I’m Feeling a Sense of Deja Vu…

Most people with ADD have a problem with organization. I’m guilty. Very, very guilty.

Recently someone described me as, “Nic can organize and yet be disorganized.”

I have systems. They are good systems. They even mostly work. But every week or two weeks, I still have to go through all the piles and sort them. Just about everything I own does actually have a place it is supposed to be, but getting it there is always the bigger battle.

It’s something I have come to terms with, so I try to take an hour each weekend to just put everything to rights again. If I start the week off with an organized desk, folded clothes, and proper To Do Lists for the week, things turn out better.

Of course, I’d rather lounge around in bed and drink my coffee. That is not ADD, that’s just lazy.

Things I Have Done Today That Are Not My Homework

1. Cleaned my room
2. Organized my jewelry
3. Reorganized my closet
4. Sewed
5. Did 2 loads of laundry
6. Read a book
7. Cooked dinner
8. Signed up on yet another crafty site
9. Did research for the embroidery project I want to do
10. Made a plan for a friend to visit tomorrow, further cutting down on homework time

Things I Was Supposed to Do Today
1. My homework
2. Unload the car
3. Laundry
4. Make lunch for tomorrow

As you can see, exactly one item on my To Do List has actually been accomplished so far. Go me.

Frustration

One of the problems about not having an official ADD diagnosis is not getting accommodations in college. So if you think you have ADD, please, please, go see a doctor and get diagnosed. When I have functioning health insurance again, I plan to do the same, even though at this point, it’s too late to really help with school. Some day, I’ll tell the whole exciting story about why I do not have an official diagnosis.

My point today, however, is teaching and learning styles. Neither of the professors I have for this summer session has a teaching style that meshes well with my learning style. Both of them are “soft due date” types, ones to assign homework at the end of class, for the next one. I have trouble dealing with that. Between work and my natural ebb and flow of concentration levels, I like to know what is coming up, and what is due in the near future.

I’m trying to plan ahead and set dates for myself based on the limited information that they’ve given so far (The order of topics) but I am not nearly as good at adhering to my own deadlines as I am at outside ones.

Shiny Girl is Productive

Today was a good day. Dropped off the family I nanny for at the airport far too early, then I took off running on the chores I needed to get done. With some help from the cleaning service, who will take some getting used to, (I left, and came back to everything I hadn’t dealt with piled very neatly in weird places), things are neat enough for me to be able to concentrate.

Classes start tomorrow. I have a certain amount of day-before-school nerves, which is typical for me. I put them to use grocery shopping, packing a lunch, and starting to write thank you cards for Graduation gifts.

I have finally learned my lesson, that you cannot prepare all of your school supplies before you know what the professor wants or expects. So I have 1 reusable folder and a matching colored notebook for each class. Add in my pencil case of writing goodness and my highlighter set, and we’re ready to go.

I am thinking positive, so this will go well.

Damnit.

Fear

The problem with ADD is that sometimes, one begins to obsess over one’s fears.

I’ve never been good at getting homework done on vacations, or even just when I stay overnight nannying. This has, of course, turned itself into a fear that I will not be able to get my homework done summer semester, now that I am living in a real house, with other people.

I have worked very hard to set up a usable desk area as my first priority, and I will be on campus for a few hours in between classes, as well, so I think, with some focus and concentration, I should be able to focus and make this work.

But transitions are hard, and fear is harder.

The New Adventures of Shiny-Girl

I moved most of my stuff out of my dorm and into the room I’ll be living in for the next year and a bit today. It was, of course, chaos. I have all these high aspirations of everything being organized and having a place to be. But I won’t get my dresser for another few weeks or so, so all the clothes had to be dealt with temporarily, and I don’t have containers for the desk yet, and it has no drawers of its own. We’ll call it a work in progress.

Which, of course, drives me up a wall. I’m babysitting somewhere else tonight, so I don’t have to look at the mess until tomorrow, which helps.

How do you cope with moving?

About that College Thing

As of yesterday, around noon, I am done with my undergraduate college work. Noon, because that is when I met with my internship professor. When did I finish my paper and portfolio to give her? 11AM, as I packed up the two kids I was nannying who I needed to bring with me to the meeting. Some things never change.

Do I think that I would have done better in college if I had my ADD under better control? Yes. Am I learning to let go of things that are in the past and can’t be changed? Yes, finally. So it is over, and It is what it is. I do plan on continuing to do little featurettes on strategies that did work for me and strategies that did not. I know, I know, I’m promising an awful lot here. I have the best of intentions, I swear

Do not fear, though, there is more ADD ranting about college to come. Next Tuesday I start my Masters in Education Program. Two classes this summer, then fieldwork throughout the school year. After that, Y’all get to hear the excitement that is trying to deal with one’s ADD as a teacher. At least I will always have material to write about.

Now, to sleep, as I have to move tomorrow. In typical ADD fashion, nothing is in boxes, everything is a mess, and I didn’t do any of the pre-organization I hoped to do.

Hello Blog, How I missed you so!

I know, you are all shocked and surprised that someone with ADD forgot to update her blog for over a year.

I’m turning over a new leaf! For real this time. My goal is to update 3-4 times a week, and I’m adding it to my To-Do List. As soon as I’m done moving and can put up a To Do List again.

Expect me to be Posty-Mc-Introspective pants for the next couple days, as I have a lot to say about school, ADD, and life at the moment.

So welcome back! I hope you enjoy the ride