Tag Archive | ADHD

Author Confessions: It’s The Little Things (Part IV)

Sep8
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Author Confessions: It’s The Little Things (Part IV)

I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder – Inattentive Type only a few years ago. Did I always have this or was this a result of years of chronic trauma that tripped me up when I was suddenly in a safe and peaceful, (aka amazingly safe) environment. Maybe it was a combination of it all. Medication and therapy make a huge difference as I continue to heal.

I had a son with ADHD so I thought I understood a lot about this, but I didn’t. I’ve learned that breaking tasks down into little steps (it’s the little things) makes it easier for me to get things done and I’ve even using an app on my phone to help track all those and give me a little boost every time I check it off my list. (Finch) While that is a self-care app, it helps reward me better than my lists that were never perfect enough so I would shred them and write them all over again.

Henry Cloud has of this in one of his books as well. Some tasks can seem huge, but breaking them down into smaller chunks can make it easier to get done. This works whether it is getting through a graduate thesis to moving from one house to another or cleaning your kitchen,

It seems basic and simple but hypervigilence made breaking down everything into little tasks unnecessary in my past, although I would still drag my feet to do chores I dislike. Breaking down a task into smaller chunks was something I did with my son but I’d never needed that before for myself. I guess anxiety and trauma had a bonus. The problem resulted when that was no longer there and my brain didn’t understand what to do! It was the fuel that propelled me and I was running on empty.

How does this work? Take a task, like laundry. I tell myself a little lie that folding and putdting away clothing will take sooo long. This was never an issue when I went to a laundromat but the convenience of having a washer and dryer can allow for laziness. Using a laundromat you have to sort, wash, dry and fold the clothes and then you put them away when you take them out of the basket when you get back home. At home? I can dump it all in a basket and walk away.

Now I’ve timed myself on this HUGE task of folding clothes and putting them away. Probably fifteen minutes since it’s just my husband and myself. Still, breaking down the tasks like this: wash clothes, dry clothes, fold clothes, put away clothing. Whether I was doing this on paper and putting a line through each item I accomplished or checking it off on the app, either way it helps. I had done this to help me drink water. I’ve added my steps to the app getting to check off every 1,000 steps I take during a day. I even had to increase the number from 6,000 to 10,000! Mostly because I have so many more tasks to do right now that has kept me moving more than ever before without “taking a walk.”

Using an app and other small tricks help me be more productive. It’s the little things, like even making a task a game or setting a timer, that can help me to keep moving and get something done. I will often do a less favorable task before I take on one I like better.

There are a lot of issues with ADHD, but I’ve found that sometimes it is the little things that can make a difference in me having a productive day, especially when there are more tasks to do than can possibly be done.

I do allow myself grace. If I cannot accomplish my long list of things I can reschedule them for a future date so I don’t forget about them. I rarely have an issue remembering to do most things but when life is crazy tasks can slip through the cracks. I’m working hard to avoid that but not beating myself up if it happens.

Sometimes paying attention to the little things is hard because we rush through our days with our to do list. Sometimes the biggest little thing is taking time to pause, be silent, and experience the moment. The little things are easier to notice then.

Git ‘Er Done!

Nov27
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Git ‘er done! This would be another way to say Wisconsin comedian Charlie Beren’s “Keep ‘er movin’.” And it’s a struggle many days with ADHD and a life filled with juggling things. I look back at my younger self and wonder how I did all I managed to do! But working outside the home gave a needed structure to my days to work around and I managed. Even with chasing after three Hobbits for 23 years, I managed to get things done and then some.

Until Hashimoto’s Disease hit me hard. Then I struggled with giving myself grace to get through the day just keeping my Hobbits alive and fed. I’m in remission for that now though so what can be my excuse?

I work from home and my job is not a nine-to-five one. I’m an outside contractor so I can work when I want, if I want. But it is a business so there’s the necessary bookkeeping that goes with that and I did not inherit my certified public accountant numbers saavy from my father. Due to some past finanical abuse there can be stress in dealing with all that. I’m getting better. Then I married a very active, busy, retired man who has an LLC for our now joint property in Germantown, Wisconsin. That involves more bookkeepling and seperate taxes! I write, edit, pay the bills, and keep the house.

My kids are gone so how can I be busier than ever and struggle to get things done? I found a great hack. I make a list. I have a big list and a daily list I make in the morning. I challenge myself to do the things on the list and I break them down into doable goals. Laundry has subcatagories: wash, dry, fold, put away. Yes, it helps! It’s almost like a game.

It’s also been National Novel Writing Month and I felt compelled to do it this year. I wanted to work on two novellas. I managed to stay on track even when we traveled from Wisconsin to Texas! I even wrote on the plane south and twice in the car ride on the way back. Having a tangible goal and accountability helped. At the rate I’m going, I’ll win NaNoWriMo but the second novella I’m currently working on won’t be completed so I’ll need to push myself to get it done in December.

Another issue I have is that I often underestimate or overestimate the amount of time a task will take. Like the laundry. It’s such a big job! (that’s the thought). The folding part would trip me up. But honestly? It doesn’t take very long when there’s just two of us! And writing? I set a timer now and give myself and hour to write. Often I’ve met my goal within that time and I can move on to other things.

Here’s the catch. I can’t be super productive all the time. I do need rest. This past week with Thanksgiving, I actually spent Thanksgiving day cleaning out and reorganizing my freezer, clearing out and reorganizing a messy cupboard all so I could clean off my countertops and have a place for things to go. That needed to be done before I baked three kinds of cookies, made the turkey, the broccoli cheese casserole that is a tradition for us, and the must-have raspberry torte. Oh, I was beyond exhausted! Then on Friday before company came I needed to vacuum, sweep, wash the kitchen and dining room floor, clean bathroom sinks and vanities… after which I made bacon wrapped water chestnuts, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and baked the casserole and warmed up the turkey (it was really moist y’all!)

Saturday I had a hard time moving to do anything. I did get some writing in and a few other small tasks but pretty much sat my butt down in my favorite chair and snuggled my pooch. I’m fine with that. Sunday was church and while I did pick up some groceries it was pretty much popcorn and Christmas movies with a ribeye I split with my husband. Never fear, today that leftover turkey will be in a soup for dinner.

Having a list, and a plan makes it almost like a game. Every time I cross something off it encourages me to get to the next thing. If I miss something – by accident or intentionally, I put a ‘X’ through it. Sometimes that will go on my list the next day. If I do another task that wasn’t on the list? I add it to the list and cross it off! At the end of the day, even if it doesn’t feel like I got a lot done, I can look and see that yes, it was productive.

What tips and tricks do you have to git ‘er done or keep ‘er moving? Let me know!

Just for the fun, a little Wisconsin humor from Charlie Berens. Warning, he does get a little off color in some of his videos and there is a lot of drinking in Wisconsin, something I personally do not advocate. But if you want to hear an exaggerated midwest accent and learn a little more about some of eccentricities of our midwest culture–you might enjoy him.