Discover Where Your Time Flies
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Discover Where Your Time Flies

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Do you know how you spend your time? Many with ADD find that time is somewhat elusive. That is, there is now and not now (later). The first step in getting a handle on time is to discover how you are spending it now. Dr. Neil Fiore, in his book, THE NOW HABIT,  suggest keeping a log for at least  three days of how you actually spend your time. After doing this, you can better understand where you time is going, and make an informed decisions about how you want to spend your time. To do this, divide the day into segments that make sense for you. Below is an example of how “Tammy”  spent her day.

Does Your Story Hold You Back?
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Does Your Story Hold You Back?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

I should be able to get ready in 15 minutes. I should be able to find my keys. I should be able to get to the meeting by 10:30. I should be able to handle all of my tasks. Fighting What Is On occasion, I observe my clients and myself fighting reality by holding onto a story, like those above. By continuing to believe that we should be able to do something, we may resist finding solutions to the challenges of our ADD. I used to claim that I should be able to drive my daughter to school in the morning in ½ an hour. I told myself this story for almost a whole year! Finally, I admitted that it really takes 40 minutes. I…

ADD and Stress: How Do You Manage?
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ADD and Stress: How Do You Manage?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, ADHD Organization, Blog

  This past week I was faced with a complex situation involving my daughter where I needed to think clearly, dispassionately and swiftly. I wanted to share a bit of this with you because I know how challenging it can be for someone with ADD to process this way in the best of circumstances. Lessons Learned In my efforts to respond to this, I learned or confirmed some important lessons.

Do You Know How To Take Risk?
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Do You Know How To Take Risk?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Blog

  If you have ADD, you might be saying, “Of course I know how to take risk! Impulsive is my middle name!”  Ba-da-bum! Taking calculated risks and being impulsive are animals of a different stripe, however. According to Merriam-Webster, a calculated risk is: “planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose.” Hmm… planning. Not a very thrilling prospect, I know. Being somewhat prone to impulsiveness, I know that it can sometimes work to my advantage. I also have enough experiences, and the scars to prove it, to know that being impulsive can often hinder me in being true to my values and accomplishing what is important to me.

ADD-ADHD: Do You Know the Cost of Trying to be Perfect?
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ADD-ADHD: Do You Know the Cost of Trying to be Perfect?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Blog

It is impossible to reach perfection. You can’t buy it with effort or money. Yet, we try. Some people believe that whatever they try will never be good enough. Others are fearful that if they do attain success, they may not be able to replicate it. The belief that they may be rejected by others, if they are not perfect, leads others to try to be perfect. What are the costs? In an attempt to do it “just right” you spend time spent on tasks that are not really important to you. And you do not spend time doing what you say is important to you. You may choose not to take risk, whether personal or professional, because of the belief that the effort and…

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Not All Inspiration Needs To Lead To Perspiration

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Got ideas? If you have ADD, chances are ideas flow fast and furious. And this ability to generate a wealth of ideas may be a tremendous asset for you. It may allow you to: think of multiple interesting solutions to problems. synthesize and interpret  information in a unique way. envision many future paths. However, being able to generate so many ideas can become a hindrance to effectively following through on any one path.

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Is Forgetfulness Getting in Your Way?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

I Forgot. Whenever I catch myself saying, “I forgot,” then I remember. I remember that I shouldn’t rely on my brain to retain information and expect that I will be able to access it at precisely the moment I need it. Over time I have come to accept this. And I have worked hard to find a work around for my particular wiring. It is not about making excuses – it is about accepting what is and finding solutions. Here is what is on my mind as I write this:

Happy New Year! It’s An Idea, A Wish, A Resolution – You Decide…
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Happy New Year! It’s An Idea, A Wish, A Resolution – You Decide…

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

It is almost the New Year. For some, that means it is time to establish New Year’s Resolutions, like losing weight getting out of debt getting fit spending more time with family reducing  stress going to school getting a new job To be honest, New Years Resolutions do not work for me. I find it easier to allow my commitments to my personal growth to happen in a more organic fashion. That is, I may have  a lot of ideas percolating, and then one day I make a decision, a resolution. Then I make a plan. This works for me.

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What Are You Going To Do If…?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Blog

A Question That Helps Answering your “what if”  questions could help you envision what you will do in different contexts or it could serve to immobilize you. As I was deciding to leave the “comfort” of a full time job with benefits to start my own business, I asked an endless series of what ifs. What if I did not earn enough to support us? What if I did not save enough for retirement? What if I could not find affordable health insurance? What if starting my own business  introduced too much uncertainly into my daughter’s life? What if I failed? What if I didn’t enjoy it?

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The Internet Sucking Your Time? When Will Power Is Not Enough…

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself?! The wind up… I’ll just spend a few minutes relaxing and look at the news and Facebook. Then I’ll get back to what I planned to do. 10 minutes later… I really want to read this article and then it is time to get off the computer. 30 minutes later… I should really get off. Oh, just a few more minutes… 1 hour later… Oh, sh*t!! I can’t believe I spent that much time. I really want to finish writing that report. 2 hours later… Oh, well, I guess I’ll get to it tomorrow. No, really, I have not been in your head, lately. I really was not eaves dropping on the conversation that you had between…