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ADHD Time Management | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADHD and Getting Things Done: Is It a Match?
ByMarla Cummins November 4, 2011May 14, 2025 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?…

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Here is The First Step in Taking Control of Your Tasks
ByMarla Cummins November 4, 2011June 15, 2025 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…

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ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

Managing Your ADHD At Work
ByMarla Cummins September 21, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

Of course, everyone has challenges at work. However, as an adult with ADHD, you may have greater struggles than your colleagues with issues, like: details and instructions communication follow-through getting places on time stopping and starting tasks There are steps I have outlined below that you can take to address these challenges and create a better work environment for yourself. To cover the widest range of applicable topics, this article is a mix of new writing and links to a few of my old articles. Getting To Work On Time: Getting to work on time sets the stage for the rest of your day. So, if this is one of your challenges, check out Are You Tired of Being Late. Motivation Maybe…

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ADHD, Mindfulness and Making Decisions
ByMarla Cummins August 25, 2011June 26, 2025 Blog

“How do I respond to this situation?” “How can I feel less overwhelmed?” “Where do I want to focus my mental energy/thoughts?” These are some of the questions that Adults with ADHD ask themselves on a regular basis. Having strategies that will allow you to slow down and center yourself are helpful in answering these and similar questions. ADHD and The Wandering Mind As an adult with ADHD you know that your challenge is not inattention. If anything you have a surplus of attention. The challenge when you have ADHD is being able to regulate your attention, as well as your actions, thoughts and emotions. That is, being able to make a decision about what to do in any given moment. Without a system for…

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ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

Are You Getting The Feedback You Need?
ByMarla Cummins March 17, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

I have had prospects and new clients say to me that they wish they had known about ADD Coaching sooner. When I heard this again, recently, I began thinking about the usefulness of mirrors. Of course, in the most literal sense, most of us are glad that we have them to save us from the embarrassment of going out in public with spinach still in our teeth or toothpaste on the corner of our mouth. But for many with ADHD, having different types of “mirrors” also provides us with the tools we need to manage our challenges Getting the Feedback You Need For example, it is not always easy to figure out what is going on when you procrastinate. Are you resisting doing an…

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ADHD Time Management | ADHD Treatment Options | Blog

ADHD and Electronics: Should You Pull the Plug?
ByMarla Cummins March 10, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Time Management, ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

For a long time I did not watch TV at all. Then I discovered Hulu and Netflix… Sometimes, I admit, I watch too much TV, especially during the winter months. I’ll even multitask – checking email and watching a show. Mostly, I watch TV as a way to relax and turn off my brain. Is this ok? Exploring an Opinion What is the impact of electronic use by children and adults with ADHD? Last week Pierre de Villiers emailed me the comments below and asked me to respond. Since I thought my response would be of interest to many of you, with his permission, I decided to answer it in a public forum. While Pierre’s comments are about children, the issues he raises are also…

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ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Time Management | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADD – ADHD: Do You Know This Strategy to Prevent Overwhelm?
ByMarla Cummins March 3, 2011June 15, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

What Do You Want To Say “Yes” To? Being self employed and a single parent of a middle school age daughter, my life is full and can be overwhelming, sometimes. While I am certainly blessed to be a parent and to have my own business, I still find myself occasionally wanting to do more, and feeling like I “can’t.” There are times, lately, when I struggle with the “need” to say no to other opportunities. Then I remind myself that I could say “yes,” instead, if I made different choices. I remind myself that every choice has a cost. Recently, I’ve been feeling isolated in my business. So, I have been thinking of ways to connect with other people professionally. Like many with ADD –…

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ADD – ADHD: Are You Tired of Being Late?
ByMarla Cummins February 24, 2011June 9, 2025 Blog

I remember when I was in college. Every morning I would run down the stairs from our second floor apartment, racing to get to class on time. And then, as soon as my feet hit the sidewalk, I would remember whatever it was I had forgotten that day. Then I would race back up the stairs, whereupon I would hear my roommates call out: What did you forget, now? At the time it did not feel shameful, it was more of a joke. But it did make me anxious about getting to class on time. Since then I’ve learned how to plan ahead. Oh, I still forget things, of course. But now, when I get into my car, the times that I am running back…

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ADHD Communication | ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADD and Anger: Is It Getting In Your Way?
ByMarla Cummins February 17, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Communication, ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

One of the hallmark symptoms of ADD is the struggle with managing emotions, such as anger. If you answer yes to the questions below, your anger may be getting in your way. Do you tend to wear your emotions on your sleeve, but would rather not? Do you go from 0-100 mph in a split second and wonder how you got there so fast? Do you become frustrated with others easily, and then regret it later? You are not alone What Is The Problem? Dr. Russell Barkley, a foremost authority on ADD and author of the book Taking Charge of Adult ADHD, notes the following: “It is not that the emotions they experience are inappropriate, but that those with ADHD are more likely to publicly…

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ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Treatment Options | Blog

You Made The Changes… Now What?!
ByMarla Cummins February 10, 2011June 26, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

In the article Understanding and Managing Your ADD: Change Can Happen…., I introduced the Six Stages of Change. I explored this model further in the article Managing Your ADD Takes Time and Planning. If you have not already, I suggest reading both of these before continuing. Stage 5 – Maintenance When you reach the Maintenance Stage, you have already put a great deal of emotional and mental energy into making the commitment to managing your ADD and have also put a plan into action. So, you are likely feeling pretty spent! Even if you had more energy, you may question doing more. “What more could I possibly need to do? I put the ‘pedal to the metal’; my plan is in action.” Yet, it is…

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