ADHD Adults Worry
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Part 2: For ADHD Adults Who Want to Find a Way to Put Their Worry to Work

(Originally published September 3, 2018, Updated October 11, 2021) ADHD and worry go together like peanut butter and jelly. In part, this can be because worry gives your ADHD brain the stimulation it craves. So, you may find yourself worrying about something one day and then the next day the worry just disappears. Was the worry just “candy” for your brain or was it something you want to address? In fact, as I noted in Part 1, For ADHD Adults Who Are Tired of Being Hooked by Their Worry,  the worry may not even be real, but a result of cognitive distortions – negative thinking traps. If you haven’t read Part 1, yet, go ahead and check it out. Figure out if something you’re worried…

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Part 1: For ADHD Adults Who Are Tired of Being Hooked by Their Worry

(Originally published August 17, 2018, Updated September 30, 2021) When it comes to worrying there is an upside for ADHD adults. That is, it can motivate you. But, if you’re reading this article, I know you’re more interested in doing less worrying, as it comes with a cost. I get it. Worrying causes stress and takes up your time and energy. Time and energy you’d like to spend in other ways. The key to managing your worry is to use curiosity to figure out both figure out what you’re worried about and what, if anything, you want to do to address the worry. But, right now, instead of being curious, you might be trying to avoid worrying thoughts. Makes sense! Worrying is uncomfortable. But, when…

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ADHD Adults Need to Know This to Create the Change They Want

Can ADHD adults effectively maintain changes? Recently, in our online membership mastermind group one of our members mentioned one of the strategies she uses to get started on a task she doesn’t know how to do is to tell herself: I don’t know how to do this, yet. And by using this phrase she can remember not knowing how to do something is not permanent. That is, she can learn how to do it. She goes on to say this feels like a less fatalistic approach. I think this is a great way to approach learning how to manage your ADHD. Because there is a lot you don’t know, yet. That’s why you are reading this post, right? You really want to learn how to…

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These Are the 4 Steps ADHD Adults Need to Take to Reduce Distractions Now

It would be an understatement to say that ADHD adults are prone to distractions. But does that mean you can’t do what you intend? Of course not. Sure, you’ll need to work at it, but you can learn and apply strategies to reduce ADHD distractions and their impact in your personal and professional life. No doubt, your ADHD contributes to this tendency. Because that is the way your brain is wired. It craves the stimulation provided by something novel. And a distraction or interruption provides this novelty. But it has also become a habit. That is, you may automatically give in to interruptions or distractions, rather than trying to manage them. And, if you want to change this, you can. So you do more of…

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The 3 Reasons ADHD Adults Need Downtime to Be Productive

ADHD adults need downtime if they want to be productive. Really. But I also know this may seem counterintuitive to you, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything you need to do. I get it. You’re wondering how you can take downtime when you’re so far behind in both your professional and personal life. You may even think you don’t deserve downtime. Not true. While everyone deserves downtime, I know it won’t be enough for me to just tell you that. So, stay with me, as I make the case that downtime will help you not only feel better but do your best work. If you’re game to entertaining the idea that this could be true, keep on reading. What Does It Mean to Be…

Practice Self-Compassion for ADHD Adults
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ADHD Adults Who Harness Their Compassion Reach Their Goals Easier

(originally published January 17, 2018, updated May 13, 2021) Maybe you found my blog because you want to learn how to be more productive as an ADHD adult. If so, then you’ll want to know that ADHD adults need self-compassion to reach their goals. Really. Because, without self-compassion, it will be much, much harder to be productive – do what’s meaningful and important to you. Are you in? Not yet? If not, it might be because you equate compassion with pity. And, if that’s the case, you might think self-compassion might mean you will be less productive and people will take advantage of you. To avoid this, you try not to let your guard down and continue to push yourself to prove to others you…

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7 Strategies ADHD Adults Can Use to Stop Ruminating

If you landed here, and have not yet read Part 1-Here Is the First Step You Can Take to Stop Your ADHD Rumination, I encourage you to read that first. As an understanding of what may be contributing to your tendency to ruminate will inform which of the strategies below you decide to try. Then come back to this article, and take your time exploring the tips below. Remember, these are only suggestions. So, try the ones that spark your interest and you think may help. And don’t forget to give yourself enough time to experiment. That is, don’t give up if it doesn’t work the way you want right away. Ready? Journaling Can Help You Manange Your Rumination Once you’re ready to unpack your…

Women holding paper that says accountability to show how adhd adults can form accountability partnerships.
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How to Create ADHD Friendly Accountability Partnerships

Productivity is doing what is essential to you — engaging in activities that bring meaning to your life. You also know inconsistency is one of the hallmarks of ADHD. So, it can be difficult to do this. But having accountability partnerships for ADHD adults can make it easier to follow through. As Pearson’s Law notes: “What is measured, improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.” I also know that when you think about accountability, you might think of it as the result of failing to deliver, whether in your personal or professional life. That is, you’re held accountable by others when you screw up. And this often leaves you filled with shame. So, “friendly accountability” may seem like an oxymoron. If this is…

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Part 2 – Frustrated by Wasting Time? Here Are 7 Fixes You Can Use Today

(originally published Jun 23, 2017, updated December 2, 2020) Once you’ve decided what’s essential to you, and you have a task list that reflects this (per my previous post), it’s time to execute. And to do this you’ll need to use ADHD time management tactics to decide when to work on your various tasks. Because you know just having a list of essential tasks is not a guarantee that you’ll follow through, right? Especially since, as is common for ADHD adults, you may often default to your sense of urgency to decide what to work on at any given moment. If this is the case for you now, even with a well-curated task list, you’ll likely continue to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Unless you break…

What ADHD Adults Need For Better Time Management
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What ADHD Adults Need For Better Time Management

Do your days often seem like a struggle with time — feeling the stress of falling behind, wanting more hours in the day, experiencing the overwhelm of the minutes ticking by? Even on those days when you start with a plan. And then, when you don’t feel you accomplished enough, do you work long past the time you wanted to stop? And at the end of those long days you think to yourself, “If I only managed my time better, I wouldn’t feel like this and would get more done.” And then you may wonder, “Why can’t I get my stuff done just like everyone else.” Then this thinking might lead you into a shame spiral, further hindering your productivity. So, instead of doing your…