4 ways to manage adult ADHD

Are you one of the 4-5% of people who lives with adult ADHD?

Do you experience the following difficulties at work, school, or in your personal life?

• Chronic lateness or forgetfulness

• Trouble concentrating

• Poor organizational skills

• Impulsiveness

• Procrastination

Learn strategies to manage adult ADHD!

Organizational strategies can help you manage your time and tasks efficiently.

• Create a schedule each night for the following day.

• Use a checklist for top priorities and check off tasks as you complete them.

• Chunk similar tasks(like making phone calls or returning emails) together.

• Set phone reminders to check your progress throughout the day.

Routines help you practice behaviors that you want to repeat regularly. Soon, they'll become habits!

Home Routine

• Create a space for important items, like keys, wallet, and phone.

• Return them to their space at the end of each day.

Mail Routine

• Check and sort mail on the same day and time each week.

• Establish an area for important mail and discard junk mail right away.

Chore Routine

• Schedule cleaning time at set days and times each week.

• Keep supplies easily accessible.

Exercise Routine

• Schedule enjoyable fitness activities at a regular time daily or weekly to help stay active and healthy.

Completing big projects can be especially hard for adults living with ADHD, who may struggle with indecision or feeling overwhelmed.

These tips can help.

Break It Up

• Break a project into smaller tasks that are more manageable.

• Start with shorter tasks to help you gain momentum.

• Take breaks before and during longer tasks.

Simplify Your Workload

• Finish projects before taking on new ones.

• Respect your limits by knowing when you need help.

• Learn when to say no to new tasks you can't do effectively at the moment.

Work In Small Time Chunks

• Set a timer for 15 minutes.

• Focus on one task during that time.

• When the time is up, decide if you can keep working for another 15 minutes.

• If yes, reset the timer. Repeat for as long as you can.

• If no, rest and try again later.

Do things around you constantly pull your attention away?

Physical environments can be a big challenge when you try to manage your adult ADHD.

Whether at home or at work, determine what outside factors you can control by limiting the distractions around you.

Turn Off Notifications

• Forward calls to voicemail.

• Disable alerts on social media or other apps.

• Check emails and messages only at set times throughout the day.

Adjust Work Time

• When possible, choose a work time when your environment is quieter, such as early morning or later in the day.

Minimize Outside Noises

• Choose a quiet space when possible.

• Use noise-cancelling headphones if there's a lot of background noise.

• Certain music or white noise can help you stay focused.

Keep Your Workspace Clear

• Physical clutter can be distracting.

• Put papers and clutter away to minimize visual distraction.

Adults living with ADHD face challenges that can make daily life difficult.

Taking steps to manage your adult ADHD symptoms will help you to be more productive.