The way you do anything is the way you do everything

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Linda

Think about it: if you procrastinate about doing your taxes you probably procrastinate about getting a massage or going to the grocery store, too. It’s not about the actual event or whether it’s pleasurable or not. It’s about dragging your feet or waiting til the last minute.

What’s up with that? Ah your ADDiva brain needs the extra push of adrenaline to get it going, m’dear. When we get excited or anxious or in a hurry, our brains perk up and work better.

That’s the whole idea behind prescription stimulants – waking up your brain without the effort of creating drama or chaos in our lives.

So when you leave the mess on your desk or your bed unmade, notice whether there are parallel circumstances in other areas of your life.

Chances are, the way you do anything IS the way you do everything. Until you change everything by changing one single thing.

Treadmill desk is perfect for ADD

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Linda

Now I walk while I work…on my own treadmill that has it’s own desk!

I got the idea from the Good Morning America show that aired a few months ago. A doctor at the Mayo Clinic created the treadmill desk for people who are on the computer a lot (like me) or on the phone (like me) or who write (like me). Problem was the darned thing cost $6000—whoa!

I knew I could do better than that, especially when I already have a little-used treadmill.

After a lot (a LOT) of research, I found a desk that works for me — the Walk N Work — and a flat screen monitor stand that goes in front of the treadmill so I can see it (laptop was too low) and a bookcase to hold all the rest of the stuff…and I am golden!

I just shot some video of this solution and will post it soon…but know that I am quite proud of the whole thing and more importantly, I am using it!!! Too many of my good ideas go to waste because they aren’t really practical…just cool. So, watch out. I am planning to be a lot more fit, thin and healthy this time next year!

Walking and working is a GOOD thing for ADDivas!

Getting Things Done for ADDivas

Posted on November 29, 2008 by Linda

David Allen is on to something and he’s making the most of it.

His Getting Things Done (http://www NULL.davidco NULL.com/)model (GTD) works – not only for linear folks but for ADDivas as well.

It’s a flow that helps eliminate clutter and get things..uh D-O-N-E (which if you don’t know by now, is my favorite four letter word (http://store NULL.lindaroggli NULL.com/DONE_T_shirt_p/t-done NULL.htm)!).

I just saw a simplified diagram of his flow in the Costco (http://www NULL.costco NULL.com) magazine (my favorite place to shop for almost anything). I won’t reproduce it here but if you can pick up a copy of the December Costco magazine, you’ve got it!

Here it is in words:

Stuff comes "IN"

Decide "what is it?"

Do you need to take action?

if NO — choose one of these -

Eliminate it
Incubate it (someday/maybe folder), or
Reference it (paper or digital folder)

If YES – then, decide: What’s the next step?

A. If it’s a multi-step project:

a. Figure out the desired outcome (which goes through a cycle of planning)

b. Go back to the Yes question and decide what’s next

B. Not a multi-step project? Then:

1. DO IT if it takes less than 2 minutes

2. DELEGATE it — put it in communication system and track it via lists/folders

3. DEFER it – put it on the calendar OR put it in an Action folder or list or tray

That’s it.

Sounds simple. Is simple. So let’s try it.

I’ll keep the lines of communication open so we can implement this together.

Are you on board?

Carbs and focus – the connection

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Linda

"I’ve been gaining weight since I turned 50 and I can’t stay away from the carbs!" a midlife ADDiva told me last week by phone. I can relate. Oh, I can definitely relate.

Yesterday, I picked up my PostIt-filled copy of Mastering the Zone (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/gp/offer-listing/0060391901?ie=UTF8&tag=adne06-20&linkCode=am2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0060391901) by Barry Sears – the place I visit when I am finally ready to return to a more sane eating pattern. There, on page 37, was a chart that simplified the connection between focus and carbohydrates.

The chart was labeled " Extent of Hunger 4 Hours After a Meal." It showed two alternatives:

1. No hunger — which stemmed from the "correct" ratio of protein to carbs to keep hormonal levels (insulin) steady.

2. Significant hunger — which had two causes — one was too much carbohydrates relative to protein (insulin too high), which led to POOR MENTAL FOCUS. Hmmmm.

