Mind Over Matter: How I Cope With ADHD To Accomplish Goals
      For the duration of my entire grade school career, I struggled with completing homework assignments. This issue sounds like a common case of procrastination, right? Well… not for me.
      Every time I sat down at my desk to complete each task to be handed in the following day, I would read over the materials and instructions only to feel as though I were trying to decipher hieroglyphics or learn a foreign language for the first time.
      Hours passed, and I still stared blankly at the paper or Word document in front of me with next to nothing on the page – except for my name, the date, my teacher’s name and the class for which the assignment was intended for. Despite actively trying to compose words, sentences, paragraphs, and thoughts onto the page, it would appear as though I had been procrastinating all day until bedtime.
      Why couldn’t I comprehend what was in front of me? It surely was not rocket science. Sure – math and history were not exactly my strongest subjects, but it couldn’t be thatdifficult… could it?
      More often than not, I attributed my homework block to the vast amount of school absences due to lifelong medical battles. It only made sense that it was more challenging to absorb the curriculum when I wasn’t present to hear the lectures and discussions that thoroughly covered the lesson each day.
      Fast-forward more than a decade later - I am post-high school, halfway through a Bachelor’s degree program, and have a multitude of jobs – some sustained, some merely a stint – behind me. It isn’t until I’m in the midst of a mental health crisis that led to an academic hiatus that I finally recognize enough evidence to ponder what would ultimately prove to be the realissue at hand: ADHD (plus, an “unspecified neurocognitive disorder” for my abnormally minimal memory).
      Being an entrepreneur consists of plenty of freedom and autonomy. Both of these elements can be part of the mass appeal of being your own boss. For someone with ADHD, however, these can also simultaneously backfire when striving to succeed.
      So, how does one combat it? How does one get anything done to actively achieve even theslightestof steps in the right direction? This is something that I, for one, am still trying to figure out – it’s a lifelong battle that never exactly “disappears” – but thus far, I have found some effective methods to aid my progression and propel my accomplishments.
o  Predictable as it may seem, if prescribed by a doctor, one of the most helpful ways to manage symptoms is with medication. Obviously, use only as directed by your MD. Personally, this has been life changing in coping with my own symptoms. If deemed necessary, I highly recommend consultation with a healthcare provider to discuss the best and most appropriate options that may be available.
2. Â Â White noise or somewhere not TOO quiet.
o  Whether in the form of a mobile app or making a trip to your favorite Starbucks (or Wi-Fi café of choice), sometimes being in the midst of radio silence can be a bit jarring when you’re trying to get some work checked off your to-do list.
o  Odd as it sounds, chewing gum has been a simple yet effective way to ease my mind and maintain focus while trying to complete work. I’m sure there may be some kind of science behind it, but the slight physical movements have been evident in preventing myself from endlessly fidgeting.
4. Â Â Keep your yoga mat sacred
o  I’ve often found myself sitting upon my yoga mat on the floor, unconsciously multitasking with numerous undertakings, with no intention of practicing yoga in that moment. Over time, repetitively utilizing your yoga mat for anything other than the practice can begin to associate that space with stressful activities. Therefore, KEEP YOUR YOGA MAT SACRED. Your mat is for yoga and yoga only. It is a place of solitude and spiritual retreat.
5. Â Â YOUR BED IS MEANT FOR SLEEP
o  Similar to the aforementioned yoga mat misuse, any entrepreneur who works from home may naturally resort to the comfort of their own bed while “working” their nine-to-five job or running their business. Rather than your yoga mat, your bed can ultimately be acquainted with negative feelings of stress or anxiety, thus contributing to insomnia and restlessness when attempting to unwind for the night. Break any habits of migrating to your bed before diving into your day’s to-do list.
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