ADHD Management Needs to Be More Fun
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
When we think about dealing with our ADHD, we use words like “control” and “manage.” What I would like to propose is that we change the way we talk about ADHD management. What if we started using words like “play” or “harness?” How would that change the way we think about ADHD? I maintain that this is a better way of approaching things. Now, I am not proposing to make ADHD a superpower. I am not one of those people; I see the dangers of ADHD. In fact, I have called ADHD the “ignored public health crisis.” However, I think the answer to this public health crisis is play and fun.
Why Play?
Play is a great way to learn and experiment. Learning, especially at a young age, happens through play. We learn how to interact with others and what we naturally do well. In play, we have the freedom to try new things and see how they work for us (or don’t). Play is a low-stakes environment. It is easy to bounce back from setbacks in play because they generally do not matter. Games do not have major consequences. It is just a bit of fun. The playground is a safe space.
The Necessity of Fun
Life without fun is dreary. We go crazy if we do not have something fun to do. This is especially true for those of us with ADHD. If something does not seem fun, we have no drive to do it. By making boring tasks fun, we increase the likelihood of doing them. The more fun a task is, the more dopamine it gives us. The ADHD brain loves dopamine but does not get enough of it. Making something fun is a dopamine booster.
My Suggestion
If you have agreed with me thus far, you might be wondering how you can make your ADHD management more playful and fun. Even if you are skeptical about play and fun in ADHD management, you could be curious about my ideas for bringing fun into ADHD management.
My bold idea is to teach those of us with ADHD improv skills. I know improv has improved my life, and I believe it has the power to change the way we approach handling our ADHD. Whether you believe me or not, I invite you to a webinar on March 23 to learn more about improv and how it can be beneficial. Once again, it has changed my life, and I hope it changes yours too.
Book your FREE Reset ADHD Session today.
“Play is training for the unexpected.”