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Organisation Tips / Attention Switching

CJRE_84

Hey,

Newly diagnosed 38M here, still trying to get my head around things a little.  We have a young family, a small business and I also have a quite senior & busy job.

I've seen a few posts around the benefits of autism, and many people mention being organised as a key benefit - but I have to say I feel anything but.  People at work always say I come across as very organised and on top of things, but I have to say I regularly feel like a total mess.

I regularly get caught up in my own world, pursuing a specific piece of work, forgetting about other priorities or getting to the end of the day not having achieved what I really needed to.

I struggle to organise myself and take things forward - I may start an excel to do list file, but within a week I've stopped using it.  I then try notepads, and try and force myself to write my notes up daily to work through topics more methodically but I tend to forget to do it, or can't be bothered to.

If I'm required to do something (personally or professionally) which is outside of my routine (e.g. instigate contact with a new colleague, arrange a medical appointment etc) then it can take me weeks to get to it, and I often require multiple reminders.

I can't tell if its a question of motivation within my work, something which is typical of ASD, or whether I should be considering seeking diagnosis for something like ADHD also.

I'd be really interested to understand other peoples experiences, and any tips you might have that have proven effective for you in your personal or private lives!

Thanks,

Parents

  • I like to keep things organised. My books and CD are in A-Z order by the author/singer. I keep my DVDs in order as well. It's like a routine and if it's broken and out of order I have to sort it ASAP.

    I have so many lists it's a struggle to keep up with them all. I like to keep lists of the things I own, what I want to buy, what I want to do... I have so many, I believe it's a part of my autism. Not sure though.

    If I have to do something I don't like that's out of the ordinary it really throws me. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of researching prior to it and even then I don't feel ready for whatever it is like a phone call. I can't think of something more tasking than a phone call. When I talk on the phone I try to work out beforehand what I will say, I plan so much but when it comes to it I'm still unprepared and don't know what to say or how to react.

    It doesn't stop me planning though. I try to plan everything in advance.

Reply

  • I like to keep things organised. My books and CD are in A-Z order by the author/singer. I keep my DVDs in order as well. It's like a routine and if it's broken and out of order I have to sort it ASAP.

    I have so many lists it's a struggle to keep up with them all. I like to keep lists of the things I own, what I want to buy, what I want to do... I have so many, I believe it's a part of my autism. Not sure though.

    If I have to do something I don't like that's out of the ordinary it really throws me. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of researching prior to it and even then I don't feel ready for whatever it is like a phone call. I can't think of something more tasking than a phone call. When I talk on the phone I try to work out beforehand what I will say, I plan so much but when it comes to it I'm still unprepared and don't know what to say or how to react.

    It doesn't stop me planning though. I try to plan everything in advance.

Children
  • in reply to C
    C said:
    When I talk on the phone I try to work out beforehand what I will say, I plan so much but when it comes to it I'm still unprepared and don't know what to say or how to react.

    If you know this will be the outcome then what is the point of spending energy on it?

    I think Albert Einstein had it right with his quote "The true definition of madness is repeating the same action, over and over, hoping for a different result.”

    I'm not saying you are mad, but why not try it without the prep a few times and see if it is any different.

    If you can't help yourself them try just writing a bullet point list of the things that must be covered and refer to it through the call.

    That is how I got over the issue for me.