This ezine is also available online at www.addhd-coaching.com/ezines/ezine_July08.html

FEATURES

• Hi from Lindsay…
• Timing Your ‘To Do Lists’
• Quote of the month
• Book of the Month: My Stroke of Insight By Jill Bolte Taylor
• New Link to last months puzzle…
• Lovely on-line Techie Tool
• Starting Soon – Coaching Group “Share the Strengths”

This newsletter is a FREE service providing you with strategies and support to help you live a more organized stress-free life. Without spamming, please forward this onto anyone you think may benefit…

Hi there…

Hope you are having a wonderful summer? I had a fun trip to Montana this month. Went to my first rodeo! The whole drama was amped up by a massive thunder and lightening storm rolling through during the first half. Fortunately (being the good English lass that I am) I had my brolly; while most die-hard Montanans relied on their Stetsons. Incredible horsemanship, just amazing. But have to say I was rooting for the steers on most occasions!

This month's main feature looks at 'to do lists' and the time they take. Does your list support you to get the work done with minimal overwhelm; and leave you at the end of a busy day feeling satisfied? If not read on…Our new virtual (by phone) Group Coaching starts next Monday – 'Share the Strengths'. 4 places out of 12 still open in the first group; and still time to come and join us for the month of August….read more below.

Timing Your To Do List

These little suckers can be a blessing or a curse. Let's talk about timing with regard to the list. Just for giggles pull out your list for today or your last daily 'to do' list....really go get it while you read this….got it?

OK, now next to each job guestimated how long it will take. If you have shopping on the list do you include the travelling time involved. Did you add in the time it takes to park and walk into the store – to wait for an elevator – get caught in traffic. Picture yourself getting from A to B and all the steps in between and add up the time it will take.

Now look at each job and think about how many steps you need to take to complete it; would you have to contact someone else to do the job – for example booking a restaurant for dinner – do you need to phone other guests to see where they want to go? Phone a couple of restaurants to see if they take bookings? If so add those extra step and time into your calculation. Go through each item and as accurately as you can list out ALL the steps and time they take. Then add up the time and double or triple it – yep – double or triple the time. We all grossly underestimate how long activities take and most of my clients even more so.

I have come to believe because the ADD brain works so rapidly and takes in soooo much information so fast the erroneous misperception is that the jobs can be done at lightening speed also. I also hear clients miscalculate how long activities will take depending on their description…for example paying the bills 'takes forever', 'ages' or 'hours' but researching on the net can be done 'pretty quickly' or 'I'll just hop in and get the info – it wont take long'. IF you find your 'sense of time' is off you may need to do some exercises to improve your 'time sense' and get a more accurate perception of how long things take; and hone your skill to accurately assess the passing of time.

So how long would your last 'to do' list take to do? And what was your timeframe to get it done? When I did this check on mine several years ago I was shocked to see a list I had made out for myself for a Saturday was roughly 24 hours of work. You 'set yourself up for failure' by having unrealistic lists. By all means have a master 'to do lists' where you keep track of all the jobs on the front and back burner - but make sure you chose only 3 or 4 'most important tasks' from it per day; and make sure it fits in with the time you have available. AND do ball park the time you expect it to take – then double or triple it – and write it next to each job. At the end of the day look back and see how long the task took. Gradually you will gain a better sense of how long you take to do recurring jobs and you will be able to better organize your days with this knowledge.

If you feel your life is out of balance, all work and no play then put the things on your to do list that will bring you back to good healthy living.

1. 30 minutes of 'rejuvenation time' for you to meditate or just dream – time for your brain to 'free flow'.
2. 30 to 60 minutes of exercise.
3. And one 'fun' activity each day. Laughing is great for emotional and psychological health and helps focus by increasing oxygen to the brain.
4. 3 small meals and 2 snacks a day - some protein with each

With a more accurate list of expectations and activities that create balance you will be more focused and efficient; less overwhelmed and more effective.

You can create the life you want by taking control of your time and choosing how you spend it.

Quote

"The really efficient laborer will be found not to crowd his day with work, but will saunter to his task surrounded by a wide halo of ease and leisure." - Henry David Thoreau

Note: I'm not there yet! But a state of being worth pondering and aspiring too maybe??

Book of the Month

My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor

If you haven't heard of Dr Taylor, scoot on over to TED.com and watch the video of her absolutely amazing story.

She was a 37-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist when a blood vessel exploded in her brain. Through the eyes of a curious scientist, she watched her mind deteriorate. When she lost the skills of her left-brain, her consciousness shifted away from what we see as 'normal reality' and she entered into a world where she felt "at one with the universe." Many of my clients function predominantly with right brain strengths and the 'enormous collage of senses' Dr Taylor speaks of rings true of how many ADDers experience the world – what do you think?

oops… new link to last months curly question!!
How do you know it was a man selling this dining room set on Craig's List didn't work for some of you – if you are still curios try this one!!

Quiz - How do you know this table is being sold by a man?

Lovely Techie Tool

I just love highlighters. Rarely read a book without one in my hand. Realize that the kinesthetic action of drawing the bright yellow ink through the words enables me to fully internalize the information.

So here is a virtual highlighter that lets you highlight sections of text on websites or blogs before sending them to friends or clients – how cool is that!!

Here's how it works:

1. Go to www.awesomehighlighter.com
2. Enter the address of the blog site or website you want to highlight
3. Click highlight page
4. The blog site/website will appear with the "Awesome Highlighter" tool bar across the top
5. Highlight the content you want to - you can choose the color you want to use at the top right hand corner of tool bar
6. Press Done.
7. You will be redirected to a page that contains the content you highlighted and a customized url.

STARTING IN AUGUST

"Share the Strengths Coaching Group"

EVERY MONDAY 6.00-7.00pm PDT

THERE'S STILL THREE PLACES LEFT IN THIS FIRST GROUP

JULY 31ST CUT OFF DATE FOR AUGUST GROUP

CONTACT ME TODAY AND COME JOIN US.

The group will meet via a 'conference line'

Each week members will bring their own issues and ideas to brainstorm
be it a difficulty or a discovery – lets figure out your strengths and share them.
Through the group wisdom I envisage members crafting strategies for problems,
sharing a shoulder when times get tough and building friendships.

Come and join us, from the comfort of your own home...

$20 per session

Payable in advance via PayPal, billpay or check. With a minimum

‘one month commitment’

each month. And 48 hours notice to cancel.

Email me TODAY to join or for more info

Lindsay@adhd-coaching.com

Cheers,