An Old ADHD Principle — ADHD Tip O the Day 939

For every problem, there’s a solution. The trick is to recognize that it’s a problem in the first place.

Problem: At night I put my glasses and my iphone (with the alarm set) on the bedside table and turn out the light.  The next morning I was fumbling for them in the dark and often knocked them off the table. Twice I stepped on the glasses.  This had been going on for quite a while before I realized – it was A Problem.

Solution: I always put the glasses in the nearest corner of the table and the iphone in the far corner.  Habit now.  No more problem.  But Duh!

Problem: I often needed to wrap tape around a round object.  It frequently got tangled up in itself before I got it on.  Argh!

Solution: Now I start wrapping the tape in the center instead of from one end.  Works great (usually).

Problem: I use a heating pad for my back in my computer chair.  I was always getting tangled up in the cord.

Solution: I used a bulldog clip to hold the cord around a table leg. It’s not pretty but it’s off the floor and out of my way.

Problem: Sometimes when I’ve written about this principle someone thought I was telling them where to put their glasses or how to use tape.  No, I’m using these examples to illustrate the principle, “Once you realize it’s a problem, you can find a solution and your life will get better.  These minor annoyances add up.”

Solution: I’ve just finished explaining it.

doug

Question O the Day:

Can you identify any frustrations in your life that you had not recognized as A Problem?

Obvious Note O the Day: 

Of course it’s not totally true that there’s always a solution, but it’s nearly true, and it’s more effective to believe it.  You’ll recognize more problems and find more soluti

Relevant Note O the Day: Please always scroll down and check the comments. They are very good. And please contribute your own comments. In case you missed it tho, here is my response to a lovely comment:

“ulana
thank you! your comment cheered my day. i hope you may contribute more in the future. i love comments. so pleased that the new book was helpful to you. by the way, i just learned that reviews are allowed on amazon even if you didnt buy the book there, but you must have spent at least $50 on anything on amazon in the past year. i love reviews too.
thank you again and best wishes
doug”

Totally Irrelevant Note O the Day:

At the store, I couldn’t find the butter.  I asked the grocer if he had any.

He said, “Yes, but it’s bitter.”

I said, “ I’ll take it.”

 He said, “Wait. I got a new order yesterday. It’s not quite as off.”

I said, “Well, give me that.”

He said, “It’s a small order.  I can’t give you much.”

I said, “ OK, just give me a bit of the batch of better bitter butter.”

Links:

More on Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

ADHD and Overwhelmed – Bonnie Mincu

Another version of the same point about problems and solutions

Another ADHD Solution

An ADHD Solution?

Oh My, the problems!

#ADHD, @addstrategies, @adhdstrategies, @dougmkpdp