Take a minute to see if there is anything you've missed or need to review from the Skill Building Activities we've introduced over this year: Set Yourself Up for Success: Quick Start Get Organized: Stop Relying on Working Memory Get Organized: Help Them Help You Get Organized: Brain Dumping Method Get Organized: See the Future Decompress the Stress: Check-out vs Re-charge Decompress the Stress: Re-charge Practice Body Balance: Fuel Your Brain Brain Hack: How to Start Something New Body Balance: Sleep Inventory Decompress the Stress: Redefine Self-care Brain Hack: Habit Bundling Brain Hack: Motivation Magic Get Organized: Color Coding is Brain Candy Decompress the Stress: Anticipate Anxiety Brain Hack: The Trick to Stopping a 'Bad' Habit Brain Hack: Build Endurance Brain Hack: Read It Right Progress Check: What is Working? Brain Hack: Just Sit Still Get Organized: See the...
As you near the end of the planner year, it's the right time to reflect on two questions: What is working for me now? What needs work in the coming year? Take a moment to reflect on the skills you worked on over the year. Executive functioning skills included exercises on: list making (to-do and done lists), chunking information, habit bundling, anticipating anxiety, planning out a year, color coding, self-care, prioritization, structuring your day. Think back on the skills, exercises, and organization in the planner that worked for you – maybe there’s a trick you picked up on that worked really well for your brain, your life, your household. It’s amazing what our brains can do, and frankly, how silly...
Are you doing what is best for your body? Our bodies send signals about all kinds of things: anxiety, thirst, hunger, need for movement, need for rest, anger, health, and fatigue (just to name a few). People rely so heavily on their bodies to be "just fine" when sitting and working at desks, couches, beds, and living room chairs. When you finally stand up and stretch, you realize just how many different signals and how much information you weren't getting from your body. The creaks, pops, and discomforts are ways your body tells you its time to pay attention and give it some of the movement it needs. When you are working in a sedentary manner and your brain is occupied, you are...
One of the most effective strategies to manage holiday stress is to plan ahead to prevent holiday meltdowns. We come into the holiday season with a mix of feelings, happy and sad, maybe even with some anxiety. The logistics, expectations, commitments and obligations can be so overwhelming. But, if we look at what we've done previous years and what we can do before the holiday season this year then we can put some strategies in place. This isn't about creating the perfect holiday -- this is about creating a realistic and enjoyable holiday season. Let's start with taking measure of your own holiday emotions and energy levels. Get out a pen and paper, jot down some feelings words. Push yourself...
It's hard to let others into our messes, whether its a proverbial mess of a disorganized life or the literal mess of a living room buried under all your stuff. But, letting someone in can be incredibly freeing - learning that others can help you be a better version of yourself simply by allowing them in. Sometimes, people with ADHD or executive functioning challenges can struggle with friendships. They often experiencing their personal challenges through the lens of shame and self-criticism. This shame spiral undermines all the positive work you are doing to learn and incorporate new skills. Letting someone into your "mess" means being vulnerable, sharing imperfections, asking for help, acknowledging what you don't do well. Allowing someone in means: - openly...