The Four Most Important Things You Can Do For Yourself, Repeated From the Previous Post, Because They Are So Important
(in order of importance)
- Stop smoking 2. Exercise 3. Meditate 4. Omega-3 fatty acid 5. get enough sleep
Vicki commented that sleep belongs on this list, so now there’s five – I promoted it from the list below. Thank you , Vicki.
Other Ways To Help Yourself
But here are many other ways, not in any particular order importance:
Stop drinking any sodas.
Watch the quality and quantity of what you eat.
Minimize contact with toxic people.
Minimize stress and have ways to cope with the unavoidable part (exercise, meditation, therapy, hobbies, etc.)
Get out of doors.
Socialize.
Help others.
Laugh.
Make strategies to cope with problems.
Moderate alcohol intake (isn’t this both a verb and an adjective? That would work.)
Exercise your mind.
Be kind to yourself; minimize self-criticism.
Set realistic goals, not excessive expectations.
Practice awareness; pay attention to what’s going on, face your problems and deal with them.
For many people, a short mid-afternoon nap is helpful, if it doesn’t interfere with night time sleep.
For many people, small healthy between meal snacks are helpful.
Get help when needed. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Getting help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength (I suspect this comment is aimed mostly at men?)
Important Note O the Day:
Many of these healthy tips are also specifically helpful for ADD ADHD.
Questions
Please share, which of these are you doing, and which ones not?
What can you add to this list?
doug
#add #adhd @dougmkpdp @addstrategies @adhdstrategies
ADDadultstrategies 
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keeping a list or journal of things that you’re grateful for will improve your overall life satisfaction.
i often get down, sometimes on myself, when sttruggling with life and the whole being-an-adult-thing. going through a mental list of the things i’m grateful for to have in my life changes my perspective immensely. that change in perspective often gets me out of the negative thought patterns i put myself through.
for example, i’m grateful I stumbled upon and read your book. i’m also grateful that you’re actively helping people even years after writing the book through this blog.
(it inspires me to want to do great things).
another one:
in my head i often replay all of the dumb and embarrassing things i’ve done in my life (this happens a lot). what sometimes gets me out of that is i start to think about some of the things i’ve done to/for other people that were awesome–made somebody smile/laugh when they were having a bad day, a gesture of kindness that was appreciated, etc.
sometimes it’s hard, but that change in perspective is powerful. i often feel like having this commonly-misunderstood neurodevelopmental disorder doesn’t have to be who we are. we decide.
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hold – great. every night i write down 3 particular thing i’m thankful for that day. its a good antidepressant and has other benefits too.
i’ll try to add it to the list
thank you for contributing. doug
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hold- further more- good strategy for the negative replays. i used to spend a lot of time on those replays, cqan stop them now, automatic habit. goal -zero time on them.
thank you for the kind comment – glad to be helpful, makes my day
and thank you for contributing comments
doug
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Great list! Thanks Doug.
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gail
do you have any thing to add?
thank you for the comment
doug
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*Then, rule and habit!
Is what was supposed to be up there but big thumbs small phone led to premature hitting of the send button!
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shannon – i know what you mean, that premature button can happen many different ways
thanks
doug
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I definitely agree with sleep! Now that I’m appropriately medicated, I’ve been able to notice that sleep is as important as meds in terms of my functioning. If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I may as well not be on meds the next day. Never noticed before how much it affected me because without meds I always felt that way!
Also, the not being good at asking for help, the seeing it as a weakness? Hating the vulnerability involved? Not just a guy thing. I suck at it, and so do lots of women in my live support group. Maybe it’s more to do with how we’re raised. I know it’s a thing in my family, for sure, with the women in particular actually!
I used to meditate and exercise regularly, but since figuring out that ADHD, which was preceeded with a bit of a breakdown (not the worst one I had prediagnosis, but enough of one that all of my good habits were stripped from me), I’ve been trying to build my routine back up a piece at a time, in a way that I am not overwhelmed, adding new ADHD-specific strategies in one at a time. And I haven’t got to the part where I’ve put those back in yet. But from previous experience, I know how valuable they are.
I’ve got the omega3s in there, but dont always remember to take them. Working on a strategy for that which works no matter where I am for dinner. Then,
Happy holidays, Doug and the rest of our fellow ADHDers! Take good care of yourselves this season.
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Shannon
i agree, all the parts of the package are important. and you are right, about adding one thing at a time working better. good job.
hope you figure your strategy for the omega 3. but like the stimulants, unlike the antidepressants, they work even if you miss some doses.
Thank you as always for contributing, and happy holidays to you too
doug
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Good list! I quit smoking September 9th 2014 and in March this year, I gave up packaged chips and potato/maize-snacks. I Marke an effort of taking the time to correct myself when I do somethong wrong and say “you’re so stupid!”. I stop and say ” no, you’re not. The day just isn’t ging well.”. And it’s thanks to you, Doug. It’s slowly sinking in 😉
@shanonell
Maybe it is tla matter oft pride, when it comes to asking for help. I’m actually very good at asking for help because I react VERY poorly to Frustration and have made a strategy out oft “avoid frustration, ask for help”. But if someone tries to help unasked, I am VERY offended, like thy thonk I’m not able. I can relate.
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ram – good for you! progress!
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ram (2nd part) – and very good on the self talk – dont let yourself get away with abusing yourself. you are using strategies. ***** that’s 5 stars
thank you for contributing your comments, they are helpful
doug
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