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Taking Care of Your Brain, Part 2

Posted by Sharon Howell, ADD Management Group Coach

We all know that we need to eat balanced meals. But do you know that you have to nourish our bodies in order to nourish our brains?  What we eat affects brain function.  I know that I think more clearly when I am eating balanced meals.  I also know that when I don't eat or I eat badly, like consuming too much sugar, I feel mentally slow and "foggy brained."

Eating disorders are more frequent among ADDers than in the average population, so I always talk to my clients about their eating habits.  Those clients who work on improving their eating habits definitely see a difference in their energy levels and their ability to focus.

So here is Step 2 of Dr. Amen's advice for taking care of your brain:

Put good food into your brain each day.  You are what you eat.  Every cell in your body makes itself new every 5 months.  You literally are what you eat.  In the book Super Foods there is a list of the 14 best foods, which are all very good for brain function.  Try to incorporate them into our diet every week: blueberries, broccoli, beans (pinto, navy, lima, chickpeas, lentils, sugar snap peas, peas), oranges, oats, pumpkin, wild salmon, spinach, soy, tea (especially green), tomatoes, turkey or chicken, walnuts and yogurt.

Have protein and vegetables at each meal.  Snack on yogurt with fruit and/or nuts, drink lots of water and let me know how you feel!

Adult ADD on the Radio

Tomorrow, July 1st, I'll be a guest on Alan David Stein's  radio show on WCTC 1450 AM. We'll be talking about adult ADD.

You can listen in central New Jersey on 1450 AM, or you can listen live on the web by visiting www.wctcam.com and clicking on the "Listen Live" button in top left column. Although I'll be on air at about 5pm tomorrow, Alan's highly entertaining show is on weekdays from 3-7pm and is well worth the listen!

"See" you on the radio!

Life is a 17.4 lb Bag of Cherries

Yesterday we went cherry picking at a local orchard. This was a highly-anticipated event on my calendar. Apparently, cherries are only available for about 2 weeks each summer, and you gotta grab 'em while you can.

So we went to the orchard, walked up to the canopy, and told the teenagers-in-charge that it was our first time. They instructed us to take one of the big buckets lined with plastic bags and knock ourselves out. We'd pay by the pound at the end.

So we cheerfully took our bucket up the hill and disappeared among the cheery trees. I really enjoyed roaming around looking for the "perfect" tree--one with lots dark red fruit just waiting to be plucked. And as Erin gently picked each cherry and examined it to make sure it was good enough to be placed in the bucket, I reached up and grabbed them by the handful. Hey, I have ADD. I don't have the time, patience, or energy to delicately pick each cherry! And I got in trouble for putting some damaged ones in our bucket, but at least I enjoyed myself.

We weren't in the orchard for very long when the bucket began to fill up. "Maybe we should stop now," Erin suggested. "No way!" I countered. "I just found this jackpot of a tree and I'm getting all these cherries. Besides, how much is it going to be if we fill the bucket, 5 pounds? So what? We'll freeze a bunch." Erin agreed.

When our bucket was finally full and we brought it to the teenagers-in-charge, one of them came running to meet us and take our bucket, as if we were little old ladies carrying a heavy load. "Hmmm..." he said. "That'll be about $45." I laughed. I thought he was joking. Then he put the bag on the scale...

17.4 lbs.

SEVENTEEN POINT FOUR POUNDS OF CHERRIES.

I spent all night processing these mothers effers. We have more cherries than we know what to do with. Cherries on the counter. Cherries in the fridge. Cherries in the freezer. Cherries on the brain.

We could have cherries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week and still have tons left. 

You know how adults with ADD often have a poor sense of time? We over- and underestimate how much time things will take. I wonder if this also applies to space. I really thought that bucket would hold about 5 lbs of cherries when it actually held more than 3 times that much!

Oh well. If you see me at the ADDA conference next week and my skin has a strange red glow, you'll know why.

Justin Timberlake Joins the Celebrity ADD List

Justin Timberlake recently sat down for an interview with Collider.com and shared some personal information. At the start of the interview, he began rearranging the tape recorders that were placed in front of him.

In response, the reported asked, "Do you have OCD?"

To which Justin answered, "I have OCD mixed with ADD, you try living with that."

Since this news broke a few days ago, I've seen a lot of criticism flung Justin's way. People seem to think that he's another celebrity jumping on the ADD bandwagon...almost as if it's fashionable to have ADD.

