Get Organized Debbie Williams is an organizing strategist and founder of the online organizing forum, OrganizedU.com. She is the author of  "Common Sense Organizing" from Champion Press. Finding Time to Do it All Question: A non-traditional student, I graduated with a BA in social work this year. It's mid-July and I'm still unemployed. All I do is think of things I could be doing, but nothing is getting done. My house is a disaster after four years of full-time school and working and running my Cub Scout around. I don't know where to start. It doesn't help that I have ADD. My ADD school survival skills don't work. HELP! Pam Answer:Dear Pam, Don't give up on yourself just yet! There are more adults with ADD who share your challenge-- many more than you might think. There is even a magazine and Web site dedicated to those living with ADD: ADDitude Magazine at http://www.additudemag.com Summertime lends itself to bending and even breaking the rules of scheduling, what with vacations and outside activities. Add your job hunt to that, and you easily are left with a big upset in your routine. But routine is KEY when it comes to being organized, especially if you are easily distracted and find it hard to focus (as most adults and children with ADD do). I suggest you sit down and plan a weekly schedule, a very simple one, using either a calendar, planner, index cards, or a simple notepad. Writing things down truly does make it happen-- ask any business or career coach -- and it helps you remember three times to get things done: first when you think of it, second when you write it down, and third when you read it each morning as you start your day. Your weekly schedule should include things to accomplish each week: must do's , should do's, and could do's. These are the basic priorities in any time management system, and they don't have to be complicated. Must Do's might include: pay rent, put gas in my car, and shop for groceries. Should Do's will include those things that you NEED to do but the earth won't stop revolving should you not get to them: finish writing and editing your resume, pick up a copy of the classifieds (help wanted), call recruiter or placement agent, exercise, shop for an interview suit, and so forth. Could Do's will include those things that you could do if time permits, but you won't get to all of them at once: mending and altering work clothes in your closet, starting a Yoga class, getting a makeover from a fashion consultant to help you dress for success. As you work your way backward from the Weekly List to a Daily Breakdown of things to do, include no more than 2 "must do's", 1 "should do", and 1 "could do" on your list. Any more than that, and you will be defeated before you even begin! (Many adults with ADD confess that they can't handle seeing more than 3 things on their daily list-- it's just too overwhelming.) Help yourself focus by using a kitchen timer or set the alarm on your watch. Those with ADD really do well with setting limits for themselves, and I know a busy mom or two who swears by her vibrating alarm watch when it comes to picking up her kids on time from school! Consider using nontraditional systems for managing your tasks, such as writing tasks (one per card) on an index card and filing in a recipe box, in an envelope, or arranging on a bulletin board. (The clever folks at 3M, who brought us PostIt(c) Notes, sell a wonderful bulletin board that is sticky itself; notes can be easily removed and repositioned without using tacks or tape). Use see-through containers for your storage solutions, and consider dictating notes to yourself on a hand-held recorder if that helps you remember. Some people call their own home or office and leave voicemail messages to themselves! As you look at your daily list of things to do, remember that your main goal is to find a job, keep that job, and have fun doing it (well, as much fun as can be expected working for a living!). So don't give up your new system once you find your first job-- keep tweaking it and revising it to allow for new Must Do priorities in your life, both business and personal, until it works for you. If it stops working, revise your system. There is no ONE way to be organized, and what works now may not work for you in six months. I always encourage my clients to write their goals and schedules in pencil so that they can easily be changed and updated as the need arises. Congratulations on your recent graduation-- you're going to be great! Good luck, Debbie Williams Also see: Ask Debbie your questions Recently answered questions More advice for finding work and family balance