. Always print out your list and put it with your planner. Staple it in. Don't let it float around. Maybe you want to post it on the fridge. Make sure it is safe. Keep a copy in your planner. Write the name of the task or project at the top of the sheet. Begin to write out the steps necessary to complete the task or project. Be very detailed. Include a shopping list (be sure to make a copy of your list to take with you to the store -- don't take your Project List out of the house unless it is stapled to your planner) and sub-lists as you need them. Break down very large projects into smaller chunks, then make lists for those sub-tasks. This is Executive Functioning. Give yourself a deadline and make yourself finish 24 hours before the deadline if possible. If it is a cooking project, this will not be possible. But for nonperishable projects, you should be able to complete 24 hours before the deadline. Learning to give yourself margin is very important. This greatly reduces stress and can put you in a position to be available for another task. Project Management 101: Use Your List This might seem extremely obvious, but I have made lists often and just not used them. What a waste of time and effort. I highly recommend that you establish a daily planning time. The best time would be right after you have spent time in the Word and spoken with the Lord about your day. Have a cup of coffee or tea (or Mountain Dew if that is your drug of choice), and make yourself review your planner. Review the month first. Then review the week you are in. Next, review your project lists. Note what steps need to be completed that day on your daily To Do list. This is very important. Take the time to create a daily To Do list. Do this at the same time every day. Yes, we are talking routine here, but it is good for you. Make a note of when would be the best time to work on your project. Make an appointment in Outlook Calendar and set the alarm. When the alarm goes off, stop what you are doing and work on your project for an established amount of time. Set the alarm before you start for 1 hour and then make yourself stop and review your To Do list, check the clock, see if you need to clean, eat, set out frozen meat to defrost, and so on. The alarms help you break free from hyperfocus. They help provide structure. Check off what you have accomplished each hour of the day and thank the Lord for helping you to get so much done. Next Page 1 2 3 4 5 Last Page©Copyright 2006-2008 by ADHD of the Christian Kind. | |
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