Given the time of the year it’s easy to become stressed - between the activities, errands, social commitments, travel etc. Let’s figure out how to reduce that feeling so you can go into 2019 ready to conquer all of your goals!

I just ran across a short article titled, “7 Surprising Ways Your Dog Says ‘I’m Stressed” and glanced at my canine companions. They were in the deep sleep of their mid morning nap after their sunrise run and healthy breakfast.

I read a lot. It’s how I unwind and let my brain wander into another world. It’s my favorite way to unplug and relax. In fact, I often declare digital detox weekends (or afternoons) and head off to the woods, secret cabin or back porch with a pile of books and magazines, looking forward to hours in my hammock. I also love libraries and would be broke without them. Amidst this holiday season when the activities are endless, the weather is cooler and the stimulation is abundant there is no better time to take time and give yourself a mental break than by squeezing in some reading.

One of my favorite sessions at the International ADHD conference earlier this month was facilitated by Dr. Christopher Willard, psychologist, author and educational consultant specializing in mindfulness. He asked us, “Are you mind full or mindful?” Is your mind full of random thoughts or are you paying attention in real time with kindness and curiosity? We reach for our phones on average 150 times per day. How many of those times are necessary? Or even conscious choices?

Perhaps you feel a sense of overwhelm and perpetual stress. Perhaps your self esteem is low because people have accused you of “not trying” or “not caring”. Perhaps you know what you have to do, but you just can’t seem to do it. Perhaps you start many projects but can never seem to finish any. Perhaps you have embarrassed yourself by blurting inappropriate remarks.

Using your phone to Google things too often weakens your memory since you don’t have to prune the neural pathways that strengthen it by trying to come up with the answer, according to Sharon Begley's article "Smart Phone, Lazy Brain" at Mindful Magazine. Begley references a Wired Magazine article from 2011 on the "Google Effect":

Our brains tend to find distractions that boost our dopamine levels. What is something that can make us feel good and require little to no effort? Hulu! Snapchat! And if we can find something that rewards us with zero effort, well that’s even better. Hello, video games!

First of all, students should not base their self worth on their academic performance. Report cards have no importance if a student is always doing his or her best at all times. An ideal student takes ownership of his or her own learning, fully engaging in the education process. We want all students to explore and take advantage of the opportunities offered in school, sucking the marrow out of their education.

I think that they are all related. Some people have a natural aptitude for these, while others need help to develop them. Some people have developed a few while not others. If I were pressed to choose just one, I would say that the most important is the ability to sustain attention when the task at hand is not interesting. Unfortunately, life is not interesting 100% of the time. If you can find a way to make it interesting for your brain so that you can focus, you can accomplish quite a bit.

Lao-Tzu, the father of Taoism, said something along the lines of: “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

The participants were amazing. They were all engaged, curious and willing to share. Moreover, they were all open to new ideas and eager to grow. They were brave and adventurous in their conversation.

The article is engaging and encouraging in the sense that more advancements are being made in ADHD research. Yet I don’t see ADHD as a “disorder” at all - if anything, it’s a transorder or a paraorder. The ADHD brain can think beyond what a neurotypical brain thinks in the same amount of time.  It can also think beside neurotypical thoughts, outside of the regular realm of ideas.

Executive Function: a set of processes that all have to do with managing oneself and one's resources in order to achieve a goal. It is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation.

Do you have a relative or friend who just doesn’t want to “believe” in ADHD? Do you know someone who just doesn’t get it? You just want them to understand so that they can empathize with the gargantuan effort of trying to fit in, and can show a bit of compassion to the turbo thinker. Here’s a quick slide show that outlines how the ADHD brain affects everyday life.

"Slow Down to Get Ahead," by Mindful.org, is great reading on staying true to your purpose: are you living mindfully? Consciously taking steps in alignment with your purpose? If the answer is no, and you'd like to work on developing your purpose and your daily choices, get in touch with Mind Coach NOLA!

I got a kick out of this article from ADDitude Magazine, "Your Kids Don’t Need “Perfect.” They Need “Persistent” and “Patient," and I hope other parents of ADHD kids will too. My fave is the "ADHD Mom virtue" slide highlighting “creativity." ADHD moms and dads of ADHD-diagnosed kids are indeed geniuses at turning everything into a game and making it all fun!

Finally: a super short video about electronic devices that outlines how to take the “bad cop” out of your parenting so you can focus on a loving relationship with your child. Mind Coach NOLA highly recommends watching!

Final exams have been aced, graduation ceremonies are over, and summer is here! But don't waste it on your devices. Enjoy the weekend, and get in your green time! Here's more scientific proof that the greater the exposure to nature, the greater the attentiveness. So if you want to improve your ability to focus, get out in nature. 

I have a question for you: Which social media network or social media accounts have their grip on you? Which accounts draw you in? And how do you manage your time when you feel the siren song of these entities, luring your attention away from your work, your family and friends, or your downtime? (Or is browsing social media what you do in your downtime?)

"The Power of a Well-Crafted To-Do List" offers a basic structure for planning: from the overwhelming to-do list, to an actual plan that is realistic and flexible. It’s a way you can create your own success and celebrate your accomplishments daily.