Blog

  • ADHD and Knowing Your Next Action Step

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      In my last post, I suggested using David Allen’s Six Level Model as a starting point for answering the question, “What work should I do?” And, if you’ve used this model before, you may have had an easier time answering the questions at the higher levels than at the 10,000 foot and runway levels. This should be no surprise. As an adult with ADHD creating a “big vision” typically comes easier than making more immediate decisions about what you are going to work on now. You may even on occasion have said about yourself, “I’m a big vision kind of person.” But how do you get to that big vision? 10, 000 Foot Level – Projects Part of what leads to overwhelm for adults…

  • ADHD and Deciding What Work To Do

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      One of the biggest challenges for many adults with ADHD when it comes to executing is deciding what work to do. Ideally, what work you decide to do is dictated by your priorities. And your priorities come from knowing what is important to you. But for many adults with ADHD, an inordinate amount of your time may be taken up by the urgent, especially until you learn to work better with your ADHD. And, if your day to day life feels somewhat out of control, it can feel impossible to even think about what is truly important to you – never mind taking action in those spheres. As a result the important stuff (time with family, professional/business development, self-care, community involvement, etc.) continually gets…

  • |

    Getting Strategies and Tools To Work With Your ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      Recently I was talking with a group of adults with ADHD. One person mentioned that when she is having challenges related to her ADHD she will take a step back before considering solutions, and remind herself, “It is my brain wiring.” This helps take her out of the realm of shame and blame. But, if you are like many adults with ADHD, you may try to address your challenges without first considering what would work best for your style, preferences… and, yes, brain wiring. And when you don’t see immediate improvements in your ability to follow through on what you’ve read or heard works for “everyone else,” you may say… Maybe you need to take a step back… I Can Implement “It” Like Everyone…

  • |

    Anger Management Tips For Adults With ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

      Anger in itself is not bad, of course. We all get angry at times. It is a signal that something is off, and we need to figure out how to address the issue. Like many adults with ADHD, you may find you feel your emotions, including anger, very intently. As a result you may act on your anger before you’ve given yourself a chance to decide how you really want to express it. So, you may walk away, send an email or blurt out something before you’ve had a chance to ask yourself, “Do I want to say or do this?” And then afterwards you may think, “I wish I wouldn’t have…” But it is already out there, and you can’t take it back….

  • Rules and Accountability Stifle Me – I Have ADHD!

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    You may find yourself reticent to adopting rules and structure for yourself because doing so may feel like it, well, just hems you in. For adults with ADHD too much structure can feel stifling, to be sure. And imposing the wrong kind of structure certainly may get in the way of your creative process. But the right kind and amount of rules and structure can also help you accomplish what is important to you. And rather than restricting you, they can free you from the stress, overwhelm and decision paralysis you may feel at times. This Is The Way I’ve Always Been In addition to, perhaps, feeling as though rules will box you in, you may also think you are just not cut out for…

  • |

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

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

      Yes, everyone has challenges at work. But, as an Adult with ADHD, some of your challenges are more acute because of your ADHD. You knew that… This series of articles will help you be more aware of those challenges, as well as the workarounds. In Part I I shared strategies for deciding which tasks become part of your work. And in Part II I began the exploration of common workplace challenges for Adults with ADHD. Read on to continue this exploration in the article below, the last in the series. Working With Time – Time Sense When dealing with time the question is, “When am I going to do….?” And, because time is often an elusive concept for adults with ADHD, this may be…

  • | |

    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…

  • |

    Creating A Work Environment That Works With Your ADHD – Part 1

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

    Impending deadlines to meet A constant stream of email to respond to Different and changing requests and expectations of clients, colleagues, bosses, boards, etc. to answer to An urgent need to make decisions and set priorities I bet this describes your work world, as well as the sources of some of your greatest work challenges as an adult with ADHD. And the consequences of not being able to operate well at work may seem more immediate and serious than those in any other environment (home, social, etc.). At least in the short run… The key to being successful at work is taking a strategic approach to working with your ADHD. First, Know Yourself I know you are already well acquainted with your challenges. And we’ll…

  • |

    ADHD Is Not A Real Diagnosis?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    My daughter had been through 6 hours of neurological testing over two days by a highly regarded neuropsychologist in the Boston area. When I read Lessons from Atticus: is “ADHD” a problem of not listening? written by a pediatrician, I was reminded of a remark my daughter’s former pediatrician made when I shared with him the report from the neuropsychologist indicating that she had ADHD. His response was, “She is too cute to have ADHD.” What I heard was, “ADHD is not real.” It has been almost 8 year since that appointment. Fast forward to recent years. As of late ADHD seems to have become a lightning rod for attacks from experts and non-experts alike. It is always distressing to me when I read opinions…

  • |

    Are You An Adult With ADHD And Feeling Isolated?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      Of course, feeling like you are the only one that ­­_________ (fill in the blank) can also leave you feeling misunderstood and alone. As an adult with ADHD you may sometimes feel this way about having ADHD. If you feel this way, you know when you are connected to others (friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances) who “get and accept you,” you just feel better, right? But have you thought about the importance of your connections in being able to reach your potential, your goals and, ultimately, your dreams? Are you connected to people the way you want? The Importance of Positive Connections We know a primary reason for maintaining positive connections is its importance to our overall well-being. We need family and friends to…