As an ADD’er, I have noticed one thing that always remains constant in my life…….biting off more than I can chew, as the saying goes.
Many ADD’ers have the similar challenge, they feel as though they are capable of taking on every challenge that comes their way. It can be fixed! It can be squeezed into the schedule? Let’s add that extra to-do. All very common thoughts in my world and many other ADD’ers.
On the positive side, my ability to hyperfocus allows me to be a productivity machine. I get so much done sometimes, others look at me with disbelief. The downside, I hit the wall and burn out and make a lot of speling miztakes 
So what are some tricks that allow ADD’ers to manage this process of thinking they can take on more than reality will allow? Here are a few things that have been effective for me with this challenge:
- Simply realize and accept, you can’t do it all.
- Delegating tasks to others who can support your efforts, like an assistant, business partner or spouse.
- Schedule it. By planning out when something will be accomplished, it can eliminate the spontaneous nature of trying to accomplish too many things and ensure proper planning takes place.
These practices might work for you too.
Forcing circles in squares – In some parts of the workforce, these can be positive or negative qualities. We probably shouldn’t think, we can do just any job. I wonder- if we try to fit ourselves in places we don’t belong, do we compromise our valued emotional position?
My family has openly accused me of letting them down many times, because I would offer my help and then not remember to do what I promised. Truth is that yes, I have let them down because I misjudge the situation, the amount of time any given task would take and what was already on my “all-you-can-eat-buffet”style plate. All of it was very hurtful specially since to top it all like greasy gravy, I had not idea about what ADD was. Now I find myself stopping more often to consider whether I have the time to help instead of questioning if I could do it. That right there is a huge difference for me, because I feel I can do pretty much anything. The most important question has become if I have the time to do it all. Realizing I don’t has freed my mind a little bit and has allowed me to be more efficient.
I feel the same way. I work three part-time jobs (one at the mall, one as an English tutor, and one in an accounting firm), volunteer as a coordinator at the Hospital, volunteer as a director at a youth agency and still maintain my full-time status in University. With a 30-40 hour work week and a full course load (10 per year), many of my friends always ask, “how do you do it?”. But I just tell them that I have ADD. My phone’s calendar is my #1 friend. I schedule pretty much EVERYTHING and pretty much everyday is filled up! (I still manage to go out for dinner or just chill with some friends at least once a week) Yay for ADD-ers haha.