ADHD and Initiation: Having Trouble Getting Started?
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ADHD and Initiation: Having Trouble Getting Started?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

  One of the executive functions necessary to accomplish any goal is task initiation or, in other words, getting started. And since this is one of the common hurdles for many adults with ADHD, I often hear some version of the following when working with clients. “I know what I needed to do. I even had it on my task list. I just didn’t do it, again! Maybe I just don’t care enough. It must not be that important to me, if I keep on not doing it, right?” Sound familiar? Motivation When you can tap into the value a task has for you, getting started can be easier. So, as a first step, when you are struggling with getting started, simply ask yourself, “what…

Being Present With ADHD
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A Guide To Being Present When You Have ADHD

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, ADHD Time Management, Blog

You have managed to follow through on your plans. You are doing work related tasks, spending time with your family, socializing with friends or… And in the middle of whatever you are doing, you have a thought: When these thoughts are going through your head, of course, you are not present to what you are trying to do. One of the biggest challenges for many adults with ADHD is to focus their attention on what they are doing right now. But if you want to be more present in different areas of your life, there are ways to do this. Does Being Present Matter? First, what are the advantages of being less distracted in the moment and more in the present? When you can focus…

ADHD and To-Do Lists: Planning Your Projects
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ADHD and To-Do Lists: Planning Your Projects

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

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 skills in order for a tool or system to work well for you. So, if you have tried a tool or system, please don’t assume it will not work for you because a part of it did not come easily.  Get support. Ask questions. In this article I’ll address the…

Work With Your ADHD and Complete Your Projects
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Work With Your ADHD and Complete Your Projects

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

  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, thinking you just have to put in more time and work harder. Yet, you know that being reactive or procrastinating does not help you to make the right choices in order to get the project done. The key is learning how to follow a process. While following a process does…

Here is The First Step in Taking Control of Your Tasks
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Here is The First Step in Taking Control of Your Tasks

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

How are you going to decide what you need to do today? When you have ADHD, this process can be challenging. If you sat down at your desk right now, could you see all of your tasks? If you are like most of us, your answer is likely, “not really.” But you would probably like to be more confident that you have a structure for locating your important tasks without trying to rely on your memory, right? I often hear some variation of one of the statements below when talking to my clients about To Do Lists. I have too much to do. A list would be too overwhelming. I just do what I need to do. I’ve tried using a list, but I can…

ADHD, Mindfulness and Making Decisions
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ADHD, Mindfulness and Making Decisions

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

“How do I respond to this situation?” “How can I feel less overwhelmed?” “Where do I want to focus my mental energy/thoughts?” These are some of the questions that Adults with ADHD ask themselves on a regular basis. Having strategies that will allow you to slow down and center yourself are helpful in answering these and similar questions. ADHD and The Wandering Mind As an adult with ADHD you know that your challenge is not inattention.  If anything you have a surplus of attention. The challenge when you have ADHD is being able to regulate your attention, as well as your  actions, thoughts and emotions. That is, being able to make a decision about what to do in any given moment. Without a system for…

ADD and Task Completion: Stop Focusing on Your Goals
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ADD and Task Completion: Stop Focusing on Your Goals

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

As far as goals go, looking for a job is a common one for most, if not all, of us. Remember when you have looked for jobs in the past? Perhaps you are looking for one now. There are so many moving parts: resumes, cover letters, job sites, networking, books, etc. Arghhh!! When faced with this kind of task, like many of you, I can easily become overwhelmed. It just seems like too much to do. And then I remind myself that, yes, it is too much to do today if I consider all that I could possibly do to increase the chances of getting a job. A more helpful perspective is having the whole picture in mind, but giving more thought and energy to…

ADHD and To Do Lists: Do You Use This Method?
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ADHD and To Do Lists: Do You Use This Method?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

Ok, are you ready for a brain dump? I wouldn’t answer either  – until I knew what it was. I am referring to unloading all of the big and little to dos that you are carrying around in your head.  You know, those things that  pop up at random times. Like when you pass the pet store, you remember that you need to pick up food for Fido. But you don’t have time to stop because you are already late to pick up Ben from soccer. As you get a block from the store, racing to pick up Ben, the image of Fido salivating as he waits for his kibbles, leaves your head. Your only thought is of Ben, sitting on the curb, waiting for…

Marla Cummins Social Graphic
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ADD – ADHD: Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions, Please.

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Planning & Prioritizing, Blog

New Year’s resolutions do not work for most people; they especially do not work for those of us with AD/HD. It can set us up for failure, rather than success, when it is just wishful thinking, like: I’m going to exercise. I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to get a better job. If you are serious about making a change, create a goal. We need a process, a strategy that leads to a result. The goal is the end result, not the strategy. Here is how I am defining goal: 1. It is your own. You have made the decision that this is something you want, and are invested in achieving. Maintaining motivation to achieve a goal that is interesting is challenging enough when…