Getting yourself and your spaces organized.

If the demands of the environment impact the severity of symptoms (and they do) then it stands to reason that you could engineer environments that are more or less helpful to someone with ADHD. For example:

• You could create an environment where the things to which you need to pay attention are more ‘distracting’ than the less important stuff. For example: Throw a bed sheet over distracting objects; use clear boxes to store tools and supplies that you want to find easily; have a basket at the door for the stuff you need to keep track of on the way in and out; use on-the-desk standing file folders for each course so that you can easily stuff lose course material into them…and find them when you need them.
• Increase your learning power with techniques such as mindmaps made out of stickies that allow you to manipulate the material, move it about, colour it up, make connections, and get the body involved along with your mind. Create a space so you can pace and talk aloud while you read.
• Use phone alarms to monitor the passing of time. At the signal ask: Am I on time? Am I on task? Do I need to move on to the next task?  Being kind to yourself might mean to stop demanding that your brain changes and helping it do what it does well.
• Consider how to structure your social life in ways that support your success (e.g., study with/beside others; ask for support in keeping to a schedule; schedule in free time so you can feel free to just enjoy time with family and friends).

For ideas on how to organize your physical world see: Kolberg, J. and Nadeau, K. (2002). ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life. New York: Brunner Rutledge.