"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

Life is too short for...

We are living in unique times. We face new situations and challenges on pretty much a daily basis. For people already dealing with and managing ADD or AD/HD, executive functioning skill challenges, depression, anxiety, and the like, living in the time of the coronavirus exacerbates some of the usual challenges. It can be particularly difficult to motivate oneself to do the daily tasks necessary for basic self-care, working from home, homeschooling online, and taking care of and connecting with family members and friends.

Welcome to the new normal! Even as we navigate this time and are a long way away from getting back to 'business as usual', there is encouraging news out there and many things that each of us can do to help ourselves and each other. With that said, it is helpful for each of us to focus on the things we can do to adapt to our new lives and make our current situation more comfortably sustainable.

The Basics

There are some tried and true steps we can take towards creating a more organized and successful daily life. These are the basics and this is the most helpful place to begin. A few of our favorites include:

Establish a daily schedule and stick with this. Don't worry if this is challenging. It takes time and you will get there. Be patient with yourself. Returning to this, again and again, is where you will get your growth. Take a shower, get dressed, and make your bed every day. You will be amazed at how much this helps! Make time for physical activity you enjoy on a daily basis. This can be as simple as taking a walk. Remember to wear your mask. I find it easiest and most enjoyable to walk while speaking with a friend (on the phone, of course!) or listening to music or a favorite podcast. Drink plenty of water and nourish yourself with healthy foods. These things may not sound like earth-shattering revelations, but they are the place to start. Without the structure we are used to relying on to tell us what day it is and what we should do next, things can get a little blurry and rather monotonous. Without the things we are usually able to look forward to, it is easy to lose our motivation. These are many of the things that already challenge folks dealing with ADD or AD/HD and other executive functioning skill issues, so these are often the first to go in times of particular stress.

What is Life Too Short For?

With all the considerable challenges we currently face, this is also a time of opportunity. Hence, our thought for the week; "Life is too short for..."

Living in the time of this pandemic brings perspective and, therefore, an opportunity to evaluate our lives and ourselves and the things that are important to us. What is your life too short for?

Is life too short for not telling people how you feel? Not using the good dishes? Not writing your novel, or at least beginning it? Is life too short to keep working the job that doesn't fulfill you?

The silver lining to all of this may well be that you have a clearer picture of what is important to you and what you might do instead, given a chance to start again. This is new to everyone and it's understandable to need help making sense of things and getting back on track or creating a new track. If you feel that you would benefit from some one-on-one support, I invite you to read through the information on my website, and please don't hesitate to reach out. I am here for you. Also, please feel free to send me any stories of how you are doing at this time. Be sure to include things that are helping and the difficulties you are experiencing. Perhaps you will find yourself published in a future newsletter!

In closing, I offer you this lovely story and beautiful perspective of this time. I take comfort in remembering that, at some point, we will be living in less stressful times.

Please take care of yourselves and each other.

StayHome #WashYourHands #WearAMask

Sending love to all of you,

Barbara