An Enemy Called Average by John Mason is an oldie, but a goodie. Filled with over 100 “nuggets” of motivation, each is no longer than two pages and some are just quick quotes. I like to randomly flip to a page and see what I find. Today: “Am I on the path to something marvelous, or something absolutely mediocre?” A good question to ask yourself on a daily basis!
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch was an emotional but worthwhile read. It’s a book that forces you to ask some hard questions: What’s important now? What’s my legacy? What are my dreams? Am I living life to the fullest? Great book to help you back up and look at the big picture of your life. Pretty short too! If you search Youtube, there’s also a video where Randy gives that “last lecture” that the book is based on. Really amazing! 11,000,000 views and counting if that tells you anything!
Delivered from Distraction a book by Hallowell & Ratey has brought me much hope. ADHD can be overwhelming and make you feel like you’re losing your mind and that you’re all alone in your struggle. Books like this one, help you verbalize and translate what’s happening in your head. It’s a great starting point to learn about ADHD. I usually suggest it to older teens and adults who suspect that they may have ADHD or newly diagnosed individuals.
Continuing on the subject of books and reading, most of you probably know that one of my go-to books is The Bible. There’s all kinds of good stuff in there, but one of my favorite parts is where Jesus says, “In this world you will have troubles. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” This phrase gives me strength to face my struggles. Which book brings you encouragement & inspires you?
If your ADHD came with Dyslexia like mine did, then reading probably has been and continues to be a challenge. But guess what? Hard or not, reading makes you better! If you struggle with words like I do, remember, the only way to get better is to keep at it. Your vocabulary grows, your spelling gets better, you can express yourself more clearly and all these help with self-confidence. Reading is the p90X for the brain!
I did read one book as a kid that I really loved – The Indian in the Cupboard (my aunt Libby gave it to me). Why didn’t I read other books if I enjoyed that one so much? Simple. No one else gave me any more after that. And I didn’t think to ask. And buying books with pocket money was not a priority. So. Give! Ask! Read!!
And if you’re a book-loving adult trying to get your kids to read – don’t forget the bookstore or the library with 1,000s of books, while a fun playground for book lovers can be OVERWHELMING for a kid who’s not into books in the first place. So take them on a tour, show them where everything is at, make it fun and manageable, so they won’t be intimidated to go there alone!
Even after I realized that reading was a great learning tool, it was still hard to sit down and read. I had to come up with incentives for myself – finish chapter, get a Little Debbie Snack Cake; finish a book, get a new fishing pole. Prizes and treats are a good way to motivate anyone; as time goes on make it more challenging to earn loot. After a while, the habit of reading will take root and then reading will be a reward all by itself. Hopefully!
I began to enjoy reading when I realized that there were books that I could relate to. The first time it happened, I had picked up one of Hallowell’s ADHD related books and suddenly – BAM! – I couldn’t put it down! It does take time to find books to capture our attention, but with millions of books out there, there’s got to be a handful that you’ll enjoy and get something out of – don’t give up!
One of the greatest battles for someone w/ADHD is to find the time, focus & motivation to read. Books store a wealth of information and can spark creativity that should not be over looked by anybody. This week I want to share bits of wisdom that I have gleaned thru reading. Though it’s really hard to get going, I am inspired, challenged or learn something new each time I pick up a book. Reading can be life-changing!
– SUGAR – I love Spring & Easter! Everything is blooming, people stop hiding inside, there are bunnies and chocolate eggs! Now this might come as a total shock, but I love sweets! Did someone say “Little Debbie??” Too bad an ADHD brain and too much sugar is a bad idea, especially if you tend to be already hyper. I think one day of candy is ok, but don’t overdo it. If you have ADHD try to stick with complex carbs, protein, and Omega 3 fatty acids. Have a great Easter!
Tunnel-vision. Creativity + Wild Imagination = Endless Possibilities. Exploring all those endless possibilities can take you down the rabbit hole of hyperfocus. Hours will pass, sleep, food, relationships and health will be neglected – definitely not the way to go! Possible solution? Set a timer and when it goes off, you’re done. No matter what. This is another area where a sympathetic enforcer can come in handy. Also, make a list of what’s truly important in your life and be sure to look at it when the timer goes “ding” – it might help shift your focus from “tunnel” to “big picture”.
Foot-in-mouth disease – The dark side of having both a sense of humor and ADHD is that often things fly out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop and think: is that appropriate? Is it really funny or will that offend someone? Impulse-control takes years to master, but it is possible – keep at it. But right now, if your impulses are getting the best of you, learn how to apologize and quickly! And remember, some of your “funny” gems are meant for your private enjoyment only.
Forgetfulness – Came home from a great but tiring weekend, got caught up playing the Wii with Natty, popped some popcorn, watched a movie with the Russian and just forgot to write my next T4TD. Being forgetful is something that I and most people with ADHD struggle with. When your mind is racing things tend to fall through the cracks. My memory strategies? I send myself emails, set alarms on my phone, use post-its, and ask others to keep me accountable.
When you do forget something important, and you will, try not to beat yourself up, that will only make matters worse. If possible complete the task, keep moving forward and be mindful to set up memory safeguards for that next important thing you shouldn’t forget.
Can’t Take a Break? I believe my need to keep doing comes from my body trying to keep up with my racecar brain. Since I have a hard time shutting down the engine, I go, go, go until I hit a wall and then it’s not pretty. Find a way to slow down or even stop before hitting the wall because once you do it’s harder than ever to find the power to battle the other struggles of ADHD.
A simple strategy that works for me, is asking my wife to force me to take breaks. I let her use “force” because I trust her and because I know that I can’t help myself. Get yourself a designated enforcer and stop running into walls!