Lindsey Lohan is being talked about in the news. There is much more important news out there, but I had to put in my two cents. On one television show, they were discussing that she was allowed her prescription drugs in jail which supposedly got her into trouble in the first place.
One of the panelist couldn't get off the topic that Lindsey doesn't need her ADHD meds in jail. He said that she didn't have to write any papers, etc. Yet, they hope that she will think about things while she is in jail.
If he only knew how much she does need it. Another example of how ADHD meds are misunderstood for those who need them. Obviously, he just doesn't get the fact that she needs it to help her think think things through, and to help her work out a plan for what she should do next. I admit that it doesn't seem she's been thinking things through up until now, so maybe she hasn't been taking her ADHD meds, or she needs her dose adjusted.
Lindsey Lohan is still very young, and has taken something good - all of her talent and opportunity - and made a mess of it. She isn't the first to have done this, but I do hope she will find a way to get her life back on track.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
ADHD and Procrastination - What to ask yourself
I said I was going to blog at least once a week, since I started blogging again on July 12. I love to write, and to share what I have learned about managing my ADHD with others. It's a vicious cycle,as they say. I want to blog and help others by sharing all that I have learned over the years that has helped me manage my ADHD. But, until I do get consistent, who is reading it? No one is going to start reading it again, until I start writing regularly.
Managing ADHD is what has to be done constantly. It's not something that goes away, it's just something I have learned to take control of by learning numerous tips, tricks and tools. I have to coach myself, and ask myself the same questions I teach others to ask themselves. I had to ask myself one of my favorite questions about why I didn't' blog on Monday as I had promised myself, and anyone who read the last blog. That question is "What's stopping me?" When I ask that question, I don't always get the correct answer right away. I have to peel back the layers until I get to the truth. Often a lot of self criticism wants to show it's ugly head first. Answers like, "you are just putting it off," "you haven't felt like it," "you don't know what to write about," etc, etc. arise in my head. I have to keep asking myself, "What is really stopping me?" When I got to the truth, the answer was that I want to use my time wisely, and until I start promoting my blog again, I am not sure I am doing so.
Next, I have to ask myself, "What am I going to do about it?" "Do I really want to have a blog? The answer is that I am going to blog anyway, and start promoting my blog because it's what I really want to do. I have so much I want to share that will make my reader's lives easier, and so it is worth it now, and will be of more valuable as I increase my readership.
Managing ADHD is what has to be done constantly. It's not something that goes away, it's just something I have learned to take control of by learning numerous tips, tricks and tools. I have to coach myself, and ask myself the same questions I teach others to ask themselves. I had to ask myself one of my favorite questions about why I didn't' blog on Monday as I had promised myself, and anyone who read the last blog. That question is "What's stopping me?" When I ask that question, I don't always get the correct answer right away. I have to peel back the layers until I get to the truth. Often a lot of self criticism wants to show it's ugly head first. Answers like, "you are just putting it off," "you haven't felt like it," "you don't know what to write about," etc, etc. arise in my head. I have to keep asking myself, "What is really stopping me?" When I got to the truth, the answer was that I want to use my time wisely, and until I start promoting my blog again, I am not sure I am doing so.
Next, I have to ask myself, "What am I going to do about it?" "Do I really want to have a blog? The answer is that I am going to blog anyway, and start promoting my blog because it's what I really want to do. I have so much I want to share that will make my reader's lives easier, and so it is worth it now, and will be of more valuable as I increase my readership.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Hope you are enjoying the summer. It has been over a year since I posted anything on this blog, and I am back. Lots of reasons, and/or excuses why I haven't posted, but the past is past. Just going to start small for now, as I work on this and updating my website. Since I mainly work with students, this is my downtime, so I will have everything up to date when school opens this fall. Hope you will check back for updates, which I will post every Monday.
This is a good time of year to get organized. The first question to ask yourself, is "what's working, and what's not working?" If something has been working pretty well, then don't change it. If it hasn't, then think about what is causing you resistance. For example, if you never put your clothes in the hamper, why not? Where is the hamper located? If it is at one end of the room, and you get changed in the other part of the room, then move the hamper, so you will be able to just drop in your dirty clothes. Do this with the other things that aren't working, and you will have made a difference already in making your life easier.
This is a good time of year to get organized. The first question to ask yourself, is "what's working, and what's not working?" If something has been working pretty well, then don't change it. If it hasn't, then think about what is causing you resistance. For example, if you never put your clothes in the hamper, why not? Where is the hamper located? If it is at one end of the room, and you get changed in the other part of the room, then move the hamper, so you will be able to just drop in your dirty clothes. Do this with the other things that aren't working, and you will have made a difference already in making your life easier.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Feelings vs. Taking Action
One of the best things I have learned over the years, is that I have to get beyond feelings to get things done. We often justify procrastination by saying, "I just don't feel like it." The problem is that once we use that excuse, we keep not feeling like it, while time is passing by, and our brain is telling us that other people don't care that we don't feel like it. The boss needs the report, or the teacher has set a due date for the project.
