Experiencing ADDvantages

5 Sure-Fire Ways to Overcome Procrastination

Although I'm technically on vacation this week, I wanted to offer you a little something to get through the post-holiday-back-to-work blues.

We all know adults with ADD are notorious procrastinators, right? Especially coming off a long weekend and dreaming about the summer fun to come.

Well, these time management gems have helped me--and my clients--kick procrastination to the curb--even after a 3-day weekend!

1. Recharge Daily
Be sure to get enough sleep and rest each day so that you have the necessary energy to accomplish your tasks. Tired bodies and sleepy minds don't like to get to work.

2. Be an Actor and Get in Touch with Your Motivation
Before you begin a task or project that has high procrastination potential, think about your desired outcome. When the task is finished, what will that mean to you? What will be better in life as a result? Things get done quicker when you have a reason to sweat 'em out.

3. Do Things in Pieces
Yeah, I know that this is probably the most referenced time management tip. But that's because it works! Procrastination comes from feelings of overwhelm. Breaking tasks and projects into small, manageable, and (here's the key) trackable steps provides a road map and a sense of direction.

4. Do Two Things at Once
Don't be afraid to balance routine or monotonous tasks with something that is more likely to hold your interest. You can pay bills while you watch TV, or file your papers while chatting with a coworker. Work is work, and done is done!

5. Pick Your Battles
Perhaps you're procrastinating on a task because it's really not that important. Maybe you'd love to re-organize your book shelves, but never get around to it. If it sounds like a good idea but in the end it's really not that important to you, don't let it hang over your head. Save that energy for something that really does matter.

What are YOU currently procrastinating on? Which of these gems can you use to kick procrastination to the curb? Please share your thoughts the comments below!

Who Else Wants to Master the Art of Time Management?

Are you tired of playing catch-up with your various tasks and to-dos?

Are you sick of feeling overwhelmed because there is always
so much to do and so little time?

Have you been searching for a time management system that
works with your ADD, not against it?

Good news - the Time Management Masters Seminar begins in 1 week from today!

This is an interactive, guided coaching program in which participants will create a practical--and permanent--system for effective time management.

In this 4-week, virtual seminar that begins June 3, you'll:

• Learn practical time management techniques that are proven to work for adults with ADD
• Sculpt a personal time management system that will work specifically for you
• Decrease stress and overwhelm
• Finally get a handle on your time and tasks

All participants get:

• Four, live and interactive teleseminars
• Teleseminar recordings and notes
• Planning and prep worksheets
• Recommendations for tools and resources
• Members-only online community hub

This time management program is different from all the others because:

1. It was developed for and by adults with ADD.
2. It offers ADD-friendly methods and techniques for time management.
3. It takes into account the ADDer's tendency toward distraction, boredom, forgetfulness, and overwhelm.
4. The information in the seminar is presented in audio, visual, and interactive formats to accommodate all learning styles.
5. You'll be led, step-by-step, through specific guidelines to custom-create a time management system that works specifically for you!

Please visit the Time Management Masters Seminar website and review the program info, as well as the enrollment criteria. The fee is $197 for everything included above.

Space is limited and we're at about 75% capacity right now. I know this program is exactly what many of you have been waiting for and I hope you'll join us!

 

My Clutter Busting Vacation

I'm taking a break from my vacation tonight to lead the final teleseminar in the ADD Clutter Busters Workgroup. We have a group of 17 women (all women this time!) who have been working very hard the past two weeks to purge their clutter and organize their stuff. I've been really impressed with how supportive this group has been with each other! I'm thinking maybe I need to start leading some women's groups again, which I used to do regularly when I lived and worked in New York City.

Anyway, in tonight's teleseminar we'll be discussing one of the keys to success, which is maintenance and follow through. I enjoy leading these workgroups because they're short and focused. We dive in to a specific topic (like clutter, or time management) and stay on track to get things done. Sometimes, adults with ADD really need this kind of laser focus to learn new skills and experience successes in the present that can be recreated in the future.

As for me, I've been doing my own clutter busting with my time off! I've been looking forward to this vacation for a very long time. Not because we planned to go anywhere special, but because we planned this vacation to be all about catch-ups.

There's yard and garden work to be done, thorough Spring cleanings to do, and stuff to purge. And I think that's my favorite part.

