Does Your Child with ADHD Need Help with Homework?
Are you looking for ways to help your child or teen handle the daily struggle with homework? The struggle (theirs and yours) is real. It may look like a lack of motivation, or defiance, forgetfulness or even a learning disability but in reality, it is probably their Executive Function skills.
The Homework Help for ADHD covers seven Executive Function skills that have the biggest impact on homework and includes information on what to look for and plenty of strategies to help compensate.
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Happy Anniversary to me! I have now officially been in business for five years. Although that puts me in the elite Golden Circle membership of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) it means so much more. As a person and a business owner I have had to stretch further than I thought was possible. Yet, here I am 5 years later much more confident, capable and compassionate.
To my all my clients I want to say thank you. I am grateful that you allowed me into your homes and into your lives. I have learned from you as I hope you have learned from me. Once you decided to get organized, I watched you dig deep to make tough decisions always keeping in mind the bigger picture. You have challenged and pushed me to find answers to your questions and solutions to your challenges. For that I am extremely grateful.
Thank you also to the students I have taught both in the Learning Logistics classes and in individual coaching sessions. The skills you have learned and the new habits you have developed will continue to serve you well. I applaud your determination and your stamina and I thank you for allowing me to share in your successes.
Looking forward I am continuing my education in the Coach program, expanding the Learning Logistics classes to other towns and teaching more workshops. I continue to be passionate about helping students and their families deal with life’s responsibilities in an organized way that works for them. Together we can make a difference!
Dedicated to Biff, Jason and Marc who stuck with me from the beginning (28 years ago today, when I changed my/our disorganized lives). I love you!
The Learning Logistics class teaches 5th -8th graders the skills they need to succeed in school. Skills such as time management, project planning, organization and homework strategies are taught in this 4 week class at the HinghamCommunity Center. Next class begins March 8th, call to register (781) 749-9789.
Sometimes when you least expect it, someone says something that really resonates with you and your life changes. I recently had this experience and it has made such a difference in my life that I wanted to share it with you.
I am in a coach training program and as part of our training, we practice coaching and being coached. Each week we need to present an issue that is affecting us. My coaching issue was the fact that I just can’t seem to get on the treadmill regularly. Sounds simple doesn’t it? You might think blocking out a specific time each day or rewarding myself when I do it would be helpful, but no. These were all suggestions I came up with and then dismissed because I had tried them before and failed.
Then my coach asked me how I felt about each part (beginning, middle and end) of exercising. I realized I don’t mind the treadmill, once I am on it. The part I do not like is getting ready. It seems I always forget something (heart monitor, water, sneakers, mp3 player, etc) and that means another trip downstairs. Sometimes I could be up and down the stairs three or four times.
That’s when my coach asked me how much time it takes to get ready. My answer was 3-5 minutes. Here’s the revelation. Three to five minutes (of disorganization) was stopping me from working out regularly! Three minutes of aggravation stopped 45 minutes of fitness. I was stunned!
A quick analysis of the disorganization showed a number of ways I could make that 3 minutes easier on myself. I now have everything except my water upstairs. I bring the water upstairs with me after breakfast. Now I don’t need to go downstairs for anything and getting on the treadmill is almost enjoyable! It is certainly easier and less painful. What part of the whole exercise routine is preventing you from getting fit? Let me know what changes you make so that 2010 is the year you get and stay fit by using the comment box below.
Yes, I know that January is just about over and that any resolution you may have set for yourself is probably long forgotten. In fact, according to research by the Franklin Covey Company, 33% of people will give up on their resolutions by this time. By the end of March, 75% will have given up. They must know me!
This year though, being the start of a new decade (and me loving numbers like I do) I decided to do something different. Hubby and I set off for a few days to have some fun and do some “serious” planning for this year. We talked about the good, the bad and the ugly of 2009 and our hopes and dreams for 2010. We used Jack Canfield’s Success Principles book as a guide and used his seven categories to define the areas of our lives. They are: work/career, finances, recreation/free time, health and fitness, relationships, personal goals and contribution to society. We then came up with a (S.M.A.R.T.) goal for each and then listed some “to do’s” under each. When projects like redo the dining room and clean out the basement started showing up on the personal list we decided to add an eighth category called physical environment. That took my “organizing projects” and hubby’s fix it projects off the personal list and into its own category (whew!).