How do you get going when you don't feel like it? Do your best to look for a reason to feel like it, such as how much better life will be when you have done what is expected of you. But, if that doesn't work, accept the fact that you will take action, regardless of your feelings. Take one small step, and then another. As you take action, your feelings will often catch up with your ability to get something done. You will find that what you have been putting off, and making a big deal in your mind, is actually not that hard. You will begin to feel that you can accomplish it, and so you will.
There are many times in life when we don't act on feelings alone. For example, we may feel like telling someone off, but we don't. We may be so angry that we feel like hitting someone, but we don't. We cannot act on emotions alone. We do the right thing, and we can do the right thing when it comes to taking action.
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If you'd like help to become more organized and productive, please contact me via my website (below) or just call me at 610-299-5191, or 717-872-7424 to find out more. Coaching is available by phone or e-mail wherever you are.
How do you get going when you don't feel like it? Do your best to look for a reason to feel like it, such as how much better life will be when you have done what is expected of you. But, if that doesn't work, accept the fact that you will take action, regardless of your feelings. Take one small step, and then another. As you take action, your feelings will often catch up with your ability to get something done. You will find that what you have been putting off, and making a big deal in your mind, is actually not that hard. You will begin to feel that you can accomplish it, and so you will.
There are many times in life when we don't act on feelings alone. For example, we may feel like telling someone off, but we don't. We may be so angry that we feel like hitting someone, but we don't. We cannot act on emotions alone. We do the right thing, and we can do the right thing when it comes to taking action.
===
If you'd like help to become more organized and productive, please contact me via my website (below) or just call me at 610-299-5191, or 717-872-7424 to find out more. Coaching is available by phone or e-mail wherever you are.
© 2009 Organized Enough® LLC
Organizing and Productivity Coaching for ADHD Students
http://www.organizedenough.com/
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Keys - Lost and Found
I had been faithful the night before in putting my keys on the rack when I came in the door, so where were they when I was ready to pick up my grandchildren from their swimming lessons? I used to lose my keys all the time, and it has actually been a few years since I have lost them. Through a lot of trial and effort, I created new habits that have been working for me. What went wrong this time? I searched the house, and as I watched the clock, knowing I was supposed to leave soon, I was painfully brought back to those old feelings of anxiety and frustration as I searched the house for my keys. Based on my own experience, what I have read, and the experiences of the clients I coach, the experience I had is similarly repeated by others when keys get lost, but can be prevented.
LOST KEYS
HOW I COULD HAVE PREVENTED LOSING MY KEYS (and saved a lot of time)
If you'd like help to become more organized and productive, please contact me via my website (below) or just call me at 610-299-5191, or 717-872-7424 to find out more. Coaching is available by phone or e-mail wherever you are.
LOST KEYS
- When it was almost time to leave, I grabbed my keys off the key rack, and went out to my car.
- I noticed that I had a box for Goodwill that had to be moved to the trunk to make room for my passengers.
- I then had to take another box out of my trunk and put it in the garage to make room for the Goodwill box.
- It was then that I discovered the keys were lost.
- I did not remember putting the keys down. I searched the car, the trunk, the garage, the kitchen, my office - more than once.
- I eventually found them on the floor in the kitchen, right below the key rack.
HOW I COULD HAVE PREVENTED LOSING MY KEYS (and saved a lot of time)
- The trip I was about to make was not a part of my usual routine, so I should have been especially aware of my surroundings and my actions.
- The habits I have created over the years to keep me from losing my keys were actually done automatically in this situation, but I was not aware of it. I lost my keys because I first lost conscious awareness of what I was doing. I had actually attempted to put the keys back on the rack in the kitchen while I moved the box, but they fell on the floor. I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing, but thinking about where I needed to be, and watching the clock.
- We tend to lose things during times of transition: coming into the house, leaving the house, changing classes, getting in and out of the car or school bus. These are the times I need to remind myself to be more aware of my actions.
- I needed to take a breath and relax. When anxiety and stress mount in a situation, we are not able to think clearly, and only become more anxious. I didn't remember trying to put them back on the key rack, I didn't hear them hit the floor, and probably looked right past them when I was searching.
If you'd like help to become more organized and productive, please contact me via my website (below) or just call me at 610-299-5191, or 717-872-7424 to find out more. Coaching is available by phone or e-mail wherever you are.
© 2009 Organized Enough® LLC
Organizing and Productivity Coaching for ADHD Students
http://www.organizedenough.com/
Friday, May 29, 2009
Check your bills and find money
As a person with ADHD, I don't like paying attention to detail, but I have found that if I don't pay attention to my bills, it can cost me. I have simplified most of my bill paying, thanks to online banking and automatic bill paying. This gets bills paid on time, but I still need to take time, at least once in awhile, to go online and look through the individual bills. I discover extra charges and fees that I would not have noticed. With a few phone calls I can solve the problem and get the money back in my account, and so can you.
