A Simple Strategy for Managing ADD By ADD Coach Jennifer ... ... 2003 As an ADD Coach, I usually begin my ... with new and ... clients by saying, “Tell me about yourself an
A Simple Strategy for Managing ADD
By ADD Coach Jennifer Koretsky
© Copyright 2003
As an ADD Coach, I usually begin my conversations with new
and potential clients by saying, “Tell me about yourself and
why you’re looking for coaching.” Most people answer with a
long list of their ADD challenges. Very few people answer
that they are looking to discover, enhance, or utilize their
strengths. This is a big part of coaching, and a part that
many people need a lot of help with.
Unfortunately, many ADDers spend too much of their time
focusing on what they think they do wrong. This is
understandable; as most of us have spent a lifetime learning
how to deal with attention inconsistency, impulsivity,
hyperactivity, emotional reactivity, and other challenges
that our ADD has presented. However, few of us actually
take time to appreciate our ability to manage these
challenges and bounce back from the difficult times. And
when we don’t balance the good stuff with the not-so-good
stuff, we can become frustrated, unmotivated, and unhappy.
Every single person in this world has strengths and
interests – things we do well and things we like to do.
Learning to focus some time on those strengths and interests
can help lift the spirits – and self-esteem – of ADDers.
Here are some ways in which you can increase the time you
spend thinking about your strengths and interests:
* Make a list of all your accomplishments in life –
both large and small – and post this list where you’ll see
it often
* Make a list of all the things you do well, and all
the things you like to do – and post this list, too
* Keep a journal or notebook in which you detail all
your daily successes
* Accept every compliment you receive with a smile
and a “thank you”
After you have spent some time thinking about your strengths
and accomplishments, you can take this knowledge and
self-awareness a step further by setting some small goals
for yourself that involve your strengths and interests. If
you’re good with people, maybe you’d like to try
volunteering at a homeless shelter or senior center. If you
like dancing, perhaps you can take a class every week.
We all deserve to spend time doing what we like to do, and
not just what we have to do. So allow yourself to
appreciate your strengths and interests, and treat yourself
to the luxury of enjoying them! Chances are, it will make
you a much happier person.
Self-Care for Adults with ADD: Put On Your Oxygen Mask
Take a moment to think about what happens when you get on an airplane. Before the plane takes off, the flight attendants outline safety procedures and inform you that, should the oxygen masks drop down, you must put yours on before you help anyone else. This is an excellent metaphor for self-care.The Truth About Adult ADD and Follow-through
If you are an adult with ADD, chances are that at some point in your life, you've felt that you are not "living up to your potential." This judgment often manifests itself when you take stock of all the great ideas you've had that have never gone anywhere, and all the unfinished projects that you have started but never completed.Help for Adult ADD: Learn to Delegate
Adults with ADD are not "wired" for details. We're creatives, entrepreneurs, inventors, idea generators, and big picture thinkers.