The whole thing was a bit overwhelming so we decided we would think ahead only one quarter – just January, February and March. We took a yearlong calendar and added in the Big Rocks (commitments, vacation, holidays, etc.) first so we could see what time was actually left. (Don’t tell anyone but I have a SLIGHT tendency to overbook myself J.) Then we went month by month for the first three even getting down to the nitty gritty tasks we want to do and making sure they were balanced with non “work” type activities.
This was such a learning experience for us and we are already moving ahead because we are both on the same page. I’ll be sharing more in future blogs. Stay tuned by using the RSS feed button on the right sidebar and be automatically notified of new blog posts.
Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable
The sun’s out!! Are you headed to the beach? Here are some tips to keep you organized so that a day at the beach is as relaxing as…well, a day at the beach.
Start with a large beach bag preferably one with a few smaller pockets inside. The kids (depending on their ages) can and should have their own bags. That way each person can be responsible for their own belongings.
First thing in the bag should be sunscreen to protect you from getting a sunburn. A sunburn is an actual burn from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Depending on the amount of exposure the skin can become light pink, or in more serious situations, become dark pink with blisters. As the skin tans due to the pigment in the skin called melanin, it blocks some of the UV rays. Thus the darker the natural pigment of the skin the more UV protection is provided. So those that are fair skinned, young children and seniors are more susceptible to sunburn.
How do you protect yourself? Use a sunscreen product that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of 15 or higher. The higher the rating the more you are protected. It should be applied 30 minutes before you go outside to give it a chance to “sink in” and protect the skin. It should be reapplied every two to four hours especially if you are in the water. Also long sleeves, wide brimmed hats and sunglasses are recommended.
Having two bottles of sunscreen makes it easy to leave one in the beach bag and the other to use at home before you go. You can keep it in a zippered pouch that can attach to the inside of the bag. With the sunscreen you can add bug spray, waterless soap or wet ones™ and a few band aids with some antiseptic cream to the pouch or put in separate pockets inside the bag.
Next throw in a sun cover-up, hat, and something for your feet. If you have young children don’t forget to add some toys to the bag too and probably a change of clothes. Add the towels, a blanket to sit on and you have all the necessities you need. Leave the bag totally packed in an easily accessible place. If you prefer to bring chairs and/or an umbrella or sun shelter then keep them together also. Then when the urge to go to the beach hits you are ready go. Just add some food and plenty of water, a good book and/or the kids and you can be out of the house in no time!
When you get back from the beach empty the bag, dump the sand out and put back all the little necessities mentioned above, refilling if necessary. Throw the towels into the wash and when they are done, pop them back into each bag. Keeping the things you need for the beach or any other activity you do often, in one place saves time and energy. Enjoy!
Is the warm weather on its way? Maybe if we all put away our winter clothes and pull out the Summer stuff it will force the weather to cooperate. What do you say, are you ready to make the wardrobe changeover?
Organizing the closet is one of the best ways to add time to your day and reduce the stress of the morning rush. Depending on the size of your closet and whether or not you share the space with someone else, the following five steps could take anywhere from one hour to four or more hours. If you would like to be able to easily find what you want to wear (and have it fit) then set a date to organize your closet right now. Once you have picked a time slot read below so you will have everything you need to complete the job.
First step is to get ready. That means turning off the phone so you won’t be distracted and led off task. Grab a snack and a beverage to take with you along with a box of trash bags, a sharpie, three boxes (labeled undecided, needs fixing/cleaning, and belongs elsewhere), a label maker or index cards and tape, a hanging rack if you have one, a full length mirror and the vacuum.
Now you’re ready to begin:
1. Sort is always the first step in any organizing project. Use the three boxes to sort for things that belong elsewhere, things that need to be altered or cleaned and the undecided. Beginning on the left hand side of the closet and moving clockwise start with things that are hanging up and pull them out and either place on the hanging rack or on the bed. If you are using the bed, only take about ¼ of the closet out at a time. Now sort that pile into the “love it and it fits” pile, the “never felt or looked good” pile (which will be the give away) and the “not sure it fits pile.” Move the “love it pile” to its own spot on the bed or the rack and then try on the “not sure it fits” pile. I know it seems like it will slow down the process but if you never liked it or liked it but it never fit then either give it away or put it in the undecided box. Continue around the closet through all the hanging clothes. When you get a pile to give away put it in a trash bag and label it. When the bag is full move it outside the room you are in and continue with the next bag. Next step is the shoes, followed by the rest of the stuff. Each time you need to consider do I love it, hate it or does it fit? If you find anything that belongs elsewhere put it in that box, do not just “take a minute” to move it to where it does belong. Put the trash in a labeled trash bag.
