What if one of the biggest obstacles to thriving with ADHD is trying so hard to manage it the “right” way? Many of those with ADHD spend years trying to make themselves fit systems that simply don’t work for them. They put things away because that’s what an organized person is supposed to do. They…
Stop calling yourself disorganized… your ADHD brain already has a system. If you have ADHD, chances are you’ve said something like: “I’m so disorganized.” “I’m a mess.” “I just need a better system.” As an ADHD coach, I hear those statements all the time. My response often surprises people:
One of the most difficult—and damaging—issues in the ADHD world today isn’t ADHD itself. It’s parent denial. In an early episode of Attention Talk Video, I sat down with Dr. Charles Parker, a long-time ADHD medical expert, to talk about a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough honest attention. What he shared was both sobering…
For many people with ADHD, visual distractions can be overwhelming, making it difficult to focus on conversations, lectures, or even personal thoughts. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to concentrate in a visually chaotic environment, you’re not alone. Fortunately, a simple but effective strategy could help—closing your eyes. During my interview with him on Attention…
When we talk about ADHD, weight isn’t usually the first topic that comes up. But if we understand ADHD as a self-regulation disorder, the connection becomes surprisingly clear. People with ADHD often struggle with managing attention—both engaging it when needed and disengaging it when necessary. This difficulty can apply just as much to food as…
Have you ever had a gut feeling you couldn’t quite explain? That subtle nudge or sense that something is off, even when you can’t pinpoint why? Those who have ADHD often may feel like their intuition is a superpower—that is, the ability to pick up on patterns or changes that others might overlook. But what…
Motivation in the context of ADHD is often misunderstood. Today, we’re beginning with an important reflection on motivation. That is, when we talk about motivation, we’re often really talking about what we want those with ADHD to do—not what truly drives them. I’m drawing from the insights of Dr. Roberto Olivardia to highlight two fundamental…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 29, 2025 In this post, I’m tackling a topic that continues to surprise many people, which is the comorbidity of ADHD and bipolar disorder. “Comorbidity” refers to disease or medical conditions that are present at the same time in a patient. To be completely honest,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 1, 2025 Exercise is one of the most effective natural treatments for managing ADHD. It enhances focus, attention, and overall well-being. But when it comes to how much exercise is enough, the answer is surprisingly simple: the amount you will actually do.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 23, 2025 When it comes to managing ADHD, most conversations center around stimulant medications—what type, what dosage, and how they affect focus and behavior. But there’s a less-discussed, highly practical factor that can make a major difference in treatment outcomes, and that’s breakfast, specifically a…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 26, 2025 Living with ADHD often means navigating the world in a way that’s fundamentally different from how others experience it. Recently, I had a personal realization that’s helped me better understand how my brain works, and I hope it offers some clarity for you,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 14, 2025 As an ADHD and attention coach, I am often asked whether exercise is good for those with ADHD? The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, if exercise could be bottled into a pill, it would be hailed as the drug of the…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 3, 2025 Today, we’re talking about one of the most powerful tools for managing ADHD challenges—brainstorming. I don’t mean just the outcome, but the process itself. For those with ADHD, understanding and managing brainstorming can be a game-changer.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 20, 2025 Heading to college can be tough for students with ADHD and keeping in touch as a parent can pose some challenges, too! I had a talk with Rob Tudisco, former president of Edge Foundation, to talk about the struggles of students with ADHD…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 23, 2024 In the world of ADHD awareness and advocacy, few voices are as compelling as Alan P. Brown, creator of ADD Crusher. In an episode on Attention Talk Video a few years ago, Alan shared his remarkable journey with attention coach Jeff Copper. He…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 2, 2024 In this blog post, I address how individuals with ADHD often thrive by using strategies that are nontraditional and are more suited to their brain’s unique wiring. With ADHD, their ability to focus and process information is impaired, and traditional methods may not…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – November 4, 2024 If you have ADHD, you may find that your biggest problems are related to specific types of tasks. For example, boring things can feel like a big challenge. But more importantly Multifaceted or unclear tasks can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stuck. So…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – October 14, 2024 There are lots of conversations around when you should disclose your ADHD and when you shouldn’t. In fact, it may be better to disclose only the symptoms, not the diagnosis. But sometimes it’s kind of cool and clever to find that there are…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 23, 2024 Play is not just for kids… especially for adults with ADHD. Let’s talk about de-stigmatizing play. All too often, adults think of play as childish, but for those with ADHD, playing or having fun in the workplace has value in the business world….
