Managing Adult ADD is Like Riding a Bike
Dear Friend,
You've no doubt felt at least a tinge of overwhelm this week, as summer has 'officially' ended and September is here! It's back to school, back to the big projects at work, and back to life as we know it. And, dare I say it, stores have even begun busting out their holiday merchandise! Talk about pressure!
September is quite possibly the most stressful month of the year for adults with ADD. You may even find yourself slipping away from the ADD management routines, structure, and systems that you've previously created.
I've been hearing from a lot of clients who are getting down on themselves because the transition from summer to fall has been more difficult than they anticipated.
With this in mind, I'd like to offer you the following reminder: Managing adult ADD is like riding a bike.
Remember when you learned to ride a bike?
You probably started out with a tricycle when you were very young. At some point, you got the coveted two-wheeler with training wheels.
And eventually the day came that your parents told you it was time to take those training wheels off. Excitement and joy arose when a sunny spring day appeared and you knew it was your time to shine...to be a "big kid."
You probably resented the adult who held on to the back of the bike as you started pedaling in what would be your first-ever bike ride without training wheels.
But what happened when that adult did eventually let go and you were left to ride on your own?
You fell.
Splat! Right over on your side. You thought you could do it, but it turned out balancing on two wheels is a lot harder than balancing on four.
Maybe you cried. Maybe you skinned a knee or an elbow. Perhaps you found your little self completely disappointed and frustrated about what you thought you could do without effort.
But no matter how you felt, you got up and got back on that bike. Maybe right away, and maybe not until a week later. But you got back on the bike. You practiced.
You fell many more times, but you kept getting back on that bike, because you knew that the only way you'd ever learn how to ride that bike was to keep getting back on it.
And now, as an adult, you know how to ride a bike. You may not do it very often, and you may fall every now and then, but you know how to ride a bike.
So what makes you think that managing your ADD is any different than riding a bike?
What makes you think that the minute you set your mind to something, you can instantly accomplish it?
Organization, time management, better focus and concentration, emotional regulation...they all require practice. They require extra effort in times of overwhelm, like the kind we're all experiencing now as life kicks back into high gear.
Learning to manage ADD is like learning to ride a bike. Expect a learning curve. Expect quite a few falls. Expect a hard time finding your balance. And rest assured that one of these days ADD management will be second nature.
Until then, don't get down on yourself when you fall. No matter how bad things seem to be going, no matter how many times you fall, always get back on the bike.
Do you have thoughts on this topic that you'd like to share? Please do so on my blog at http://www.experiencingaddvantages.com/2008/09/managing-adult.html#comments!
Who Else Wants to Be Happy & Successful by Breaking the Rules?
There are only 3 spaces remaining in the Odd One Out Coaching Program that begins next week!
Are you tired of trying to fit in and be like everyone else?
Sick of feeling like there's something wrong with you simply because you happen to have ADD?
Are you ready to learn how to be happy and successful by breaking the rules?
Great! Because I'm ready to teach you.
If you've read my book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD, then you know that I live my life according to my own rules, and I don't apologize for it. I continually manage my own ADD, and I even benefit from this unique brain-wiring that we call "Attention Deficit Disorder." And for almost 6 years now, I've been helping clients do the same.
The Odd One Out Coaching Program is a "study group on steroids," meaning that we'll take an in-depth look at the strategies in the book, and delve even deeper into advanced strategies for building the ADD management skills with a maverick approach.
For 6 weeks, I'll teach you how to be happy and successful by breaking the rules.
 The ultimate objective of this coaching program is to arm you with a toolkit of skills that you can use to manage your ADD and move forward in life. You'll get the info, skills, and support to stop stressing out all the time and start enjoying your life.
Because the group will be small, we’ll have a unique opportunity to get to know each other. We'll have plenty of time to go over materials and strategies, and still help each person individually. In my experience as a coach, this is a winning formula for success.
You learn from the materials presented, you learn from the challenges and successes of your peers, and you get a personal coaching boost to help you maximize your new knowledge and skills!
Specifically, we'll be focusing on:
- Breaking the cycle of overwhelm, which means spending less time feeling burnt out and stressed out, and spending more time feeling calm, centered, and productive.
- Increasing focus and concentration, which means improving your ability to pay attention when you need to.
- Identifying and building on your strengths, which means growing your self-esteem instead of focusing on your weaknesses.
- Using simple and effective time management tools, which means managing your time more efficiently.
- Organizing in an ADD-friendly way, which means spending less time and energy managing your physical spaces at home and at work.
- Working towards life goals, which means moving beyond day-to-day living by adding elements of fun and creativity to your life.
- Making your own rules in life, which means embracing the maverick within you in order to be happy and successful!
The group meets via teleclass for 6 sessions on Tuesday evenings beginning September 9th, and resources will be available online throughout the duration of the program.
There are currently 3 spaces left in the program, which has sold out every time it's been offered. This session will be no exception, so don't delay if you'd like to join us!
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Remember - no matter what, get back on the bike!
Now you can:
- Get all the tools you need to succeed from top experts
- Break out of isolation as you connect with peers who've been or are in your shoes,
- Save tons of money as you attend from the comfort of your own home, and participate at your own pace!
Don't miss this chance to connect with your peers and top AD/HD experts, including Ned Hallowell, Daniel Amen, Sari Solden, Patricia Quinn, John Ratey, and many more!
Register today at http://www.ADHDconference.com!
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