The first time I attended the International Conference on ADHD, I felt very alone when I first arrived. Sure, I was able to talk to some of my classmates from the ADD Coach Academy, but I am an introvert with social anxiety. So, I was awkward and uncomfortable. Then, at one of the keynote addresses, I sat down and heard a voice behind me say, “Oh good, it’s you.”

I cannot remember how old I was when I first thought that I might possibly have ADHD. But, I do remember the first time I asked someone if it was possible that I had ADHD. I was rebuffed. That was that. However, I continued to underperform in school.

I do not believe I have ever mentioned this on this blog, but I do improv. I get a suggestion and then make up a scene with another performer. I love it. Improv is one of the most fun things I have ever done. I believe everyone who tries improv can walk away with some skill that applies to their real life. If there is one thing you can learn from improv, it is to “yes and…”

As 2021 comes to a close, many people will be thinking of their 2022 New Year’s resolution. I, however, will not be. I know, I know! I am in the personal transformation business; shouldn’t I be making a New Year’s resolution? Well, no, not necessarily. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions; I make today resolutions. In short, I make resolutions when it is time to make a change, not because of something as arbitrary as the change from one year to another.

The world can be rough, especially for those of us with ADHD. Many things can disappoint us or pull us down. With those challenges comes the temptation to get negative. No one likes being negative. Pessimists are often unhappy people. To counteract negativity, try a dose of positivity. Not sure how to stop the flow of negativity in your life? Read on! For, today we discuss ways of becoming more positive.

Managing your ADHD is a daunting task. There is a lot to consider and many things to be done. It can be overwhelming to think about. So, how does one start? Where does one start? It is not easy, but read on for my one key tip to getting ADHD under control.

This week the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, a time to come together with family and friends to remember all for which we are grateful. This takes the form of a giant meal. So, are we really grateful, or do we just enjoy turkey? I am not here to pass judgment on anyone’s Thanksgiving plans, but I do want to say a word on the subject of gratitude. I promise to not be cheesy.

Life can get hectic, crazy, and/or messy at times. Things can spiral out of control, and chaos can rule the day. However, the world doesn’t stop spinning when your life gets messy. You still need to be able to perform at work. Bills still need to be paid. And, your house needs to stay in order. As much as we would like life to slow down while we deal with our crap, it does not. So, what can we do when life is messy and troublesome?

I love planning. There is something about coming up with a grand plan that excites me. I get to flex my analytical muscles and design something incredible. However, I often find myself not getting into action and following through with my elaborate plans. This is mostly because I love the planning stage. The action phase is not as exciting to my ADHD brain. It has been a challenge for me to stop planning and start doing. Here are a few tips that have helped me.

Life with ADHD can be stressful. It leads to mental anguish, but that anguish can be overcome. It is possible to make peace with your ADHD. In this final week of ADHD awareness month, let’s explore some ways to make peace with your ADHD.

This ADHD Awareness Month, I will be exploring different areas of ADHD awareness. Last week, I discussed a new book on ADHD. This week I will be discussing the faulty logic of comparing yourself to others, something we ADHDers should never do.

Why ignore reality? Life with ADHD can get really hard. There are struggles aplenty. I do not have to describe them to you. Chances are, you know what I am talking about. In the moments when life seems difficult, what do you do? The answer can be found in a scene from the 2003 movie Finding Nemo. In the scene, Marlin is sad about his missing son and is ready to give up. That is when Dory swims up to him and encourages him to “just keep swimming.”

What do you want to do in life? How do you want to live your life? What can you do to live in alignment with your values? These questions get at your mission in life. It is important to have a mission in life. It serves as a guide for making decisions on both the big things in life and the little things. Knowing what you want to accomplish is going to be key to living a fulfilling life.

When I was in school, I never thought I was an exceptional mind. I thought I was just an average student. Yet, my mother always pushed me to do better than I was doing. She believed in me, but I did not believe in myself.

That experience is sadly common for those of us with ADHD. We are told by others we have so much potential, but we fail to live up to the expectations of others. As a result, we stop believing in ourselves. This is a tragedy because many of us with ADHD are extraordinarily gifted.

One of the guiding principles of Reset ADHD is “If it’s not fun, it won’t get done.” I try to make my coaching fun and engaging. I want to make sure my clients are excited about coaching and trying the strategies we discuss in our coaching sessions. There is a very good reason for this: The ADHD brain loves fun!

Stop me if you have heard this before. You wake up, hit the snooze button a couple of times, roll out of bed, rush to get ready, and run out the door with only coffee for breakfast. I am sure I do not have to tell you that this is not the ideal way to start the day. A reset on your morning routine would be wonderful.

I talk a lot about hitting the RESET button on ADHD. In fact, I named my coaching practice after that. I firmly believe in hitting the RESET button and starting again with strengths-based strategies. However, there can be a temptation to power through when things get tough. It can be difficult to know when is the proper moment to hit RESET. I have compiled some times when hitting the RESET button would be beneficial. But, these are not the only times when hitting RESET would be advantageous. There are more, and I hope you recognize those moments when they arise.