A quick ADHD tips and tricks post, something that came to my awareness that I thought was worth mentioning.
It occurred to yesterday, that there's something I learned to do a very long time ago ( intuitively ) or otherwise, that I started doing as a way to get things done. The reason I just now rediscovered this trick I do, because it's been ingrained into my "being" for so long ( long before I was ever diagnosed ) that it's something..."I just do".
It's been clouded over by so many other things in my life like work, relationships, duties, obligations, and so many other things that occupy my mind...it simply gets buried underneath all these things, that now, stripping those away....I had this realization that I've done this as long as I can remember...in fact, I can't even remember when I started doing it? I suspect...swimming again is where this comes from which is why I'm bringing this up.
I understand, there are a lot of people on this forum with ADHD kids. I thought it might be worth mentioning this one.....that is, my self taught way to successfully manage my ADHD symptoms before I knew I had ADHD.
I don't for a moment, think this is some new revelation or something that hasn't been researched or discovered in terns of ADHD research. But because it's tied to my "Elite training "....it might get overlooked. It well established that breaking things down to "smaller tasks" is a a known method to help get things done for people with ADHD.
This is more of an addendum to that method ....which is where the value in this comes from.
In other words...breaking things down to smaller "bites" is fine, but that doesn't actually get you to do it, especially if it's something you don't want to do!! This is actually how I rediscovered it...I have a list of things I don't want to do but have to be done in a specific time frame. That's where "short term goals" come in.
And that's where the swimming training comes in. Training = workouts ( work ) = repetitive "sets" = pain and exhaustion = not necessarily something you look forward to doing everyday! Lol There has to be something to get you past the procrastination, I don't feel like it...barrier!
And I know for a fact...this barrier for someone whith ADHD is very real. I just figured it out on my own so long ago, it's become automatic.
The key components are:
"Achievable" goals = success. And success breeds more success, which motivates you to do it again "tomorrow".
"Visualizing" the day or night before...all the steps you need to take...."Ahead of time"...before you do it.
"Flexability"...in that, knowing up front, you may not make it or finish, so if you don't, it doesn't derail the process. Success isn't in the making the deadline, it's the "attempting" to make it...over and over. That's the win. There's no "beating yourself up" for trying. That's the point in this excersise. Getting 80% done...is still better than procrastinating and not doing anything at all. Even 50%. It's the consistent attempts that finally get you there in the end.
"Rewards" when you get there. What ever carrot works. Pick one. My reward system is constantly changing...but I always "treat myself" to something when I reach my goal.
And that's the point in doing this for me. No one else us going to reward me for doing a partial or almost done job. But there's still work and effort involved ...even IF you don't finish or complete the "goal" today.
And the entire point in even bringing this up. I'm not going to get validation or anyone telling me I did a "good job". I get to determine what that is...and the "short term goal" is the target .
In it's very essence...you're not going to hit the bulleyes every time when you throw darts at a dart board. On occasion you do, but the rest still count when your keeping score, to reach the desired goal.
That's how it works. And I've done this so long...I forgot, it's just something I do.
This is also one of those times...where "ignoring" what others might say, is actually beneficial to achieving your goal. Others may have other or alternative ideas...but if it works, don't fix it.
In my case...it worked, for as long as I can remember...long before I ever knew I had ADHD/AuDHD. This was realization yesterday, which I thought was worth sharing.
