Ruling Your ADHD Before It Rules You
Contributor: Carrie Alspaugh | Editor: PKB Books
A Daily Guide to Managing Your To-Do List
As we continue to learn more about mental health, we’re finding that more and more people are affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, every day. If you’re one of those people, you may be finding it difficult to manage your daily tasks and stay organized. No matter if you’re recently diagnosed or looking for new ideas on how to make day-to-day tasks more simple, check out these tips and tricks to keep you on track throughout your day.
Get Enough Sleep
When you suffer from ADHD, you know that managing the symptoms truly starts before your day even begins! One of the most important ways to ensure you have a productive day is to make sure you get enough sleep the night before. Getting the proper recommended amount of sleep each night has been proven to help reduce symptoms of inattentiveness in people diagnosed with ADHD.
Make Space First
If you’re like me, you may find it nearly impossible to get work done when there are household chores that require attention. Maybe you can almost feel the dirty dishes in the sink staring at you or hear that pile of laundry on the floor asking to be washed. Before you’re ready to dive into the day’s tasks, take a moment to complete simple chores like laundry, dishes or declutter your desk space to reduce distractions.
Limit Distractions
For neurodivergent people, limiting distractions is especially important for staying focused throughout the day. Try out these helpful tips and tricks to help avoid distractions during the day:
- Wear noise-cancelling headphones
- Work in a quiet space like a coffee shop, library, or home office
- Invest in fidget toys to keep your body occupied
- Keep a notepad close by to write down distracting thoughts
Make a To-Do List
As someone with ADHD, I know this is everyone’s least favorite thing to hear because we often receive this unsolicited advice from people who don’t truly understand the way our brains work. However, keeping a to-do list or planner can actually be helpful for staying on track throughout the day by keeping you focused on high-priority tasks.
Living with ADHD can be challenging, but it is possible! The most important thing to always remember is to be kind to yourself, ask for help when needed, and talk to your doctor about medications or behavior therapy that may be right for you to help manage symptoms.
