We all have dragons to slay. By dragons, I mean the big scary tasks that we know we have to do or want to do but have a sense of overwhelm when thinking about doing it. These tasks can seem insurmountable, but they can be done. They might be difficult, but we can do difficult things.

The first thing you need is a plan of attack. Break down what you need or want to do into tiny steps. Figure out where to start and how to best accomplish what you need or want to do.

ADHDers are prone to perfectionism. This can wreck our productivity. We sometimes feel we need everything to be just right before we can begin a project, or on the flip side, we keep working on a project until it is perfect, meaning it never gets done. So, if we need to get something done and we notice perfectionism getting in the way, what can be done? There are several mindset shifts that can help us let go of perfectionism.

I write this on the day the round of 64 begins for the NCAA basketball tournament. I am wondering how I will stay focused when all of these exciting basketball games are going on. Not all of my readers are college basketball fans, but all of us are fans of something. It can be a challenge to stay focused and productive when there is something exciting happening in the world. Heck, it is hard to stay focused when there is something terrible going on. You may be distracted by the NCAA tournament, or you may be distracted by the war in Ukraine. Whatever is going on, society, school, your employer, etc. expects you to stay productive. So, what can be done when other things are vying for our attention?

Managing your ADHD is kind of like fulfilling an order at a Burger King. The slogan for Burger King used to be “Have it your way.” I maintain this is a principle that ADHDers ought to adapt. You see, you have to manage your ADHD your way.

If you have ADHD, you might find that you struggle with time management. In fact, there is a very strong likelihood that you will struggle with time management. It is an executive function skill we ADHDers just do not have. We tend to focus on the present much more than the future. Because of this, we get so wrapped up with what we are doing that we forget about what we need to be doing later. In short, we have no internal sense of time. What we need to do, then, is externalize time.

Managing your ADHD is a daunting task. There is a lot to consider and many things to be done. It can be overwhelming to think about. So, how does one start? Where does one start? It is not easy, but read on for my one key tip to getting ADHD under control.

Life can get hectic, crazy, and/or messy at times. Things can spiral out of control, and chaos can rule the day. However, the world doesn’t stop spinning when your life gets messy. You still need to be able to perform at work. Bills still need to be paid. And, your house needs to stay in order. As much as we would like life to slow down while we deal with our crap, it does not. So, what can we do when life is messy and troublesome?

This past weekend, I attended the 2021 Virtual Conference on ADHD. One of the presentations that most resonated with me was on accountability. This session was presented by Eric Tivers of ADHD Rewired. It was filled with humor and great tips on setting up accountability structures in your life. Here are five things I learned while listening to Tivers’ presentation.

I love planning. There is something about coming up with a grand plan that excites me. I get to flex my analytical muscles and design something incredible. However, I often find myself not getting into action and following through with my elaborate plans. This is mostly because I love the planning stage. The action phase is not as exciting to my ADHD brain. It has been a challenge for me to stop planning and start doing. Here are a few tips that have helped me.

One of the guiding principles of Reset ADHD is “If it’s not fun, it won’t get done.” I try to make my coaching fun and engaging. I want to make sure my clients are excited about coaching and trying the strategies we discuss in our coaching sessions. There is a very good reason for this: The ADHD brain loves fun!

Stop me if you have heard this before. You wake up, hit the snooze button a couple of times, roll out of bed, rush to get ready, and run out the door with only coffee for breakfast. I am sure I do not have to tell you that this is not the ideal way to start the day. A reset on your morning routine would be wonderful.

The most obvious benefit of a reset is a fresh start. Things can get stale if you work at them for too long. Pausing and hitting the reset button allows you a fresh start. You can approach what you are working on with a new perspective and can have a better chance of success.