How To Focus When You Have ADHD
When you have ADHD, you know it can become overwhelming by all of the distractions that are a part of life.
Life Can Become Distracting
You are constantly distracted by everything from scrolling social media, to checking emails, to managing the household and working a job! Just trying to focus on any one thing can feel like a never ending battle that seems literally impossible when your ADHD has a mind of its own.
When life becomes overwhelming and you just can't seem to focus you may find yourself doing everything but what needs your utmost attention.
For many of us, social media can become a major distraction, especially when you work from home online.
Tuning into your favorite television show can also keep you from your priorities because you just can't get beyond the idea of doing anything that is dull and boring.
Or how about when you've got a mile long to-do list that you have yet to check off because as soon as you've started one task, you see another and start it before you've completed the first one, and so on.
Having ADHD and finding yourself constantly distracted is a common occurrence that often happens when you just don't feel like focusing on what's important because it's tedious and boring. Or maybe it's because you fear anything new and different.
Being Afraid of Life Can Be Overwhelming
Whatever your reason for being distracted, you already know that focusing is the only way to get things done, but where do you start?
You start with knowing what you really want in life and in order to do that you'll want to turn it into a goal.
Creating goals that are simple enough to focus on will allow you to spend some time every day on what really matters to you the most.
When you schedule goals that are important to you, it allows you to avoid the distractions that keep you from focusing on what you really want in life. Anything that doesn’t fit or allow you to move closer to your goals, shouldn't be scheduled.
Decide how much time you want to set towards each of your goals and stick with it. When the time is up for that goal, move on to the next one. One of the biggest reasons your goals like that to-do list doesn't get done is because your ADHD says, "No more, this is too much, I'm done!" The result isn't anywhere near positive and you tell yourself you'll do it another day, but it never gets done.
The Struggle of Getting Things Done
If you struggle with a negative mindset, change your thoughts.
Instead of thinking about how hard it is to manage your ADHD symptoms or how you wish you weren't so distracted, turn those negative thoughts into positive ones. Your brain is programmed to respond to the messages you send it. If you're telling your brain about a negative feeling, it will believe it. If you respond with positive thoughts, your brain will believe that too.
If the distractions are still keeping you from focusing on your goals, remove them.
Focus on your goals where the television isn't present, log out of or temporarily block your email and social media accounts. Anything that's a distraction, find a solution that works for you, and don't allow yourself to make excuses as to why you can't.
The more you are able to train your brain to focus rather than just giving in to your ADHD symptoms, the more productive you'll become and the more you will find yourself enjoying the life you have always dreamed of.