Holiday Solutions to ADHD challenges

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holiday solutions to adhd challenges

 

Problem: I often purchase gifts at the last minute and send out holiday cards on December 20.

Solution: Write a plan with dates and deadlines. Be specific about what to order and when to order it.

You can begin in October with cards and in November shop for gifts.  Both of these start with having a list. Use last year’s card list and update it in October.  Ask your kids for their Santa lists in November.  Giving yourself one task at a time frees you up to do that task well. Remember that stopping is as important as starting.

 

Problem: There are so many events that happen throughout the month. I find I am double booking and also missing programs I love.

Solution: Establish a command center in your kitchen during the holidays. Use a planner for you and your family’s holiday activities. Set up a specific spot for tickets and invitations.

There are so many options for you during the holidays.  Make a decision on what is most important and write this on the family calendar.  Designate a box, basket or magnet dry erase board to hold holiday invitations and tickets as soon as they arrive. Keep digital tickets in your inbox to use when you attend the event.  If the event requires special attire pull out what you plan to wear on the weekend.

Problem: The holiday dinner is at my house. How will I get it all prepared and ready to eat?

Solution: Get a little or a lot of help with semi-homemade and catered food.

Meal prepping and planning may not be your strong suit.  Get help from family and friends for a pot luck holiday meal. Check out local eateries foods to go for the main proteins in your meal and prep only the side dishes.  Use fancy paper plates so there is less to clean up and more time with family.

 

Problem: I can never find the perfect gift for my family and friends.

Solution: Find gifts and gift cards that share experiences.

Spending time together is the best gift of all.  This year find gift experiences that you and your family will enjoy. Gift cards give your family and friends the opportunity to choose their own special item. This one size fits all approach helps you give a gift with thought and streamline your shopping.

Many families enjoy sharing homemade holiday treats.  If this is what you love to do, invite family and friends over to make a batch of fudge or peanut brittle. You enjoy the time together and they take home a treat.

 

Problem: My holidays are so jam packed I just don’t feel the holiday spirit.

Solution: Set aside time for self care and the one thing that brings you joy this holiday.

With all the things to do and the rush of the season, we feel overwhelmed, over stimulated and under energized. Write your self care on your calendar to be sure you are making yourself a priority at this time of year. Whatever your joy in the season, be sure you have that on your calendar.

 

While there are many more challenges with planning, executing and completing, remember that you can find solutions of all sorts throughout the holiday season.

Setting Holiday Priorities

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Manage your expectations.

During the month of November we are overwhelmed with holiday shopping, invitations, holiday meals, cookie exchanges and gifts to purchase. Without pausing, immediately we think we must do all of this.  If we are intentional, we can decide rather than react to the incoming information and activities. Gather your thoughts and your family to start planning what is really important. Managing our expectations means we can create the schedule and create calm for ourselves.

Choose your top three choices.

What do you and your family find most meaningful throughout the holidays? That could be seeing family, going to religious services, seeing holiday lights, or staying in to watch a holiday movie. Write these down and put a check next to each as family share their thoughts. Order your priorities from most to least important, and ask your family members to do the same.

 

Determine your “no” proposition.

Decide on what your “no’s” are and what to say to decline. It can be a simple statement that your calendar is already full. Being prepared to say no makes this easier to be true to your priorities.

 

It’s easier to make decisions with good self-care.

Happy Holidays Where All Is Calm, All Is Bright

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happy holidays where all is calm and all is bright for those with adhd

Holiday gifting, meal planning and travel all require executive function skills with planning and execution. Because of this, holidays can be anything but calm and bright for those with ADHD.  Use these eleven holiday reminders to keep merry all season long.

Start with a list

An overtaxed working memory is the flaw of ADHD. Why tax it more during the holidays when you can make a list?  While your lists may have lists, it is the best way to manage all you have to do for the holiday season. Once you have the list, be sure to prioritize. Taking things off the list keeps you from having too much to do and too little time.

 

Prioritize with a calendar

Your calendar is your guide to holiday fun. Get organized with a family calendar month at a glance calendar posted where everyone can see it.  Meet together for a family meeting to capture all the details.

 

Decide what NOT to do this holiday season.

Edit your holiday activities by prioritizing. Rate what were the best moments and worthy of repeating this year. If this is the year to let go of mailing or emailing cards or limit special activities, take something off your activity list.

