ADHD & generally disorganised people Christmas thread

[falalalalalalalallama]

Fuck. Having utterly, predictably, run out of time to do everything I now have 2 days till we leave to go visit my family and the ILs (not back home till 2022) and I've totally lost track of who I've bought presents for, what I got and where I stashed them!

I know I need to get some more. Still need to do all the stocking fillers for the DC and haven't got anything - or any ideas - for some key family members - unless I bought something for them, hid it and forgot (very possible).

Also need to design and send a picture calendar of the DC to relatives who expect it, finish about a week's work in a day plus wash and pack all our clothes with the dryer on the blink.

But it's all doable, right?!!

How's your planning going?

Anyone fancy a ?!

Sack off the picture calendar and blame covid or Brexit for suppliers not delivering it.

Stick a wash on. Sit down. Make a cup of tea, write a list of who needs presents and what you want to buy them. Then go mad on Amazon Prime or similar.

I bought cards for my DC to.write for their classmates but haven't got the heart to do it. Just can't be arsed. Need to do all the wrapping too. Not sure when I'm going to get it done. Might need to start tonight.

Yes please to ! I've never felt this disorganised for Xmas!
I've had a mental week at work and thankfully have a day off tomorrow so need to make a list tonight of who's got what, what I still need to get, and sort out what needs to go in the post. The main reason I haven't bought things for some people is that I don't know what to get them and they don't know either (they're adults so I'm tempted to leave them until we can do something together and I'll pay).
I've started a food shopping list for tomorrow and next week so planning to do most of the non-perishables this week and just do a smash and grab on fresh stuff early Thursday morning next week.
I bought cards but haven't written them or got any stamps to post them.

@EllieSattler

Sack off the picture calendar and blame covid or Brexit for suppliers not delivering it.

Stick a wash on. Sit down. Make a cup of tea, write a list of who needs presents and what you want to buy them. Then go mad on Amazon Prime or similar.

I bought cards for my DC to.write for their classmates but haven't got the heart to do it. Just can't be arsed. Need to do all the wrapping too. Not sure when I'm going to get it done. Might need to start tonight.

I didn't do it last year and the relatives were disappointed! Have had the guilts all year!

I promised I'd do it this year. Maybe it'll just have to be late, I've got till Jan 1st, right?!

Fuck! School cards! I think we may have missed that boat, I don't think the teacher will hand them out on the last day.

Wonder what else I've forgotten?!

Need to do all the wrapping too. Not sure when I'm going to get it done. Might need to start tonight.

Why, that happens on Christmas Eve, surely?!

(Please ignore me on that. I've wrapped on Christmas Eve the last 3 or 4 years, and got about 4 hours sleep and done Christmas day sleep deprived. Definitely do not recommend!)

@emmathedilemma

Yes please to ! I've never felt this disorganised for Xmas! I've had a mental week at work and thankfully have a day off tomorrow so need to make a list tonight of who's got what, what I still need to get, and sort out what needs to go in the post. The main reason I haven't bought things for some people is that I don't know what to get them and they don't know either (they're adults so I'm tempted to leave them until we can do something together and I'll pay). I've started a food shopping list for tomorrow and next week so planning to do most of the non-perishables this week and just do a smash and grab on fresh stuff early Thursday morning next week. I bought cards but haven't written them or got any stamps to post them.

Here, a lovely fresh and some

A list, that's probably a good idea. I might try one of those tonight...

I always wrap on Christmas Eve but at the weekend I have to travel for a funeral, and my return trip is ridiculously early in the morning so I can get back to work, then we have another early start on Christmas Eve because we have plans, and the DC are in a live Nativity in the evening, so by the time we've done that and dinner they'll got to bed SO late and DD takes forever to go to sleep at the best of times. I can't face being up to all hours, exhausted on Christmas Day then up before the crack of dawn on Boxing Day to see relatives. So I must must wrap tonight and Saturday night.

This is the first year I’ve known it’s ADHD. Every other year I thought it was just me being an absolutely useless and shitty human.
So this year feels better!
Medication doesn’t help with Christmas though, does it? I find it great for day to day functioning and focus, but it hasn’t changed my last minuteness in anyway.
Hilariously, I am now AMAZING at the annual Christmas jigsaw (but only for a very specific time period each day!).
Emotional regulation so much improved though, and I can plan shopping and cooking meals. Also enjoy everything so much more as I can focus!

Last week we went to visit my son up north, then when we returned I found a bag of presents that should have been taken up with us.

I've also lost a bag of presents containing my sister's and daughters presents. I'm visiting home this weekend so I had to break into my Christmas treats bag and donate them to my sister.

Luckily DD will be here for Christmas day and will think it's hilarious , back in August I found a lost present from. last year.

This is me being organised but at least my wrapping box containing scissors, sellotape, one and labels is still going strong.

Right, I'm going to round the presents up and see what I have!

Those that are here, anyway. I had some delivered to the ILs direct to save carrying them up there. No hope of remembering all of them!

I have a cupboard that looks like an Amazon warehouse has vomited. No idea whether each child is actually getting what they asked for. Wrapping will wait, as always, until 23rd or 24th. No pressure till then…

Meeeee! Let me join!

I really on an app. I can list person, budget, present idea then bought & then wrapped. You can also add notes eg hid in garage. Maybe for next year?

Get another load of washing on.

I'd definitely start with a list of who needs what, so you have somewhere to start with present buying.

The calendar will take a couple of hours?

Good luck.

