ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life: Second Edition: Strategies That Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 446 ratings

Price: 24.06

Last update: 02-04-2025


About this item

Acclaimed professional organizer Judith Kolberg and Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, renowned ADHD clinical psychologist, are back with an updated edition of their classic text for adults with ADD. Their collaboration offers the best understanding and solutions for adults who want to get and stay organized.

Listeners will enjoy all new content on organizing digital information, managing distractions, organizing finances, and coping with the "black hole" of the Internet. This exciting new resource offers three levels of strategies and support: self-help, non-professional assistance from family and friends, and professional support; allowing the listener to determine the appropriate level of support.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Lauren Williams, the Casual Unclutterer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life 2017 (second) Edition has valuable changes!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2018
    Once upon a time, new Organizer slaying dragons, I read the 2002 edition of “ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life” by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau. This was my review:

    “I had an unusual reaction to this book by Kathleen G. Nadeau, a highly-regarded ADD coach. This is an excellent resource for ADD-abled people because it is explicitly formatted for people with ADD - they can usually read it, when other traditionally-formatted books on the subject might not work for them at all. I LOVE to read. I had a horrible time trying to read this book. It was HARD. It was almost as if, because, at least as far as I know, I don't have ADD, the book was fighting against me. That was a VERY instructive experience. Kinda like wearing a blindfold for a day to try to understand what it's like to be blind.”

    Now, singed veteran, I’ve just finished the 2017 edition. 2017 is disarmingly different. Most startling, I found it easier to read- and there are reasons why. The print is smaller. The subheadings, sidebars and similar are more closely integrated into the main text. There’s less italicized copy. I’d love to grab a coffee with Ms. Kolberg and Dr. Nadeau and ask “WHY?”. I’m not criticizing the changes, which I’d bet are practical, because, for example, there’s more (new) material in the 2017 edition. But burning curiosity “WHY?” nonetheless.

    The most compelling changes – there are two new chapters. One goes in-depth into Financial Management, and one looks at the monster’s den that is the digital world. This edition of Kolberg’s and Nadeau’s collaboration is just as funny as the old, just as accessible. And now even more critically instructive for ADD-abled people. If you have the old edition, it is worthwhile to update to the new. If you don’t have this work at all, it is valuable for people with ADD or the people who would like to help their ADD-challenged clients, colleagues, friends and family.

    Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Organizer(R), Owner, Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA USA
  • Emily Montague
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most useful books I've read on this topic
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2020
    While I have read plenty of books about adult ADHD and how to handle it, this was certainly one of the best. The fact that it targets very specific areas of organization in a clear, ADHD-optimized format made it easy to absorb what I was reading. I've implemented many of the strategies suggested by the authors and have started to truly develop lasting routines and habits re: home and work organization for the first time in my life. In the past my attempts have been short lived (as many other ADHD adults will understand).

    The improvements I've seen in my home life have been wonderful. I am more productive and more comfortable thanks to having systems in place, and even when I fall out of cleaning or organizing for a while I can take comfort in knowing that I have solutions in mind for when I get back on the wagon. I keep this book handy right by my bed so I can glance at it as needed.

    I highly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to seriously commit to being a more organized, productive, and effective adult with ADHD!
  • Katherine Lakes
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2017
    Why did I give "ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life" four stars? If I only gave it three stars, then some people might think the book isn't worth buying, but it is worth buying. I didn't give it five stars because it should be concise. Some of the information is repeated, and some of the sentences should have been deleted. Being concise is especially important for the target audience--people with ADD.

    Another reason why this book didn't get five stars is the book says to make decluttering fun, but it doesn't give many ideas about how to make it fun. This is why I bought the book. I want to make decluttering fun.

    I also want to figure out which papers I can get rid of and what ideas I can use to motivate myself to go through my papers and other clutter or do anything. There isn't enough info in this book for me to go through all of my papers and figure out which papers I can get rid of. Most of my clutter is papers, so this is important info to have.

    I am a member of a group for people who want to declutter and one of the members recommended this book and said it is a good book for everyone, not just for people with ADD. So I thought a lot of material in the book would be for decluttering. Some of it is, but I was hoping more of it would be.

    There are so many ideas in this book about a variety of things that everyone should find some that appeal to them and will help them. I wasn't expecting any humor in this book due to the subject matter, but I found one thing humorous on page 111. I don't think the author was trying to be humorous.

    I recently read this book and I haven't yet gone to any websites recommended in this book.
  • Tommy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Guide to Managing ADD/ADHD
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2018
    I purchased this book at the recommendation of my neuropsychologist following my diagnosis with Adult ADHD. Highly recommended for anyone who’s been diagnosed with this condition because it’s a great guide to making behavioral modifications that will help you better manage your condition, lessening the negative impact ADD/ADHD can have on your day-to-day life. The best part about this book is the design and layout of the book. It’s noticable, that while writing this book, the authors took into consideration the difficulty people with attention deficits have when reading a book. You do not have to read the entire book front to back to get the take home messages. Instead, the book is divided into chapters and easy-to-read subsections where readers can parse at their own tempo, referencing the table of contents, jumping to whatever section they find most pertinent, and getting the information they need. Great reference book!
  • Em
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, helpful
    Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024
    Good book!
  • Elizabeth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super Useful
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2021
    I recently got diagnosed and this book saw right through me!! They definitely understand the ADHD mind and I've been putting some of the tips to use already. Not only that, the book just makes me feel better, less alone, and understood. The book knows me better than I know me!

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