2. Once everything is out of the closet, dust and vacuum it well. Take a break and have your snack. You have just finished the absolute hardest part of this whole process.
3. Next we will need to decide where things will “live.” You want to keep like things together, for instance all pants together, all tops together etc. First though check to see that your closet is optimized for the most storage space. Do you have a second rack hanging below the first one? Is there available space above the first shelf to put another shelf so you can utilize the whole space? If not, you may want to consider adding a rack or shelf at a later time. Now is NOT the time to go to Home Depot. Write it down instead. Stay with me….you’re almost done.
4. Looking at the piles you have made (starting with what will go up high on the shelf or shelves) start to put things back into the closet. Grouping similar things into a basket or bin will keep them together and make it easier to find what you are looking for. Label everything. For the hanging clothes you can sort by color going from light to dark (all tops together from white to black) or put all pieces of an outfit together and sort them by color or casual to fancy. Make sure there is space for the long hanging things like dresses. Many people find it easy to hang all tops on the top rack and all bottom pieces (skirts and pants) on the bottom rack. Then you can quickly grab a top and a bottom and off you go. Continue until everything that belongs in the closet that you absolutely love (and fits) is back in there. Then take the bags of give away and put them in your car to drop off. Put the dry cleaning or alterations into a bag and put them in the car. Empty the trash and then empty the box that has things that belong in another room. All that is left is the “undecided” box. Take a second look is there anything you know you really won’t wear…..it doesn’t matter how much you spent on it or how much you saved when you bought it. If it is really only collecting dust, it is not worth the space. For those things you truly cannot decide about, box them up and date the box. In six months take another look inside and see if the decisions are any easier. (Be careful where you store this box that it is not exposed to moisture.)
5. Lastly, maintaining the closet means putting things back where they belong. Use laundry day as a quick tidy up. Gather the empty hangers, put everything back in its place and give it a quick dust and vacuum. Use the one in and one out rule. Buy something new, out with something old. Maintaining the closet of things that fit makes it easy to get dressed, easy to see what you have and takes the stress out of, “What should I wear?”Good luck. Let me know how it goes. I am always happy to answer questions.
The third week of April (April 20-26 2009) is Turn off the TV week. In Massachusetts this is also school vacation week – not a typical week for children but perhaps one with more flexibility.
So, how much TV do you think you watch in a typical week? I think you may be surprised. Often times, we as adults, just want to stop and slow down for a few minutes. Having that big black box staring back at us has the effect of a blackhole….it pulls us in. We turn it on; we sit there and then wonder where the time went. Take a look at your TV habits. Do you have special shows that you watch or are you constantly flipping channels? Do you turn it on for the news and then watch the 6pm and 11pm news and everything in between? Well this is a good week to go “cold turkey” and turn off the TV. You might just realize that the hours of 7pm to 10pm are some of your best.
Let’s face it, with TIVO™ and other DVR ‘s you can be the one in control of your viewing. By fast forwarding through the commercials you can save 15 minutes off each hour long program. I guess what I am saying is take a look, are you wasting valuable time getting hooked into something that really doesn’t interest you? Or are you deciding what and when you will watch?
Families can work together to plan activities for the after dinner hours that are typically spent watching TV.Be creative, you can bake cookies, play games, do crafts or read together. The options are limited only by your imagination. Even Barnes and Noble bookstores are getting into the act. They are providing story hours and game nights at many of their stores.
Try it for the week and let me know what you do instead. If you’re a typical 3 or 4 hour a night watcher, that could mean 15 to 20 hours gained in just 5 days! Think about that! My husband doesn’t know it yet, but the TV is going off for the next four days. One thing I do want to mention, these three or four hours that you gain, should not be used to get more “work” done. Think of it as your “self-care” time or “family” time and use it wisely. Check out this website for more information: http://www.tvturnoff.org/
Time has a way of creeping up on us. As you can see this blog is two weeks overdue. I apologize for that but it has led me back to technology (I have previously used) for a solution.