I just did some bill paying this morning, and discovered an extra $9.99 charge on my cell phone bill. I looked through the bill, and found it was for a premium text messaging service. I pay a fee for unlimited text messaging, but this was a charge from a private company. I knew that I would not voluntarily add an extra $9.99 to my bill, so I called the cell phone company. They gave me the phone number of the private company - so I had to make another call. I was told I had signed up for a "word of the day" service. I guess I did, but thought it was for free. Instead of reading the agreement, which slipped in the information about the $9.99 fee, I just checked that I had read it. I had started to receive the text messages, but thought it was from someone I was following on Twitter, which is free. The company was very cooperative. I was told that they would cancel the service and issue me a refund. It wasn't brilliant for me to have gotten myself into this, but at least I got out with no charge.
A couple of months ago, I changed banks, which involved changing all of my automatic bill paying information with all of the companies I deal with. Some of these companies still tried to get the payment from the old account, resulting in charges for in extra service charges and late fees. Because I took the time to review the bills, I discovered the fees. A couple of them slipped by for a couple of months, since I don't check them every month. I ended up getting back over $100.00 that I would have missed, since they were not large amounts. For example, one was for $39.00, another was for $25.00, and another was for only $10.00. Sometimes, it's as easy as asking. Even if you are guilty of a late fee once in while, and don't make a habit of it, most companies will give you a one time courtesy of removing the fee.
Every little bit helps, and although not a fortune, I would rather spend the money on things I need than give it to companies who are taking my money because of a mistake. I find it is easier to get into the details of the bills when I set aside time to do it, without interruptions. Once I am in that mode, it gets easier. It's time worth spending.
I just did some bill paying this morning, and discovered an extra $9.99 charge on my cell phone bill. I looked through the bill, and found it was for a premium text messaging service. I pay a fee for unlimited text messaging, but this was a charge from a private company. I knew that I would not voluntarily add an extra $9.99 to my bill, so I called the cell phone company. They gave me the phone number of the private company - so I had to make another call. I was told I had signed up for a "word of the day" service. I guess I did, but thought it was for free. Instead of reading the agreement, which slipped in the information about the $9.99 fee, I just checked that I had read it. I had started to receive the text messages, but thought it was from someone I was following on Twitter, which is free. The company was very cooperative. I was told that they would cancel the service and issue me a refund. It wasn't brilliant for me to have gotten myself into this, but at least I got out with no charge.
A couple of months ago, I changed banks, which involved changing all of my automatic bill paying information with all of the companies I deal with. Some of these companies still tried to get the payment from the old account, resulting in charges for in extra service charges and late fees. Because I took the time to review the bills, I discovered the fees. A couple of them slipped by for a couple of months, since I don't check them every month. I ended up getting back over $100.00 that I would have missed, since they were not large amounts. For example, one was for $39.00, another was for $25.00, and another was for only $10.00. Sometimes, it's as easy as asking. Even if you are guilty of a late fee once in while, and don't make a habit of it, most companies will give you a one time courtesy of removing the fee.
Every little bit helps, and although not a fortune, I would rather spend the money on things I need than give it to companies who are taking my money because of a mistake. I find it is easier to get into the details of the bills when I set aside time to do it, without interruptions. Once I am in that mode, it gets easier. It's time worth spending.
© 2009 Organized Enough® LLC
Organizing and Productivity Coaching for ADHD Students
http://www.organizedenough.com/
Friday, May 22, 2009
Memorial Day weekend - relax and enjoy - even if you have ADHD
Memorial Day Weekend - relax and enjoy! For some people, that's just a given. If you have ADHD, you may be participating in activities that are fun and relaxing, but your mind is forever active. As a person with ADHD, it has taken me a long time to learn to truly relax when I have the opportunity.
I may be sitting on the beach, and along with the sun, and sounds of the ocean, my brain is processing projects I need to start, uncompleted projects, the house I should have cleaned before I left, and more. I have learned to get beyond that by planning how I spend my time. I now schedule time during the week to work on housework, work on my business, and time for guilt-free rest/play time. If you know that there will be a time next week when you will be working on the things that start going through your head when you are trying to relax, then you can let go of them, and enjoy. Rest time is planned rest time, and can truly be peaceful and rejuvenating. Imagine that!
Enjoy the weekend, and take the time to remember all those who have given so much for our country.
I may be sitting on the beach, and along with the sun, and sounds of the ocean, my brain is processing projects I need to start, uncompleted projects, the house I should have cleaned before I left, and more. I have learned to get beyond that by planning how I spend my time. I now schedule time during the week to work on housework, work on my business, and time for guilt-free rest/play time. If you know that there will be a time next week when you will be working on the things that start going through your head when you are trying to relax, then you can let go of them, and enjoy. Rest time is planned rest time, and can truly be peaceful and rejuvenating. Imagine that!
Enjoy the weekend, and take the time to remember all those who have given so much for our country.
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