It's Time To Get Serious About Boundaries
Hi Friend,
Adults with ADD very often have trouble creating boundaries.
September, in particular, can be a difficult time as the world picks up its pace. It's back to school for the students. More projects suddenly appear at work. Retailers are beginning to drop hints about the holiday season. And any minute now your phone will start ringing as people begin asking you to help out with various causes and functions.
There's a lot going on, and you can get overwhelmed just thinking about it!
Without the appropriate boundaries, adults with ADD fall victim to the overwhelm-burnout cycle. You get completely overwhelmed trying to accomplish everything that you're "supposed to," and then you burn out from all the mental and physical stress.
Here are 3 simple strategies that you can use to set boundaries and take care of yourself.
1. Put yourself first. You're no use to anyone—family, friends, or coworkers—when you're stressed out and overwhelmed. Make sure you get what you need to function at your best before committing to helping anyone else.
2. Set your own hours.
Decide when you're willing to help out or do things for other people. This includes spouses and kids! If you want a night off to relax, you're entitled to it.
3. Just say "No."
Never be afraid to turn down the requests that people make of you. You don't need an excuse to decline, either. If you truly want to do something and you have the time for it, then great. But you don't need to say "yes" just because you were asked.
Remember, good boundaries help protect adults with ADD from succumbing to overwhelm.
What have you done to create good boundaries? Share your thoughts on my blog at http://www.experiencingaddvantages.com/2009/09/boundaries.html#comments
The Virtual AD/HD Conference is Less than 4 Weeks Away!
My team and I are hard at work behind the scenes making this year's Virtual AD/HD Conference even better than last year!
With 26 of the top doctors, authors, and experts in the field of AD/HD, this year's conference promises to be a can't-miss event for anyone affected by AD/HD. And you don't even have to leave home!
Even if you're not planning to attend, be sure to check out the Virtual AD/HD Conference Podcast Series, in which our speakers give sneak previews of their upcoming conference sessions!
The latest podcast in the series addresses a hot topic with many ADDers: sleep! Listen to Conference Speaker Linda Roggli discussing "Counting Sheep: An AD/HD Guide to a Good Night's Sleep" at http://www.ADHDconference.com/podcasts.shtml
Plus informative podcasts from our speakers on topics such as:
- "Homework's Done, Now Have Fun!"
- "Proactive Strategies to Avoid Workplace Pitfalls"
- "Paying Attention to Drugs for Paying Attention"
- "All About AD/HD Coaching and How to Find the Right Coach"
- "Overcoming Overspending: Why Adults with AD/HD Overshop and How to Stop"
- "AD/HD and Depression: Treat Your AD/HD, Feel Better"
- ...plus more podcasts to be added in the coming weeks!
All the podcasts in the series are F R E E! Visit http://www.ADHDconference.com/podcasts.shtml
The Virtual AD/HD Conference is a rare opportunity to 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, and save tons of money by attending from the comfort of your own home, participating at your own pace!
Registration prices will be increasing by $50 this month, so if you plan to join us, now is the time! Register at http://www.ADHDconference.com
I hope to "see" you at the conference!
P.S. Registration prices will increase this month , so please don't put off registering if you want to join us! Visit www.ADHDconference.com. |