Simple Commitments to Help you Thrive in the New Year!
As the New Year looms in front of you, take a look at your schedule, your list of things to do, and your commitments. What do you see that your commitments have in common with each other? My very educated guess (from decades of working with adults with ADHD/ADD) is that not too many of those things are really just for you.
Living with ADD, and/or caring for a child or teen with ADHD, requires a lot of mental and physical energy! It can be totally and completely exhausting at times. And most of us do ourselves a disservice, and do a disservice to those we care for, by not putting ourselves high up on our list of important commitments.
Here are some simple things you can do to refresh and recharge your batteries, so that your are at your best to take on your commitments:
- Get outside! A change of scenery, a breath of fresh air and some sunlight can do wonders for your mind and your body.
- Do something with your hands: gardening, knitting, arts and crafts, even puzzles can be very refreshing and renewing.
- Take a nap or a rest.
- Get your body moving! Start small and start slow—take a 10 or 20 minute walk or ride a stationary bike for a few minutes to get the blood pumping—can do wonders for recharging your batteries.
- Try something new, or resurrect an old interest, and commit to spending some time on it regularly. Taking on a new challenge or reviving an old interest can be invigorating!
- Bolster your social connections. Make it a point to schedule time with people you care about—or to meet new people–and commit to doing it on a regular basis.
- Claim some “Alone Time”. Many of us with ADHD need some quiet, down time in a day to process and settle our minds a bit. Although I am not a morning person, I take 10-15 minutes alone with a cup of coffee and my calendar/to-dos before anyone else gets up, and I do the same thing in the evening (just another 5 minutes or so) after everyone has gone to bed just to kind of exhale the day. As much as it’s hard to resist the allure of an extra 10-15 minutes of sleep, I’ve learned that I really need that little bit of time to recharge my batteries.
What are you willing to commit to so that you can Start the New Year Off Right?
Share your comments here. Maybe you’ll inspire someone else, too!