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 26, 2024 In the classroom, ADHD students are often fidgety and energetic, unable to sit still and pay attention. What can teachers do? In my experience as an ADHD and attention coach, I have heard schoolteachers and other educators talk about their challenges in managing…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 5, 2024 Knowing what to do is often the easy part, especially for folks with ADHD. A phrase coined by ADHD expert Dr. Russell Barkley captures the essence of ADHD that says it’s not a disorder of knowing what to do but rather a disorder…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 8, 2024 We often talk about memories. It feels like it’s just one thing and one kind of memory, but there are several different kinds of memory. Today, we’re breaking down memory into three key types of memory for those with ADHD: long-term memory, working…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 10, 2024 Are you a parent looking for effective strategies to improve communication with your ADHD child? In an interview with Elaine Taylor-Klaus (https://impactparents.com), we discussed simple and fun approaches to keep the lines of communication open without resorting to constant instructions. These methods focus…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 13, 2024 Students, whether they’re teenagers, adolescents, or young adults in college, need to have their own goals, their own reasons to succeed, which really leads to whether they are motivated. Sometimes this means they need professional help, and coaching is an effective means to…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 4, 2024 It might be surprising to learn that kids with ADHD are twice as likely to land in police custody at some point. In fact, as we learn more about behavior in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it’s an easy jump to say that many…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – February 5, 2024 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is confusing and key ADHD symptoms are often misunderstood in relationships. One of the patterns that couples fall into that is damaging for them is that they don’t understand the symptoms as they’re expressed in the relationship.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 8, 2024 As an ADHD and attention coach, I’m often asked what works for those with ADHD. So, I want to dive into that, but I also want to explore what doesn’t work. First, it’s essential to understand that everyone’s experience with ADHD is unique,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 4, 2023 If you have ADHD, do you have trouble getting started? Sometimes that looks like procrastination or a lack of motivation. Have you considered a body double? Most of us think of body doubles in terms of stand-ins or stunt actors in movies or…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – November 6, 2023 Get ready to get ready to go? How can that concept help manage time for those with ADHD? How can it help them manage transitions? First, we need to understand the concept. Get ready to get ready to go is a concept that…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – October 16, 2023 As we age, we have memory loss, and hormonal changes present some attention deficit symptoms. This can get confusing. So, how can you tell the difference between ADD symptoms and age or hormonal changes? It’s a tough question. But the ADDiva, Linda Roggli…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 28, 2023 ADHD is an issue of self-regulation. As an ADHD and attention coach, I know that many of the tips, tricks, and strategies on the Web don’t typically work for those with ADHD. Often, these tips tell you there is a logic behind using…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 13, 2023 When you’re observing someone else, it can be easy to make judgments and describe who they are and what they do. When you have to turn the tables on yourself, particularly if you have ADHD, it can be challenging. This is especially true…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – February 13, 2023 Many with ADHD are stuck applying the obvious solution as if they are the same as everyone else. The bottom line is this: Those who are diagnosed with ADHD have brains that are just wired differently. By the same token, we need to…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 23, 2023 Athletes who have ADHD often suffer from psychological issues such as depression or anxiety and other emotional challenges that stem from ADHD. These athletes may experience less than ideal performance on the playing field. As an ADHD and attention coach, this topic is…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 2, 2023 During the COVID pandemic, many people had no recourse but to work from home. Unfortunately, they struggled with getting things done and their productivity declined, perhaps for one simple reason. There’s no one around to take off some of the stress on your…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 12, 2022 Knowing what works for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is just as important as knowing what does not work. Some of the tactics you use might not be helping. In fact, they might even exacerbate your symptoms. For example, pressure to perform based on…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – November 14, 2022 Organizing things is a real challenge, especially for those with ADHD. They think they’ll just jump in and start organizing until they get into a mess and then things seem to explode. It has been said, if you don’t understand something as a…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 19, 2022 Working with those with ADHD, I find they have a certain processing style that varies by individual. While this is not ADHD specific, those with ADHD are more dependent on a more dominant style. It’s a common occurrence in those with ADHD, as…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – Published August 22, 2022 Pain! Energy! ADHD! They just don’t seem compatible with each other, but yet, they go hand in hand for those who struggle with chronic pain, no energy, and ADHD. Those with ADHD often have endless amounts of energy, but when they don’t,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 25, 2022 In the context of ADHD, do your eyes glaze over when you start talking about digital means and methods? If so, I’m here to say that the cloud can set you free. So, let’s talk about what I mean by “the cloud.” With…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 27, 2022 As a former athlete and competitive swimmer, I understand how important rest is for the body. After intense workouts or stressful training, the body needs time to replenish its energy stores, and your muscles need time to recover. To illustrate my point, I…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 6, 2022 Conflict and struggles can arise when one partner in an ADHD relationship travels frequently. When connection is lost due to being out of sight, out of mind, the challenge is to figure out how to handle this in a manner that suits both…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 2, 2022 Those with ADHD struggle with working memory. A working memory impairment hinders the ability to follow a sequence of steps because they’re not able to hold the steps in their mind. It takes a lot of effort because they have to override their…
Those who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have difficulty with what we call transitions, that is, starting and stopping projects when they are in the middle of something and get interrupted or they have to look elsewhere for further information. Those are transitions, like having to reboot the computer (or the brain) to…
I’ve always been curious what stops someone from getting rid of things. Having coached many, many borderline hoarders, I’ve seen the overwhelm this clutter bestows on them. So, let’s talk about purging. I have several suggestions to illustrate this, but as an example, I’ll use the tassel on my cap when I graduated from the…
