Creating A Work Environment That Works With Your ADHD – Part II
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Creating A Work Environment That Works With Your ADHD – Part II

ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Time Management, Blog

In Part I of Creating A Work Environment That Works With Your ADHD I suggested that the first step in strategically working with your ADHD was to identify your strengths and the tasks which, out of necessity or desire, fall on your plate. As you know all too well, whether a task is something you enjoy or not, your ADHD may get in the way of being able to work effectively. So, knowing the ways your ADHD can hinder you, as well as the workarounds, is the next step in addressing your workplace challenges. And, as my yoga teacher said recently, “Accept where you are…” I would add, “Then you can choose to grow from there…” Distracted By Internal Noise It is a common challenge…

Increasing Follow-Through With ADHD – Dealing With Boredom
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Increasing Follow-Through With ADHD – Dealing With Boredom

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

  I bet you’ve said to yourself plenty of times, “Why can’t I just finish this?!” I know it is particularly frustrating when it is something that is important to you, not just something you think you should do. Maybe you’ve created a plan with deadlines, no less. And there isn’t even a gremlin (inner critic) lurking about, getting in your way. But you still can’t make it to the finish line… You start. You stop. You start again. Maybe you just have a little bit more to go to finish – the last 10%. And then you might move on to something else. You may even forget about the task. When this happens you might be at a loss when trying to answer the…

Increasing Follow-Through With ADHD – Don’t Should Yourself
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Increasing Follow-Through With ADHD – Don’t Should Yourself

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

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 completing swirling about in your head. And, as they sit swirling, the thoughts and sense of urgency increase. What could be going on?! Should I  or Shouldn’t I? It may be time to look at your commitment to your decision. Take the case of Gayle, who decided to apply for…

What To Do When You Think “I Can’t Do This… Until I Do That”
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What To Do When You Think “I Can’t Do This… Until I Do That”

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

I bet you have those days when you are trying to decide what to do, but you can’t… It starts to feel a little like a runaway train. Eventually, you get so overwhelmed by thoughts of everything you could or “should” do, you end up falling back on old bad habits. And not really setting your intentions for the day. One common type of thinking for adults with ADHD that leads to indecision paralysis  is, “I can’t do this… until I do that.” I Can’t This… Until I Do That.” At times it can be really hard for adults with ADHD to get started, especially when you fall into the thinking of “I can’t do this… until I do that,”  like these two examples: You…

5 Steps To Working With Your ADHD – Without The Struggle
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5 Steps To Working With Your ADHD – Without The Struggle

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

  I want to share with you the steps you can take to figure out and maintain the best practices to help you work with your ADHD. Because your needs are unique and change takes time I hope you will spend as much time as you need at each step. circle back to a step as needed. be patient and compassionate with yourself along the way. After all you are not after the “quick fix.” While this may seem daunting at first, it will seem less so the more you practice. These steps are the same ones I use with my clients to guide them through the process of creating a customized strategy to enable them to take action and complete what is most important…

ADHD and The Super Fuel for Follow Through
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ADHD and The Super Fuel for Follow Through

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

  I bet you can think of at least one task on your plate right now that you have very little interest in tackling. And some, even you, may assume that, if you are not following through, it must not be important to you. Not true! For adults with ADHD there are many explanations for losing interest in a task that has value for you. This last explanation is often overlooked. But, for adults with ADHD, this is one of the most critical steps in making it easier to follow through on a obligation ADHD and Interest For adults with ADHD, interest can serve as the jet fuel that propels you forward. You’ve probably had occasions when you were so interested in a task that…

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 Three Critical Habits For Better Productivity
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ADHD and Three Critical Habits For Better Productivity

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

A reader, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, shared with me that he is an avid fan of David Allen’s Getting Things Done. As you may know so am I. But I also know that, for many adults with ADHD, building the habits necessary to implement GTD or any other workflow system can be a challenge. With support, time and effort  you can create a workflow system that will work with your ADHD, if you decide that is the route you want to take. The key lies in creating three critical habits. Habits You already have habits that you have built up over time. Some you do not even think about, like brushing your teeth. You have been doing this for so long time that…

ADHD and Procrastination: Steps To Move Forward
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ADHD and Procrastination: Steps To Move Forward

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

  Everyone procrastinates! But, as an adult with ADHD, your ADHD symptoms may exacerbate your tendency to procrastinate. When talking with clients about procrastination I often hear some variation of, “But everyone can do it! I should be able to do this!” Shaming yourself is never a good strategy to motivate yourself into taking action. Has it ever worked for you? In fact, I bet you are more likely to procrastinate when you heap a “big dose of shame and blame” on yourself. What is helpful, though, is being aware of why you are procrastinating in each situation, and being will willing to adopt strategies that will work with your ADHD. Where To Start And How To Proceed A common challenge for those with ADHD…

ADHD and Being More Proactive, Not Reactive
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ADHD and Being More Proactive, Not Reactive

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

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 and daily. And, as you do this consistently, the pull of immediate gratification (doing whatever catches your attention in the moment) will weaken. Below is a step by step method you can use to make this easier. Advantages of Regular Planning: And if you can do this consistently, you will…