Maybe ADD chic is a trend in the millennium, kinda like the lesbian chic of the 90s. I guess possessing both traits makes me one hell of a cool chick. But I ADD-ily digress...

If Justin Timberlake does actually have ADD, then I'm not at all surprised. His creative talent, work in multiple disciplines, and likable, down-to-earth personality are certainly suggestive of positive ADD traits.

And while people have been rolling their eyes at his admission, I don't think Justin should be lumped in with other celebrities who claim to have ADD, like Paris Hilton. Unlike Paris, who used ADD as an excuse for her behavior, Justin is simply declaring that he has ADD. He makes no excuses and no judgments. He's a successful guy who's never gotten himself into any kind of serious trouble. Justin Timberlake could actually be considered an ADD role model.

Welcome aboard, Justin!

Take Care of Your Brain: Advice from Dr. Daniel Amen

Posted by Sharon Howell, ADD Management Group Coach

Our brains are amazing things. We can do things to improve how our brains work. As ADDers we are constantly working to develop strategies that will improve our focus, organization, frustration levels, memory, etc.

A recent email I received from Dr. Daniel Amen suggested that we are not stuck with the brain we have if we practice a brain healthy lifestyle. Here is the first step in brain healthy living:

Protect your brain from head injuries and toxic exposure. Head injuries, even minor ones, can change the course of your life. Your brain is very soft and your skull really hard. Wear your seat belt and think of golf and table tennis rather than football and soccer. Toxic exposure from drug or alcohol abuse, excessive caffeine or nicotine use, environmental toxins ruin brain function, sometimes permanently. As you would not put toxins in your gas tank (duh!) do not put them into your body and brain.

In what ways could you be better protecting your brain?

Jen's Note: Dr. Daniel Amen is a featured speaker at the Virtual AD/HD Conference this September! He'll be talking about Healing ADD Through Brain SPECT Imaging.

Join the Virtual AD/HD Conference mailing list at www.adhdconference.com to save $50 when registration opens next month!

Working Memory: You Already Told Me That (Like 5 Times)

One thing about my mom that really annoys me is the number of times she repeats information.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my mother very much. But it drives me crazy when she tells me about the same thing three different times, as if she never told me in the first place.

For example, a few months ago, she must have told me about the problem she had with her accountant about five different times. And in each conversation, she'd say "Oh, and did I tell you about the accountant?" To which I'd answer, "Yeah, Ma, like five times already!"

Well, lo and behold, it appears that I have a similar issue with repetition.

This past weekend, Erin and I drove to a local farm to get the most delectable strawberries I've ever tasted. I seriously cannot get enough of these strawberries. I don't know what I'm going to do when strawberry season is over! But anyway...

I love the strawberries so much that I get really excited on the way to the farm. As we were driving, I pointed out the window and said to Erin, "See, there's a strawberry patch! I think that might even belong to the farm that we get our berries from, even though it's a little distance from the rest of the farm. I think they have land scattered all around here."

Sounds like normal conversation, right?

Erin gently put a hand on my leg, squeezed out a smile, and said, "Honey, I love you very much. But you really need to stop telling me that you think that particular strawberry patch might be part of the farm. I know already. You've told me at least eight times."

I was slightly offended. "Come on!" I said. "That's not true! Okay, it's totally possible that I told you about the strawberry patch before, but not eight times."

Trying hard to stay calm, Erin replied, "Jen, you tell me every time we drive by. Every. Single. Time."

After a few breaths, I sighed. "Wow, I'm becoming my mother."

Adults with ADD often experience poor working memory, or short-term memory. This presents challenges such as not remembering where you put your keys, forgetting what you walked into a room for, and repeating random information a ridiculous amount of times. Like me. And my mother.

What kinds of working memory challenges do you experience?

Clutter Control & Time Management: Train Your Inner Rascal!

Here's something you might not know about me: people  think I'm nuts when it comes to my dogs.    

We don't have kids (yet), so the dogs are our babies. We love Punky (the big one) and Rascal (the little one) so much that we home-cook their food, buy them Halloween costumes, and give them birthday parties.

Yes, birthday parties.

This month happens to be Rascal's 2nd birthday, and we're celebrating.

In honor of Rascal, we're offering a one-time-only coaching bundle that I'm calling the "Train Your Inner Rascal Coaching Package." It includes:

The Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye Coaching Toolkit, the soon-to-be-released Master the Art of Time Management Coaching Toolkit, and  a 30-minute laser coaching session with me--a $214 value--for just $175!

