Originally Posted by
Brian96
Hard to give it much service in a message board post, but here are a handful of tips:
1. If your medicine is getting the desired result without undesirable side effects, then that is great. It would put you in a pretty small minority of people. If it ain't broke, I wouldn't tinker with it too much. Some of the non-stimulant meds are interesting but have other side effects, especially if you are prone to mood and/or anxiety struggles.
2. Just as there is no magic pill, there is no magic behavioral strategy. The overarching goal is to do a variety of things that each lighten your load and help you maximize the bright spots of ADHD and minimize the negatives.
3. A big thing is to learn to be accepting of both the positives and the negatives of ADHD. It is the nature of the beast that you will get distracted, off-track, forget things, etc. There is no need to beat yourself up over it. Acknowledge it and move on. You might even find it possible to laugh at yourself from time to time when you catch yourself "being ADHD."
4. Another big thing is to use organizational tools. Take the time to get your workspace organized. Obviously it won't stay that way, so there is another opportunity to practice acceptance! Just tidy it back up when you notice it. Use calendars. Most importantly: WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN! Stickies work great for me. Even folks without ADHD have trouble remembering things, especially when they are busy. There is no shame in keeping a notepad with you all the time so that you are sure to remember conversations and other things that come up through the day.
5. Take breaks. With ADHD we tend to find ourselves off-track and then wander from project to project, often finishing none of them. To head this off at the pass, work in pre-planned blocks of time. Use a cell-phone of computer calendar alarm to alert you to when it is time to take a break or switch tasks. This will keep you from getting carried away with a task in your hyper-focus modes. Similarly, when you have caught yourself getting fed up with a task, take a time-limited break and COME BACK TO IT. A big mistake many folks with ADHD make is giving up on a task and leaving it. Instead, when you get fed up, interpret it as a cue to take a break, then come right back.
6. To emphasize this point a bit, there is a tendency for folks to get exasperated with tasks, easily losing interest. Understand that this is a feature of ADHD, not a feature of the task. Again, take a break and come back to it.
7. Be healthy. The things that are good for your health (rest, exercise, good diet) are good for your brain, and things that are good with your brain can help minimize ADHD symptoms and maximize compensating resources.
These are some things that have helped me, and I've seen them help others as well.