My ADD / ADHD Blog

The Best Type of Schedule and Structure for ADHD

What's the best type of Schedule and Structure for adults with ADD / ADHD?

Unfortunately, there's not a one size fits all approach when comes to Schedules and Structure when you have ADD / ADHD. Some people with ADD / ADHD benefit greatly from a very rigid and detailed schedule. Some people with ADD / ADHD benefit from very little structure and a go with the flow type of schedule (or lack of). Then there are people who call somewhere in between the 2.

I created video about Structure and Schedules for Adults with ADD / ADHD. It's on my  ADHD Youtube Channel along with other short video tips from me. I've also added some select ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast episodes to my Youtube channel.

Be sure to subscribe to my ADHD Youtube Channel! I will be adding new videos on a regular basis. I will be adding more video tips and more ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast episodes. I will also be creating videos answering questions from ADHD Support Talk Advisor Members.

ADHD and Tapping - Emotional Freedom Technique

Are you stressed out? Join the the club! I just recently heard that we are the most stressed out in the United States than we've been in any other point in time. That's the general population too. As we know when we have ADD / ADHD we are more prone stress and overwhelm than the average person.

Since it's very likely we are even more stressed out than others, it's even more important to reduce the stress and overwhelm in our lives. As I often discuss Self-Care which includes: Sleeping, Healthy Eating, and Exercise is essential to reduce stress. So, part of the reason I'm writing today is to remind you and help you become more aware and mindful of the importance of effective self-care in your life right now.

I'm also writing share a great resource that can help you reduce the stress and overwhelm in your life. It's the 9th Annual Tapping World Summit. It's a FREE 11 Day Online Event focusing on Tapping also known at the Emotional Freedom Technique. Not only is the event free but Tapping is also an easy, convenient, no cost technique.

I do apologize because I'm letting you know about the 9th Annual Tapping World Summit on day 3 of the 11 day event. I started listening to it myself yesterday and as I was listening today I realized that Tapping could help many people with ADD / ADHD.

Don't worry! There's still plenty of great content to listen to over the next week!

I highly recommend checking out The Tapping World Summit.

Motivation, Willpower and Mood

It's been a great few weeks on ADHD Support Talk Radio. I was joined by 3 awesome ADHD guest Experts and we had 3 shows with interesting and helpful topics. If you haven't listened yet (or would like to listen again) you can listen by clicking the links below or by subscribing to ADHD Support Talk Radio as a podcast on iTunes.

 

• Deb Burdick - Mood, Mindfulness and Adult ADD / ADHD
• Alan Brown - Willpower, Self-Care and Adult ADD / ADHD
• Cameron Gott - Motivation, Inspiration and Adult ADD / ADHD

Thank you to my expert guests and to all my listeners!

If you have found ADHD Support Talk Radio helpful please leave a review on iTunes. Doing so will help more people find ADHD Support Talk Radio which will help more people with ADD / ADHD lead happier and more productive lives. 

I have some great guests and topics coming up in in the next month! Be sure to Subscribe to ADHD Support Talk Radio as a podcast on iTunes so you can listen to all the upcoming shows.

ADHD Women's Palooza

Want to be part of changing the way the world looks at women with ADHD? You can! My colleagues, Linda Roggli and Terry Matlen, have developed a ground-breaking online event and you are invited!  

The Second Annual ADHD Women’s Palooza begins February 6th, and runs through February 11, 2017. It will be an extraordinary week of insight and answers exclusively for women with ADHD, presented by 36 ADHD Legends and Luminaries including: Dr. Ned Hallowell, Sari Solden, Dr. Russell Barkley, Dr. Thomas E. Brown, Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, and many more…

 

Get to Sleep!

How are you sleeping? If you are watching the news or on social media right before bed you probably aren't sleeping as well as you could be. Sleeping one of the most important parts of effective self-care. As a person with ADD / ADHD getting enough sleep is vitally important.

Getting the right amount of sleep and the right type of sleep improves your focus, productivity and your mood. When you do not get enough sleep or the right type of sleep not only does it make those things worse it can also make you sick. When you have ADD / ADHD sleep can often be one of those things that we put low on our list of priorities.

Sometimes just being reminded about how important sleep is by somebody like me can be enough to help some people become more aware and more mindful of sleeping. From there many people can begin to get more sleep by improving sleep hygiene and getting back on their sleeping routines.

Some people need to go a bit further and take a look at what might be getting in the way of sleeping. If you are one of those people, I've got some great news or you. I was joined this week on ADHD Support Talk Radio by Jonathan Carroll and we talked about many of the things people with ADD / ADHD were doing that were interfering with sleep.

Click here to listen on iTunes.

Click here to listen on the the web.

What's been getting in the way of you getting enough sleep? 

Post a comment and let us know!

