Hi. I’ve been taking Adderall since November and have had something of a similar experience. It felt like an immediate change for me when I got started, but I still rely on lists and routines to get my stuff done.

I use an Excel workbook to track every email I receive. I can use it to mark emails with one of five levels of importance and whether I need to act as a result of getting it. I have another worksheet in that workbook where I keep track of my tasks, when they’re due, and how far along I am with completing them. I even have progress bars.

I could use tools in Outlook for all of this, I’m sure, but there’s something about adding a manual process that makes it feel like I’ve got some skin in the game and makes email feel more important.

But yeah, I absolutely must have lists and notes and whatnot. I don’t think I’ll ever not need my lists and notes. I don’t think that’s what the medicine is for. I think, for me, that it’s to poke me in the butt to use my lists and notes and stay on top of my tasks.

Essentially, if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it. Taking my medicine makes gives me the motivation to write it down. That way, I have a better shot of remembering it.

And I also said routines. My house has three exterior doors. I have to pick just ONE to use every time I come and go. And I MUST unload my wallet, keys, and badge by the door each time I come home. Otherwise, I throw them wherever and freak out when I can’t find them the next morning. So using the same door every time makes it easier to remember to leave my stuff by it, especially when there’s a designated drop zone for that stuff.

Sorry. This got way longer than I wanted it to lol