4 Weeks to an Organized Life With A.d.d.

by Jeffrey Freed

This innovative program offers practical, useful strategies for people with AD/HD, so that they can make use of their brain functions that do work well and learn day-to-day skills that may otherwise be too difficult to master.

Genres: Adhd, Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 100 pages of this book were amazing. The tone of the writing is very approachable and the authors prove an intimate knowledge of the AD/HD mind. I would recommend the book to anyone with AD/HD simply for this first half of the book where the authors talk about the condition before introducing the four-week program.

However, the four-week program from which the title gets its name relies entirely on visualization exercises. This assumes that the vast majority of AD/HD people are primarily visual learners, which may be true, but was not helpful for me. I think in sounds as opposed to pictures and cannot create detailed visualizations, so I was unable to use the program. I wish I would have known this prior to purchasing the book. However, I do think this is a valuable book for adults suffering from AD/HD, especially those who are visual learners/thinkers.

[Michele Harrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the first half of this book, as it certainly helped me really come to appreciate how I work best, and how my brain functions. I have taken on board some of the ideas such as doing things hard and fast in bite sizes, instead of trying to complete a whole project to the point of exhaustion (which just leaves way too much space for distraction and loss of interest). Releasing the need for perfection (oh, this is a huge one in my life, both professionally and personally). And most importantly, I have certainly started paying attention to those 2 critical life systems, eating and sleeping. I forget to both (a lot) and had been living on around 3-4 hours sleep for about the last 18 months, which finally blew out every survival mechanism I had ever had in place. It wasn't pretty. 'Self-care' is now becoming a major priority for me - something that always took a back seat to 'caring about everything else in the world'. I finally understand the theory about putting your own oxygen mask on first. I've realised lately that I have been gasping for some O2 of my own, for the last 50 years.

I'm practicing some of the activities, though not all work for me, but why should one book cure all? This is certainly an informative and enlightening read, with some really encouraging ideas. And now I will slow down, and reread the second half, which I really just skimmed, because like most ADHD brains, I had put it down (as I am far too easily bored) and of course, it ceased to exist. This needs to be one I 'refer to' often rather than try to digest in one sitting! And the irony of that does not escape me ;-)

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book, got all the way to the actual 4 weeks program, skimmed through it, and got side-tracked. I intend to get back to it one of these days. The one thing I have remembered from my initial read that actually has worked great for me when I remember to use it is visualizing where I put something down so I can find it more easily later. Of course, ideally you would like to have one spot for everything - this has worked great for my keys, but other things are used more frequently such as my mp3 player. If I visualize the place I set it down, then I can come back to it. It works great when I can remember to do it.

[Soly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing

I cannot believe how life altering this book is. I have struggled All my life with adhd and I could relate to every example given in this book. I can't wait to start the program in it and just by reading it I feel more confident in my ability to stick with something. It was actually written by someone who has adhd and it is definitely apparent. He is able to get inside my head and explain things I was never really able to express. Great read for individuals who have adhd and those who want to understand them better.

[Chris Bauerschmidt II · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an 11 out of 12 on their ADHD test, but a few things that they really focus on were way off the mark for me. I'm not insanely cluttered, nor am I always late as a result of devaluing time. If you're a visual learner then this book will probably help. I'll try thinking like a visual learner, but I feel like the thing I'm missing is not in this book.

[Bryan Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the solution to the organizational problems of ADHD is ... To get organized. Not very useful advice.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful descriptions of ADHD but the scope is not broad enough for Part II (The Program). The book is more useful for people in the first stages of understanding AD/HD.

Quotations:
"...if you don't have AD/HD, you do things because they are important. If you have AD/HD, you do things because they are interesting."

"...the AD/HD brain gets less effective, rather than more so, the harder it tries to concentrate."

[Marissa Donnellan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some great information and resources, but the exercises really didn't work for me. I couldn't get through the program in 4 weeks. It stretched out into two months. I started over several times. Then I read through to the end, but gave up on the daily exercises which were repetitive and uninteresting.

[Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

visualization does help planning. it also makes my goals more clear and help me identify the things I forget to do now to reach that goal.