| Over time people with ADHD have reported to | | | | 3. Forgive three people (including yourself) |
| me that the way they start their day determines | | | | everyday; give thanks for three things you are |
| how the rest of the day will go. Many of my | | | | grateful for before bed. Practicing forgiveness and |
| clients have shared with me their stories over the | | | | gratitude has been shown to de-clutter both the |
| years about how difficult their mornings were | | | | mind and the spirit. Releasing pent up resentments |
| when they were disorganized and unprepared. As | | | | and any blame you feel for yourself or others |
| a result of early morning struggles, they would | | | | frees you to focus on the peace and serenity of |
| begin the day feeling bad about themselves and | | | | love and acceptance, thereby allowing a more |
| their lives, and this mood and temperament would | | | | positive expression of your life force. |
| continue throughout the day until they got home | | | | It has been my experience that those who |
| at night. Instead of feeling good about their | | | | practice these three ways to stay on top of |
| accomplishments at the end of the day, they felt | | | | ADHD have fewer issues with their ADHD. And |
| just as depressed and unfulfilled as they had that | | | | when they do have an issue, they are more able |
| morning. Also tragic was the fact that they were | | | | and likely to be good problem solvers and quickly |
| likely to repeat the same pattern tomorrow. | | | | get back on track. Of course, there are many |
| I have learned a great deal from my clients | | | | other worthwhile practices I have left out; not |
| through the years regarding this issue. Of the | | | | because they are not important but rather |
| thousands I have coached, most of those with | | | | because they are not the three definitive |
| ADHD have reported great success when using a | | | | practices I have learned work best from the |
| well thought out morning routine. They talk of an | | | | thousands of clients I have coached over the |
| increase in feeling good, confident and optimistic, | | | | years. |
| and experience a decrease in feelings of | | | | However, I would like to include additional |
| hopelessness and worthlessness. | | | | practices to consider that are known to have a |
| These are the top three successful practices my | | | | very positive effect on successfully managing |
| coaching clients tell me they have used: | | | | ADHD and keeping a positive outlook: |
| 1. Get off to a good start each day. Prepare the | | | | - Meditation and calming the mind: calm abiding |
| night before what you need to have ready and | | | | - Life coaching, therapy and other "helping" |
| planned for the morning. Pack your bag, update | | | | professions |
| tomorrow's schedule, make calls, send emails, pick | | | | - Eating right and taking care with what you put |
| out clothes, pack your lunch and do anything that | | | | into your body |
| will get you off to a good start and able to avoid | | | | - Advocating for yourself and training others how |
| wasting time or the need to rush around. You will | | | | to relate to you |
| find you can meet the day with a greater sense | | | | - Accepting and taking full responsibility for having |
| of confidence and optimism. | | | | ADHD |
| 2. Exercise a little every day or three times a | | | | - Emphasizing the strengths and gifts you have as |
| week for forty-five minutes. How we feel can | | | | a result of your ADHD |
| determine many aspects of success and failure in | | | | - Using your ADHD gifts to create a powerful and |
| our lives from our relationships to our careers and | | | | purposeful life |
| the ability to make money. Getting regular | | | | Once you have tried a number of routines and |
| exercise has a huge effect on how we feel, both | | | | have found the one that works for you, it is |
| physically and emotionally. | | | | important that you have a coach, counselor or |
| In our busy lives today it is easy to neglect our | | | | other appropriate person in your life to hold you |
| bodies, more so than at any other time in history. | | | | accountable to staying on track with until your |
| As a result, as a species we are less healthy than | | | | new routine becomes a reliable set of habits. Much |
| we ever have been. Obesity, artery disease and | | | | hard work has been thrown out the window due |
| type II diabetes are growing at an alarming rate. | | | | to slacking off before a routine has been firmly |
| Research, medical anecdotal reporting and | | | | established. Don't leave this to chance. Research |
| longitudinal studies tell us that better brain | | | | reports it takes five to seven weeks before one |
| functioning for people with ADHD results from the | | | | can depend on the regularity and predictability of |
| degree to which we oxygenate, increase the | | | | a new routine. And remember: most people who |
| blood flow, and balance the circulation, chemical | | | | become successful at establishing new habits and |
| and hormonal systems in our bodies. Thirty | | | | practices do so because they have outside |
| minutes of cardio exercise such as power walking, | | | | support. |
| swimming or running just three times a week is | | | | Get accountability. Your future life depends on it. |
| enough to keep us in good health. | | | | |