Managing Attention Deficit Disorder: 8 Must-have Skills

If you're and adult diagnosed with Attention Deficitare the things you will find easier to develop. Once you
Disorder (ADD), you likely become overwhelmed whenhave established what works for you, both your
dealing with the day-to-day tasks of every-day living.personal and professional lives will become much
This can result in feelings of 'lack of achievement' insimpler.
terms of those things that are important in your life and5. Concentrate on Your Strengths - Everybody has
conjures up frustration that you are just not coping. In'positive attributes': strengths, skills, knowledge,
turn, this causes stress which results in additionalexpertise and aptitude. Increasing the time you spend
frustration . . . after all, stress is caused by those thingsand the effort you make on these 'positives' will
you don't achieve, not the things you do achieve. Yourincrease both your sense of self-worth and your
entire day is on turbo-charge as you constantlycontentment. Positive energy attracts positives!
attempt to 'catch-up' AND this leaves you feeling6. Become an Optimist - It's easy to focus on the
disorganized, frustrated and discontent. Do younegative aspects of ADD. However you MUST
recognize any of these feelings? You'll be pleased toconstantly force yourself to focus on the good things
know there are some valuable strategies for dealingabout yourself. If you believe in the natural 'cause and
with and overcoming these feelings of helplessness.affect' principle, you will require no convincing that
Here are 8 important strategies for dealing with ADD:when you focus on the positives, you attract positives.
1. Slow Down - You often live life on hyper drive, bothPositives energize you and people love being around
mentally and physically. While this strategy requirespositive people - it's all part of the 'law of attraction'.
discipline, it's essential that you force yourself to7. Plan the Time to Plan - Set aside some time once a
SLOW DOWN. When you experience those feeling ofweek to plan out the week ahead. Start off by
being out of control, tell yourself to STOP, think aboutidentifying what's great in your life and how you can
what's happening and SLOW DOWN. It is possible!improve those tings. Then think about those things that
2. Take Special Care Of You - You most likely have aannoy you and how you can (at least) minimize their
tendency to put yourself last. You need to start toimpact on you. Write these things down and establish
take very special care of yourself and think abouta quick plan of a few things you are going to commit
what makes you feel good. After all, if you feel good,to doing over the next seven days.
you are in a much better position to take care of8. Take Challenges - This does necessarily mean
others. It's a good idea to write down those things thatspeed-boat racing or skydiving! It suggests stepping
you like to do and the people you enjoy doing themout of your comfort zone and doing things that may
with.be a little uncomfortable. Examples might include
3. Know Your Own ADD - ADD takes many formsrequesting that pay-rise, joining a gym, or signing up for
and affects us all in many diverse ways. You cannotthat course you've been thinking about for years. If
effectively manage ADD without a high level ofyou don't take the challenge, you wont get the return.
awareness of the particular manner in which it impactsWhile there are many challenges to those of us who
your life and the life of those you care about. Becomehave been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, we tend to
aware of your specific behaviors . . . being aware is 50ignore the positives and the opportunities we have to
percent of the battle in managing ADD.overcome adversity. While we have identified 8
4. Use Your Learning and Processing Methods - Thisstrategies for dealing with ADD, we are certain there
strategy follows on from the previous one. Once youare many more. When all is said and done, it all gets
develop an awareness of specific behaviors, identifydown to attitude AND attitude is a direct result of how
the ways in which you concentrate and learn. Identifyyou choose to think. It's your choice!
those things you are passionate about because they