What do you do when you are ADD
DO YOU GET DISTRACTED EASILY?
I truly think I'm ADD and my attention span is a small window. I find that whenever I start to work on a project, I can get pulled away into researching something else or starting something else very, very easily.
Just this morning I was researching a clickbank product I want to promote. Its a program to stretch your hips. I'm interested because I'm in a wheelchair most of the time and my hips hurt and get extremely stiff and unflexible because I'm in the sitting position so much. I find when I do try to stand up, I can't straighten up fully. I can't reach stuff I used to and I've lost 2 inches in height due to degenerative discs in my back .... see I'm going off in a tangent already. Back to hip stretching now.
I want to create a paid ad for the clickbank product . So my mind goes to the Facebook Ad class i signed up for but did not complete yet. Actually I signed up for 2 facebook ad courses on Udemy which i haven't finished.
I reviewed the product which I had purchased myself and the 10 exercises and immediately thought I need to get a yoga mat for this...which made me think about my husband having 2 mats so I need to steal the one he isn't using. Then I thought I need to start doing these exercises myself every day. While watching the video on the 10 exercises that comes with the product..my thought was I'm too out of shape to do these right now and I began wondering if I could do any of them in the pool which helps me by taking body weight off my back. Then I began thinking "what time does the pool open for for "free time" today? I need to go to the rec center website and find the pool schedule. Which makes me thing of my online mall site for my city that I have and that I still need to finish populating the "clothing shop" I have on the blog site.
Then I got back to thinking about the facebook ad copy and immediately thought of the draft post I have on copywriting that I need to finish and the copywriting course I signed up for but haven't finished yet.
SO YOU SEE, THIS IS HOW MY MIND WORKS.... I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE. And I even left out other distractions my mind has had this morning while trying to work on the clickbank product promotion.
Does anyone else do this?
What is the solution besides adderall?
How do you "fix" your attention?
I'm open to any help.
Meanwhile I just noticed my mouth is so dry and my waterbottle is empty - I really need to go fill it up again because my weight loss program wants me to drink 95 oz of water daily and so I need to drink more water right now. Which reminds me that I need to update my water intake in my weight loss journal while I'm in the kitchen filling up my water bottle. So I go fill up my waterbottle update my journal and then realize while I'm in there, I need to check on the washing machine to see if the load is finished and ready to move to the dryer. I check and its not ready yet.
Then my getting ice out of the freezer wakes the dh and hes not happy I woke him up so early...its 6:30am.
Now back to my computer - what was I doing, oh yeah this post. I better publish it before I forget and go on to something else.
-Shirley
Recent Comments
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I use the low tech approach. I use post it notes and write down what I need to do and post them on a mirror in my hallway, or bathroom, where they are in my face whenever I go by. The note can be related to cleaning, writing blog posts, correspondence, physical exercise, etc.
When I've completed a task, I pull off the post it note and throw it away. I've suffered with ADD for all of my life, and this approach works for me - it might not be for everyone.
At the end of the day the mirror is mostly cleared of post its and I
can compose new ones for the following day and leave up the ones that still need to be done. I prioritize by they way I place them on my mirror.
It sounds nutty, I know, but it's how I get things done with a mind that rambles 24/7. :-)
Hello Shirley,
Thank you for your blog post, I think we all suffer from a bit of this type of issue!
I think the easiest way is to have minimal tabs open, set a to-do list and set realistic goals. In this way, you can make progress far quicker.
You can also set a time to do other things, for example, reading Wealthy Affiliate blogs and commenting etc. The most important job that we need to do is work on our own business, this should definitely be a priority.
I work much more efficiently if I have an early start, I like to try and start at 5 AM by reading the Bible and a few devotionals. And then I normally spend a few minutes browsing a few posts at Wealthy Affiliate, by which time I am waking up and I am ready to start proper work!
I hope this helps, just a few thoughts and suggestions!
Roy
Shirley, hate to tell you, but you're pretty normal! I suffer many of the same maladies (can't be age!). Just keep thinking, standing and writing .
