| You may have gone throughout your entire life with | | | | 4. Don't limit yourself to traditional jobs. They may not |
| ADD, not realizing that's what it was. When you | | | | work for you. Think more along the line of problem |
| realized that attention deficit might be the issue, you | | | | solving and creativity. |
| may have seen the "disorder" label as disheartening. | | | | 5. Get used to using lists, color-coding, alarms, and |
| But isn't it cool to know what's wrong after dealing | | | | notes to help you remember things, like appointments, |
| with the ADD issues in your life anyway? It can be a | | | | putting away the laundry, and other things that people |
| moment of perfect clarity and relief. If you're still | | | | with ADD tend to forget. |
| unsure, if you're still wondering why your life seems | | | | 6. Use deadlines to help you get big projects done or |
| harder than the lives of other people, here are some | | | | just for things you need to do but might procrastinate |
| great suggestions: | | | | over. |
| 1. Be sure to get a proper diagnosis. Though your | | | | 7. Attention deficit has been linked to low levels of |
| symptoms might mirror attention deficit, they could be | | | | dopamine production. To boost that, try some exercise |
| something more serious, and you need proper | | | | and help your attention deficit symptoms to diminish. |
| treatment. Don't neglect to get answers from | | | | 8. Tell the people around you what attention deficit is all |
| professionals. | | | | about. When they understand better, they won't be so |
| 2. Understand that if you do have attention deficit, it's | | | | inclined to judge you for the wrong reasons. |
| not a bad thing. In fact, some believe that it's the next | | | | 9. Chunk down huge projects into a series of tasks. |
| evolution of the human brain. Just because you're | | | | When you think of these in smaller bites, you'll be less |
| moving at the speed of sound while the linear-thinking | | | | likely to avoid tackling them. |
| people are going at a normal pace, doesn't mean you | | | | 10. Give support to other people with ADD. Let them |
| should slow down. Rid yourself of the negativity you've | | | | know what coping mechanisms have worked for you |
| felt in your life and realize that you're probably very | | | | and feel good about helping out in the bargain. |
| smart, very creative, and can do many things at the | | | | Use these 10 tips just to get you started with |
| same time. In short, you're awesome. | | | | understanding ADD better. Once you do and can be |
| 3. Get support from other people who have attention | | | | happy with yourself, you'll realize that ADD isn't a |
| deficit. You can exchange opinions, anecdotes, or | | | | "disorder," it's just a different way of life. |
| coping strategies. | | | | |