There was a time that I was completely overwhelmed with clutter--useless crap I didn't need, but was afraid to let go of. Somewhere along the way, however, that changed, and now I get a thrill from getting rid of stuff. There's something about clearing space that just makes you feel lighter. It's freeing. That old saying "out with the old and in with the new" rings true.  I find that getting rid of crap in my physical space allows me to let go of stress and open up mental space.

I've already gotten rid of books and CDs, and old clothes are next. Going through this stuff and getting rid of the crap once a year really makes a difference, and I'm enjoying it.

It's too late to join the ADD Clutter Busters Workgroup (and we probably won't be running it again until next Spring), but if you're in the mood to purge your junk then you can pick up our very popular coaching tooklit, Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye!

More on the Virtual AD/HD Conference™

Terry and I have been hard at work on the Virtual AD/HD Conference™ and we're pleased to finally share the conference website with everyone!

Please visit www.adhdconference.com to get more details about the event!

There's much more info to come on the site, and right now you can join our mailing list to save $50 when registration opens in July.

This is going to a ground-breaking, quality event. We're really excited about it.

I'm taking a much-needed vacation next week and I'm thrilled to get the website live before signing off.

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend, and don't forget to check out the Virtual AD/HD Conference™ at www.adhdconference.com!

Time Management Tip: Late to Work

In the last corporate job I had, I typically got in 30 minutes late. I always blamed it on the subway trains. And it was true, because NYC subways (especially the line I was on) were a mess in the morning.

What I always neglected to add, though, was that I probably definitely would have been late even if the subways were running on time.

Fortunately, I had a great boss for much of my run there. He'd smile at me when I hurriedly rushed through the door at 9.30am and in his thick Austrian accent he'd say, "Zose damn trains again, huh?"

He didn't care if I got in late as long as I was doing a good job.

One of my favorite books is Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek. I came across this a gem of a tip on his blog today:    

Stop justifying your time. Let’s say you walk in five minutes “late” one day. Instead of explaining that traffic was a nightmare or your kids made you late, just go to work. And if someone sludges you (“Oh, look who decided to show up today”) then focus on the work. A simple “what do you need” or “what can I help you with” does a great job of eliminating it. People can’t slam you about your time if you focus on the work.

This is language that adults with ADD can really embrace.

Many of us have difficulty arriving to work on time each day. And most of us will instantly launch into an apology and an explanation.

But that makes you look--and feel--guilty and inadequate. Shifting the focus onto results, as Tim suggests, in one of the best ideas I've come across.

Like this tip but need a little more help with time management? Join me for the Time Management Masters Seminar--specifically for adults with ADD. Begins June 3!

Focus On Your Possibilities Scholarship Program

From Eli Lilly:

Eli Lilly and Company is proud to fund the Focus on Your Possibilities Scholarship Program. These special scholarships recognize adults with ADHD who have demonstrated the initiative and passion to capitalize on their talents through education. Lilly will award 21 educational scholarships of up to $5,000 each based on merit and recommendation. The goal is to support adults with ADHD in their ongoing quest for more enriched lives.

For more information on the program andhow you can apply for a scholarship, visit adhd.com.

Effective Time Management Means Working With Your ADD

One of the core principles of managing adult ADD is learning how to work with it, instead of fighting against it.

This means building on your strengths, not dwelling on your challenges, acknowledging your limits, and respecting your natural energy flow and biorhythms.

And nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to managing your time for maximum effectiveness and productivity!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a drill sergeant when it comes to time management. But I think we all know that there are many challenges an ADDer faces when it comes to time management, like:

• We're easily bored.
• We tend to procrastinate on large projects and dull tasks.
• We can get so distracted that we forget what we're trying to accomplish.
• And the stress and anxiety of falling behind or feeling unproductive can spin us into overwhelm!

Rather than falling victim to these challenges, we can choose another option. We can learn how to take into account our own personal traits, and develop time management systems that honor them.

Whenever possible, try following these guidelines:

1. Determine the times of day that your energy levels are highest and lowest.

Plan to do more complicated things when your energy levels are highest, and save the easier stuff for when your energy levels dip.

For example, if you tend to feel droopy and tired after lunch, then find a better time to tackle that big report at work!

