ADHD tools: letter from future me
You have ADHD. I bet you struggle getting ready in the morning. If not in the morning, then probably sometime later in the day. Lunch time, maybe?
I know a lot of people who have ADHD and they barely make it out of the house on time each morning. And they beat themselves up every day because of it.
Let’s break each of us down. We are tri-part creatures: we have a past, present, and future selves. When you beat yourself up over running late in the morning— even though you sprang out of bed on time with only one snooze!— you are experiencing a clash between your past and present selves.
Past you had so many happy thoughts and grandiose plans for being on time. Present you couldn’t make it happen. Past berates present in what feels like a never-ending cycle. Future you feels sad.
#adhdtips
Time for you to have a different conversation between present and future you.
When evening comes around, have present you ask future you what present can do to help future get out of the house on time. Here’s a hard part: future you will have greater success if present you does what future needs.
Some common asks from future you to present you:
- Have your morning meds ready
- Take a look at tomorrow’s weather
- Pick out clothes and have them laid out and ready to wear
- Pack a lunch and have it ready to grab from the fridge
- Put a mid-morning snack in the lunch along with a love note from present you to future you
- Make sure there is enough dog food for the morning’s feeding
- Ensure there is gas in the car
Teamwork makes dreamwork
When present you takes a few moments to set future you up for success, past you has no reason to berate and belittle present you.
Problem solved. (Or so it seems until tomorrow.)
