Do You Know the ONE ADD Management Strategy that Works for Everyone?

It's true! No matter who you are, there is one very important thing that you can do to effectively manage your ADD. I bet you'll know it when you hear it, too! But before we do that...

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More on the conference in the next post, but first let's jump back to that one ADD management strategy that works for everyone. Can you guess what it is?

The one ADD management strategy that is guaranteed to make your ADD more manageable is...[drum roll, please]...self-care! Yes, it works for everyone. And small steps lead to really big improvements in this arena.

When I say "self-care," I'm talking about the three basic things that every person (ADD or not) needs to focus on in order to stay healthy and feel good: nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Let's take a look at why each of these are so important for adults with ADD.

1. Nutrition

If you pay close attention to what you eat, you’ll find that the foods you consume have a big affect on your ability to manage your ADD. When you consume excess sugar (or caffeine, or simple carbohydrates), your energy spikes, and then you crash.

To manage the crash, you reach for more sugar, which once again makes your energy spike and crash. It's not uncommon for an ADDer to get stuck in this kind of cycle all day long. When that happens, you just don't feel good! You deprive yourself of the energy you need to focus on your day.

2. Exercise.

It can be hard to create an exercise routine when you feel like you're constantly running behind on life. But making exercise a priority can make a big positive impact on your ADD.

There are many benefits of exercise. And practically speaking, exercise directly helps combat many ADD challenges. It increases energy and focus, and helps you sleep better. It decreases your stress and tension levels. It gives you the opportunity to stop thinking so much, and move your body. You feel more balanced and in control. Many experts agree that exercise can be just as powerful as medication!

3. Proper Sleep

Studies show that people (without ADD) who are deprived of sleep become stressed out, have trouble concentrating, and difficulty managing tasks. Sounds like ADD, right? Now imagine how bad it is when you already have these challenges to begin with!

If you have trouble getting a good night's sleep, you may not be able to fix the problem immediately. But one thing you can do right away is make a decision to make sleep a priority! That might mean cutting out excess stimulation at night, going to bed earlier, or even making an appointment with your doctor.

When you focus on self-care, you feel better, and you lay a foundation for good ADD management.

The Bottom Line: The more you eat nutritiously, get proper sleep, and make time for exercise, the better you will feel. The better you feel, the easier it is to manage your ADD.

How does good self-care positively impact your ADD? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Comments

[Linda N]

I find exercising early in the morning before I start my day helps to calm my anxiety and keeps me focused better.

I have also been seeing a nutritionist for 6 months and have noticed a difference in my moods and concentration since cutting out sugar.

Now for sleep, I'm still working on, it's difficult for me to fall and stay asleep.

[Janelle H.]

im a 64 yr old female with a long history of adhd/add.i was on cylert for many years until it was pulled from market.after that my pcp only offered me prozac and provigil.when i took that it was no help at all.now that im an adult the hyperactivity is not a real problem but i cant concentrate to read,sew or anything that requires focus.if im in a situation where there is a lot of noise or people im just overwhelmed.my home,finances and everything have just gone to pot.(just figurativly speaking)im wondering what options i have.

[Elliot]

With regard to sugar, simple carbs and junk food:

I have had problems with bipolar depression over the years, and have been hospitalized for it at times.

Since I have also had cancer, and therefore was forced to learn about healthful eating or perish, I stay far away from sugar, simple carbs and junk food. But MY OH MY, have I noticed how many of the people with mental illness on psych wards LOVE their sugar! I even observed some of them tearing open packets of pure white sugar and pouring it into their mouths!

It is not at all a stretch to suppose that their poor eating habits helped put those unfortunate sugar addicts in the hospital psych ward. It's not a stretch, either, to say that white sugar is pure poison.

Thanks for all the helpful information about ADD, which I also appear to have.