If you already know that this coaching package is for you, then you can purchase it here.

For everyone else, allow me explain how Rascal inspires this coaching package.                      

First off, Rascal is a Jack Russel Terrier mix. At his first check-up, the vet took one look at him and said "Uh-oh, you're gonna have your hands full!" And full they are.

You see Rascal, as adorable as he is, fits his name very well. And he is the biggest challenge to my organization, my time management and, well...my sanity. I could tell you stories! Here's just a few of the ways that Rascal is my biggest challenge.          

Organization. Rascal has a shoe obsession. As in, he enjoys stealing shoes and leaving them all over the house.

Or, putting them on Punky, as you can see here.

When it's time to go somewhere,  finding your shoes is a family affair.   

Time Management. You know that saying "S--- or get off the pot"? Someone should tell Rascal.

Sanity. He's extremely territorial. He goes into a barking frenzy when someone comes to the door.      

Or when a leaf blows by the window.

The challenges that Rascal presents are some of the biggest challenges that adults with ADD face: clutter control and time management. And when your space is cluttered and your time management is out of whack, it's not uncommon to feel like you're going crazy. It's like having an inner Rascal.              

So now that you know the inspiration behind this coaching package, let me tell you a little bit about how I can help you Train Your Inner Rascal. Here's what's included in the package:

Kiss Your Clutter Goodbye! Coaching Toolkit. This breakthrough program has helped countless adults with ADD bust through their clutter and keep it away for good! The kit includes a 55-minute audio CD and 26-page booklet.
(Value: $47)

Master the Art of Time Management Coaching Toolkit. Our newest product teaches you how to custom-design an ADD-friendly time management system that works with your ADD. The kit includes 2 audio CDs with over 100 minutes of content plus an accompanying booklet. It is currently in production and will begin shipping by July 7th.
(Value: $67)

Laser Coaching. After you get to work with your toolkits, you might want to check in with me to ask a few questions or get some feedback on how you're applying your new systems. I'll meet with you for a 30-minute laser coaching session via phone. You can use this time to ask me anything you want about clutter control, time management, or ADD management.
(Value: $100)

If you have an inner Rascal who challenges your organization, time management, and general sanity, then you won't want to miss out on this time-sensitive coaching package. It's only available through midnight EST on Saturday, June 28th, so you'll have to act quickly!                     

$214 $175

Satisfaction guaranteed!

See our  website for details.

And while you're training your inner Rascal, you can smile to yourself as you think of me trying to tame my outer Rascal...and failing miserably.

Oh, by the way, Punky's birthday is next month. She's a sweetheart with spunk. I wonder what kind of birthday sale we can have in her honor...

:-)

P.S. Don't forget - after June 28th, this package will not be available. Don't miss this chance to  Train Your Inner Rascal!

The Truth About ADD and Follow Through

"I know I'm capable of so much more. I'm just not living up to my potential."

If you're an adult with ADD, then you're probably all too familiar with this sentiment.

It's a judgment that often manifests itself when you take stock of all the great ideas you've had that never got off the ground, and all the unfinished projects that you started but never completed. 

The overwhelming number of things in your life that you haven't "followed through" on can lead you to believe that you are not living up to your potential. But this simply isn't true.                      

By nature, ADDers are visionaries and idea generators. If only someone would pay us to think up great ideas all day long - we'd all be rich!

We think of so many  "wouldn't it be nice to...",  "I'd really like to...", and "someone should find a way to..." ideas that it would be absolutely  impossible to follow through on every great idea we have.     

Think about it. If you tried to implement every good idea you ever had, would you have time to eat, sleep, or even breathe right now? Probably not. But this is not an indication that you're lazy, unable to follow  through, or not living up to your potential.

Successful  ADDers know that they are always going to have great ideas that never come to  fruition. It's just our nature to be constantly thinking, creating and innovating. We can't shut off this part of ourselves even when we try! But we simply don't have the physical or  mental capability to follow through on every great idea that comes to us.

Rather than beating yourself up about all those great ideas that don't go anywhere, embrace your idea-generating ability as a part of who you are.

Realize that some  ideas are worth following through on, and some are not.  Let go of the guilt. Refuse to listen to the internal dialog that tells you you're lazy and not living up to your potential, simply because you have too many good ideas to keep up with! 

Instead, ask yourself what's practical to follow through on in the present, instead of putting pressure on yourself to do it all.  Keep a notebook in which you write down your great ideas so that you can  come back to them if you want to.

