Hi, new to the forum. :)

My biggest problem is the amount of time I waste on the menial things that I have to do every day. Things like showering, shaving, getting dressed, cooking, and washing dishes all take longer than they should because my mind wanders and I slow down. (Furthermore, all the random thinking that I do is wasted because I forget most of it.) I feel like I could accomplish more if I could get those routine things out of the way quickly.

Does anybody have a technique for staying focused on what you're doing at the moment, however trivial it might be?

Oh, I almost forgot I had done this. About the same time I was diagnosed, I was also working at a job that reguired me to be there at 6am (NOT a morning person).

I had a bunch alarm clocks left over between my husband and my inability to through anything out. I set up on in the bathroom set for when I had to get out to the shower. One in the kitchen for then I had to start getting lunch made and coat on. On finially set one on my cell phone for when I had to walk out the door.

Finally I set them all to that really annoying beep. The knowledge that the most grating sound in the world was just around the corner kept me focused and hurrying. So that I could turn off the alarm before it went off.

This whole thing sounds extreme but I was only late to work once after it started and that was do to the 6 inches of snow on my car. :)

Hope you find something in this overlong post useful.

That actually sounds like a great idea pro.
I am late at least 5 to 10 minutes every day. And usually I start off well and look at the clock and notice that I have 20 minutes left and good to go. But the next time I look I am running late and still have a couple of things to do.

I will set multiple alarms on my phone and try that out. thanks!!!

I haven't found a good way of dealing with it, but I have similar problems with getting out the door in the morning. If I look at the clock and see that I have five minutes before I have to be out the door, I will think "oh, I can put that away, or get that done" not aware that the task itself takes longer than five minutes and I need that time to get my shoes on and lunch packed for the day! On top of that, my mind wanders all the time while I get ready in the morning...I'll be in the shower or wherever and realize I have been rinsing my hair for ten minutes because I was daydreaming!

I might try the alarm clock thing, but I just know I will forget to turn them off on the weekends and get woken up too early!

When I actually get around to dishes and housework cranking up the stereo helps me get the chores done faster. I am still easily distracted, but I am way more motivated when I have some good tunes going rather than silence.

Welcome to the boards from a fellow calgarian! There is a lot of useful info and friendly people around here.

This is & has been a big problem for me and my husband. We are both ADD!!:p

We've both read
Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged (http://www.amazon.com/Never-Late-Again-Punctually-Challenged/dp/0971649995/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4125043-1956762?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173985583&sr=8-1)

It helped immensley! Very well written!!! Explores the reasons behind lateness & the different kind of lateniks.

I will be watching & adding to this thread! My problem is waking my brain up & getting out of bed!

He STILL takes forever getting ready for other events...opera, band gigs...

But the mornings have been transformed. The most effective key for me is to prioritize your morning activities.
example: Hair & make-up - last.

bc

YES!

The book addresses "magical thinking" - There was a day in May 2002 when I made it to work in under 20 minutes, so now I believe that it takes me 20 minutes to get to work.

The Producer: I have 5 minutes before I HAVE to leave this house. Why waste those 5 minutes? I can re-grout the bathtub. Now where's that blasted grout gun?

:D

I save time by showering at night.
I cook breakfast (which is actually dinner comprised of a meat and one or two veggies) while I'm shaving.
When I finish shaving, the meat is done, and the veggies are hot.
I do all this within 30 minutes of getting up (6-6:30am)
By 7:10, I'm out of the house and headed to work.
How do I do this?
My wife doesn't cook, so I'd go hungry otherwise.
My dog is diabetic, and has to get her insulin at 7am.
And I like getting to work early, before 150 people start looking for me for something (seriously).
I can search the web, read the news, etc, all before they get there.
I've just learned how to do this, don't ask me how.

Not a m<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>ning person doesn't begin to describe it! The commute that I did once in 12 minutes but really takes closer to 20... Yeah I make that unrealistic 12 minutes my goal and bank on being able to do it. A few speeding tickets later and you would think I could get the point??? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Anytime I am getting ready to go anywhere if it looks like I have extra time I start a new project which usually make me late. Drives my wife absolutely crazy!!! She has res<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>ted to telling me we need to be somewhere 30 - 60 minutes bef<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>e we do so we won't be late. <o:p></o:p>

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The past month <st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName> so I have been w<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>king on this. I am a teacher and always used a timer and an outline to keep things on track in the classroom. Seems to w<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>k well at home as well. One of my cow<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>kers has a timer that clips on to her clothes, I am thinking that is a good idea because if I go where I can't hear the timer it doesn't w<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>k because I have no sense of time. <o:p></o:p>

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I am coming to see we are responsible f<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName> our own behavi<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName> and the effect it has on others and we have a responsibility to make positive changes where we can. With a little creativity and help from others, it is possible but you first must want to help yourself. <o:p></o:p>

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I tell my wife “to be patient… I’m a w<st1:PersonName w:st="on">or</st1:PersonName>k in progress…” <o:p></o:p>

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Cowboy