The alternative – too much protein relative to carbs (insulin was too low) – led to Good Mental Focus…but a growling tummy.

For those of you unfamiliar with The Zone (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/gp/offer-listing/0060391502?ie=UTF8&tag=adne06-20&linkCode=am2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0060391502), it advocates a consistent ratio of fat-carbs-protein every time you eat. It’s a pain to learn, but I admit, I feel much better on the Zone than almost any other food plan. The Zone also mirrors the Prefrontal Cortex Diet which advocates protein at every meal – especially breakfast – and no refined sugar.

It made a lot of sense to me. I don’t know the precise physiological mechanism for the protein=focus and carbs=fogginess. I am intimately famliar, however, with the churning carbohydrate cycle that feasts on sugar and more sugar.

(A quick refresher on the definition of a carbohydrate, since I tend to forget: anything that produces sugar in your bloodstream. That, of course, includes anything made with sugar or its ilk: candy, lemonade, cookies, cereal (I dare you to find one without added sugar or beet juice or high fructose syrup added) AND it includes things that convert to sugar once in your body – bread, rolls, rice, noodles. Even vegetables are carbohydrates, usually better than the sugary stuff – but carrots and beets have a lot of sugar in their little cells, bless them).

Consider an extreme example: you eat a donut (sugar, fat, white flour – yum) and your blood sugar spikes, allowing you to feel energetic (although unfocused). When you dump sugar into your bloodstream, it screams for balance — so insulin comes to the rescue, neutralizing all that excess sugar.

Problem is, there is so much sugar in your body, that the insulin overreacts and send a thundering herd of little hormone armies to counteract the sugar. Pretty soon there is too much INSULIN hanging around in your bloodstream with nothing to do. That insulin likes to have a job so it needs more sugar to neutralize, so your body screams at you to eat something sweet and sugary. You feel faint from hunger, so you have another donut, or a Coke or a piece of toast and jelly.

Then it’s off to the races again — with your body doing its good job of noticing that there is sugar coming down the pike…and releasing more insulin…as if you needed any more! This silly circus act goes on for as long as you keep feeding the sugar monster inside you.

In the meantime, your ADD goes beserk — attention goes out the window but energy ebbs and flows with your carb intake.

The Zone suggests rather strongly that the key to a balanced mental and physical state is a balance of food types. In my experience, a low sugar, moderate protein, low fat diet works great. Until I allow myself to get on the sugar train again.

It’s hard to get OFF that carbohydrate train. Yesterday, I promised myself "no sugar." But by the end of the day, I was digging around in the trash to find the last few bites of a candy bar I had righteously thrown away that morning. Embarrassing. But testament to the power of sugar.

Today is another day. I will try to balance my foods so my blood sugar stays steady and my focus….well, my focus can only improve from here on out!

10 minutes of thinking = more focus

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Linda

"For the next 10 minutes, I want you to simply sit and think," said our writing coach. "And most importantly – don't write anything down. Let the ideas flow freely. Just think."

Argh! For a group of women writers aged 50 and better, eager to implement the writing tips proferred by Peggy Payne, author of the novel Sister India, it was a tough assignment. Especially so for me.

I like to capture my ideas as they emerge; after all, what if they leave my ADD brain never to return? It's happened more times than I can remember (OK, that was a really bad joke). But I complied with her request. I had paid for the writing workshop. Might as well get my money's worth.

At first my brain refused to cooperate. It zipped around the room, stealing glances at everyone else. Then I closed my eyes and dredged up the plotline of the story I was writing. How would it end? Who was the main character anyway? What kind of life did she lead? Where would she have gone on vacation?

Little by little, a new scene was built in my head. I was actually focusing on the story without a computer or a pen and paper or even my iPhone at my fingertips. Ten minutes is a long time when you are "thinking."

