Trying to set up a structure -- hahahaha - ADD / ADHD Message Board

rheanna · 05-14-2009, 07:07 AM

One of the things that is supposed to help us space-cadet ADDers is finding a coach to help us organize our lives. I haven't found one.

I don't have a job -- my days are often unstructured. I might manage to get the laundry done and meals made (the rest of the housework is waaaay low on my priority list!), but I wind up surfing the internet instead of doing the things that are really important to me.

So what is important to me? To keep from being overwhelmed, I have limited the list to two things for the moment: exercise and painting. I haven't been doing either, although both are important to my health, physical and mental.

Exercise: I have all the necessary exercise DVD's, stretch bands, hand weights, stairs to climb, appropriate clothing, etc. that I need to be fit and perky at home. Do I utilize any of this equipment? Hahahahaha. No. Why? I have too much time and I don't know how to chop my time up into little pieces. So I found a gym in my little town that offers a major discount for using the weight machines Monday through Friday between 10 and 3. No classes, no frills. I signed up about 3 weeks ago. I go 2 or 3 times a week. A well-built lady (I think she's had a little "help" from the chemistry lab to develop such massive muscles, but she's very nice and doesn't expect me to work out like she does) has set me up with a program and even chastises me when I try to go beyond my puny current activity levels. Structure: I pack up my stuff, go to the gym, change into my workout duds, do my routine, shower and change back into my regular clothes, and go home. Done.

Painting: The only time I have ever been able to paint regularly is when I signed up for a class where the teacher let me do my own thing. Structure: I packed up my painting stuff, went to class twice a month, unpacked my stuff, painted, packed up the stuff and went home. I am not signed up for such a class at the moment. Then I got the bright idea to clear out one of the cellar rooms, paint the walls bright white, put up lots of ceiling lights, set up a simple table and an easel, and call it a studio. Nothing else is allowed in there. Nothing will be hung on the walls, no other hobby materials will be allowed to find their way into there -- nothing to distract me from the one activity that is important to me. Status: hahahaha the wall paint won't stick to the walls, so we can't put up the lighting or lay down the carpet remnant until we work that part out. So that part is a "work in progress". For the last several weeks. But progress is being made. My idea is that I will schedule time in the studio, just as I schedule time at the gym.

What I know about me is that I can allow an outside structure to give form to my day -- my motto here at camp: "just show up" (with appropriate gear). Once I'm there, I do whatever the activity of the moment is. Then I go home, where I have little to no structure. It ain't the best solution, but it's what I have to work with at the moment.

--Rheanna

addprogrammer · 05-14-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rheanna

...

It ain't the best solution, but it's what I have to work with at the moment.

--Rheanna

Rheanna,

I think that is excellent solution.

I'm back seeing a psychologist monthly. Regular exercise is my current aim. Larry (my psych) counseled that I stop trying to be consistent with exercise type and time. So one day I'll pump iron. The next day I'll use yard work as exercise. If it is raining I'll get on that monotonous treadmill with high powered jazz blasting on the CD player. I'm journaling my progress - listing what I do or don't do and why. The program has been moderately successful. Better than my old plan of scheduling same time same type exercise three or four days per week which failed miserably.

I've concluded that I can't manage the beast without the help of skilled professionals - both a psychiatrist and a psychologist. As often as I barf on U.S. medical professionals because some of them deserve it, orthodox medicine is the only game in town. Get the right players on your team and winning becomes a high probability. Since I am the primary bread winner, losing is not an option for me. That reality gives me a measure of structure - simply must do it.

Maybe you can use a point or two from the above. Main point: Congratulate yourself for the progress made. Keep moving forward.

My psychologist says "less insane is the best we can do in this world."

Bob

rheanna · 05-24-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

My psychologist says "less insane is the best we can do in this world."

Your shrink is a wise man, Bob. And he has a wise client.

Status of exercising: Still going a couple of times a week. I'd rather be doing other things than sporty exercise, but I do feel better after each session, and I might even be able to imagine that I'm now a teeeeensy bit stronger and perkier than before I started this activity.

Status of painting: My wonderful hubby finished my cellar room yesterday -- glowing white paint is sticking to the walls, a carpet remnant covers the floor, a work-table is ready for business, and he engineered the wiring to put in daylight-quality flourescent lights in the ceiling and a couple of plugs in case I need to dry a watercolor painting with a hairdryer or something. It's really bright in there. Really really bright. My middle-aged eyes love all that brightness.

So, I had my first official session in there this morning. I worked on a sketch, with the idea that it'll later be transfered to a canvas for painting. I'm keeping notes about progress, plans, and ADD-thoughts in a notebook.

Result: I have a place where I can go where there's nothing else to do. No diversions. No other possibilities of other tasks that need to be prioritized because I can't do them all at once and then there's the ones that I will have to deal with later and what about the ones that I haven't even started on and aaaaaahhhh!!!! Overload. Short circuit. ADD-brain shuts down and sits in front of the computer, doing nothing productive. Whew! Now I don't have to overload. I do the painting activity in that room because it's the only thing to do right now right here.

I like this.

--Rheanna

janewhite1 · 05-24-2009, 07:12 PM

A painting room sounds like a good idea for you. Do let us know how it turns out.

That's why I often go to the gym to exercise, even if I'm just doing floor calisthenics or yoga. Being at the gym focuses me on exercising, there's nothing else to do there, that's what the place is all about. At home I might start then get sidetracked, or put off starting all day long. At the gym, I always finish the workout unless I find I physically need to scale back a bit.