Blog

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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…

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    4 Ways to Make Decisions When You Are Stuck

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      Imagine you need to make a decision about buying a car. So, you start mulling it over. I should buy a Rav 4. No, the Subaru Forester has better safety rating. But the Rav 4 has a third row. Maybe I should look at the CRV. You know, they are all gas eaters. I need to really look at a hybrid, like the Prius. But it is really not going to have enough room when we travel. I do like the style of the Rav 4… And it starts to feel like a game of pinball in your head. And, though you keep pondering this for a few days, you are no closer to a decision. Then you get caught up in work and…

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    ADHD and The Mindset For Success

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    After reading Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success I’ve spent a great deal of time pondering the impact of adopting a particular mindset. I have always said that I’m not very good at drawing, math or singing and a whole host of other activities. At some point I convinced myself that I can’t clap to a beat. So, now I don’t clap. Really. When I share this with someone a version of the following conversation might ensue. Other person: “Sure, you can clap.” Me: “No, really, I can’t clap.” Other Person: “Give it a try…” Me: “No, I can’t try. I can’t clap.” Somewhere along the way I adopted a fixed mindset when it comes clapping. What if I had embraced a…

  • Managing Your ADHD While Managing Life’s Ups and Downs

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      “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 make things easier in the long run, it can take a lot of work to make them happen. And how about those times when life throws us curve balls – things at work are rocky, you’re going through a hard time in your relationship, your kids are going through a…

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    ADHD and Strengthening Your Willpower – You Can Do It!

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    Learning how to manage your willpower will help you work with your ADHD. Really. You may be thinking, “I don’t want to hear this. I’m tired of hearing that I just need more willpower. I have ADHD!” Hang with me for a bit. I’m not talking about the version of willpower where you  are told to “just try harder” or “just do it.” That won’t work for you. Because the challenges you experience exerting self control  when you want, willpower, have to do with your brain wiring. But there are strategies you can learn in order strengthen, conserve and use your willpower when you want. And these same strategies will help you manage your ADHD. What is Willpower? Psychologist Roy Baumeister, author of Willpower, and…

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    ADHD And Steps To A Growth Mindset

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    If you have not read my last post, ADHD and The Mindset For Success, I suggest giving that a read before continuing on. In that post I shared a little bit about the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. And suggested that having a growth mindset is a key part of working effectively with your ADHD. I’m pretty sure most of you will buy into this suggestion. But just buying into the idea is certainly not enough to be able to develop one. You knew that… If you are interested, though, there are steps you can take to develop a growth mindset. Change Your Internal Dialogue What kind of internal dialogue do you have now? When things go wrong for you does…

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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…

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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…

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    Is This Normal or Do I Have Undiagnosed ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      Below is an excerpt from a letter that I recently received (and was given permission to post) along with my response. I decided to include it here, as it is such a common question and might be of interest to you, too.   Hi Marla, I’ve really been identifying with everything you and your testimonials have been saying on your website, but I’ve never been diagnosed myself. For years as a university student I have constantly struggled with mastering my procrastination on assignments and study, and I’ve realised recently it seems to stem from this impulsivity, this tendency to immediately act on every thought I have. All the issues you are talking about that adults with ADHD have to deal with, I feel that…

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    ADHD and Limiting Beliefs – How to Counter Them

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    We all have beliefs about how things should be. And after a while we come to believe that is just the way life is. What is most problematic is when we act based on beliefs that limit us from reaching our goals. I know from my own personal experience and work over the years with clients that, if left unchecked, there are certain beliefs that can hold adults with ADHD back from successfully reaching their potential. If you hold one or more of the beliefs listed below, you may decide that you are just not capable or “good enough.” But wait, it is not all gloom and doom! Luckily, there are ways to counter these mindsets so they do not get in the way of…