The Launch Pad
As a self-aware ADHDer who has done some reading on the subject, I am somewhat familiar with the Launch Pad. It is one of many tools from my fairly decent ADHD Toolbox.Creating a Launch (& Landing) Pad area— aka "How To Lose My Stuff In All The Old Familiar Places"— involves setting up an particular area in your home, preferably near the front door, where, with considerable practice, you will consistently place all your common and often used day-to-day stuff. It will be a place for such things as car keys, change, To-Do lists, and the many other things thatwillgomissingoryouwillforgetanywaysonceyoulookawayfromthem.
Before beddy-byes, prepare for the next day by adding the stuff you'll need for the next day. Pay attention to what you place on your Launch Pad to avoid the "How did all that stuff get there?" moment when morning rolls around.
Here's a few suggestions and possible improvements that I just pulled out of my butt... Figuratively.
- Link all Launch Pad items together with some twine or stretchy cord. This way if you grab one thing, you grab 'em all.
- If you drive, make your car the Launch Pad area. This will work for awhile, longer if you have a really big car.
- Make enough lunches to last the week and keep them in the fridge or freezer. Keep the fridge or freezer at the front door. Better still, install a walk through freezer as your foyer.
- Spread a handful of thumb tacks on the floor before the exit door. This should slow you down considerably, and while you're hopping around in pain you may just think "Oh yeah! I have a Launch Pad!". Note that Lego is an effective substitute for thumb tacks, although Lego is a terrible way to stick a note to your bulletin board.
Things to Keep @ Front Door Launch Pad:
- Keys
- Wallet
- Sunglasses
- Map -of your driveway with a colour photo of your car
- Lunch Bag
- Lunch - was supposed to be in the bag
- Shopping List
- Baby
- Replacement thumb tacks/Lego pieces and Band-Aids
- Clean Underwear (your own)
- Back Pack... scratch that- unless you packed all this crap in it
- Cellphone
- Tickets ( theatre or parking )
- Other Stuff which I don't recall at the moment
Do NOT Keep @ Front Door Launch Pad:
- Weight Sets
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Chocolate Fondue and a can of Sterno
- Pets
- Firearms
- Porn Collection
- Razor and Shaving Creme
- TV Remote
- BBQ
- Tool Chest on Wheels
- Preset Mouse Traps
- Only Copy of Fire Escape Route
ʘ‿ʘ