You all sound miles ahead of me. I've bought exactly one present so far (for my sister because I saw something I thought would suit). The Christmas cake is still bags of fruit on the pantry floor waiting to be picked over and soaked. We have got tickets for a carol service on the 23rd though I'm not going to hold my breath that we'll be allowed to attend, so many things round here are having to be cancelled :(

Still hoping to get some sorting out done prior to putting any decorations up. Last year we got a small potted tree and covered a stand in the hall for it - gave up on making space in our living room where we'd usually have had it. I think we might be using the same arrangement again ...
[not knowingly ADHD but DD has pointed me to the "how to ADHD" youtube with the comment "Mum you might find this helps" ...]

@livingthegoodlife what app is that? Might be a game changer…

@LadyFuschia it's called Christmas Gift List. It has a red parcel tied with yellow ribbon as the icon. I keep mine password protected so the kids can't accidentally open it thinking it's a game.

I think there are other apps out there too.

My people
ADHD here, currently unmedicated and struggling! I veer between “it’s ok” and “fuck, it’s utter chaos”, I’m often overwhelmed and I envy people who are NT and able. Work is challenging at the moment too

DD’s presents are kind of done, but I’ve mislaid a couple (how?). Need to wrap them, this feels overwhelming
I need to sort out my mum’s presents, need to get a couple of bits and wrap them. Overwhelm
DP is sorted, I think. I did an Amazon order today and somehow managed not to accidentally sign up for Prime (then forget I’ve done this and end up paying for 6 months of the damn thing). Will need to wrap them
I’m meeting friend #1 tomorrow to exchange gifts. I have hers, but need to sort a necklace for her in the am (I’m a jewellery maker). Annoyed at self for leaving this til the last minute
Friend #2, almost sorted, also needs a necklace
Friend #3 has nice food bits, needs earrings
Friend #4 and her family are sorted, I need to put it all in a bag and drop it off
I have cards to write and post, but I’ve lost the stamps I bought
I wish people IRL knew what a struggle life is, I know this sounds self pitying, it’s not intended to, it’s just that others seem not to have to struggle with this stuff. With the extra Christmas stuff, I’m struggling with work. I have a new manager, she’s no idea of my diagnosis (my choice). She’s lovely, but I’ve made so many mistakes recently, I’m worried she thinks I’m incapable. I could have applied for the manager role, but I couldn’t have managed it, because of my ADHD. I am better medicated, but not happy medicated, because meds numb my feelings and I feel like a robot.
Sorry, offloading, love to you all and bucket loads of empathy. Be kind to yourselves, it’s a tricky time of year

Am consolidating presents from random places in the house, to see what I have. This is a bit like a mini Christmas .

In mystery box number 1, we have...

Socks for DD, DP and DSIS. Nice designs :)
And a pair of novelty slippers for DP, that DS wanted to give him.

OK, so that is footwear box!

Mystery boxes 2,3 &4

Non fiction books for DD (1 book) and DS (2 books).

Plus the Christmas Pig by JK Rowling. I'd mean to read that to DD in the run up to Christmas. hmmm, maybe I'll leave that out and we can start when we get on the road.

Mystery box 5, some cables DD needs for his phone / computer

have consolidated these in a box together.

Mystery box 6:

Harry Potter colouring book and a joke book for DD.
Some wrapping paper.

And 5 x new knickers for me, I wondered where those had got to!

Mystery box 7.

3 x fiction books for DD and 2 for DS.

A book for DP.

And - another Christmas Pig. Oh. Oops!

DM wanted me to get a token present for DP from her, so that book will do.

How come it's me who has ADHD yet ends up doing Christmas shopping for me, DP, my mum, MIL (a bit).

And not without protest! But they still ask, and (except for MIL) I know if I don't do it, it won't happen. Grrrr.

Found randomly stashed in shelves:

Turkish Delight for DM
2 x bath bombs for the DC.
Socks for MIL
Scarf for MIL

Will be organised and put footwear in footwear box!

Mystery box number 8 - not a Christmas present at all but a feminist book for myself! I'd forgotten I ordered that.

More random stuff - Panettone, Sellotape, more wrapping paper, ribbons, nice gift bag for a bottle.

That's it for now. I feel like there should be some more but I don't know what!

(The DC have a big present each and I know where that is).

"Please ignore me on that. I've wrapped on Christmas Eve the last 3 or 4 years, and got about 4 hours sleep and done Christmas day sleep deprived. Definitely do not recommend!)"

Every year without fail for the last 20+ years however bloody organised I try to be.

Having said that (and I don't want to speak too soon) but I am doing quite well this year. I think I have bought all the presents. I sent my Irish cards off on the last day if posting at the very lady post (had to find a postbox that had a late collection!).

I've bought a tree. It's in the garden though. Hopefully we'll get that up tomorrow with the other decs.

No other cards done yet and no presents wrapped. Wrap has arrived and tags though and I can wrap some after Christmas if needs be.

Still have a lot of cleaning to do and some food shopping.

Loads of washing and packing and send some stuff back to shop.

And probably some stuff I've forgotten. Because there will be and I have partial lists all over the place.

@livingthegoodlife

I really on an app. I can list person, budget, present idea then bought & then wrapped. You can also add notes eg hid in garage. Maybe for next year?

Get another load of washing on.

I'd definitely start with a list of who needs what, so you have somewhere to start with present buying.

The calendar will take a couple of hours?

Good luck.

What app is it?

I sort of do mine with YNAB which is a life saver budgeting wise. But I don't like how I can't see everything in one list for each person and the budget per person is doable but a bit clunky, a separate app might work better....

[quote livingthegoodlife]@LadyFuschia it's called Christmas Gift List. It has a red parcel tied with yellow ribbon as the icon. I keep mine password protected so the kids can't accidentally open it thinking it's a game.

I think there are other apps out there too.[/quote]
Oh thanks! Bit late but downloaded it for next year. I like the way you can have multiple lists as I struggle to remember what I've bought for people before. I might just key in what I boughtV this year so I have a record.