Focus  on one or two  great ideas that you want to make happen, and use past ideas that you actually did follow through on to motivate you as you move forward.   

And don't  forget to acknowledge this special talent that you have. The ability to generate tons of great ideas  makes you a visionary!

Have thoughts on this topic? Please share them in the comments!

Face-to-Face Coaching/Consulting for ADD Business Owners

I'll be presenting and exhibiting at the 13th National ADDA Conference in Minneapolis next month, and I'd like to try a little experiment.

I may have some time available on Thursday July 10th, and I'm considering offering some 1-on-1 coaching/consulting for ADD business owners.                      

This would be a chance for business owners with ADD to meet with me and:                     

1. Take a look at the big picture of your business to determine what's working and what's not, and outline a plan for moving forward.
2. Review your business revenue and cash flow, and create a plan to maximize income.
3. Review your role in the business, and the roles of your team members (or lack thereof) to ensure that the right people are in the right places for maximum efficiency and minimum stress.
4. Explore your vision  to ensure that your business is aligned with your dreams and goals.
5. Work on any combination of the above, or anything else you'd like to get help with.

Off course, the entire time we'll keep in mind the "5 Essential Skills for Managing Adult ADD" and ensure that you're working with your ADD in your business.

If you live in the Minneapolis area or are attending the conference, and you think you might be interested in some face-to-face coaching/consulting with me, then please email me at jennifer [AT] addmanagement.com and let me know.

You won't be under any obligation to book time with me, but a "show of hands" for those who are interested will help me determine whether or not to go ahead and clear my schedule for some face-to-cafe meetings while I'm in Minneapolis.

If I do open my schedule, time will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. So please be sure to email me if you'll be in the Minneapolis area on July 10th and think you might possibly be interested in some face-to-face business coaching/consulting with me!

Some Goals Are Achieved When You're Not Looking

When we lived in NYC, we ate a home-cooked dinner maybe 2 nights a week. Like most New Yorkers, we either went out or ordered in.

When we moved upstate, we knew that things would change. And we were okay with it. There were no longer tons of restaurants and take out places to rely on. Good, we thought, it will force us to eat more healthy.

But it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Trying to shift from 2 nights a week of home cooked meals to 7 nights was a hefty goal.

Last week, Erin came across a food journal that she was keeping in November/December of 2006. We were already out of the city, but still eating out a lot. The purpose of Erin's journal was to track not just what she was eating, but how she felt. There was an entry in her journal that said she always felt worse after we went out to eat, but that she'd have to figure out how to handle it because I said it would be impossible for me to cook 7 nights a week.

I have no doubt I said this, because I remember feeling it. That it was impossible to run a business, have a personal life, and cook every night. Well guess what? A year and a half later, I'm preparing meals 7 nights a week. Never say never.

I may not cook a gourmet meal every night, but I cook extras that will be quick prep on the nights that I'm either working late or I know I won't feel like cooking. The last time we went out to eat was when we went to a wedding a few weeks ago. Before that it was my grandmother's 90th birthday party, which was held at a restaurant. That was in April.

We still enjoy going out for a good meal, and once in a while we get a small pizza, but we don't do it often anymore. And when we don't have a home-cooked dinner, it's by choice, not by default.

But what I find particularly striking is that just a year and a half ago, I didn't think I could get to this point. When I tried to jump from cooking 2 nights a week (and that's really a generous estimate) to 7 nights a week, it seemed an impossible feat. Yet, somewhere along the line, it happened.

This is something that I talk about frequently with clients, and I also cover it in my book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD. Awareness is the first step in making change.

In order for me to shift my cooking and eating habits, I had to be aware of what I wanted and why I wanted it. And then I had to stop stressing and let it happen.

I've had this experience with a number of different goals in my life, most notably with positive thinking. I used to be really negative and cynical, but somewhere along the line I decided to change that. I remember experiencing a particularly stressful situation a few years ago, handling it really well, and thinking to myself, Wow, five years ago I would have handled this very differently. I've come a long way.

I created an awareness of something I wanted to change, and the action seemed to happen all on it's own. Just like my new food habits. I really don't know when the point came that I began preparing all our meals at home, I just know that it happened, and it stuck. And I'm very happy about it.

When it comes to big goals, don't stress out. Develop the awareness. Set the intention. Be open to the idea that the goal can be achieved. And never say never.