2. Use systems and strategies that work for you.

Don't compare yourself to everyone else, and don't try to conform to someone else's methods. The ways in which you approach your tasks might not make sense to anyone else, and they don't have to.

For example, it doesn't matter if your spouse thinks you're nuts for doing laundry right before bed. If you have energy to burn and the laundry needs to be done, knock yourself out!

3. Eliminate the distractions that you can control.

There are tons of potential distractions that can side-track an ADDer. When it's time to buckle down and focus--at home, at work, or at school, take the the time to remove whatever distractions you possibly can.

For example:

At school - avoid sitting next to the friend you can't help gossiping with.

At work - shut down your email and Internet connections for a little while while you work on an important project.

At home - unplug the phone until you've finished that tedious but necessary chore that you hate so much.

Don't give these distractions the opportunity to derail your success. Believe me, they'll be ready and waiting for you when the job is done!

Remember, the most successful ADDers work with their ADD, not against it!

In the next issue of the ADD Management Guide, we'll take an in-depth look at that ugly P-word: Procrastination!

In the meantime, if you have thoughts on this article, please share them in the comments!

Time Management Masters Seminar Begins in 2 Weeks!

Are you tired of playing catch-up with your various tasks and to-dos?

Are you sick of feeling overwhelmed because there is always
so much to do and so little time?

Have you been searching for a time management system that
works with your ADD, not against it?

Good news - the Time Management Masters Seminar begins in 3 weeks 2 weeks! (Oops, typo!)

This is an interactive, guided coaching program in which participants will create a practical--and permanent--system for effective time management.

In this 4-week, virtual seminar that begins June 3, you'll:

• Learn practical time management techniques that are proven to work for adults with ADD
• Sculpt a time management system that will work specifically for you
• Decrease stress and overwhelm
• Finally get a handle on your time and tasks

This time management program is different from all the others because:

1. It was developed for and by adults with ADD.
2. It offers ADD-friendly methods and techniques for time management.
3. Factors such as the ADDer's tendency toward distraction, boredom, forgetfulness, and overwhelm are taken into account.
4. The information in the seminar is presented in audio, visual, and interactive formats to accommodate all learning styles.
5. You'll be led, step-by-step, through specific guidelines to custom-create a time management system that works specifically for you!

Please visit the Time Management Masters Seminar website and review the program info, as well as the enrollment criteria.

I know this program is exactly what many of you have been waiting for, and I hope you'll join us!

Natural Disasters in Myanmar and China

Politics aside, one thing the Obama campaign did right was to solicit donations--of every and any size--very early in the game. The result was lots of small donations adding up to make a big difference.

Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes, food and water supplies, and their health due to the national disasters in Myanmar and China.

It's painful to watch the news footage of the continued suffering. Rather than succumbing to the sadness, do something positive and give what you can. CNN has a list of reputable organizations that you can donate to.  Personally, I'm giving to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

If we all give a little, it will add up to a lot.

Great Client Quotes: Screw It

"I'm tired of feeling bad because I have executive function issues and other challenges. Who cares? If I can't do it, screw it!"

Private Coaching Client who recently passed the bar exam.

ADD Coaching Programs: Clutter Control and Time Management

The ADD Clutter Busters Workgroup was supposed to begin last week but was postponed when I came home sick from a conference. So we begin tonight, instead, and it's not too late to join!

In this 3-week coaching program, I'll walk you step-by-step and start to finish through the process of de-cluttering and organizing.

1. Stop procrastinating and make your clutter disappear
2. Create organizational systems that will work for you and with your ADD
3. Develop maintenance systems to keep the clutter away for good

This is also the last chance to join both the ADD Clutter Busters Workgroup AND the Time Management Masters Seminar at the discounted bundle price of $297 (a savings of $47.)

The Time Management Masters Seminar has been designed specifically for adults with ADD who are ready and willing to create a practical--and permanent--time management system.

In this 4-week, virtual seminar that begins June 3, you'll:

• Learn practical time management techniques that are proven to work for adults with ADD
• Sculpt a time management system that will work specifically for you
• Decrease stress and overwhelm
• Finally get a handle on your time and tasks

To register for one or both of these programs, please visit the program websites:

ADD Clutter Busters Workgroup

Time Management Masters Seminar