Prioritizing, Goals and Productivity Support for 2017

Happy 2017 everybody! It's been a busy and productive week for me but I want to make sure I update my blog. I'll use this blog post to share some resources that can help you be successful in 2017.

• FREE ADDClasses.com Webinar with Bonnie Mincu - The Real ABC’s of Prioritizing – Anticipation, Blocks, & Consequences - 1/10 at 9:00 pm EST (includes a 1 week FREE replay)

• ADHD Support Talk Radio episode with Dr. Stephanie Sarkis - Goals, New Years Resolutions and Adult ADD / ADHD (Listen here or Subscribe on iTunes)

• Adult ADD Productivity Circle - The next session 6 week session begins on 1/17. If you register by 1/11 you can save $100. 

Stop and Focus on Your Top 16 of 2016

Can you believe 2016 is finally coming to and end? I know it's a been a crazy year! Before we say good-bye to 2016, I have a challenge for you.

1. Stop and Close Your Eyes 
2. Put Your Hand over your Heart
3. Take 3 slow deep breaths in and out
4. Think about one of your Top Moments of 2016.

Great!! I'm going to challenge you even more! I challenge you to make a list of your Top 16 of 2016. This list can include anything like:

• Your accomplishments
• People who made a difference
• An event that improved your life
• A song that brought you joy
• A Book that inspired you

It's important to either put this list in writing or record it on a voice recorder. Get it out of your head!

I will be joining you in this challenge too! When I have completed my Top 16 of 2016, I will leave a comment here.

Feel free to post a comment here when you have completed yours. 

Tara McGillicuddy

FREE Help and Support for ADD / ADHD

If you listened to my ADDClasses.com Webinar "How to Find the Right Help and Support for ADD/ ADHD" you heard me mention Simbi. 

On Simbi, you can exchange services with other members or offer to “pay” them for their time using your credits “”.

Simbi is a great resource to offer and find services like:

• Peer Coaching
• Virtual Body Doubles
• Accountability Partners
• Wake up calls
• Reminders 

Check it out!! If you are an adult with ADD / ADHD who has found help on Simbi please comment and let me know.

Thank You for Your Support!

I've been trying to come up with an inspirational article to send out for Thanksgiving. After stressing out a bit and making things more complicated than they have to be, I decided to go with a simple “Thank You”. I would like to thank you for your support!

I would also like to recognize and thank my colleagues who have collaborated with me and supported me with my projects. Because of their support I have been able to reach and support thousands of people through:

• ADDClasses.com

• ADHD Support Talk Radio

• ADHD Awareness Expo

This year's ADHD Awareness Expo was a huge success. I have received so much positive feedback. As an added gesture of Appreciation and Gratitude, I have decided to keep the ADHD Awareness Expo Archives open (at no cost) until December 31, 2016.

If you have not registered for the ADHD Awareness Expo, make sure you register ASAP. I will be sending emails on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to registered ADHD Awareness Expo attendees with some great Surprises! If you can't remember if you are registered just simply register again.

Thank You Again!

Tara McGillicuddy

You live in the Real World

It's ADHD Awareness Month and some of the ADHD Advocacy organizations are pushing people to "come out of the closet" when it comes to having ADHD. I think some of the leaders in the ADHD field have been so wrapped up in in the ADHD world for so long that they sort of forgot what it's like to live in the real world.

You do live in the real world! Only you can figure out if it makes sense you for to share that you have ADHD with others.  Not everybody will accept, understand or even care that you have ADHD. Sometimes disclosing ADHD can add even more stress to your own live. It's important to put yourself first and look at whether it's right for you. 

Each situation and each person or group of people is different to. It's important to look at each situation and decide if it makes sense for you. It's very different to disclose to your boss vs disclosing to a friend.

Choosing not to disclose ADHD does not mean you are ashamed that you have ADHD. It just means it's not right for you. There are many things about ourselves that we choose not to share with other people.

Do you what's right for YOU!

You have the Power!

Can you believe it's already September? It's a new month with new energy. I know that I'm sure ready for new energy and positive changes this month. I've been hearing from so many people, especially people with ADD / ADHD, that they have been more stressed and overwhelmed over these past few months than usual.

Sometimes we can't control what life throws at us and stress and overwhelm become the norm in our lives. We often feel powerless when this happens and go even deeper into this heavy feelings. We do have the power to come out of this and improve our own lives even if we can't change some of the circumstances.

Often, making a tiny change in our own lives can make a world of difference. Adjusting and shifting our mindsets just a little bit is one of those changes that can improve our lives. Sometimes we are able to make those shifts on our own.

Many of us need something or somebody outside of ourselves to help us begin those shifts. Who or what may be different for each of us. My intention is that this newsletter acts as a spark to help you with your own shift.

Since it's a new month, my challenge for you is to think about what you want more of in your life this month.

If you accept this challenge, take it a step further and write down these things. When you write them down put them in the present tense as if they are already in your life.

