Organize Your Mind... and the Rest Will Follow

5 Comments: Organize Your Mind... and the Rest Will Follow

1. Some of the tips in the beginning of the article were helpful – but, as others have mentioned, the list at the end was not helpful. Many (most?) of us know we need those skills, but have no idea how to get there. I’m sure the book goes into more detail but it wasn’t helpful to have that list without context.

2. Don’t think who wrote this had ADHD. There was way to much to take in and I’d get distracted before I even could put in place most of those things. I do find most “mindfulness” activities end up with me just concentrating on trying to concentrate and then I hate the fact I just can’t do it and then 15 mins later realise I just spent 15mins distracted on degrading myself mentally for not being able to be mindful!

   I find the following help achieve more peace:
   – Train your autopilot – amazingly my autopilot is very capable if I’ve trained it… I always follow set routines for particular activities that I often get distracted on… in the shower I always do the same routine in the same order (now I don’t get put without washing my hair out or forgetting to brush my teeth).
   – train people who are around you at times it is important your autopilot is not interrupted… my family knows not to interrupt or ask me for anything when I get home until I’ve done my get home routine (bag, keys away; lunchbox in the sink; jacket off and hung up)… when I come to then and say hi everyone how’s your day… they know I’m good to go. It’s a short process (5mins) but they know waiting is a small price to pay to avoid the meltdown in the morning.
   – when I have something important in my hand (ie keys, credit card, bill)… I will stop anyone who starts to talk to me by saying immediately… “Hold that thought, I have to put this away first then we can talk – follow me.” Something like that so they help me if I get distracted.
   – I wake up an hour earlier because I know something always goes “wrong” and I expect it to happen – that way I don’t muck around and leave it to the last minute.
   – getting up is NOT optional… the alarm means “GET UP NOW OR THE WORLD IS GOING TO FALL APART”… and ironically if I don’t that’s exactly what happens. I also have the same alarm on my google home, watch and phone and I put one away from my bed so I have to get out of bed to turn it off – and they are all really loud and really annoying so I have to get up.
   – I use public transport as much as possible to get to work – it sets a firm deadline and it also gives me time to sit and relax and do nothing before work. That is my down time, then I’m usually calm and focused when I get to work.
   – I also use Google home heaps… “Google remind me 6:30 on Tuesday night that I have to put ….. in my bag.” Etc. I have also convinced myself she is also NOT optional. For really important stuff I may set multiple reminders after each other with her to make sure I don’t get distracted on the way. It’s good because I can just yell instructions to her as they come to my mind (no searching for a pen and paper or phone I can’t find!)

   Hope they help someone a bit.

3. Yes, I agree – this article is far too long for an ADHD brain!
   Focus on one tip/issue/hint etc which helps with a common issue and then perhaps add an extention for when you have mastered the basic habit. For example, I know that making the effort to put my keys, glasses, phone and wallet back in my handbag/purse every single time I use them means that I always know where they are and that not being able to find them when I need to leave NOW, derails my day exactly as described in the article. I have been through that same experience so many times – as probably many readers have. My bag is my launch pad for the small but essential things and I have another at the front door so that I will see things and remember to take them when I leave the house.
   A reminder of what may happen if I don’t continue to focus on this habit is great for those times when I think it will be ok “just this once” – it seldom is!
   My current “extension” habit is to remember to take my handbag with me everywhere – even when I move from room to room at home so that I always know where it is as well and don’t loose it – but even better for my kids – I actually hear a message arrive on my phone and can respond rather than forgetting to check my phone because I am engrossed in other tasks when my phone is in another room. I’m still working on that one!

4. For Me this article was a little overwhelming, too.
   I should have taken it in smaller “chunks”- maybe broken down into one section a week, or month.
   It’s super ambitious material, probably meant to be read, studied, and practiced over many, many months/years…
   I guess I prefer things in small doses since that’s all I can do.
   But that’s me…

   However, in it’s defense… Since I don’t often have the time to read an entire book, this reveiw-article (of the books cited) can help me understand the authors approach in a relatively short sitting and decide if it’s something I might like. My first impression is not, but I could be wrong.

5. I had to take a second before I posted this. Fortunately I was not logged in because I exploded in anger.
   This article makes perfect sense and is excellent for someone without ADHD.
   Perhaps even with ADHD. that is being treated properly all the time.
   For me. It was nothing but a list of all the mistakes I’m uncomfortably aware of and just how emotionally and mentally traumatized it makes me.