For the 37 years my husband lived without benefit of ADHD diagnosis, he developed many coping strategies. One was implementing organizational systems so he would not waste time or unnecessarily frustrate himself by hunting down often-used items keys, Swiss Army knife, umbrellas, and the like.  For the pre-diagnosis years of our relationship, I also developed systems, such as installing a white board (such as the one featured below) in the kitchen for important communications.

These days, when people ask my advice in addressing their own or their partners’ ADHD-related challenges, I suggest they first focus on organizational strategies.  Perhaps even consulting a professional organizer before seeking therapy or couples counseling.  Yes, therapy can be important. Yes, medication can be foundational. But so many individual problems and “couples troubles” around ADHD stem from chronic disorganization.  In the early days of diagnosis, I consider it vital to instill a sense of optimism that life can truly get better. And one of the best ways to do that is to immediately focus on environmental strategies.

As I listen this week to all the reports of “Black Friday” shopping, I decided to highlight some products on Amazon.com that can help you get organizational traction. Quickly and cost-effectively.  The list is not exhaustive; I plan to highlight specific categories in the future (bedroom, closet, office, etc.).   The idea is to get you thinking strategically about problem-solving.  My comments on the product in red. Hold your cursor over the item to see more details.

Amazon.com Widgets