With our heads full of so many things we want to do, should do, and have to do, it is no wonder we feel stressed.David Allen of Getting Things Done (GTD)fame says that we “only have so much psychic RAM” and (I’m summarizing here) if we don’t find a way to put some of those things into another form of storage we may run out of “RAM” and crash.
Think back to the last time you felt really overwhelmed by all that you needed to do. Did you sit down to write a new “to do” list? I often end up using a mind map form (looks like a circle in the middle with other circles connected by lines and then tasks under each of those). It helps me focus and determine which tasks go with which part of my life. Business, Personal, Family are a few of my subcategories. One thing is for sure, while I am doing it, I feel better. Yes, it looks like a lot but at least I am not forgetting anything important. I can then break down the big “tasks” (really they are projects) into the next action steps. That gives me a better of idea of what is really involved in getting that (“biggie”) crossed off the list. When we try to hold it all in our heads or move it from one to do list to another one, we run the danger of losing something.
Enter Hiveminder. There are other free programs out there that do the same things, like Remember the Milk but Hiveminder has the Brain Dump function I like (and the Bee theme is cute too). I type a list of everything on my mind and it will create a task list for me. Then I can add details, set priorities and reminders. I can delegate tasks to others using it and even create a shared task list (great for household stuff that needs to get done). The task review option is a great way to review each task. I can see just how much I really have accomplished.
My point is there are options out there and using them can save you time, energy and “psychic RAM” so why not use them and save that brain space for more creative endeavors. Let me know what you’re using to handle your to do’s in the comment section below. (PS Just my opinion, I am not endorsing any programs)
Are you “crazy” busy all day multitasking and then come home exhausted wondering what did you actually accomplish?
No matter where you work or what you do you are exposed to the “instantness” of technology. The cellphone rings, the email dings and the fax hums. People want information or solutions instantly and often that means interrupting others, including you, to get it. You could spend an entire day responding to emails, phone calls or interruptions and never get a single thing crossed off your to do list. Sure, you may be accomplishing a great deal but is it the important stuff or just the “urgent” (louder, more in your face type)?
The facts are in from several studies indicating that we not only lose time when multitasking but also efficiency and mental capabilities. Some estimates indicate 20-40% decrease in our IQ when truly multitasking. If that is interfering with our ability to get things done then it’s no surprise that we often feel that nothing significant gets done. So, the first step is to determine what is important.
Usually, we wait until some deadline or time limit (usually imposed by another) puts pressure on us to complete the task before we force ourselves to focus long enough to complete it. Needless to say, this adds stress to our lives and possibly to others that we need to get information or help from when they are forced to adhere to our time table.
So, determine what is important before you start each day. Be realistic and list only 3 tasks that you deem important. If only those three things were done, would you go home happy feeling like a success?
Next find a block of time in the morning that you can work on the first task. Do not check your email before starting on this task. Julie Morgenstern, an organizing expert has written, “Never Check Email in the Morning” with lots of tips on how to be more effective at work. During this block of time which can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 90 minutes, turn off audible notifications and do not answer the phone, or check email. Each time you switch between tasks you lose your focus and studies indicate it takes 15-25 minutes to regain that same amount of focus.
Lastly, if you are interrupted or must stop unexpectedly, then write yourself a note explaining what your next step is. This will decrease the amount of time it takes you to get back into the “flow”. Continue with each task until completed, then check email or return phone calls. This puts you in control and not technology in control. Dr. Edward Hallowell suggests that, “…despite our belief that we cannot control how much we’re overloaded, we can. “We need to recreate boundaries,” he said. “That means training yourself not to look at your email every 20 seconds, or turning off your cellphone.”
There is no way to escape the onslaught of technology unless you make active choices. Start today and list your three most important, manageable tasks for tomorrow’s success. There, I finished my first task for today by publishing this blog. Next up the treadmill and then visiting a sick friend. Wishing you a successful day that you control. Let me know how you do.
I know you have heard it before. We all know we should but then, why don’t we? Exercise regularly that is. I recently stepped back to “people watch” and discovered how many people have difficulty moving about. I take my ability to walk, ride a bike, snowshoe, ballroom dance and swim for granted. I wonder if those I see shuffling along or using a cane or walker thought about what their bodies would be like 10-20 years in the future. It got me thinking. If you don’t have your health or your ability to move then your options are limited and your quality of life may suffer.
