You know planning is a good thing. But, if you’re like most adults with ADHD, when you think of planning the first thing that comes to mind might be, “Yeah, I know I should do more. But I don’t. It’s too hard.” You might also think of the adage, “If you fail to plan you are planning to fail.” And I imagine the combination of these thoughts doesn’t motivate you to want to learn how… Continue reading…
ADHD and Bridging the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
“I know what I need to do and I want to do it. It is important to me, really. But I’m not doing it, at least not consistently. And I’ve tried…everything I can think of!” Sound familiar? And people in your circle who are neurotypical, which may include your spouse, friends, colleagues and boss may wonder: “How is it really possible for someone to not follow through on something they say is important to… Continue reading…
When Planning Is Overrated for Adults with ADHD
I’m not going to tell you planning is not important. After all, I help people both plan and learn the skills needed to plan. But too much planning can definitely get in your way, and sometimes it makes sense to just start. Now you are wondering, “When is planning too much? When should I plan and when is it better to just dig in?” Of course, there are no hard and fast answers. But the… Continue reading…
Why Adults With ADHD Need A Task Manager
Decisions about where to put your tasks so you can remember and manage them can be confusing for many adults with ADHD. But, of course, you want to figure this out. Because you want it to be easier to manage and complete your important work. If you’re currently trying to keep tasks in your head, you know it is stressful and often doesn’t work. Because you need to remember to remember. And, if you’re keeping… Continue reading…
Increasing Follow-Through With ADHD – Don’t Should Yourself
Where are you not following through? In the first article of this series on follow-through I focused on “…Banishing Your Gremlin.” If you have not read this article, I would suggest going back to read it. And, if after reading that article, you are still scratching your head, wondering why you just don’t follow through, time to look further. Like many adults with ADHD, you may have many thoughts of tasks that you are not… Continue reading…
Managing Your ADHD While Managing Life’s Ups and Downs
“Seems like a lot of work. Maybe I’m tired–it’s getting late–but I’d like things to be easier not harder. I feel I’ll never catch-up. Maybe that’s where I’m stuck – Does it matter?” I received this comment in response to a recent article, 5 Steps To Working With Your ADHD – Without The Struggle. I think all of us, especially adults with ADHD, can really empathize with this reader! Even though making changes may… Continue reading…
ADHD and Being More Proactive, Not Reactive
Do you know what is on the horizon? A common concern I hear from clients is: “I don’t know how to prioritize. So, I can plan?” If you are an adult with ADHD, planning and prioritizing may not be your strong suit. But it is possible to strengthen these muscles. While there is no easy answer or one right way to do this, the key is to review and plan on a regular basis, weekly… Continue reading…
ADHD and To-Do Lists: Planning Your Projects
After writing for a while about David Allen’s GTD and how to adapt it for Adults with ADHD, I thought I had covered some parts sufficiently. But judging by the questions I have been receiving, this is just not so. And I’m not surprised. Creators of many tools and systems assume you are proficient in skills, like decision making and prioritizing, for example. And, as an Adult with ADHD, you may need help strengthening these… Continue reading…
Work With Your ADHD and Complete Your Projects
Which of the following are projects? All of them. Yes, even buying paint, really. If there is more than one step, it is useful to consider the task a project for planning purposes. And when faced with a project you may feel intimidated by all of the seemingly moving parts. You may procrastinate out of fear that you will not be able to complete it well. Alternatively, you may react quickly and dig in,… Continue reading…
ADHD and Productivity: Do You Know What Action to Take?
How many different tools and strategies have you used to help you become more productive? You did the research. Read about how other people used it successfully. And said to yourself, “this tool is the ticket.” In my last post, ADHD and Getting Things Done: Is It a Match?, I shared with you that I thought most readymade systems, like David Allen’s GTD, are not made for “out of the box” use by Adults… Continue reading…