By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 14, 2023
Jane, a woman with attention deficit disorder (ADD), came to coaching, wanting help with organization, specifically, getting things done. So, we focused our work on paying attention to what she pays attention to. Now, understand that this means we focused on her natural tendencies and habits, not necessarily on what she was consciously thinking of.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 31, 2023
Those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder typically procrastinate when something is unclear. Are you clear on your specific, methodical process of studying? As an ADHD and attention coach, I find that the more you understand your process with specificity, the higher the probability you will study and be successful.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 17, 2023
A Lesson from Professor Dumbledore,
Headmaster at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
In the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter finds himself gazing into the Mirror of Erised. In his reflection, he sees the image of himself with his parents standing behind him, both of whom are deceased. Puzzled, Harry looks behind himself only to find his parents are not there. As he gazes into the mirror and dreams, Professor Dumbledore walks in:
Continue reading “ADHD: When the Dream Becomes the Obstacle”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 3, 2023
ADHD relationships can spiral out of control and end up in hurtful conversations. Is that an outcome you will really want? How do you stop these interactions that only end up damaging your relationships? Once the damage is done, how do you repair or rebuild the trust? It’s not just by saying you’ll do better or you’ll try harder. You really have to get at the dynamics of the relationship and then work to understand each other. That’s what you need to develop conflict intimacy. Continue reading “Hurtful Conversations in ADHD Relationships”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 19, 2023
The first written record of the concept of ADHD coaching was in the book, Driven to Distraction, by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey in 1994. Little did they know at that time, the entire coaching industry would grow into a new ADHD intervention. In the late 1990s, a handful of individuals became life coaches that had ADHD and began touting the concept. In 2004, we saw the official formation of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) as a means for coaches to come together and share best practices and competencies. Continue reading “ADHD Is Hard. Can a Coach Help?”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – Published June 5, 2023
What is it like for someone with ADHD when their executive functioning brain is being taxed and becomes a distraction? It’s like starting the task all over again. If you have ADHD, it’s just like rebooting your laptop; you have to reboot your brain. That’s why I’m using a computer as a metaphor to understand what happens when you get distracted while engaged in an activity that requires your executive functioning brain. Continue reading “ADHD Insight: Impact of Distractions on Executive Functioning”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 22, 2023
What is insightful thinking, and why should it be understood as an alternative to methodical thinking or other problem-resolution strategies? Insight, or insightful thinking, is the sudden and immediate comprehension or understanding that takes place without overt trial-and-error testing. Continue reading “My Insights on Insightful Thinking”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 15, 2023
Dr. Russell Barkley (https://www.russellbarkley.org) likes to think of the ADHD brain as a two-level system, that is, the automatic brain and the executive functioning brain. The use of the executive functioning brain is effortful because it takes great effort to step in and override the automatic brain. Continue reading “ADHD Tips: Use Your Executive Functioning Brain to Override Impulse”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 17, 2023
Just as a physical activity requires exercise on a regular basis to develop a skill, ADHD requires attention exercise to develop attention skills. With that in mind, I’m sharing a cool tip with you that correlates physical exercise and attention exercise. Continue reading “ADHD and Athletics: Combining Physical and Attention Exercises”
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 3, 2023
These days, there is so much competition for our attention. At times, it can feel like we are pulled in a hundred directions with all different mediums vying for emotional control of our hearts and minds (and let’s be honest, our wallets). It can feel overwhelming. Continue reading “Get More Done: Ditch Your Smartphone”
