For me it was as if a bright white light bulb popped on when I received the diagnosis I was ADD. My two children were diagnosed ADD and ADHD, three years apart.

Suddenly so many things in my past and present life made sense. I began to understand how I continually struggle to organize both my home and work life. One of my problems has always been feeling completely frustrated when I could not find my car keys, my purse, my cell phone or my checkbook.

I bought calendars as if they were going out of style, each time promising myself I would write down every appointment I made. I had piles of phone numbers and e-mail addresses written on scrap pieces of paper. The problem was I never seemed to write down the name of the person the number or email address was associated.

Although I have made a lot of personal progress regarding my ADD, I still struggle to keep it all together. I am still trying to de-clutter my home, and get things in order. Organizational skills are one of the most difficult skills for those with ADD to master.

What comes easy to so many is a paper nightmare for the ADD person. No matter how many organizational devices I buy, my life continues be disorganized. I have decided this year to shred any paper I do not need. I am only keeping the essentials one needs for taxes and medical history and the rest is being filed in the shredder.

I am labeling my files so I know exactly what is where. I am going to check mail in the kitchen daily, tossing the ads and junk mail before hitting the bedroom. What I do not need I am shredding. I am going through boxes of my kids past schoolwork. I am keeping written stories and artwork, which give me glimpses into whom each child is developing into as far as personality. I am tossing old dittos and worksheets.

My home is overflowing with an onslaught of papers I have to handle on a daily basis. I am only keeping that which I cannot replace easily. I am filing taxes and important legal documents that will be important to know where they are in an emergency. This way when needed, I will not be doing the crazy scavenger hunt to find that important document.

I am being very selective as to what to keep and what to pitch. I am no longer going to be drowning in papers I do not need to keep or file. I am making life simpler and gaining back the time I lose by trying to make a system that is outdated function. What are you doing to organize your ADD life?