Using Computer Reminders to Manage ADHD

How To Use Computer Reminders to Manage ADHD
By Dana Rayburn, Adult ADD Coach

ADDed Success is ADD Coach Dana Rayburn's monthly newsletter about living successfully with adult ADHD.

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Welcome to ADDed Success!

This issue we'll talk about using computer reminders to manage your ADHD.

A couple of weeks ago an ADD Success reader sent me this question:

Dear Dana,
Thanks for last month’s article about structure and ADD. I’ve avoided structure all my life. You’ve inspired me to change my ways! Now I'm wondering if you have any suggestions for using my computer to make reminders?

Regards,
Duane Smith

Hi Duane,
Congratulations on your willingness to embrace structure. I think you’ll find the right structures will make your ADHD life a lot easier.

Regarding your question, yes, I’m bursting with ideas about using your computer to remind you to do things. It's actually pretty easy since most computers come with free calendar software you can use for reminders. Outlook is popular on Windows systems. iCal or Entourage are available on Macintosh.

Automatic reminder systems are a blessing to people with ADHD. Mine frequently rescues me from being flakey or forgetful. Often with a new client, one of the first things we do is set up their reminder system. It’s a simple step that makes a huge difference.

Most people make reminders only for meetings and appointments. That’s a good start, yet life gets lots easier if you make reminders for everything and anything you have a hard time remembering to do. In other words, remember you’ll forget, so make a reminder.

Let's look at some examples for using reminders:
---> One client, Pete, easily remembers meetings so he doesn't set reminders for them. But Pete has created reminders for the personal and work details he often forgets. He says his ADD has less power when his computer reminds him to do tasks such as pay his bills, take his medication, call his customers, refill his prescription and prepare his taxes.

---> Another client who works from a home office tends to hyper-focus, so I have her set reminders to take short breaks throughout her day, The reminders don’t just say ‘take a break’, but give her more direction, such as get a drink of water, pet the dog or run up and down the stairs three times.

---> Here's another idea if you have a hard time staying on task. Set occasional reminders to ask you if what you are doing at that moment is a good use of your time.

Here are some tips about reminders:
---> Use a PDA for reminders for the times you’re not around your computer.
---> Don’t dismiss a reminder until you’ve taken the action or added it to your to do list.
---> If you’re in the middle of something when a reminder pops up, ‘snooze’ it so the reminder reappears at a more convenient time.

There you go Duane. I hope this helps. When you’re done reading ADDed Success, why don’ t you make a reminder to make reminders!

The Last Word
One of my favorite ways of delegating is to create reminders from my computer that also pop up on my husband’s system. Somehow when Scott's computer asks him if he has changed the heater filter, it seems less like nagging than if I ask him.

To Your ADDed Success,

Dana

PS. - Trouble Staying Organized? No Problem! Reserve your copy of 'Organized for Life' at the special 'early-bird' price.

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