Having a hard time staying still and paying attention in class or youth group or business meetings? Get yourself a “fidget” or two. A fidget is a small object that keeps your hands busy & allows your mind to focus better. My favorite is the tangle, though for best results, I need to switch fidgets on a regular basis (to keep things fresh!) What your favorite fidget?
ADHDers are good at juggling multiple stimuli. We can be looking around, texting, humming a song and still hear every word of a conversation. Problem is to the other person, the lack of eye contact and the extra activities make it seem like we’re not listening or don’t care and that can be a turn-off.
Giving your full attention during a conversation shows interest and respect. It’s hard, but very important to make an effort to give people in your life your FULL attention, especially if they don’t understand what ADHD is all about. Once they learn that you can in fact hear what they’re saying while appearing to be engaged in other activities, communication will become easier, but until you cross that bridge, don’t be misjudged as uncaring or flaky – pay attention!