Every once in a while, an idea pops into my head. It seems grand and impossible, yet I want to do it. Now, I know I have ADHD, and the ideas that pop into my head could be an impulsive mistake if I act without thinking. Maybe you, dear reader, know something about this. Has a grand idea ever popped into your head that you immediately wanted to act upon? This is scary and can go horribly wrong if not dealt with properly. So, what should you and I do in these scenarios?

As some of my readers are aware, I do not classify ADHD as a superpower. I stand by my previous claims about that. However, what if it is? What would be the implications of that? Let’s consider what would be true if ADHD was a super power. After all, many out there claim it is. How can we respect them and dialogue with them if we cannot fully consider their opinion? Let’s explore superpowers, what they are, who has them, and how they are used. Then let’s look at what if ADHD is a superpower.

One often-quoted expression is “New year, new me.” I’ve never liked that expression. The reason I don’t like it is simple. There is nothing magical about the calendar changing that changes you. The person you are on January 1st will be practically identical to the person you were on December 31st. The calendar does not change you. You change you.

Get into the holiday spirit with a playful ADHD Christmas carol! Embrace the quirks of ADHD during this festive season and enjoy the unique joys it brings. Join us for some cheerful fun. 🎄✨ After the holidays explore how Reset ADHD can support your journey with ADHD whether through ADHD coaching, ADHD courses, ADHD group sessions and more.

At the 2023 International Conference on ADHD, Alan P. Brown of ADD Crusher made a shocking confession. He does not wash his hands after going to the bathroom. Scandalous, I know! However, he further clarified that what he does after using the restroom is go to the kitchen and wash two dishes. By the end of the washing, he has clean hands and two clean dishes. This is silly, and that is why it works.

When dealing with ADHD, the subject of impatience inevitably comes up. Those of us with ADHD are like Veruca Salt from the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. That character sings a song in that movie entitled, “I Want It Now.” Like Veruca, those of us with ADHD want things now. This is especially true when it comes to managing our ADHD. We do not want to wait for improvement to happen slowly. We want to be on top of our ADHD now. However, this is not reasonable. There are no miracle cures or overnight fixes for ADHD. In short, when managing ADHD, we are looking for progress, not perfection.

One of the tragedies of living life with ADHD is we do not give ourselves enough credit for what we are doing. We forget about the good things we have done, those things that help us move forward in life. There is a negativity bias that we need to overcome. We tend to focus on the things that have not gone according to plan. Yet, we need to remember that, sometimes, reality is better than what we had planned and that we have been making strides. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but we tend to discount the progress we have already made. So, I say to you, dear reader: You’re doing better than you think.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to track all of those things you intend to do, it is commonly recommended to make what is known as a “to-do list.” Yes, it is necessary to create such a list, for those of us with ADHD have trouble remembering all we intend to do. Memory is not our friend. It is fickle, so it becomes imperative to externalize our intentions.

Equally important, however, is the need to make a list of those things you do not want to do or are not worth your time. Therefore, I say to you: Make a not-doing list.

I like poetry. I like writing it, and I also like reading it (when the poems are good). I have had stretches of time where I was really into poetry, reading and writing as much as I can. However, I have also had stretches where poetry has been absent from my life. I get distracted by other things, and poetry becomes less of a priority. Yet, my love for poetry always remains. I quite often think to myself, “I should get back into poetry.” Somewhat recently, I had one of those I-gotta-get-back-into poetry moments.

Now that October is over, it is officially conference month! Yes, most of the 2023 International Conference on ADHD is actually in December, but the conference begins in November. And, I am traveling to Baltimore in November. So, in my mind, we are in the month of the conference. I. AM. PUMPED. I love going to this conference and have gone every year since I started Reset ADHD. I go every year because it is a great conference there is so much to love about it. I want to detail my favorite things about it.

Well, folks, here we are. We have reached the tail end of another ADHD Awareness month. It has been a journey for all of us. We have been pushing things hard here at Reset ADHD, and I hope you have enjoyed all of the content we have been putting out there. It is always a crazy time for those of us in the ADHD community, but we have all survived. And, our work goes on, for ADHD awareness is not just for the month of October.

Life can be hectic, and it is especially so when one has ADHD. As one manages one’s day-to-day life, all sorts of stressors pop up, which taxes one’s executive functions and other mental faculties. When the stress builds up, it is imperative to destress and find calm. Doing so may seem complicated, but we often forget the simple things that can help bring a sense of calm and relaxation to our lives. Here are a few tips that can help you relax and cultivate calm in your life.

Most people with ADHD have a comorbid condition. This means, along with ADHD, the individual has another mental health condition with which to cope. A Danish study (Jensen 2016) of individuals from age four to seventeen found that 52% of those with ADHD have a comorbid condition, and 26.2% had more than one comorbid condition. This makes life challenging. ADHD is tricky enough, but when you add another condition, that brings a whole host of troubles. That does not mean one is doomed to a life of struggle. It is possible to thrive. There is hope. So, whether you have anxiety, depression, or another condition along with your ADHD, you can thrive. How to thrive will be a challenge, but we can do hard things. If you are looking to navigate your co-existing conditions, follow the ideas below.

Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-altering event, especially if it is an adult diagnosis. You have learned something new about yourself and how your brain is wired. Things are the same as they have always been, but now, you know more about what is happening. You have a name for your struggles and unique traits. While it is a good thing to finally have answers, it can be a hard thing to handle. How does one make peace with oneself after an ADHD diagnosis? How does one make peace with one’s past after an ADHD diagnosis? It is a journey following an ADHD diagnosis, for sure, but there is hope.

When you have ADHD, it can be hard to believe in yourself. You have messed up so many times (or so you have been told) that it becomes hard to accept that you have what it takes to achieve your goals. In those moments where you are feeling less than about yourself remember these three things.

I had a crappy week recently. On the Friday evening of that week, I went to jujitsu class, and while driving home, I noticed I was happy. What happened? How did I turn things around? I noticed two things that helped me go from hating life to being happy. I am not saying it is a guarantee that these two things will work for you, but I think they are worth your consideration when you are glum.

About a year ago, I wrote about a new exercise journey I had begun. It was an online personal training program. I had a trainer who would send me workouts over an app. For most of the year, I stuck with it. However, after not seeing much in terms of gains, I lost motivation, and not too long ago, I quit altogether. This left me without an exercise plan. I spent maybe a week or two wondering what was next for me and exercising. Then, I signed up for a week-long trial of a dojo. I am now enrolled in jujitsu classes.

Have you ever looked at your to-do list, seen a bunch of items on it, and felt overwhelmed? I’m betting you have. Even if you do not write down your to-do list, I am sure the sheer number of things on your mental to-do list has overwhelmed you. This may have caused you to procrastinate or simply not do the things on your list. Procrastination and inaction do not reduce our stress levels. They do not solve the problem. What does, though?

There are many areas where those with ADHD struggle, and that is often where society places its focus. However, those of us with ADHD can do amazing things. We are talented and skilled in a wide variety of areas. Success is not limited to one area for us. There are three broad areas where we can succeed.

Those of us with ADHD struggle with arriving on time to our scheduled activities. Time blindness robs us of the ability to be there when we (and others) would like. We can lose track of time and all of a sudden realize we should have left the house 10 minutes ago. It can be a frustrating part of having ADHD. We cannot just accept this. We irritate others when we are late and can cause the schedule’s of others to be thrown off as well. Yes, people should be understanding when we are late, but constantly being late makes it seem like we do not care. There is a middle ground to be found between always being late and forgiving someone when they are late. We need to do our part to arrive on time and be ready for the event. Here are some tips for arriving on time.