3 Steps To Cure Your Adult ADD

I was diagnosed with ADD at the beginning of the year. When my doctor finally put a name to what was causing my sudden onset of what felt like depression, anxiety, and my general unmotivated attitude, it all started to make sense. All throughout my school aged years, I was always deeply involved in all types of extracurricular activities. But after I graduated from college and the only thing I had on my plate was work, I slowly started to slip into a deep depression. I felt like I wasn't doing anything with my life! I had goals, dreams, aspirations, but I was never motivated enough to do anything after a long day at work. I felt lazy, and yet so fatigued, like the world was weighing heavy on my shoulders with every single day that passed by.

When I finally went to the doctor, she of course prescribed some meds to get me going. But I, being of sound mind and my own volition, decided that the way to fix a poison is not to add another poison, but to fix the thing that caused the imbalance in the first place! So I got involved. Community service, church, freelance projects, dinners, dances, anything I could get involved in to help me feel like I had a purpose was EXACTLY what I needed to get my mojo back!

If you're like me, you have no idea where to begin. I'm here to tell you that it's okay not to have a plan at first. Rome wasn't built in a day and you probably will never be able to rid yourself completely of your ADD. But with a little plan, you'll be able to manage your life a bit better day by day.

1. SET TIME GOALS :: if you're working on a project, {or procrastinating on one that you should've started long ago!} set little breaks for yourself. It's easy for me to focus on something for 15 unites at a time. Any longer, and I tend to loose interest and get distracted with something else that doesn't have a time constraint. After 15 minutes, I'll get up grab a snack, use the restroom, and do whatever else I need to for 5 minutes. Then, it's right back to work! If it's something I've been procrastinating to begin, like laundry or dishes, I'll give myself 15 minutes to get started. That way, I'm already rewarding myself with a break to begin with!
2. GET INVOLVED :: The biggest thing that improved my ADD was being overly involved in my community. Sometimes it can get overwhelming, but it has definitely given me the motivation I need to get my life together! I started by going to my local church and getting more involved there by doing a bible study class and the worship team. I created my own freelance design business, and although I haven't had a bunch of customers, I busy myself by creating projects that I work on until my dream client appears. I've begun improving my cooking and music skills. Volunteering, blowing, and making YouTube videos is another way I get involved. Basically, I did any activity I could to keep myself overly involved and making the most out of life. Then everything just started to fall in place!
3. LITTLE REWARDS + DEMERITS:: Another thing I did to help with my focus was to give myself mini rewards and punishments. The best thing about finishing a project, no matter how big or small, is not only the rewarding feeling you get from completing it, but the little gift you give yourself from doing so. My weakness? Hershey Kisses. When I finish this HubPost for example, I will reward myself with a little chocolate kiss. If however I allow myself to get distracted by the Netflix movie that I'm watching, then a will be punished by sacrificing my strawberry cupcake for dessert. And it doesn't have to be food! Reward yourself by watching your favorite show and give yourself a demerit by forfeiting an entire day of your favorite show if you don't complete your task. It's definitely been a real motivator for me!

So now that you know how to manage your ADD, will you be willing to work for your concentration? Or will you let your ADD get the best of you and give in to the mediocrity of your life with Attention Deficit?! The choice is yours!