Pills Don't Teach Skills

One Man's Personal Battle with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

by Jeff Hamilton

Papers Are Delayed Decisions in the ADD World

When we pile paper up we are simply procrastinating doing something.

Published on February 28, 2011 by Jeff Hamilton in Pills Don't Teach Skills

Last week I posted about a cluttered desk and how it can negatively impact the concentration of people with ADD. This week I thought I would expand on that and talk a little more about one particular type of clutter, paper.

Perhaps it's that nasty inbox on top of a desk where paper is piled up, or maybe you just stack it neatly telling yourself, I'll get to that later. Papers are delayed decisions in the ADD world. Have you ever purchased your paper from Dunder Mifflin? I'm joking, Dunder Mifflin is the fictitious paper company of the TV show The Office staring Steve Carell and others. In fact, this show has actually created its own company website, which looks and functions like a real company, funny stuff...check it out here Dunder Mifflin.

Getting back on track and moving away from my drifting ADD moment and segway into a TV show, that stack of paper is a horrible formula for an ADD'er. When we pile paper up on our desk, on the kitchen counter, the book shelf or anywhere else, we are simply delaying or procrastinating doing something. I use a process that has been successful for me that involves three basic steps to eliminate paper and keep my life progressing forward in an organized and productive way:

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1. Schedule it - if I don't have time to do it, I know it will never get done if I drop in on top of the paper pile. I schedule it in my Outlook calendar, then file it away. My calendar reminds me to deal with it at a set time and at that point I will tackle my task and recycle the paper. If the paper needs to be filed, I scan it and file it electronically if I can.
2. Scan it - As noted above, paper can be scanned and stored electronically on your computer. No paper pile or clutter! That's important for an ADD'er.
3. Do it - Like the Nike advertisement said, just do it. Don't put it in top of the paper pile or procrastinate, just deal with it now.

It works for me, maybe it will work for you.