People who have ADD or ADHD often feel embarrassed or ashamed because of their symptoms, and difficulties they face in every aspect of their lives.
Conducting a healthy relationship, for example, is hard work for someone with ADHD.
It's hard to listen and remember what your relationship partner tells you.
Or to stay calm and keep your focus in a serious discussion.
The problem with ADDers is not that they can't focus, but they can't stay focused! Let's take a look at a few of my favorite techniques for helping young people and adults with ADHD to stay focused for success.
How To Stay Focused I'll give you a few tried-and-true strategies for keeping your focus throughout the day.
1.
Find encouragement.
A little encouragement and inspiration can go a long way toward helping you any ADDer to pay attention.
They tend to feel incompetent and need all the reassurance, understanding and support they can get.
So find a support system and ask the people you love to cheer you on.
Ask family members to help you stay on schedule, organize your projects and get reminders when you need them.
2.
Avoid being critical of yourself.
You aren't flawed.
There's nothing wrong with you.
You simply have ADD.
Your brain works a little differently.
Look on the bright side.
Who is perfect anyway? By preparing yourself well, you'll be able to manage your symptoms effectively.
3.
Be patient with yourself.
Impatience only adds stress to life.
It sets up demands and fear.
Who wants to feel pressured all the time? Relax and float downstream.
It's okay to give yourself a break.
4.
Take notes.
If you're going to a class, meeting or workshop, take your notebook or computer and write down the key concepts your instructor gives you.
Taking notes will make it easier to pay attention.
It gives you something to do and keeps you constructively occupied...
and helps you to better recall the information later.
Develop a simple way to keep your notes organized, too.
5.
Choose a seat wisely.
You'll do better and stay engaged as a learner if you select the right seat.
Avoid seats by a door, a busy hallway, the window, or other distractions.
Sitting up front is a good idea, facing the teacher.
6.
Interacting with the teacher will help you stay focused.
Asking questions and making comments will stimulate your brain and keep you on task.
It is so much harder to be a passive participant...
you'll either go to sleep, daydream or end up thinking about the wrong things.
7.
Move around whenever you can.
Take a two-minute walk down the hall if you find you mind losing focus.
Do some deep breathing and recharge your batteries.
Go outside and get some fresh air, stretch a little bit.
You'll feel a surge of energy to help you go back into the meeting and be at your best.
Remember to get permission to do this first.
Also, if you are taking medication, take it regularly.
It will give you that extra boost.
ADD and Relationships ADD has a big impact on relationships.
ADD affects communication, problem solving and the handling of conflict.
Couples with one or both ADD partners should work hard to lessen the side effects of ADD and help their relationship to go smoothly.
It takes working together and planning together to reap success.
So think about ADD and relationships.
Patience and compassion, careful communication, a sense of humor and the willingness to laugh at your own mistakes can help.
Remember...
communicate with the people in your life, and be sure you aren't avoiding communication! In Sum Living well with ADHD requires staying on your toes and creating the right environment for success.
You'll find it easier to succeed and stay focused if you avoid the pitfalls of the wandering mind.
Just get some encouragement, avoid criticality, and be patient.
And remember to take notes, choose a seat wisely and do little things to keep your mind focused and alert.
Find ways to neutralize the ill-affects of ADD in your relationships.
You'll enjoy your life more and you'll be more successful in all you do by staying focused.
Good luck!