 

Delay additional activities to January

Window washing, room renovations, and any other big or small projects can be delayed to after the holidays. Having your home company ready can mean hiring a cleaning service to help you.

 

Bring on extra help

There is too much to do during the holidays and so many ways to get extra help. Hire teens who want to gift wrap to earn extra money, getting curbside delivery, and having outside help hang your exterior decorations are all ways to get help. You earn extra time to do other tasks this way too.

 

Do a little decluttering

Before holiday gifts arrive, take one hour to declutter in the kitchen, toy room and closet.  Give everyone in your family a bag and have them declutter what is not used or loved. Drop these off at local philanthropies right away. Taking the time to have less in a space will free up your home when gifts come in.

 

Streamline your gifting

Editing your holiday gift list is a first step to streamlining. Next, find ways to share meaningful gifts with a variety of similar items, such as books, gift certificates, or homemade treats. The same applies to hostess gifts with holiday hand soaps, coffee pods, and flowers.

 

Make it joyful

Listen to your favorite holiday playlist throughout the holiday season. Music brings us joy and lightens our loads.

 

Enjoy the outdoors

Get out and exercise, take a walk at night to see the lights and get moving. Brains work best when you exercise and exercise lowers stress.

Take time for you

When we are most stressed and there is less time, that is the most important time to be sure we take care of ourselves. That is setting aside time for a walk, bath, early bedtime,  or nap.

 

Try just one of these eleven ADHD friendly tips to have a calm and joyful holiday season. Give yourself the opportunity to do less and enjoy more.

Holiday Organizing Made Easy

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holiday made easy

Holiday Baking Simplified Pull Apart Cinnamon Bread

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Does the smell of warm cinnamon bring holidays to mind?  Do you want to share some holiday treats with friends and helpers?  Here is one of our family’s favorite holiday treats that is special for the holidays.  It’s Pull Apart Cinnamon Bread, aka Monkey Bread, made with ready made biscuits. Enjoy!

 

 

 

pull apart cinnamon bread

Holiday Gifts 2020

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holiday gifts 2020

 

At long last It’s the holiday season. Many of us have been waiting for this joyful season (cue the Hallmark movies) while mucking through the year. While experiences are my preferred holiday gift, this year we are challenged with safety measures in groups and in person experiences.  With that in mind, here are some ideas for organizing gifts for the 2020 holiday season.

 

Indoor Garden

Fresh herbs add a lot to your home cooking. The gift of an indoor garden spices up cooking for the chef and diners. These gardens come in all shapes and sizes.  You can grow your own herbs all winter.

 

Pantry organizing IDesign Bins

Keep things practical this year with clear containers to organize your pantry. It’s a gift focusing on function.  These clear bins make it easy for your family to stay organized too.

 

Charging stations 

In 2020 we have learned the value of curating social media and getting a good night’s rest.  Purchase a common charging station for your kitchen to keep everyone’s devices overnight.

 

Weighted blankets

These cozy blankets have been a hit for several years. This year they are more popular than ever to help you get to sleep or take a nap.

 

Delivery Meal Kits

Have you been cooking for multiple people since March and look forward to someone else prepping and cooking.  Delivery meal kits can be a gift for the chef in your family.

 

New family card and board games

We have been spending a lot of time with our families. Enjoy a new board game such as Exploding Kittens to add strategy and laughter to family time.

 

Share your ideas here for your family and friends!

 

 

 

A New Normal Holiday Season

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new normal holiday season

 

This year the holiday season will be different. Holiday celebrations will be smaller and more intimate. Temples and churches will have different ways to celebrate the meaning of the season with zoom.  There will likely be less holiday travel.  No matter these differences, there are meaningful ways we celebrate together as family and friends. It’s an even better reason to be organized this holiday season.

 

Family planning

A meaningful holiday starts with a family meeting about what is most important to each family member.  Some of these may be different this year.  Acknowledge the differences and sadness about this.  Think about what will make this year special. Be open to new ideas and new ways to celebrate. It remains important to add all these dates to your family calendar.

 

Family travel

A greater percentage of families (51%) are choosing to stay home this year. It’s a family to family decision. If you decide to travel, remember your wellness packages with extra hand sanitizer and multiple face masks.

