How to use these strengths to our advantage
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is challenging, now add into the mix being a business owner and the challenge can feel even more amplified. It can be a powerful advantage when understood appropriately. ADHD is about how the brain processes information. When we learn to align our focus with how our brain processes information, we can stop fighting with ourselves, feel less disorganized and build momentum. Use this as a strength. Mine is ADHD hyperfocus, which I use as best I can to my advantage.
Living with ADHD isn’t easy, especially for children, learning can be a nightmare. It’s not something that can be ignored. The more we understand what is happening and become aware of our own circumstances, the more we can learn about ourselves, be open-minded and opt to take advantage of what others haven’t got. It can be a struggle to stay focused on a project, or task. Yet thankfully more research is being done that shows food colorings, food types, and certain situations can be triggers and raise the situation.
Notice the strengths
Learning to notice the strengths and what to avoid can be huge. Use these strengths with intension, focus on goals and win. Strengths can be high energy, focus, curiosity, creativity, determination and passion. Look to see which and what strengths are needed when. Be aware of your strengths and use them as best as possible.
Finish what is started
I notice that when I have high energy, I can get many things done. Physical or mental depending on how I feel, I can either move and organize things that may have been around for a while, or I can use my hyper focus energy to dig deep into financials. When we become aware of our focus levels, we know we can use them to learn more and be creative better than most others around us. Focusing on critical yet boring tasks such as bookkeeping could be an area that is a priority to delegate, or work on if need when energy is best fitted. I notice that I am very creative and have tons of ideas, which on one hand is lovely, and on the other hand can be a distraction if not used in the appropriate manner. I realize that if my attention is drawn in another direction, it could take me away from what really matters.
I have a poster on my wall that says “Finish what is started”. Each year I have a theme and this year the theme is Genisis. This meaning for me, is to create to completion and make it tangible.
Create short deadlines
Create short deadlines to help, set a timer or alarm. If alarms are a trigger, then have an accountability partner, call a friend or colleague and say you will call them back when the task is done, or set a specific time to call them back. Working side by side with another person can improve focus, build accountability and provide motivation to get a task done or at least get it started. This approach is called body doubling.
What is body doubling?
Body doubling means you’re doing a task or project while someone else is present. That person acts as an anchor to help encourage focus, accountability and productivity. It sets up the right environment for them to do what they want to achieve. This approach can work online or face to face. I often think of occasions when I sat with my children when they didn’t want to do their homework. This too is a form of body doubling. The presence of another person can also make a boring task feel more engaging and less overwhelming. Be Aware that if the body double person is a friend, you might end up chatting too much rather than getting work done, so set the expectation and clearly communicate with your friend how they can support you. The reward at the end might be to go out after for lunch or some fun activity that you both decide on.
Keep off the ‘bunny trails’
When our brain can often be influenced by distractions and go off on a ‘bunny trail’ with whatever pops up to attract our attention, having someone close by is helpful because their behavior is what we are looking to mirror so we can accomplish our task.
Notice if the task you’re looking to accomplish is also in your best interest. Ask yourself, will it get me closer to the goals, or is it merely a distraction.
One thing at a time
Work on one task at a time for a set period of time. This can be the most difficult. I have found that having a ‘drop zone’ helps. An example might be with paperwork as it can be relentless, and filing can be very boring. File what can be filed immediately and then, with those things that get stuck in your hand, that you don’t know what to do with, put them in the ‘drop zone’ to make a decision on later. Of course, sometimes as things get added to the drop zone, categories might unfold too. Delegation is also an option. By working on one thing at a time, for a set period of time you’re less likely to miss deadlines and get carried away.
Have rewards
As silly as it may sound, have a reward for the work accomplished. The reward can be as easy as a walk, chat with a friend, workout, or even chocolate! Use what you like and what could be a motivator for guidance. Rewards make us feel good and when we feel good, we may be motivated to want to do more of the same task. NO!
Just do the allotted time and stop while you feel good. Come back at another time, or another day. I tend to add a buffer of time and set an alarm for 15 minutes prior to the finishing time so that I have a buffer that gives me chance to clear up, tidy up and make things look reasonable and ready for my next visit to the scene. Nothing will trigger overwhelm more than not being able to start the next time with the first step already in place to get us going.
Put some fun music on while working to keep the energy high, sing along if you want to so that you get those endorphins working and keep the guilty or self-diminishing thoughts at bay.
Discover what drains you
Self-awareness is important. Notice what you really don’t like doing. Remove it as soon as possible from the tasks and delegate it to someone else who is probably better suited, certainly enjoys it, and is additionally more efficient at it than you.
Break it down
Break down projects into smaller manageable tasks that are no longer than 30 minutes in duration. This gives you time to focus on the task at hand and feel a sense of accomplishment. Step by step. Spend longer on the task than 30 minutes if you want to, but break it down and have a self-check point after 30 minutes. This enables a sense of time too. Was it an underestimation of how long something would take, or an overestimation? By breaking projects down into smaller tasks, it is easier to see where time goes and where a project might take longer than expected.
Change the process
Being a business owner with ADHD isn’t actually a disadvantage, it is just a different way of approaching things, it’s a different operating system. Problems and challenges arise when we try to run our business using the rules which were designed by a different type of brain process. I know many business owners with ADHD and creating the process that works best for them is a key factor. It allows them to succeed where they hadn’t before, enables a sense of worth as well as being outstanding at what they accomplish. You too can be successful and soar when the right set up is in place for you. Take time to discover your strengths and use them to your advantage.