Living with ADHD: How to Manage Your Symptoms
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that affects many people worldwide. Like you, many are scared due to the stigma surrounding the condition but also relieved that they now know the reason for the symptoms they’ve experienced.
A patient with ADHD has differences in brain development and activity that differ from the norm. This difference causes the inability to sit still, hyperactivity, and affects attention and self-control. Thankfully, patients can use numerous new tools to manage their symptoms and eventually thrive in emotional health, careers, and personal relationships.
Set Reminders To Take Your Medication
Are you on ADHD medication? Then, there’s a good chance you were prescribed Vynase or lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, a well-known prescription drug that treats attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and binge eating disorder. This medication works by increasing the dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. As a result, it improves your focus, behavior, and attention.
Other drugs with the same effects are Adderall, Ritalin, Focalin, and more! Depending on your preferences and the other medications you take, the prescribed medicine may differ, including when you should take your medication. Just follow your healthcare provider’s and pharmacists’ instructions for better results for your symptoms.
If your physician instructs you to take your medication for a long time, it can be quite costly in the long run. To save on costs, you can get discounts when you purchase from BuzzRx vyvanse coupons and discounts. Just go to their website and search for the nearest pharmacies near you where you can get discounts for free.
Use Organizational and Time Management Tools
Do you have trouble staying organized and managing your time? Don’t worry because it’s prevalent among ADHD patients. It may be tempting to hop to another task that catches your attention. However, to finish a task promptly and successfully, you should use tools that can keep you grounded.
The following are tools that can be useful for ADHD patients. Choose one that’s easy and works well for you and your preferences:
- An application that helps manage your tasks, like Todoist, Trello, or Notion
- A paper diary, notepad, or bullet journal
- A time management technique, like blocking time using Google Calendar
- Pomodoro Technique, where you would work for 25-minute intervals with 5 minute breaks in between (you can find one on the Internet or download an application for these timers)
Remember that consistency is vital to successfully finishing a task. Try your hardest to stick to one task at a time.
Limit Your Screen Time
Spending too much time staring at your screen can make you lose track of time and take the focus away from the task or errand you have at hand. You can spend hours on your phone and not notice it.
To limit your screen time, you can download apps or set your settings on your phone or tablet to limit your screen time. You can also set time for specific applications you spend the most time on, which can be a significant distraction or a time drain. On the other hand, you can also set a timer on your Clock application. For example, set a 15-minute timer on your clock.
Make Tasks Meaningful
Tasks can sometimes be overwhelming, but if you want to complete tasks, you need to set exciting and engaging tasks. Look at your tasks and evaluate why you’re doing your tasks and how they benefit you.
Think about it this way. Doing a work task may motivate you when you’re doing your passion, or you can do work to save up for a vacation or car. When you have motivational factors, it may make doing the tasks more exciting since you have a reward at the end of your work.
When deciding on tasks, ensure you’re on the right field to easily keep your eye on the prize and finish your tasks successfully.
Avoid Multitasking
Some people thrive while multitasking, but many don’t, especially ADHD patients. So, if you can’t multitask, try to eliminate the distractions around you so you won’t be enticed into doing other tasks besides your work. For example, if you’re studying one subject, try to pack away your other textbooks that are not within your line of sight so that you can focus on studying for that subject.
Follow Your Internal Clock
Are you a morning, afternoon, or evening person? Every person is unique. That means that not everyone can be productive during the daytime, just like some people can’t during the evening or afternoon. If you want to successfully manage your symptoms and speedily finish your tasks, follow your internal clock so that you won’t have to force yourself to work when your body doesn’t want to.
For example, if you’ve observed that you do your best work during the afternoon, then arrange your day accordingly. Look for jobs, tasks, and activities that allow you to be flexible with your schedule and do your work in the afternoon to make the most of your internal clock and productive patterns.
Final Thoughts
Managing your ADHD symptoms can be overwhelming since everyone’s experience with this disorder is unique. You can manage it in numerous ways, and what works for some may not work for you. Take your time finding ways to manage your systems by practicing trial and error, and you’ll eventually get there!