If you find that you need a new way for your long distance family to gather here are a few ideas.

If you are travelling, there are ongoing changes to restrictions. Be sure you are knowledgeable about these changes.

Family gifts

This may be the best year to change up your gift giving. It may be making this a smaller budget, deciding the number of gifts you are giving or deciding to donate to charity instead of gift giving. Be thoughtful and intentional about what you are sharing.

Homemade gifts have a special meaning during the holidays. Set aside time for your family tradition of making homemade gifts together or start a new tradition.  Cooking, baking, canning, sewing or other crafts are a wonderful way to spend time together and share your holiday joy.

 

Family dinner

Everyone can be a chef during this year’s holiday dinners.  Divide up recipes and every can cook (and clean) together.  Your family of chefs can complete like Chopped with unusual ingredients.  It’s a great year to teach your family how to roast a turkey or make your family’s special toffee recipe.

 

Family time outside and in

Especially this year, plan family time outside. It can be taking part in a virtual fun run, taking a walk on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, a family football or soccer game or any other outdoor activity. Running around and enjoying time outside will give everyone a change to get some energy out or get energized.

 

No matter the new normal, now is the time to delegate to your family.  Everyone can wrap, decorate, cook, bake and team up.  Make assignments early so you are organized and can enjoy the time together.

 

 

I wish you a very merry holiday season filled with an abundance of joy and meaning.

 

 

 

Thankful. Grateful.

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thankful. grateful

 

This year has been a year of challenges and changes in our country and our community. We have the power to live every day being thankful and grateful. Gratitude is powerful and can make your life better in so many ways. It’s creating new habits that reinforce being positive, gracious, kind, thankful and grateful. Here are many simple, small ways to start or continue showing and sharing these qualities and values.

  • Start your day with a daily mantra or with meditation focusing on gratitude.
  • Notice the small things in your life and comment. You will increase your mindfulness and your gratitude.
  • Capture photos about what you are grateful for on your smart phone. Look back to remind yourself of these moments.
  • Text or email a friend or family member each day to share how much you appreciate them and why they are special to you.
  • Thank people who are serving you or helping you.
  • Sharing a blessing over your food with your family or companions at a meal.
  • Make a note in your daily planner or bullet journal of one moment of gratitude that day.
  • Have a family “huddle” before your kids head out to school and talk about what you are grateful for that day.
  • Write in your gratitude journal each evening as a prelude to bedtime.
  • Review your day before bedtime and acknowledge your gratitude.

I am thankful and grateful for our connection. Our work together, ideas we have shared and moments we have spent are all what makes a difference. I wish you an abundance of blessings this year and the opportunity to share how grateful you are for these blessings.

 

 

Get Organized with Holiday Lists

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Get organized with holiday lists

 

Lists are useful for making sure you have all the details covered. No need to remember every detail because you have it captured on your list. You can be more productive with a list because it keeps you moving forward with each step.

 

Holiday lists keep you organized during the busy holiday season.  Some are lists you keep all year and some are specific to this time of year. All require updating, some at the beginning of the season and some at the end of the season.

Here is a run down of the list of holiday lists that I keep.

List name

 What is this list

and why use it?

 How to use this list effectively

Month to use this list
Holiday card list Holiday card list for friends, family and colleagues Add names to this list all year long. Update each January with additions and deletions October
Gift list Gift list for the holiday season, includes those who receive homemade treats Update with items purchased all year and other items in gift closet November
Holiday party and dinner guest lists List of those attending your holiday party, Thanksgiving or your holiday dinner Invite family and friends for holiday dinners. Guests like to know they are included early so as to make other arrangements if necessary. November
Menu List of items you are making for your holiday party and/or your holiday dinner Create menu then create grocery list December
Homemade treat list List of items you are making as holiday treats Review recipes and purchase containers. Make treats one weekend. Delivery treat the next week. December
Travel list List of travel plans by person Review itineraries for travel and purchase travel arrangement. Share with your holiday hosts and other family members. October
Packing list List of what to pack to travel during the holidays List your toiletries, attire, shoes, electronics, and other travel items. Add specific items for winter and holiday travel All year, updated before winter travel
Contact list Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of family and friends Use for a variety of uses all year long and during holidays All year

 

As you can see I am a list lover! Here are other lists to use too!