ADHD-Proof Your Life
How safe is your house? Sure, you probably have smoke detectors to stop a fire before it gets started. If you have kids, you block the steps with baby gates and cover the electrical outlets. You know better than to let a pipe leak without fixing it, and you always call someone when your furnace makes a funny noise. It seems that your physical health is ensured in your house.
What about your mental health, though? Whether you realize it or not, your surroundings play a significant role in your symptoms. If your setting is ideal, your symptoms will be better controlled and easier to manage. The opposite is true also. If your surroundings are the epitome of chaos and confusion, your mental health symptoms will increase.
Naturally, you want your attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms to be cool, calm and under control. Look around at your home. Does your home match the symptoms you want or the symptoms you fear? The difference is easy to spot. The same is true in the workplace. Read on to learn how to set a goal, assess your settings and make meaningful changes to improve your ADHD symptoms.
Setting a Goal
Setting a goal related to your home and its impact on ADHD is a required step. How badly do you want change? Committing to a change halfheartedly guarantees failure. Adults with ADHD need to be very clear and deliberate with their intentions. Because of this, your goal must be planned and well thought out. Decide how negative ADHD is in your life. Consider how your life has been damaged by ADHD and what you have lost.
Now that you know where you are, ponder what steps you are willing to take to improve your symptoms. At the same time, be realistic about the time, energy and effort you can afford to put into the modifications. Stay away from goals that you cannot accomplish. If you are still reading, it means that you know the importance of changing your symptoms and believe in your ability to make a difference. Nice job!
Assess Your Space
With your new commitment, begin by looking around your spaces. Take an inventory of the rooms in your home, especially the ones that you are in the most. Does your kitchen look like the kitchen of someone with ADHD? Does your bedroom keep you distracted and disorganized? Does your dinner table have enough room to put a plate on it or is it covered with junk mail and newspapers?
The process of assessing your space allows you the opportunity to know where to start. If you feel that nothing is organized or that the process is beginning to feel too overwhelming, start in the least disorganized place to gain experience and practice. Bringing in a trusted friend or family member can do a world of good as they have the ability to see your world with a fresh perspective. They can objectively look at something that is quite subjective to you. Write down your thoughts and compare them to the feedback they have for you.
