Thinking is effortful. It can be incredibly gratifying or intensely painful. Take the euphoria of an aha moment when you’ve solved a problem as opposed to struggling to regulate your attention and focus on a difficult or boring task. What’s more, the pressure to think on a deadline, in the face of writer’s block for example, brings on anxiety, which is the human experience, but it’s more extreme for those with ADHD. Continue reading “ADHD and Thinking: UGH!” →

There are times in our world with new technologies or events that metaphorically tilt the floor of human behavior. When that happens, some things are easier, but others become more challenging. Those who lack self-awareness, effort, emotion, and willpower have no go-to strategy to survive an adversarial challenge. Metaphorically, those who are self-aware will spend the time and energy to climb the hill because they know, after climbing to the top, they can get back to what works. Continue reading “ADHD: Climbing the Hill for a Better View” →

ADHD Heroes book (www.judyadhdcoaching.com/adhd-heroes-book.html)? While the chapter about me was my story, the real hero was my mom (just like many others with ADHD). Remembering all the hours my mom sat with me to help me through schoolwork and to take me to sporting activities so I could indulge my interests. Her loving dedication helped me gain confidence in areas outside of academics to protect my self-esteem. It is my mother who is the true hero.
Continue reading “ADHD Heroes: Mom, Happy Mother’s Day!” →

In the ADHD community, we often hear about executive function, but why is it so important that experts often talk about it?  That question is one many of us have asked, so we want to help you understand it in a clear context. That’s why we are pleased to release our eBook titled, “ADHD, Executive Function, and Self-Regulation.” It explains the process of executive functioning in the brain as it relates to ADHD, which Dr. Russell Barkley views as largely a challenge of self-regulation. Continue reading “What Is Executive Function and Why Does It Matter?” →

If you are like me, you hated doing word problems in school. Word problems are hard because there isn’t a methodical way of doing them. Solving them requires insight, trial-and-error thinking, patience, and practice.

The reason word problems were so important in school is because they require us to think more deeply, to use reasoning and deductive logic to analyze and solve problems.  In other words, they develop us as thinkers. Continue reading “ADHD and Word Problems: Hate Them or Embrace Them” →

The fun part of being an ADHD coach is to have those with ADHD articulate what I couldn’t.  In the last year I’ve had a few emails, texts, and social media posts that really get to the heart of the realities of ADHD.  I’d like to share a few with you and get your thoughts (please leave comments). Continue reading “People with ADHD Often Tell It Like It Is” →

It’s become a joy of mine to produce Attention Talk Videos to address attention issues and provide information to help those in need. One thing I enjoy the most is how articulate many people are in commenting on those videos. I’d like to share a few that really represent the realities of the ADHD plight.

One viewer commented on a video related to dopamine and how those with ADHD forage for information on it. Here’s the comment: Continue reading “The Bold Realities of ADHD” →

Are you one of those individuals who think it’s just too complicated to get organized or even to remember things you need to do? Planning is essential for both of these tasks, but it’s important to keep those plans as simple as possible. This theory was what motivated Dr. Carey Heller and me to co-author an article, titled “Keeping Organized Goes Beyond a Task List,” for Attention Magazine, published in the October 2020 edition. Continue reading “Keeping Organized Goes Beyond a Task List” →

Since 2012, I’ve had the honor of being on the editorial board of Attention Magazine, published by Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). At first, this might not be surprising, but once you realize I have dyslexia and a learning disability, you might understand the irony, as these have had an enormous impact in my life and have made writing one of my greatest weaknesses. You have to laugh at the idea though. Somebody who struggles to write is actually on the editorial board of a prominent magazine. Go figure.

Continue reading “Things That Make You Go, “Hmm…”” →

Dr. Thomas E. Brown once said, “The more there is a need for independent work, the lower the grades and productivity of those with ADHD.”

In general, I’ve found this to be true in my experience as a coach. Although the peace and quiet of home or your office might increase productivity in some people, sadly, that is not always the case for those with ADHD. Continue reading “The Truth about ADHD and Working Independently” →