10 Tips for Practicing Positive Thinking as a Tool for Managing ADD
10 Tips for Practicing Positive Thinking as a Tool for Managing ADD by Jennifer KoretskyAt first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many of us with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward. Practicing positive thinking...
3 Methods for Clearing Mental Clutter
3 Methods for Clearing Mental Clutter
by: Jennifer Koretsky
Many adults with ADD have a hard time slowing down their brains. Thoughts often come at whirlwind speed, and it can be hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand when so many other thoughts are floating around in the brain. I call this "mental clutter."
Often times, mental clutter is made up of worries and bad feelings. (Very few people get overwhelmed by the amount of positive thoughts in their heads!) Regrets of the past and...
6 Practices for Achieving Excellent Self-Care
6 Practices for Achieving Excellent Self-Care
by: Jennifer Koretsky
Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) often feel like they are running behind schedule, and just don't have the time get everything done. As a result, many ADDers end up sacrificing their own self-care in order to scratch off items on their to-do lists. Those who skimp on self-care, however, will find themselves slowed down in the end. It's nearly impossible to be an effective parent, spouse, friend, or worker...
8 Essential Skills for Managing ADD
8 Essential Skills for Managing ADD by Jennifer KoretskySo many adults with ADD find themselves chronically overwhelmed with every day life. This means that they generally wake up feeling like they are running behind on all the things they need to do, spend the whole day on high speed in order to get all those things done, and yet still go to bed most nights feeling like they never got anywhere. Or, they spend the whole day in a fog, constantly aware of all the things on that to-do list, but...
Adults with ADD: Stop Punishing Yourself
We're back from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) Conference in Minneapolis and, as usual, it was fantastic!
My presentation on 'Overcoming the Chronic Overwhelm Associated with Adult AD/HD' was a hit.
I encouraged everyone in the audience to get a handle on overwhelm by managing stress, slowing down, and making self-care a priority.
In the Q&A at the end of my talk, a woman raised her hand and patiently waited to be called on. By all accounts, she was kind, articulate,...
Adults with ADD: Using Time as a Tool
My recent facation experience (fake [staying local plus checking into the office] + vacation [technically being off from work] = facation) had me thinking quite a lot about the concept of time management and why it is such a challenge for adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It comes down to power.
We give time too much power.
Time is a construct. It was created to measure. Any meaning we assign to it is, so to speak, our own 'stuff.' Take, for example, the following cliches:...
Adults with ADD: What Did You Eat for Breakfast?
? I recently joined a women's group with local nutrition counselor. The focus of the group is "eating for energy and beauty," which really appeals to me.
One of the first questions that the group leader posed to us last week was "What did you eat for breakfast?"
I answered "pancakes." They were homemade, with whole grain flour, eggs, and milk.
The next question she asked was "How did what you eat affect your energy today?"
I had an instant "ah-ha" moment. I had felt sluggish that day and...
Adults with ADHD: Do You Need an Attitude Adjustment?
? I hate to say it, but a lot of adults with AD/HD have an attitude problem. Many of us are negative thinkers with low self-esteem.
It's understandable; life with AD/HD can have us feeling bad for being so "different" from everyone else. And we feel worse when we try to improve our lives using the wrong systems.
Mainstream advice doesn't account for the unique wiring of AD/HD brains, and when this advice fails, we feel like we've failed. It chips away at our self-esteem.
As a result, many...
An ADD Case Study: What Does it Mean to "Fail"?
An ADD Case Study: What Does it Mean to "Fail"?
by: Jennifer Koretsky
Josh is a client of mine who is a junior in college. He's very smart. He's amazingly smart. Talk to Josh for an hour and you'll know how smart he is. But if you don't know Josh and you look at his grades from previous semesters, you would probably guess that he wasn't smart at all.
Josh gets frustrated in school. He works hard, but often finds that the pressure of test taking overwhelms him, and his grades suffer...
Effective Time Management for Adults with ADD
One of the core principles of managing adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is learning how to work with it, instead of fighting against it.
This means building on your strengths, not dwelling on your challenges, acknowledging your limits, and respecting your natural energy flow and biorhythms.
And nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to managing your time for maximum effectiveness and productivity!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a drill sergeant when it comes to time management....
Essential Skills for Manaing ADD - Part 2
Essential Skills for Manaing ADD - Part 2 by Jennifer KoretskyAs an adult with ADD and an ADD Coach, I have observed some skills that I believe are essential for successful ADD management. Last month, we looked at the essential skill of Practicing Excellent Self-care. This month, let's look at another essential skill: Planning the Time to Plan. ADDers often find themselves overwhelmed by everyday life. Sometimes, the number of tasks to do at work builds up to the point where you find...
Exploring the "Should's": Is it Necessity, Desire, or Guilt?
Exploring the "Should's": Is it Necessity, Desire, or Guilt?
by: Jennifer Koretsky
How many times a day do you find yourself using the word "should"? ADDers are full of "should's": I should do the dishes, I should clean out the fridge, I should see that movie, I should call my friend, etc. The word "should" can be very dangerous to an adult with ADD, because it often results in guilt.
In order to break through this and help you prioritize the things that you "should" do, try exploring...
Practical Ways to Keep Your ADD Under Control During the Holiday Season
Practical Ways to Keep Your ADD Under Control During the Holiday Season
by: Jennifer Koretsky
Do Novembers Thanksgiving experiences have you dreading the December holidays? The idea of gifts, family, and days off sounds great
but we all know that holidays are some of the most stressful times of the year. When an ADDer starts to become immersed in the shopping, cooking, traveling, and family interactions, their ADD can complicate matters. You can find yourself quickly feeling overwhelmed...
Top 5 Ways for an ADD Adult to Have a Happy Holiday
Top 5 Ways for an ADD Adult to Have a Happy Holiday
by: Jennifer Koretsky
Holidays have the potential to send an adult with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) into overload. Too many details to plan, kids to manage, and family to cope with can turn a good day into a stressful one. The following suggestion can help adults manage ADD during the holidays.
1. Know Your Own ADD and Plan Ahead to Deal with It
You know yourself better than anyone, so ask yourself "How does my ADD affect me on...
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