Peggy finally rang the timer and we regrouped. But I realized that I had found a new weapon in my ADD arsenal: taking time to THINK. About only one thing. One thing. How profoundly simple. Yet profoundly powerful.

Do I take my 10 minutes regularly? No. Do I want to do more of it? Yes. So today I pledge to THINK at least once a day. About whatever is at hand. But without computer, paper, tape recorder – anything.

And I will trust myself to remember whatever I need to thereafter.

Low blue light for better sleep?

Posted on June 1, 2008 by Linda

Well, I’m always on the lookout for possible ADHD "solutions" — or more accurately, products and ideas that will support ADHD in a positive and encouraging light. So, I was de-LIGHTed to find a product that blocks the blue LIGHT waves that can suppress melatonin production, which in turn can make it difficult to go to sleep at night.

Continue reading →

Follow your path

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Linda

A striking young woman read my name tag at the ACO (ADHD Coaches’ Organization) conference last weekend and did a double take. "You’re Linda Roggli?" she exclaimed. "You’re the reason I’m here," she said. I looked puzzled for a moment, then she explained.

"I had almost decided not to come to the conference. I’m still in training, I’m not a coach yet, I didn’t need to be there and on and on," she said. "But then I got your postcard and I knew I was supposed to be here!" Ah, those inspirational e-cards I send out at irregular intervals to the women on my ADDiva list. I got it now. But which ONE so inspired her to action?

Continue reading →

Three stages of ADHD in women

Posted on May 8, 2008 by Linda

It has been my experience – both personally and professionally – that there are three distinct stages of ADD and ADHD recognition and acceptance for women.

Stage One: Nuts and Bolts – OMIGOSH, I have ADD! When women are diagnosed with ADD, there is often sigh of relief ("Ah, so THAT’s what it is. Thank goodness it has a name!") followed by a dig-in-and-fix-it determination ("Let me try everything and see what works").

Unfortunately the sigh of relief phase is usually quite brief. Continue reading →

Micro-filing for ADDivas

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Linda

Erica, my dear friend and professional organizer, hates the way I file. Well, perhaps it’s not quite that strong an emotion, but she does shake her head at my complex filing system and (occasionally) sighs deeply.

I micro file, you see.

It’s the only way I can find things after I file them (this of course assumes that I actually force myself to endure the single most boring job in the universe: filing semi-important papers).

I need to separate things that live together from those that don’t. Gold star for Linda: that’s Organizing 101. But I have discovered that my definition of "things that live together" is a bit peculiar – at least to the organizing world.

For instance, Erica (mistakenly) believes that Life Insurance, Investments and Retirement can be lumped together in one drawer of my filing cabinet. ACK! NO!

In my ADDiva brain, Life Insurance is about Death and gets filed with the Wills and Five Wishes (http://www NULL.agingwithdignity NULL.org/5wishes NULL.html) (really important documents about End of Life wishes).

Investments are about Money and go with the (very skinny) Financial Planning files.

And Retirement has two distinct sections: before 65 and after 65. The ‘young’ retirement files go up front with tantalizing articles about places to visit and pay stubs that show much we are contributing to the 401k. The ‘old’ retirement files go behind with the Social Security statements and a summary of all the different places we have little bits of money for retirement.

See? Complicated. Even a little OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). But it makes sense to me. I wrote this entire post without even getting out of my chair to look at the files in person, yet I knew exactly where Retirement, Investments and Life Insurance were located. That’s how intuitive it all is to my ADDiva brain.

It took me a while to get to this point. I have to think HARD about what is intuitive for me. Where would I look for Life Insurance? What does that mean to me? What’s similar in my mind?

Then I try out the system. Does it work? Can I find things? Does it take me 30 minutes to remember my previous "intuition?" If so, it’s probably not that intuitive, after all. So I adjust. To make it work FOR ME.

And that’s the point. No matter what your system is, if it works for YOU, it works. Period.

Let yourself off the hook – stop trying to follow the "rules" of Organizing.

Create your own system and let it work for YOU.

Whew – what a relief, eh?