Adela Baker is the force behind Mind Coach NOLA. Big things are on the horizon for 2019 & we can’t wait to share them with you! In the meantime see what 5 Life Lessons Adela finds most valuable…

Shanice Webb is our latest coach in the Mind Coach NOLA community. As a transplant from Ohio she enjoys long-boarding in the French Quarter & stopping for an iced vanilla coffee with soy milk.

Happy Mardi Gras, from Mind Coach NOLA! Mardi Gras presents us with every opportunity for impulsive behavior. ADHD or not, the whole city is throwing caution to the wind, so I can too! Right? 

Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes? Do you feel that you don’t deserve it all? What is that costing you? How does it affect your life? How do you want to feel? How would that benefit you? What would be possible for you if you let that belief go? On a scale of 1-10, what is it worth to you to transform this?

Nine ways to be a #GoalCrusher this year and stay on track!

I was just discussing this topic with a client this morning! She had the external distractions under control (phone, internet, chatty colleagues) but could not fully immerse herself in her work because of internal distractions (her own mind). So that’s the question: How can you control your thoughts to be most productive?

1. ENERGY

If you are not motivated, you always run out of energy. Going to bed is the best part of your day.

If you are motivated, you move quickly all day long and never stop. You are a source of power.

This article brings up a tricky, but valid point. People with ADHD and Executive Function Disorder (or Executive Dysfunction) struggle with some of the same issues. Both have trouble staying on task. Both have trouble organizing, prioritizing, planning and working memory.

10 tips to be more productive, empowered, positive and driven for 2019.

My best friend recently sent this me this graphic. I laughed out loud because the bottom one is exactly what our coffee dates would look like in diagram form. We have known each other since seventh grade and every time we see each other it’s like we’re teens all over again, only this time without big perms, braces, bad skin or shoulder pads.

Given the time of the year it’s easy to become stressed - between the activities, errands, social commitments, travel etc. Let’s figure out how to reduce that feeling so you can go into 2019 ready to conquer all of your goals!

I just ran across a short article titled, “7 Surprising Ways Your Dog Says ‘I’m Stressed” and glanced at my canine companions. They were in the deep sleep of their mid morning nap after their sunrise run and healthy breakfast.

I read a lot. It’s how I unwind and let my brain wander into another world. It’s my favorite way to unplug and relax. In fact, I often declare digital detox weekends (or afternoons) and head off to the woods, secret cabin or back porch with a pile of books and magazines, looking forward to hours in my hammock. I also love libraries and would be broke without them. Amidst this holiday season when the activities are endless, the weather is cooler and the stimulation is abundant there is no better time to take time and give yourself a mental break than by squeezing in some reading.

One of the keynote speakers at the conference I attended recently was Eduardo Briceño, who founded Mindset Works together with Carol Dweck, PhD. One anecdote I found fascinating related to his experience with Cirque du Soleil. As you know, Cirque du Soleil dazzles audiences around the world with flawless performances.

One of my favorite sessions at the International ADHD conference earlier this month was facilitated by Dr. Christopher Willard, psychologist, author and educational consultant specializing in mindfulness. He asked us, “Are you mind full or mindful?” Is your mind full of random thoughts or are you paying attention in real time with kindness and curiosity? We reach for our phones on average 150 times per day. How many of those times are necessary? Or even conscious choices?

Last week, I attended a morning parent meeting at my child’s school. The topic was student clubs. There were a few students present, representing their clubs. It was all very nice and the kids did a fine job. But then the meeting got weird. A few parents started to offer help to the students for their clubs. “We have skills that you could use.” “We could make presentations and give advice.” “We can donate money.” “Why don’t you just have bake sales every week. We can bake the goods for you.” I kid you not.

Perhaps you feel a sense of overwhelm and perpetual stress. Perhaps your self esteem is low because people have accused you of “not trying” or “not caring”. Perhaps you know what you have to do, but you just can’t seem to do it. Perhaps you start many projects but can never seem to finish any. Perhaps you have embarrassed yourself by blurting inappropriate remarks.

Using your phone to Google things too often weakens your memory since you don’t have to prune the neural pathways that strengthen it by trying to come up with the answer, according to Sharon Begley's article "Smart Phone, Lazy Brain" at Mindful Magazine. Begley references a Wired Magazine article from 2011 on the "Google Effect":

I couldn’t swallow the fact that my son kept causing trouble in school because he could not sit still or keep his mouth shut. I went on a mission to help him and our family understand his ADHD diagnosis, and in the process decided to help other students in similar situations. Lo and behold, I became a CACP-certified ADHD Coach, and have been fortunate to see my student clients experience success and gain confidence.

Our brains tend to find distractions that boost our dopamine levels. What is something that can make us feel good and require little to no effort? Hulu! Snapchat! And if we can find something that rewards us with zero effort, well that’s even better. Hello, video games!