A Natural Treatment for ADHD: Becoming More Efficient

Adults with ADHD tend to make frequent comparisons and find it hard to compete with “normal” people. Improving their efficiency is certainly at the top of the list. Here’s how I’ve helped my clients utilize a natural treatment for ADHD that can work for you.

Some people always seem to have their act together. A sense of order comes naturally to them.They never break a sweat, are never late, don’t worry about what others think, and most importantly, finish their do-lists.

Here’s how they do it:
1. They don’t underestimate the real time it takes to complete a task or reach a destination. Efficient people know how long a task takes because they analyze and measure the steps needed based on prior experience, and add a 60 minute safety net. They add 15-20 minutes travel time.

2. They don’t jump from one idea/task to another (aka Bright Shiny Object Syndrome). They recognize when they’re getting distracted and either push through it, or plan for it and take a break.

3. They don’t place the same value on every action, decision or task. Efficient people use a sorting process to determine what urgent, important or long term is. They avoid chaos and overwhelm by recognizing that they don’t have limitless time or options available to them

Prioritize using these critical questions:
• What would happen if I waited until later?
• Ranking importance on a scale of 1-10.
• Is this a “should do”, or a “need to”, “want to”, “can do”?
• What’s the worst that could happen if postponed indefinitely?

4. They don’t wait until decisions are made by default or until the inevitable happens. There’s no room for procrastination. Waiting for the right time doesn’t just happen, you have to make it happen.

5. They don’t rely on others to decide what they should do or when they should do it. Building consensus is one of the least efficient ways to make a decision. Guilt, shame and second-guessing yourself add no value and have no place in the lives of efficient people.

Trying to change all of these habits of inefficiency at once isn’t realistic, but having the desire and motivation to do so is. Choose the issue that presents the greatest challenge for you and focus on it.

Examine it closely:
• when does it happen most often,
• what situation triggers your response,
• what would it take to begin to change your behavior,
• who could best support your efforts,
• when will you start,
• how long are you willing to make the effort to change,
• how will you notice when you are successfully making a change (journaling is a great accountability tool).

When you believe that you have made sufficient progress, tackle the next one and repeat the cycle. Great things happen when you dedicate yourself to removing the obstacles and mastering your life.