ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life: Strategies that Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a Renowned ADD Clinician

ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life 2017 (second) Edition has valuable changes!
Once upon a time, new Organizer slaying dragons, I read the 2002 edition of “ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life” by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau. This was my review:“I had an unusual reaction to this book by Kathleen G. Nadeau, a highly-regarded ADD coach. This is an excellent resource for ADD-abled people because it is explicitly formatted for people with ADD – they can usually read it, when other traditionally-formatted books on the subject might not work for them at all. I LOVE to read. I had a horrible time trying to read this book. It was HARD. It was almost as if, because, at least as far as I know, I don’t have ADD, the book was fighting against me. That was a VERY instructive experience. Kinda like wearing a blindfold for a day to try to understand what it’s like to be blind.”Now, singed veteran, I’ve just finished the 2017 edition. 2017 is disarmingly different. Most startling, I found it easier to read- and there are reasons why. The print is smaller. The subheadings, sidebars and similar are more closely integrated into the main text. There’s less italicized copy. I’d love to grab a coffee with Ms. Kolberg and Dr. Nadeau and ask “WHY?”. I’m not criticizing the changes, which I’d bet are practical, because, for example, there’s more (new) material in the 2017 edition. But burning curiosity “WHY?” nonetheless.The most compelling changes – there are two new chapters. One goes in-depth into Financial Management, and one looks at the monster’s den that is the digital world. This edition of Kolberg’s and Nadeau’s collaboration is just as funny as the old, just as accessible. And now even more critically instructive for ADD-abled people. If you have the old edition, it is worthwhile to update to the new. If you don’t have this work at all, it is valuable for people with ADD or the people who would like to help their ADD-challenged clients, colleagues, friends and family.Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Organizer(R), Owner, Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA USA

Outdated tech advice, but many other useful tips
There are truly many strategies in this book that changed my life when nothing else worked. The advice about using digital technology is outdated so I would look elsewhere for tips about things like handling email etc. Often the writer assumes you can or need to ask someone else to set up software for you. Many people with ADD are perfectly tech-savvy & there are many free tutorials online for how to use popular digital organization apps.

Wow. I learned much more than expected.
I thought this book might help me learn to use ADHD specific advice to declutter and organize effectively. It did that, but also it did so much more. I learned so much about myself and how I relate to the world, more than any from any other book about declutterring or ADHD I had read. It’s written very clearly and organized in a way that my brain could comprehend. I didn’t just learn about how to organize my things, but also how to organize my time, my schedule and how to effectively get tasks completed without hyperfocusing, losing concentration or leaving things half finished. Highly recommend.

Super Useful
I recently got diagnosed and this book saw right through me!! They definitely understand the ADHD mind and I’ve been putting some of the tips to use already. Not only that, the book just makes me feel better, less alone, and understood. The book knows me better than I know me!

This book was incredible. I was diagnosed as an adult at 52. I was the typical undiagnosed girl from the 70’s. Smart, great grades, tested gifted in grade school, never acted out in class except to always raise my hand to be called on, bedroom like a tornado, and according to my parents, not quite living up to my potential, “intellectually lazy” my parents said. I did well enough in high school to get into top university, get a 4-year honours degree and graduate with first-class standing. I went to law school and have been a successful lawyer for 26 years…but the more complicated my life got the more I struggled (got married, had 2 children in quick succession and still worked full-time). I went from doing “okay” managing myself to having to manage the schedules and happenings of 3 more people, my demanding practice as well as all the energy that goes into what any woman will understand when I say “ management of the household”. It was overwhelming and I was struggling. Hard. Suffice it to say I started seeing a therapist and she recommended this book as part of our work together. It was like magic. I still refer to it when I implement a good point I recall reading about or want to try a new system or way of organizing etc. It has proven invaluable in helping me figure out what I need at home and at work. The chapters are laid out well and organized nicely. You don’t have to read it from cover to cover. I didn’t. There is so much useful information, tips & tricks and real-life examples that I found really interesting. For every area you might be dealing with she offers 3 levels of solutions. The first is yours, the second is help from others around you and the third is knowing when to seek help from a professionalTwo big thumbs up!

I juste needed 3 things to get started: a Bluetooth and noise-cancelling headphone, a paying Spotify account and that book.It’s easing to read with well-aired paragraphs, underlined main points and a summary and the end of the shorts chapter.It a feel-good-with-your-ADHD book and packed with doable goals and advises.A.must read when you finally decide to tackle the piles of stuffs at home, in your garage etc.

So glad i bought this book, the strategies are so helpful