Dear Friends of Thrive with ADD:
I'm still catching my breath after the holidays. December came
with a big bang for me this year, as it brought many new
Thrive with ADD subscribers who saw my 5-minute online film about
Adult ADD, called "The Attention Movie." If you haven't seen it, check it out at www.TheAttentionMovie.com.
THANK YOU to the 1,100 people who responded to my Thrive with ADD
Products Survey!
For a synopsis of the results, click here.
It seems so soon that it's back to business as usual. Many of
my ADD coaching clients are returning from vacations or from
visiting family in other cities. Whether their holidays were
restful or stressful, a word I'm hearing a lot these days is
"OVERWHELM!"
In addition to regular work, January brings the need for increased income to make up for December spending, time to start thinking about income taxes, and -- oh yes -- all those darn New Year's resolutions. So much to do, not enough time, and what to do first?
If you expect too much of yourself too fast, you may come to a screeching halt of paralysis.
You don't need to stay paralyzed!
GET OUT OF OVERWHELM
Just 15 minutes at a Time |
Here are some basic
"Get Out of Overwhelm" Rules that will help, no matter what
the season:
RULE
#1: Break
Down your Project or Goal into Steps of Specific Activities
Do the break-down on one project
at a time. You can do this anywhere, with just paper and
pencil.
For every step that
you think of, imagine
yourself doing the step, and determine if there's something
else that must come first.
Be very specific, task by
task. For example, if you need to create a website for yourself,
thinking about it as "CREATE WEBSITE" is much too
broad. Break it down into mini-steps, which might be:
- Research competition's websites
- Purchase domain name
- Determine design
- Create navigation path
- Create template
- Write copy (each page or section is a separate step!)
- Edit copy
- Test links
- Ask for feedback
- Go live
Each of
these steps could probably be broken down further. If you're a novice at creating a
website, you may need to include steps for reading a "HOW TO"
tutorial, or set aside time to ask for advice.
Now when you consider
each step in isolation, none of them should appear terribly
daunting. If one does, break it down further. If you still feel overwhelmed,
it may be a good sign to delegate that step
to someone else!
RULE #2: Think in Terms of 15-Minute Increments
No matter how frustrating, boring or unmotivating a task may be, you can stand anything for 15 minutes.
Commit in your calendar exactly when you will do each activity. Make a goal of at least one 15-minute block a day, modifying as you need to. Perhaps you'll want to take weekends off. Or you may need a heavier schedule for a rapidly looming deadline.
Set a timer to give yourself "permission" to stop at 15 minutes. Or, if you find you're on a roll, set it for another 15 minutes.
HINT: Click here to check out the "Invisible Clock" timer.
RULE #3: Determine Your Best Environment for the Activity
Consider how you've worked best in the past at similar tasks:
- With stimulation in the background?
- Outside of your home or office?
- In the company of someone else?
Set up your ideal conditions in advance, so when the timer goes off, you're ready to go.
RULE #4: Treat Your 15-Minute Blocks Like Real Commitments
Give your commitments to yourself at least the same importance you would give to your boss, client or loved ones. If you allow other things to get in the way of your daily progress, you'll never reach the goal.
RULE #5: Avoid More Than 3 Major Projects Going Simultaneously
If you're already a master juggler and are not suffering from January overwhelm, you can ignore this rule!
But if you're overwhelmed, don't take on anything else until you've finished something. Think of your time as a full bowl of marbles. If you put in even one more, something will fall out. You must remove a marble before adding another.
Now, for the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION to ASK YOURSELF...
WHAT'S KEEPING YOU from taking ONE project and breaking it down into steps WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS?
FREE TELEPHONE COACHING CONSULTATION |
Is coaching for you? Find out now!
Bonnie Mincu coaches clients all over the world by phone (in-person option for clients in New York City). Curious how coaching could help you? First, click here to read about coaching.
Then, contact Bonnie to set an appointment for a free 30-minute phone coaching session.
PHONE:
212-614-7317
E-MAIL: bonnie@bonniemincu.com
WEBSITE: www.thrivewithadd.com
"THE ATTENTION MOVIE"
5-minute online Video on Adult ADHD
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On November 16, 2005, I quietly launched a little on-line video I had produced on Adult ADHD called "The Attention Movie." Only 5 minutes long, through simple words and music, it depicts the triumphs of some famous ADDers, as well as the poignant frustration many of us feel in our lives.
My goal was, through touching viewers' emotions, to help create mass awareness of the talents and challenges of Adult ADD, as well as to reach adult ADDers who had not been aware they were ADD at all.
The Attention Movie got a lot of attention!
To my surprise, within days it quickly made its way around the globe, and created quite a stir. The outpouring of response was incredible! I was deluged with moving emails from people on all continents who had been sent the link to the film, and passed it on to their friends and loved ones.
If you have not yet seen The Attention Movie, please take 5 minutes, turn your speakers up, and click here to go to www.theattentionmovie.com.
If you like it, pass the link on to your mailing list!
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THRIVE with ADD WORKSHOP
in NEW YORK CITY
Full-day Workshop
Sunday, February 12
Want to REALLY learn about your own Adult ADD, exactly how it affects you, and how to create strategies to thrive with it? There's nothing like the full-day THRIVE with ADD workshop.
Through New York University's Continuing Education Division, this small, interactive seminar gets you started on understanding how to work most effectively with your own unique set of ADD traits.
Click here for DETAILS and REGISTRATION.
Can't make the live workshop? Take the workshop at your own pace by audio download...
THRIVE WITH ADD' AUDIO WORKSHOP
Immediate Download
This 74-minute audio workshop provides the foundation for self-coaching through thought-provoking questions and real-life anecdotes. It includes:
- Overview of Adult ADD
- In-depth exploration of ADD challenges
- Strategies for Work, Tasks, Projects and Study
- Guidance for self-observation
- Foundation to self-coaching
'THRIVE WITH ADD' helps you develop personal strategies to work with your ADD traits instead of fighting against them. This audio workshop will help you really understand yourself, and help your loved ones understand you.
Narrated by Bonnie Mincu, ADD Coach
ORDER
IT NOW
at www.thrivewithADD.com in audio download ($15) |
FROM IDEA
TO COMPLETION
'The Keys to Following Through' E-book
GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T COUNT If You Can't Follow Through!
This easy-read e-book helps you identify exactly what stage you tend
to get stuck in, when it comes to completing what you started.
Taking into account your own 'follow-through IQ,' you'll learn specific
strategies help you deal with your own challenges.
You'll gain insights in:
- How to avoid having your vision become merely a 'pipe dream.'
- Ways to discern whether roadblocks require abandoning the project
or simply tweaking the strategy.
- When it makes sense to 'go with your gut,' and when it's necessary
to slow down and test your assumptions.
- How to keep perfectionism from paralyzing your progress.
- How to develop a time sense so you can create a realistic timetable and action plan.
- Ways to delegate aspects of your project without losing control of it.
- How managing expectations of others can provide a built-in
mechanism for feedback.
- Strategies for dealing with your own blind spots (the stuff you avoid!)
ONLY $10
DOWNLOAD IT NOW
at
www.thrivewithADD.com!
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Versatile Tool to Stay On Track!
The 'Invisible Clock'
Many ADDers recommend this great little timer. You can set it for up to 12 reminders a day. Choose silent vibrate or different beeps. Use it for so many things, such as:
Check it out now for $39.95
www.invisibleclock.com |
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