Saturday, March 19, 2016

You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy: Chapter 5: Taking Inentory and Finding Balance

In coping with ADHD, we shouldn't blame others and we shouldn't blame ourselves.  We need to take inventory of what we can do and what we can't do.  We need to figure out how much we need of sleep, rest, stimulation, work, play, family, friends, solitude.  What do we need to do for self-care? What can we eliminate from our lives? 

Keep a daily log for several weeks.  Look at how much time you spend on each thing, and how you feel.  Do you have more signs of stress after spending a certain amount of time doing something?  Make up a schedule.  You will need to adjust it.  Keep refining it until it works.

Figure out what you do well, what you do acceptably, and what you shouldn't be attempting to do.  Find ways to do more of what you like and do well of, and less of what you fail at. 

On one hand, you need to keep it simple.  On the other hand, you need to make sure you get enough stimulation.

Make it a habit to get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off.  You will not want to do this.  When you first get up, do things that don't require much effort.  Ask your family  not to talk to you or make demands on you until you've had time to become alert.

Realize that you don't have to do what other people do.  Get help -- don't do it all yourself.  Use babysitters, gardeners, housecleaners.  Learn to accept that your house won't be perfectly clean.

"You may be a Catholic, a druid, or a dyed-in-the-wool atheist.  Whatever your spiritual beliefs are, there is wisdom in having a sanctioned day of rest."

They probably never expected an actual druid to read those words.  They are suggesting observing a Sabbath day.  I don't think that would work for me, in that it would leave only one day for chores.  But what I can do is have some time every evening for meditation and tai chi.  




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