Making Changes With ADHD

DESCRIPTION: The first step is acknowledging what stage of change you are in as this clarity will help you decide what you need to do, or in some cases, what you don’t need to do. Carlo DiClemente and J. O. Prochaska, six stages of change model is the perfect tool to gain clarity on your readiness to make a change. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Precontemplation: You’re not ready to change, as you deny that you even have ADHD. * Contemplation: You consider your ADHD symptoms are a problem and you need to change. * Determination: You make a commitment to change and start making plans to manage your ADHD. * Action: You implement your plans. * Maintenance: You are building new habits and managing any relapses to old habits. * Termination: You have reached the change you want and no longer have to put any effort into making a change. TRANSCRIPT: (00:01): How do you know when you’re ready to make changes? You’ve tuned into Scattered Focused, Done Re-imagining Productivity with ADHD, a podcast for ADHD, adults like you who want to learn how to adopt the best strategies, tools, and skills to get your essential work done in a way that works with the way your brain is wired. I’m Marla Cummins, and I’m glad you’re joining me today on this journey to reimagining productivity with ADHD. So you can get what is important to you done without trying to do it like everyone else can. ADHD adults effectively maintain changes. Recently in an online mastermind group, one of our members mentioned one of the strategies she uses to get started on a task she doesn’t know how to do is to tell herself, I don’t know how to do this yet. And by using this phrase, she can remember not knowing how to do something is not permanent. (00:57): That is, she can learn how to do it. She goes on to say, this feels like a less fatalistic approach. I think this is a great way to approach learning how to manage your ADHD because there is a lot you don’t know yet. You really want to know how to better manage your ADHD symptoms. But if you get overwhelmed by not being able to make the changes you envision easily or quickly, you may shut down and avoid even trying. I know that’s not what you want. So let’s see how you can adopt a more helpful perspective about change, specifically when it comes to managing your ADHD. Because you already know some mindsets are helpful and others hold you back from doing what you want. The first step is acknowledging what stage of change you are in as this clarity will help you decide what you need to do, or in some cases, what you don’t need to do. (01:55): Carlo De Clemente and Jo Prochaska, six stages of change model is the perfect tool to gain clarity on your readiness to make a change. And I’ll describe this model in terms of what it may look like for someone with A DHD. First pre-contemplation, you’re not ready to change as you deny that your ADHD symptoms are problematic or maybe that you even have ADHD. Likely not the case for you if you’re listening to this. The second stage contemplation, you are willing to consider your A DHD symptoms are problematic and change may be necessary. Third stage determination. You are committed to change and start making plans to understand and manage your ADHD. Fourth stage you implement your plans. And then the fifth stage maintenance, you are building new habits and addressing any relapses to old habits.