Managing ADHD During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Due to the current health crisis, we are being told to stay isolated and practice social distancing. This is presenting challenges for everyone, but for ADHDers, a whole new set of problems emerges. Staying put in one place for a long time gets boring, and working from home presents all sorts of distractions. While it might seem impossible to survive under these conditions, I would like to offer hope that you can thrive during this time.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
if you are working from home, keep where you work and where you relax separate. Have a dedicated space to work. When you are in that space, it will be easier for you to stay focused on work. This also has the added benefit of being able to enjoy your downtime more because you will not be in a place where you are supposed to be working.
Keep Your Brain Active
If you are not working from home and are just stuck at home, find ways of keeping your brain active. Take this time to explore new interests on YouTube or in books. Play games that test your brain. Stay engaged in intellectual pursuits. Do not just sit on the couch all day.
Exercise
Speaking of not sitting on the couch all day… Exercise is good for your body and your brain. Take some time to get exercise in. If you are not able to leave the house, there are exercises you can do at home. If you are looking for ways of making this fun, I have written some blog posts on keeping exercise fun. They can be found by clicking here. Moreover, if you google “prison workout,” there are numerous resources on exercising in confined spaces.
Growth Mindset
Keep a growth mindset during this time. Stay open to the opportunities that a time like this presents. If you examine only the negatives, life will be dreary. Challenge yourself to find ways of learning and growing.
Find the Fun
One of the most prevalent dilemmas for ADHDers (regardless of what is going on in the world) is how to turn boredom into interest. This is a time for creativity. Engage in artistic pursuits. Paint, draw, sing, or write. Engage in the world in unique ways. We ADHDers are creative by nature. We ought to engage that side of ourselves. Let loose. Find ways of having fun. Do not give in to boredom.
Stay Connected
Humans are social beings. We are made for connection. Do not isolate just because you are stuck at home. We have the ability to stay connected through a variety of means. We live in a technological world. It is possible to stay connected during times like these. I plan on texting at least one friend each day during this time of forced isolation.
Stick to Your Routine
As much as you can, keep your routine during the isolation. If you are working from home, get up at the same time and do all the things you would normally do (except for your commute, of course). Keep everything as normal as possible for your brain. The ADHD brain needs routine to thrive, even if it does not naturally like routine.
Discover How Your Brain Works Best
This is a time that is well suited for self-exploration. Take some time to experiment with different ways of operating. See what your brain does naturally. The things you notice can help you when life returns to normal. You will come out of this with a newfound sense of who you are and what you need to be successful.
Shameless self-promotion: Coaching is a great way to learn about oneself. I operate via Skype or FaceTime, so we can practice social distancing while we engage in the coaching process.