Executive Function--any good strategies?

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I have problems in this area and though I have ways of compensating, this is a real problem.

Does anyone else find that they have problems with organizing/scheduling and related record keeping at work? I would love to know how you work around them.

The only answers I seem to come up with involve lots of lists and checklists and written procedures and at some point that comes down to the painful process of making myself do the things that are so painful by sheer force of will.

Please share any good coping mechanisms/tactics/strategies for dealing with this you have used!

I did exactly what you've suggested (lists and checklists and whatnot) until I learned very clearly what needed to be done on a daily basis and what the best times of day were to do them. Then I was able to abandon the schedule.
This is particularly helpful if there is standardized, daily activities/paperwork that must be completed. If your schedule varies you may need to be more proactive (i.e. building time in your day for the "unexpected").
I can't help with organizing since that is a personal disaster for me

While monthly calendar is good--even better is a Wall Calendar that displays the entire year, so it is easier to keep track of tasks that you do on a regular basis.

Do not let your paperwork build up.

Have color coded files or binders and put things away IMMEDIATELY.

Dag nab it! Too late!

I am doing a sort of triage now, implementing all these checklists of things that should be obvious but I keep missing because I am a bit overloaded at the moment.

My approach is:
* Implement the new system this week so the mess doesn't continue while I try to fix the backlog.
* Chunk and triage the backlog, dealing with it chunk by chunk until I am caught up.
* Compartmentalize this work from psychological issues like self-recrimination and catastrophic thinking

Hopefully, I can dig my way back out

I still struggle.. just eases part of the burden having the color coded stuff because I have low visual processing skills.

I also allow a fifteen minute period to clean up.

Though it is not easy always.

Dang nab it too that I just can't get the whole act together FAST.

You can do it!

Just remember... in fifteen minutes you can do a lot. Then, if you use a timer, let it ring, and figure out, 'Can I go on for fifteen minutes more?'
If you can't, no sweat. If you can, go ahead!

Franklin planner to keep track of meetings and to do lists. Used for work and personal. Sometimes less important items get forwarded for days or weeks, but not forgotten.

My work environment involves lots of documents, records, workpapers, and so on. It is also all paperless so the main tool I use to keep things in order are Microsoft Outlook and a well thought-through set of online project folders. But for the daily to-do's I still rely on a piece of paper. Having the to-do list in hardcopy helps me get my head out of the computer and refocus on what needs to be done as it appears before me in my own handwriting.

In my personal life, the advent of automatic bill pay features was a godsend because otherwise I hate paying bills and was too often late. I also critically re-thought what household chores are really necessary with an eye toward simplifying things. I find that clean towels still work quite nicely when piled into a pretty basket instead of being laboriously folded for no good reason. And quite often paper plates and disposable plastic utensils are fully functional and to be preferred over the endless boring cycles of dishwashing and storing.

Have a schedule as to when you will do things.

I know Adamantium specified time management as his or her big issue, but for executive functioning in general, I always ask several NT acquaintances their opinions and judgments. Their perspectives can also help you "triage" or prioritize by necessity.

Caffeine.

Thank you, managertina! The advice is practical and works and the encouragement from one who knows is really good.



I already have one, but I think I need to get an order of magnitude more granular.



This sounds like a good way to do it--I wonder if there is some advantage to physical over digital media for this?



This makes sense and supports NowWhat's planner advice. I will try it.



I have told my manager about these issues and he is an ally, so I think between him and one other very helpful colleague I will have a good system of NT "reality checks" on my planning/urgency judgments.


I think I have already maxed out on my daily intake of this helpful chemical. I can't imagine having done this job for so long without it!

Well, just find some more chemicals. There's plenty out there.

Sleep important than caffeine. Get 7.5 hours or more of the good stuff, preferably with the greater portion happening before 4:30 in the morning. I watched a sleep dvd lately and the timing is important. Our bodies are hardwired for the sun and for daylight. If you can find a link, the show is 'sleepless in saskatchewan' and is a really good documentary. Goes through the sleep cycles, healthy sleep environments, etc.

Organising...frustratingly no matter what apps, calendars, documents I impliment I always struggle to find something that perfectly matches me needs - I often need something like a big wall chart to clearly show me everything. I do the best I can with what I have.

Do not make the schedule too granular. Have backup plans in case your time needs to be reallocated to something else. Like, my mom is coming in June for a visit, so that will surely throw my schedule off.