A quick Google of the “benefits of exercise” results in over 22,600,000 hits. To summarize, it prevents certain types of cancers, lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes, improves cardiovascular health, may help you lose weight, the list goes on and on. Now who wouldn’t want any one of those – better yet, all of those?
So, as part of this 12 week plan I think it is important to consider fitting in regular exercise. Take a look at your schedule, could you get up a bit earlier and work out or walk before going to work? Yes, I know you are already getting up early and it is very dark still and will be even darker next week when the clocks jump ahead but try it for a week and see how you feel. Or try doing something active for 30 minutes when you get home. Take it one day at a time. Sure at the beginning you won’t see any big changes but maybe you’ll notice a bit more energy or a better night’s sleep. If you keep at it you may notice your clothes fitting differently and that I think is a great motivator. Feeling thin and fit reinforces your willpower to continue. Change it up, don’t stick with the same type of activity every day or if you do remember to push yourself a bit extra each time. The body is designed to be worked (I read that somewhere) and you’ll notice that the more you work it, the better it will feel. Of course always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Picture yourself 10 years from now, are you active and mobile or are you limited by what you can do? I for one do not wish to wait for someone else to push my wheelchair off the plane. I have been doing this for two weeks now and need another notch in my belt. Just typing that puts a smile on my face. I feel good knowing I am headed in the right direction. I wish all of you, the same success. Please let me know how you are doing.
Welcome to week 6 of the 12 week Get Organized Plan for 2009. I started this 12 week plan because I realized there were some problem areas in my own home that needed some maintenance. “Maintenance” is what we organizers call the revising of systems that aren’t quite working as well as they should and also the ongoing “cleaning up” we do to keep the system working at its best. In the past several weeks we have talked about the kitchen, the entryway and all kinds of papers.Today I realized the jewelry “situation” needs maintenance. Sure, women have more jewelry than men but everyone needs a place to keep their rings and watches. Where do you keep your jewelry?
I have three places: the bathroom (where my everyday earrings and watch live overnight) a jewelry box for less frequently worn items and a drawer in the closet that has a specialized insert designed for jewelry. Although this might sound like a great idea, the compartments are very large and even when grouped similarly it is difficult to find what I am looking for (and I don’t have a lot of jewelry). The jewelry box, which is kept in a dresser drawer, has two removable inserts but you need to open the lid and pull the top insert out before you can reach the other one. I like things quick and easy and this is just too many steps for me.
The first thing to do is analyze the situation and figure out what the options are. In my case it’s easy. Redo the drawer in the closet and make it function efficiently. I sized up the drawer and tried to estimate how much space I needed for my jewelry. Then I bought four different sized inserts that fit perfectly in the drawer. One holds necklaces and two others hold earrings and the other one holds larger pieces like bracelets and watches. The two larger units fill the bottom of the drawer and the smaller ones slide back and forth on top of them. There are many options now from hanging plastic bags to different sizes, shapes and colors of drawer inserts as well as jewelry armoires. Find what works for you.
Step two is to sort and examine all the jewelry. Clean it if it needs it, repair it or toss it and pair up any earrings that may have lost their mate over the years. If you haven’t worn it in a while another option is to sell it at a jewelry store. Many jewelry stores are paying cash for gold.
Lastly, organize it. Group like with like so you can see how many different categories of jewelry you have. Then you can decide how you will place the jewelry into the inserts. Will you put all your favorites together, or group all the gold in the first row and silver in the second? Make it easy on yourself and design a system that is simple and easy to remember.
Be flexible, if it doesn’t work after a week or so, change it around. It is often hard to predict the best way to organize something on the first try. The key is to watch for what happens and adapt the system if necessary. Once you have it working it will take about three weeks before it becomes a habit. Don’t confuse “forgetting” with not working.
These same three steps of analyze, sort and organize can be used for organizing other areas of your home such as your dresser drawers, kitchen drawers or a DVD collection. The key is to have your home function for you and the way you live. Make it easy on yourself.
March 19, 2009: Tackle and Tame Your Mountain of Paper Presentation begins at 7pm at the Norwell Middle School Community Room in Norwell, MA. Register to attend this free presentation and learn tips and tricks for organizing the papers of your life. Email: laine@laineslogic.com to register.
