Posts

ADHD Follow-Through | Blog

ADHD Adults Need to Know This to Create the Change They Want
ByMarla Cummins August 20, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Follow-Through, Blog

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…

Read More ADHD Adults Need to Know This to Create the Change They Want
ADHD Tools & Strategies | Podcast

ADHD Adults Need to Play if They Want to Be Productive
ByMarla Cummins August 10, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Tools & Strategies, Podcast

DESCRIPTION: ADHD adults need to play to be productive. Here are strategies to motivate yourself to play more even though you have a full plate. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Play is a biological need. ADHD adults need to play to do their other work more effectively. There are many ways to play. You should schedule play in your day. RESOURCES: BOOK: Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, by Dr. Stuart Brown WEBSITES: National Institute of Play TRANSCRIPT: 00:01: Play? You thought I talked about ADHD and productivity, right? What does play have to do with that? If you’re feeling swamped by your professional and personal tasks, and don’t feel you have time for play, then you’ll definitely want to listen…

Read More ADHD Adults Need to Play if They Want to Be Productive
ADHD Emotional Regulation | Podcast

ADHD Adults Who Take These 5 Steps Handle Mistakes Better
ByMarla Cummins July 30, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Emotional Regulation, Podcast

DESCRIPTION: Not all mistakes are made equal. Learn how ADHD adults use these 5 steps to better handle the 4 different types of mistakes. KEY TAKEAWAYS: There are four different types of mistakes. How you decide to respond to your mistakes depends on your preferences and the type of mistake. Just because other people think you made a mistake doesn’t mean you did. Your ADHD, of course, may be contributing to the mistakes you make. You can learn how to reduce some types of mistakes. RESOURCES: BOOK: The Happiness Trap Blog Post: Do You Want to Get Rid of Your Negative Thoughts and Feelings? Websites: Mindset Works The Happiness Trap TRANSCRIPT: 00:00 ADHD adults make mistakes, just like everyone else. You do or say things…

Read More ADHD Adults Who Take These 5 Steps Handle Mistakes Better
ADHD Follow-Through | Blog

These Are the 4 Steps ADHD Adults Need to Take to Reduce Distractions Now
ByMarla Cummins July 13, 2021January 21, 2026 ADHD Follow-Through, Blog

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…

Read More These Are the 4 Steps ADHD Adults Need to Take to Reduce Distractions Now
ADHD Emotional Regulation | Podcast

Feel Like Your Emotions Are in Charge Not You Because of ADHD?
ByMarla Cummins June 28, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Emotional Regulation, Podcast

DESCRIPTION: Learn how to listen to your emotions and be in the driver’s seat in managing them, not your ADHD brain, so you align with your values. KEY TAKEAWAYS: It’s important to listen to the messages your feelings give you. ADHD can make it hard for ADHD adults to be in the driver’s seat when managing their emotions. Performance, not knowledge or skills, is the primary challenge for ADHD adults to be able to say and act how they want in response to their feelings. ADHD adults need to externalize cues to both remember and motivate themselves to use strategies that will help them manage their emotions. TRANSCRIPT: 00:02: Emotions aren’t right or wrong. They’re just a signal. A message. So you don’t want to…

Read More Feel Like Your Emotions Are in Charge Not You Because of ADHD?
ADHD Emotional Regulation | Blog

The 3 Reasons ADHD Adults Need Downtime to Be Productive
ByMarla Cummins June 13, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

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…

Read More The 3 Reasons ADHD Adults Need Downtime to Be Productive
ADHD Treatment Options | Podcast

Do You Know What the Best Treatments Are for Adult ADHD?
ByMarla Cummins May 28, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Treatment Options, Podcast

DESCRIPTION: Learn how you can create a treatment plan that works for you to leverage those ADHD symptoms that are helpful and manage others that are challenging. KEY TAKEAWAYS: A holistic treatment plan is necessary to manage ADHD Medication alone is not enough to treat ADHD. There are a variety of options adults with ADHD can choose from to manage their challenges and leverage their strengths. RESOURCES: BOOKS: Spark, the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Dr. John Ratey The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD by Dr. Lydia Zylowska BLOG POSTS: How to Stop Fixing Your ADHD and Rely On Your Strengths How to Take Charge of Your Sleep When You Have ADHD The Four Reasons You Need Exercise to Treat Your…

Read More Do You Know What the Best Treatments Are for Adult ADHD?
ADHD Emotional Regulation | Blog

ADHD Adults Who Harness Their Compassion Reach Their Goals Easier
ByMarla Cummins May 13, 2021July 1, 2025 ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

(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…

Read More ADHD Adults Who Harness Their Compassion Reach Their Goals Easier
ADHD Follow-Through | Podcast

What ADHD Adults Can Do to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Productive
ByMarla Cummins April 27, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Follow-Through, Podcast

Description: You’re busy. I know. But you really want to be productive – do what’s important to you. ADHD adults who use this 3-step process can do that. Key Takeaways: Busy is not the same as productive. Being productive means you are doing the right activities to reach your goals. The 1st step is to decide where you want to excel. The 2nd step is decide what activities you need to engage in to do this. The 3rd step is to create an execution plan to help you follow through on those activities. Resources: Book: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Blog Posts: ADHD and Using the Urgent – Important Matrix The ADHD Adult’s Guide to the Weekly Review Service: Focusmate Transcript: (00:03): I know…

Read More What ADHD Adults Can Do to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Productive
ADHD Emotional Regulation | Blog

7 Strategies ADHD Adults Can Use to Stop Ruminating
ByMarla Cummins April 16, 2021February 21, 2024 ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

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…

Read More 7 Strategies ADHD Adults Can Use to Stop Ruminating