Posts

  • Best of the Web – ADHD Blog Award

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      Always grateful when I hear from readers how helpful my blog is for them. And, of course, it is also gratifying to be recognized by the wider community. Recently my blog was included in a list of Top 10 ADHD Blogs for 2014 by Psych Central with the following comment: Another coaching site worth its weight in proverbial gold is that of Marla Cummins. Quality content is delivered with clear diagrams. For example, the Important-Urgent Matrix is an excellent means of fostering productivity and the step-by-step description holds your attention. You’ll find plenty of practical strategies to add to your toolbox. Cummins writes with compassion, bringing the posts to life. This is a refreshing site if you are disinterested in reading the chatter around…

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    Is Shame About Your ADHD Holding You Back?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

        One of the topics that comes up frequently in my work with Adults with ADHD, especially those diagnosed later in life, is shame. Well, no, not usually by name. But rather in the form of “I should be able to…” “I shouldn’t have…” “I am so ?#@*&%!…” You get it. While, of course, the origins of shame are different for everyone, there are ways in which ADHD inevitably contributes in some way to each person’s feelings of shame. And, if not addressed directly, these feelings hinder their ability to effectively learn to manage their ADHD. What is your experience dealing with shame related to your ADHD? What Is Shame? One way some have come to understand shame is to distinguish it from guilt….

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    Tips to Help ADHD Adults Choose the Right Task Manager

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      In the previous post, Why Adults With ADHD Need A Task Manager, I shared with you the importance of a to-do list for ADHD adults. In this post I want to help you decide what kind of container might work best for you. My hope is that, at the very least, this provides you with food for thought. Because, while you absolutely need a container for your tasks, it does not matter what kind you choose. Paper Planners For ADHD Adults If you prefer paper, Planner Pad is a good option. As you think about your options, you might want to consider: What do you need in your paper planner? Electronic Planners for The Way Adults with ADHD Think If you are opting for an…

  • Why Adults With ADHD Need A Task Manager

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    Decisions about where to put your tasks so you can remember and manage them can be confusing for many adults with ADHD. But, of course, you want to figure this out. Because you want it to be easier to manage and complete your important work. If you’re currently trying to keep tasks in your head, you know it is stressful and often doesn’t work. Because you need to remember to remember. And, if you’re keeping tasks in your head, you may remember them at some point. But it may not be at a time when you are able to act on them. Alternatively, maybe you have some sort of system to capture and see your tasks. But I imagine, if you’re reading this article, it…

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    3 Game Changing Routines For Adults With ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

      When you follow the right routines and rituals you will be able to manage your ADHD with greater ease. True, creating routines is really hard for a lot of people, especially adults with ADHD. You know that firsthand, I bet. You also already know that getting enough sleep, eating the right foods and exercising regularly are keys to treating your ADHD. So, I won’t go over that territory in this article. But the three routines below are one that you might not have given serious consideration to, yet, as a means of managing your ADHD. But I hope you will consider adopting them. Because they might be game changers for you. Time to Think Creatively When you want to think at a high level…

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    ADHD and 20 Ways to Remember What You Want

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      For adults with ADHD, not being able to remember their intentions is what can sometimes get in the way of following through. I know from plenty of personal experience with forgetting everything from the mundane to the important, it can be really frustrating. But, rather than berate yourself because you think you should have a better memory, you can adopt workarounds to help you remember what you need and minimize your frustration. Below, I’ve curated a lengthy list of possible options you can apply to the various situations in your life. And, if you can think of more, please share below. Short-Term and Long-Term Memory First, a little bit about why you may have such a hard time remembering information at the time you…

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    Adult ADHD Product Review – ADD CrusherTM

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      If you compare how Alan Brown of ADD Crusher™ and I provide information about ADHD, you will notice immediately that he and I definitely “roll” differently. And this is a great thing for the ADHD community that we both strive to support. Because, while ADHD is the common denominator, we all have different preferences when it comes to taking in and using information to make changes in our lives. That is why it is so refreshing to hear Alan’s voice among those reaching out to help adults manage their ADHD. Among all the available credible and useful ADHD resources the ADD Crusher series definitely makes an important contribution. It may be just what you are looking for! There are a few reasons why the…

  • 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…

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    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…