How does one effectively establish "structure"...?

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I have absolutely no idea how to navigate everyday life. I live with my partner and it seems increasingly evident that I am incapable of allocating my time/resources responsibly. I've tried every organization mechanism I'm aware of, daily planners, weekly planners, monthly planners, little calendars, big calendars, phone applications, desktop applications, web applications, notes scribbled all over my body....everything. I dropped all of my credit hours halfway through my first semester in high school, then reapplied the next semester and dropped all of my credits again, and now I am taking summer classes to make up for lost time, but I really can't do the things I need to do well enough to maintain academic well-being.

I know I have the intellectual capacity; the work is never exceedingly difficult to complete as long as I allow myself a set period of time during which to accomplish it. I think the issue is a matter of disengaging from one task and initiating another one. I cannot seem to do it and I have no idea how to learn. Often I sit in a state of anxious paralysis during which I long to move on but can't. It's unbelievably frustrating and regardless of how hard I try, I cannot course correct. I tend to attribute this to lack of structure in my life because I often navigate through my days very haphazardly and without a plan, but I have attempted establishing structure in the past to no avail.

I'm so eager to proceed in life but I'm starting to feel as though I am destined to spend the rest of my life dependent on the care of others. I feel permanently stuck and I'm losing confidence as a result. Do any of you experience this or am I alone? Can you provide any insight into my problem?

Can you pinpoint why these organization tools are failing you?

I cannot use standard organizers, either.

I don't really go about my day in specific time segments. Perhaps if I had to be at a job at a specific time everyday, I would. But I work from home so the schedule is a bit loosey-goosey. I feel extremely constricted by organizers that require things to be listed at a certain time. It is like a mental claustrophobia. Invariably, something I scheduled before hand takes a little longer than expected which then throws off the written schedule, which drives me bonkers. Some sort of "guilt" or anxiety about being behind schedule then develops, which does not help.

I find it helpful to group like things together. For example, if I have to make phone calls, which I hate, it is better to do them all at once. That way, I have to summon my energy and guts to make phone calls just *once* for the whole group of calls instead of multiple times (once for *each* phone call) if I spread them out over days.

It is also helpful to have my own space to work which I do NOT SHARE with anyone!! ! That way, I can keep it as neat or messy as I want. If it is a little bit messy, I don't have to worry about someone else moving something, and I don't have to stress about getting the space more manageable for someone else.

Boxes, bags, books, bookcases, and binders are my friends. I especially like having certain bags that *always* have what I need in them for a certain activity. I just pick up the bag and know I have what I need.

I group activities by morning, afternoon, and evening. This allows a big enough chunk for some flexibility in the *exact* hour things need to be done, which reduces stress for me, but still puts a time limit on when things are expected to be done.

As far as doing schoolwork or other mental work goes, I have learned that doing physical activity first is beneficial. It gets the blood flowing all through the body, including the brain. After one has worked hard physically, one is ready for physical rest but still has the elevated oxygen and energy levels for mental work.

I am nowhere near as organized as other people. My methods are not standard, but I've learned to do what works for *me*. I have made my own charts to help myself stay on top of things, too.

I have this problem also. Although I am 45 years old I still haven't figured out a method to organize myself which works. Something like a daily organizer will work for the first few days and after that I lose interest in it.

My school history consists of getting straight A's on exams but failure to complete projects that had to be worked on over time. My bills are unpaid even though I have money to pay all of them. My house is a terrible mess because I lack motivation to begin cleaning. Mostly I eat take-out food because I lack motivation to go grocery shopping or to begin cooking. I spend all my time reading, watching tv and on the internet.

I can do things if someone asks me to do something "right now" but since I live alone there is no such someone.

I wish I knew. I know it isn't helpful to reply if I don't know, but I can assure you that you're not alone. I NEED structure. I work nights and my partner works days, so I am home alone all day before work. I mostly pace. I try to meditate. I don't have motivation enough to play video games and tv/movies annoy me to no end. I read and explore outdoors sometimes, but most of that time is still spent in my head over-thinking nonsense.

"Autistic inertia" is what your problem sounds like!

Rather, inertia in combination with of the more tangible executive functioning problems (trouble planning and organizing) and maybe what's sometimes called "paralysis of will."

"Autistic inertia" is what your problem sounds like!

Rather, inertia in combination with of the more tangible executive functioning problems (trouble planning and organizing) and maybe what's sometimes called "paralysis of will."