How do you prioritize?

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Permalink Reply by Tara McGillicuddy on March 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

The thing I start with doesn't always have to be the highest priority. Sometimes I just need to start with something or ANYTHING. Prioritizing and implementing / doing are not always one in the same for me.

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Permalink Reply by Susan on March 29, 2011 at 8:03pm

I agree with Tara.  It's nice to get something off the list.  I often avoid the thing that deserves the highest priority. . . . for lots of reasons. . . . I don't want to do it. . .  I don't like to do it. . . I don't know how I want to do it.  That's a big thing.  Especially if it is something creative. . . . there are so many possibilities so I can't commit to one of them as I will think of another, better way to do it.  There are certain tasks. . . like writing reports that I hate to do that I must work on in "prime brain time" or I just can't do it.  Often things like that to I must do over several sittings as I just can't do it all at once.   That means trying to start longer ahead of time.  Computers help a lot with that and being able to move things around.   Sometimes I leave the most important thing to last and use the adrenalin at the end to make myself do it.  I try to do some things immediately and dont' let them sit at all.  I will meet my deadline so I procrastinate but can't get it past a certain point or it would stress me out too much and I wouldn't perform well. 

 

I don't think it says anything bad about you if some things are labelled lower priority.  Everyone will have that same dilemma - ADHD or no ADHD.  One person can only do so much.  We each will have our rationalization of why one is more important than the other.  People will always disagree with us.  If these are tasks for a job and you feel it impossible to get them all done, perhaps your supervisor can help.

 

Setting timers as you work may help you be more aware of time so that you can use it better.  I do that sometimes.  If you set the timer for every 15 minutes then at least you are aware that time is ticking.  I have to make a game of it for myself.  You can tell yourself. .. I will finish this by the next time the timer goes off. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Alice on May 15, 2011 at 3:54pm

I am older and it has gotten better as I have aged.  However, I have days when it is maddening also.  I am so interested in so many things.  I didn't know I had ADD until I was in my mid forties.  It explained a lot. What really bothers me is how much I worry about what others think.  I think this is mainly because so many people donot understand ADD or ADHD.  They just pass judgement.  I have a neighbor who is a freak about her yard. She is a little old lady who has nothing else to do but work in her yard.  I feel she is looking over my shoulder at my yard, and she pretty much is.  I want my yard to be beautiful and I work hard when I have the energy, but I have a part-time job, a small home business open to the public, and a twenty something room house, and a husband with major health issues.  He and I work together, but he can only do so much at a time. I guess you are aware how ADD makes your energy levels jump up and down.  Other people come in my house and can't believe it is so neat, really.  They don't even make their beds every morning. I donot judge, just information.  I ask myself how much I would care about the yard if I was way out in the country away from everyone.  I would care only for myself and work at my own pace.  This is what I need to do, as long as the city is not after me.  It is not an eyesore.  The neighbor is very OCD and wants her grass like a golf course. She is very conservative about most things, being an older person from a conservative background.  And I like her, but I am very liberal and that makes it hard sometimes to be understood.

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