Forget Normal
I have heard it many times but this week it particularly struck me. Many of my ADHD coaching clients refer to what they do versus what “normal” people do. I cringe each time I hear this. I no longer believe there is a “normal” person around. We all have our problems...
ADHD and Explaining Too Much
People affected with ADHD often explain too much. Instead of giving a direct answer we often like to contextualize what we are about to say because all details seem equally important to us. This may be fine in casual conversation with family and friends but can be...
ADHD: Managing Anger at Ourselves
By the time a potential client contacts me for ADHD coaching they may be frustrated or angry with themselves. They are tired of letting themselves down and letting the people in their life down. At work it may they didn’t start a task in a timely fashion and got the...
Struggling with ADHD
As an ADHD and productivity coach, I work with adults and college students from across the country. They are all struggling. If they were not they wouldn’t have started working with me. In coaching the client is in charge. We talk about what they want to talk about. A...
Resources for People Affected by ADHD
As an ADHD coach I am often contacted by people looking for resources regarding ADHD. There are some great organizations that provide information and resources for those affected by ADHD. One of the best known is CHADD (www.chadd.org). Founded in 1987 as a resource...
Stop, Start, Continue
Many years ago I was introduced to “Stop, Start, Continue.” It is often used for team-based improvement. I like to use it to periodically to review my current life in relation to how I want my life to be. I look at my goals that I am trying to achieve and apply the...
ADHD and Triage
People affected by ADHD tend to put off what they should be doing and put their attention elsewhere. This can result in running out of time to get important things done. That is when it is time to triage. In the medical world triage is determining how to prioritize...
Starting an Evening Ritual to Aid Sleep
Many people affected by ADHD struggle with getting to sleep at night. Often it is because we can’t quiet our brain down. In addition, many affected by ADHD are night owls so it is hard to ignore the energy that starts to surge late in the evening. I believe ritual can...
Start the Day with Success – A Short Task
People with ADHD struggle to get things done in a timely fashion. Much of the struggle is to get started on the task and then stick with it until it is done. It is not that we can’t start things but that we often can’t start the right thing, that thing we are supposed...
Starting and Maintaining Habits
Habits are hard to develop and sustain especially if you are affected by ADHD. As an ADHD coach I am asked all the time by my clients how they can create new habits and maintain them. They want the secret. Unfortunately, there is no one secret that makes habit...
ADHD and Working from Home During a Pandemic
As an ADHD coach I work from my home. I see most of my clients virtually or by phone. The few who come in person have transitioned to virtual during this pandemic. Many of my clients are struggling to work from home right now and I understand why. It is not ideal to...
ADHD and Avoidance
I had to laugh when I saw the topic for this essay. At the end of each year I brainstorm topics that I will write about in the coming year. Then I make a list and assign dates as to when I will write on each topic. It helps me avoid struggling to come up with a topic...