Blog

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    ADHD and Medication: How Do I Make the Decision?!

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

    The decision to take medication for ADHD can be complicated for many people. Often made more complicated by pieces in the media, such as the recent article Ritalin Gone Wrong by Alan Sroufe, Ph.D., (NY Times, Jan. 29, 2012). As Dr Ned Hallowell noted in his response on his blog,  Dr. Hallowell’s Blog, Dr. Sroufe’s article is “inflammatory rhetoric” filled with “scare tactics and wrong-headed assumptions.” Articles, like Dr. Sroufe’s, can make it more difficult for you to make a decision, as the rhetoric can really cloud your ability to make an informed decision based on facts, if you let it. To help you arrive at a well thought out decision that works for you I’ve put together a 11 page interactive workbook, ADHD and…

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    Can ADHD Adults Be Productive While Multitasking?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    (originally published September 12, 2023, updated April 15, 2025) I often hear from clients when we begin our work together that they think they’re good at multitasking. Do you think this is also true for you, too? If you do, it’s likely because that is just the way you have operated for so long and, perhaps, one of the ways you know how to get your work done. Multitasking may have become a habit for you. So now you think it’s just the way you operate. Assuming that this is the way you operate best is a false equivalency. That is, just because you may often multitask does not mean that it is a productive way to operate. In fact, when you are multitasking, you are…

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    How ADHD Adults Can Improve Their Executive Function Skills

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    Do you sometimes wonder if it is just me or do I do this because of my ADHD? Similarly, are you dumbfounded that you keep repeating the same behaviors and do so despite knowing what you need to do to change? As the classic ADHD self–help book suggests. You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy.  You have executive function challenges because of your ADHD. Remember, you also have executive function strengths. Being aware of these challenges and strengths is crucial. As this understanding can help you manage your challenges and capitalize on your strengths. One way to manage your executive function challenges is by taking medication, exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and other forms of self-care. You can also improve your executive function…

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    The First Step To Stop ADHD Rumination

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    (originally published July 31, 2009, updated April 15, 2021) Rumination. Racing thoughts. Stuck thinking. Worrying. Perseverating. These are just some of the names adults with ADHD use when referring to their inability to move on from thoughts that are causing them a great deal of distress and not serving them in any productive way. ADHD rumination is real and can get in your way. For example, maybe you blurted out something in your meeting with your colleague, Ali, you now regret. Now, not only are you replaying the scenario over and over, but you’re also thinking about the potential for any future fallout. You may wonder whether Ali will want to work with you on future projects, whether this will affect your chances of promotion…

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    ADHD and Making Mistakes – Now What?!

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      You messed up… If you are playing a big game professionally, you will not get it right 100% of the time. When you push your limits you will inevitably hit some speed bumps along the way. This is true for everyone. And, as an Adult with ADHD, you may have particular challenges. But what do you do when you make a mistake? How do you move forward Interpreting Your Mistakes Do you view each mistake as a sign that you are a screw–up? Perhaps, you see each mistake as an affirmation of your inability to perform well in any realm. And, after each misstep, you proclaim some variation of, “I can’t do anything right.” Unfortunately, this is too common a perspective for many adults…

  • ADHD and To-Do Lists: Planning Your Projects

    ByMarla Cummins 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

    ByMarla Cummins 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…

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    ADHD and Productivity: Do You Know What Action to Take?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

      How many different tools and strategies have you used to help you become more productive? You did the research. Read about how other people used it successfully. And said to yourself, “this tool is the ticket.” In my last post, ADHD and Getting Things Done: Is It a Match?, I shared with you that I thought most readymade systems, like David Allen’s GTD, are not made for “out of the box” use by Adults with ADHD. I also explored how you can work with your ADHD and use GTD in the article, The First Step in Taking Control of Your Tasks. The Second Step is to sort your tasks so you can decide what action to take with each one. Weekly Review The best…

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    ADHD and Getting Things Done: Is It a Match?

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

    “Marla, what do you think of David Allen’s Getting Things Done?” I’ve been getting this question enough lately from my clients that I thought I would answer it here, as you might also be curious about GTD. I like GTD, and think the concepts could be very useful. But would they be useful for adults with ADHD? Maybe. As I was rereading the introduction to GTD, I came across the following that gave me reason to pause. …everything I propose is easy to do. It involves no new skills at all. You already know how to focus, how write things down, how to decide on outcomes and actions, and how to review options and make choices. Hmm… What if this is not true for you?…

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

    ByMarla Cummins 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…