Here are a few examples:

1. I am peaceful and relaxed.
2. I have a clean and organized home.
3. I am having fun and enjoying life.
4. I am healthy and well rested.
5. I am happy and successful.

Keep your list some place easily accessible and refer back to it regularly through out the month of September. Say some of the things on your list out loud. Picture or imagine what it is like to have these things in your life. Practice focusing on these things which you are ready to bring more of into your life.

Good luck! Here's to an awesome September! Let's all make it a great month. 

7th Annual ADHD Awareness Expo

Wow, I can't believe it's already August and it's been almost a month since my last blog post. I've been super busy planning and working on the 7th Annual ADHD Awareness Expo. I'm getting really excited about it too! It's going to be the best ADHD Awareness Expo yet.

We have great speakers and topics this year. We have many returning speakers and some great first time speakers this year too. Among the new speakers are Dr. Edward Hallowell, Dr. Russell Ramsay, Dr. Kirsten Milliken and Dr. Alan Graham. Dr. Edward Hallowell will be giving a Special Keynote presentation this year.

The FREE Online ADHD Awareness Expo begins on October 2, 2016 and runs until October 8, 2016. Be sure to register now for the 7th Annual ADHD Awareness Expo! 

Enough is Enough

As most of you know there has been a lot of negativity and violence in the media. I for one am standing up and speaking out that enough is enough. I'm not just talking about the actual violence itself but the media coverage. I'm also talking about people and organizations spreading the fear and negativity online through social media and email. It's not good for anybody especially people with ADD / ADHD to continuously be exposed to negativity and violence. 

If you are joining for me next week's Succeed with ADHD Telesummit you will be able to listen to my presentation Combat Negativity and Thrive with ADD / ADHD. In this presentation you will learn why it's very important for somebody with ADD / ADHD to Combat Negativity. I will also be offering some ways to combat negativity in your own life.

Remember that even if you can't control the crazy things going on in the world you can control your exposure to such things. You can eliminate or reduce the news you watch and pay attention to. You can block or unfollow people on social media who flood your feeds with negativity. You can stop supporting organizations which spread negativity. If it's right for you personally, you can also speak up and tell people enough is enough.  

Being exposed to violence, negativity and traumatic events is damaging to your mind, body and soul and you do not have to put up with it. You are in control! 

Many of us with ADD / ADHD are sensitive and empathetic people who feel the need to make changes and help others. Some people are under the false impression that they must stay informed of world events to in order improve the world or help people. I'm telling you straight out that is not the case! 

Here are some ideas to make the world a better place with out exposing yourself to all the negativity and trauma in the media. 

• Do a Random Action of Kindness for Somebody
• Join a Prayer group or Healing Circle
• Send out positive energy and thoughts to the world
• Pay it Forward
• Volunteer for an organization that focuses on improving lives
• Make a donation to a charity or a family in need
• Smile at a stranger 

Remember that in order to make the world a better place it's essential to take care of yourself first and practice proper self-care.

Tara McGillicuddy

Looking for an ADD / ADHD Coach?

I've been getting quite few email inquiries from people looking for ADD / ADHD Coaches lately. I am going to offer some resource recommendations to help people find ADD / ADHD Coaches. 

I offer 2 different ADD / ADHD Coaching programs myself:

• Adult ADD Productivity Circle
• Focused Action Email Coaching

I also have 3 great resources featuring many wonderful ADD / ADHD Coaches:

• ADHD Support Talk Radio 
• ADDClasses.com
• ADD Audio Library

Here are some directories listing ADD / ADHD Coaches:

• ADHD Coaches Organization
• ADDA Professional Directory

I hope this helps!

Good luck!

Tara McGillicuddy

Take it off your To-Do List

A theme that keeps coming up lately for many of my clients is that they have many items on their to-do list that they are not getting to. To make matters worse they are feeling badly about this and beating themselves up. Many are looking for systems and tools to get everything done. 

Learning new strategies and developing ways to be more productive makes perfect sense. What often makes even more sense to be realistic and truthful about the items on the list. Maybe it’s time to admit those items are not a priority right now and give yourself permission to take them off the list and to feel okay about doing so. 

There are some items that you can just remove and be done with. There may be other items that you can delegate to other people or automate. There will be some that you can come back and reevaluate at a later time. There will be some that can be done with improved systems and strategies. 

Whether you have an actual written to-do list or just a bunch of tasks, projects and ideas in your head, I challenge you to examine the items. Which ones can you take off? Which ones can you delegate to somebody else? Which ones can you automate? Which ones can you schedule to reevaluate next week or next month?

Remember, our priorities change. What may have been a top priority last year may not even be on the radar as a priority today. If things are not making it to the top of our priority list there are reasons for this. It’s more helpful to better understand why our priorities may have shifted instead of beating ourselves up because they have.

Tara McGillicuddy