Joe
Loved reading this Shirley,
I can totally relate. I have just had a weeks holiday and I tried to organise so much to happen while I was away from work but still get back home to find an endless list of jobs to do.
I do use "to do lists", it helps me to focus a bit better, although i constantly add more things to it so it's never-ending!
All the Best
Louise
I understand the "neverending" part. My list gets longer rather than shorter. Its very depressing and I try so hard to stay "positive" but sometimes its very hard.
Try to prioritise your tasks and set time aside for daily chores at home and for your exercise which of course is beneficial, in fact setting time aside to do the exercise that you need, will also activate your mind to be able to focus better.
Time aside for your online business, take breaks from each to re focus.
Take care of your wellbeing is the most important.
Louise
Shirley, what a wonderful way to start out my day reading this. You have me rolling on the floor laughing,,,,, because it sounds just like me. :)
But on a serious note, maybe this will help. Add as many Fresh, "Vine Ripened" Fruits and Vegetables as you can to your diet. And I stress the Vine Ripened because they contain the full component of nutrients.
This comes from personal experience.
But don't be overly concerned. Some of our greatest men in America were ADD. Ben Franklin for example.
Sonny
I noticed I was doing this too. So I play, catch that thought.
Here's how it works. I choose my topic for my post. As I research, anything that doesn't help me add text is a NO! I get back on track.
It works. Play pick that distraction and and see how fast you can get back on track.
Hope this helps.
Lily
Its a big problem Shirley, as there are plenty of distractions on the internet. I try to focus on one priority at a time, then move to the next priority, Alan
I make lists and a daily schedule just like I did when I was managing a large group of people.
When I retired I was all over the place and yet I always have multitasked, but now add not as good memory.
So lt's list's and schedules that are best for me.
Take care,
Yes I like the idea of lists. I too multitask. But my mind is so multitasking that I can’t seem to get anything really accomplished. I start one task, realize I can’t finish it until I learn more about how yo do it; so I start to train, and then I realize I can’t finish that training until I learn something else. Then I start training in that too. It just keeps going like that until I realized I’ve signed up for a hundred Udemy classes but finished few of them.
Going on your description Shirley... I have ADD too !
That sounds like me some days... Its not all my fault... my time is not my own. I have my tennis son here and he has things I have to do for him, like yesterday I had flights to sort out. He goes to Portugal for a tournament tomorrow in the car but is then flying from there to Casablanca, so got to get supplies for him and his coach, print out bookings and maps etc all the while Im chatting with an agent on Bingads to sort out a discrepancy I have whilst also writing the list of the supplies to get for their trip.
Im going to write myself a weekly list of goals. Its in Kyles latest blog and then regardless of how wrecked my day is, I will know that I have actually achieved what was set out to do as far as my online business is concerned. The blog hes written is very intuitive, it came at just the right time for me. I feel that i end up being pulled from pillar to post and not achieving anything but thats not actually true. it might not be all done in one sitting but it gets done and thats what its all about ! We are told so many things these days, you must eat this or you must not do that, you shouldn't smoke but vaping is ok.... you should have more magnesium but vaping is not ok ! Oh my ! How we navigate our lives has taken on a whole new level of management!
So true. I feel out of control so much. It’s depressing when I really need to get things accomplished.
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Hi Shirley,
It was good to read your post. If what you describe is caused by ADD, then that must be what my problem is, too.
I write lists of tasks to do. I've tried several methods, such as written lists, post-it notes, printing my lists and pinning them on a board where I can see them while at my computer. But, nothing works.
Two days ago, I wrote a list of 5 tasks to be completed that day. The first task was the biggest out of those 5 and it took almost the entire day to complete.
So, what I took from that experience was - not allowing sufficient time for each task. Also, prioritising tasks would be a great help.
As yesterday was Sunday I was unable to get to my computer. Therefore those other 4 tasks are still needing to be done. I had better get on with it!
I do enjoy your posts, Shirley. They are very inspirational.
Valerie