Carabiner key ring. This kind is even better than mine. I just have a plain ring and a cheap carabiner that I hang onto an outside loop on my purse (which means the ring could fall off the carabiner and be lost). Remember. Remember. Remember. Yes, I do have to remind myself to remember. But it’s pretty much a habit now, which is especially important in winter when there are way too many pockets to remember where I stashed my keys without thinking.

Journal. Once I realized I have ADD, a notebook became my almost constant companion. I “transcribe” conversations as they’re happening so I can remember and not misconstrue later. I jot down to-do’s and shopping lists–everything that I used to say “I’ll remember this later,” but didn’t. This size is the type I use. It’s large enough to scrawl more than one sentence on. It fits in the back pocket of my purse and weighs nothing to tuck under my elbow. On the light-colored cover, I can write the beginning date or info about what’s inside. Other styles will suit other people. There are a variety of sizes & covers.

Purse organizer. I’ve  stuck an insert into my purse with specific pockets for specific items, so I can reach in without looking and find my chapstick or lozenge or whatever. I scavenged my insert from a backpack I used to have, but this one here looks like it would be a good one. I wouldn’t necessarily choose pink, but hey, it’s down in the dark depths anyway.

“Magic” gloves. I don’t know how many pairs I have of those inexpensive one-size-fits-all gloves. But I don’t think it’s possible to have too many. Somehow, even if I think there’s a pair in every coat or jacket pocket and in all the sofa cushion cracks, still I’m looking for gloves when it’s time to walk out the door. So, lots of inexpensive gloves.

Combination lock. One Noel ADD rule is: Arrange life so there are as few things as possible to hold onto within the brain. For me, one moment that particular rule comes into play is standing in front of the locker at the gym. I do not want the anxiety of mentally walking through every step that keeps me from locking the key inside the locker. I don’t need any extra hindrance to working out. My combination lock is a lot like this one–about the simplest kind possible. I never have been able to open the ancient-safe-door-ear-to-the-tumbler twirling number dial.

Pill organizer. One of the facts of life for many of us is medicine and supplements that make life work better. One of the ironies of ADD is forgetting to take the pills that help control ADD. And if I do remember, the tedium of remembering which bottles and how many pills and of all that opening and counting and closing makes me think, “In a minute.” A minute which never comes. I’m a sucker  for organizers (forgetting for the moment that you have to keep on keeping them organized). But this pill box does help. I just fill it up once a week. The compartments are plenty large enough even for those monster fish oil capsules that are supposed to be helping my brain work better.  When I’m traveling I fill as many organizers as there are weeks of being away from home.

Due app. Even with the pill organizer, I do need to remember to take the pills. That’s where my  Due app has become one of my best friends. The kind of friend that won’t get off your back when you need a kick in the pants (or whatever mixed metaphor I mean). Due has too many good features for me to take time to list right now. Go to the Due website and see for yourself. I think it’s particularly for  iPhone  or  iPad.

Books. I have the impression there are lots more books about Adult ADHD than there were even a year ago. Of the ones I’ve read I’d say they all have pretty much the same basic info about ADHD. The main differences between books would be how they branch out from the basics. I especially appreciate the ones that come at it from a personal point of view. Beyond the official list of symptoms/characteristics, lightbulbs kept flashing on as I read stories of how ADD works itself in daily life and relationships. Here are a couple of books you might consider.

You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy? The title alone sold me on this one. I’d say this one would probably appeal more to a woman with ADD than to a man.

 Delivered from Distraction. If you were going to read just one book, I think this would be the one. (Just skip over the product promotion near the end of the book). Johnny and I read this one aloud together to try to grow together in our understanding of ADD.

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Additional gift ideas

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Subscribe to NoelPiper.com by using the one of the Subscribe links to the right or by clicking here.

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Disclosure: If you click on a link and purchase an item, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I only recommend items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I use personally or wish I did. 

12/13/11 — I just discovered that the discount is still really good, even though the one-day sale is past. Today it’s 62% off. I don’t know how long this lasts, but I wouldn’t want to let it slip past again. 

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Hint: Here’s a gift idea for the coffee lover you love.

For just today, Amazon is selling at 73% off the coffee maker that’s my favorite of all the coffee makers I’ve ever owned (beginning with a percolator).

When my previous coffee maker died several years ago, I went looking for one thing in a replacement: a coffee maker that made hot coffee. Coffee that was still hot after I added milk. Coffee that I didn’t need to microwave before drinking.

My Brazilian daughter-in-law–the family coffee expert– told me her Cuisinart Grind-and-Brew was hot like that. She’s right. I’m sipping my morning coffee right now and it’s just right–doesn’t burn my tongue, but almost.

There’s even a button to push if I’m brewing 4 cups or less, so it’s heated up enough even though the process is shorter than for a full pot.

A bonus is that I could get rid of my coffee grinder, because grinding is part of the process. I’m always glad to clear some unneeded thing off my kitchen shelves.

Enough said. I’m going for my 2nd cup.

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Subscribe to NoelPiper.com by using the one of the Subscribe links to the right or by clicking here.

__________

Disclosure: If you click on a link and purchase the item, I receive a small commission, which costs you nothing extra. I only recommend items that I think will be of interest to my readers and that I use personally or wish I did. 

Thank you to Rick Morton for gifts that can be used by 5 small groups. How many people might that be in all? 20? 50? 100? Each gift to one of you may bless many more than just you.

Rick and Denise Morton were part of cofounding Psalm 139, an international orphan-hosting ministry.

He and Tony Merida are co-authors of Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care.

Orphanology is a practical response to God’s command to care for the fatherless told through the stories of families and ministries who are responding. . . . [and with] real-world ideas and illustrations for engaging in orphan ministry. . . . . Orphanology demonstrates how adoption, foster care, and other forms of orphan ministry are accessible to every believer and every church and introduces innovative approaches to orphan ministry including orphan hosting.

Here’s the gift. Five sets, including:

• Orphanology (book)
• Site license for 6-session Orphanology Bible study. This license gives an entire small group on-line access to the Bible study.