As Turbo Thinkers, we know what we need to do, but we just can’t always get ourselves to do it.Self discipline doesn't work. Willpower doesn't work. Wishful thinking doesn't work. Nagging certainly doesn't work.And so it begins, the cycle of disappointment. You tell yourself, “I SHOULD be able to do this! Everyone else can do this!” You can go down the road of blame and shame, comparing yourself to others and feeling incompetent.

This weekend I took myself on a solo retreat to the Atchafalaya Basin with not much more than my tent and a pile of books. My top highlights of camping in the swamp were spectacular stargazing, including a stunning streak of the milky way, canoeing alongside alligators that had just woken from hibernation, and reading all of ADHD 2.0 by Drs. Ned Hallowell and John Ratey, the updated version of Driven to Distraction, first published in 1994. 

Do I write the article? Study? Do laundry? Call back my aunt? Order that book? Go to the grocery? Go work out? Get my car repaired? Do my taxes? So much to do! Maybe I’ll just research the article first. Or watch just one episode of the new series. Or this. Or that.

Shoutout for Detroit! Detroit is now one of the only places in the country offering Covid-19 vaccinations to all residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including ADHD.With the recent research regarding ADHD and longevity, this just makes sense. Turbo Thinkers can be impulsive, hyperactive and have difficulty focusing.

Many Turbo Thinkers come to learn about coaching after spending hours consulting Dr. Google. They are sick of not “living up to their potential,” frustrated and disappointed in themselves for not being able to meet their own or other people’s expectations. Many of them have been newly diagnosed with ADHD and many were diagnosed as children, but had never been taught what that meant.

Many of my clients share Turbo Thinker superpowers. These are strengths that tend to exist in greater quantity, frequency or higher intensity than many neurotypical brains. My clients tend to be:InnovativeThey are natural problem solvers. Whereas some people can accept things the way they are, Turbo Thinkers can get frustrated with something and figure out a better, easier way to achieve it. I’ll go out on a limb and say that most of the major inventions by mankind were created and built by Turbo Thinkers.

I’m sure many people have wondered what happens in such a brief consultation by phone, especially when it’s free. You might be surprised by the breadth and the depth of such an intense call. I know I am. I absolutely love these calls (as I also love all of my coaching sessions) because I never know what is going to come out of them.

Something that I personally struggle with is the feeling of not being ready. It’s that classic Turbo Thinker limiting belief of “I’m not good enough.” For others, it can be “My product is not good enough,” “My skills are not good enough, “I do not know enough,” or simply, “I will be rejected.”

Children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) tend to struggle with these 7 core executive dysfunctions. These executive function skills are what we work on cultivating with you at Mind Coach NOLA. Coaching works!

Mornings have been chilly in New Orleans this week...well, by subtropical standards. And with sunrise so late, it’s still dark when my alarm goes off. Knowing that my friends will be waiting for me at the corner inspires me to get out of bed, put my running clothes on, grab the leash and go. My dog, of course, sees no challenge whatsoever in this scenario

Have you ever been possessed by an idea that you just can’t let go? Maybe, something has been nagging at you for a long time. Maybe there has been a problem, or a level of dissatisfaction in your life for months. Maybe you have just been plain old bored, feeling that your life lacks in any form of inspiration whatsoever. Then suddenly, BAM! You have an idea that will solve all that. Not only is it a solution, but it is THE BEST IDEA EVER. Why has no one ever thought of this? It is PERFECT!

There are so many things for which to be grateful this year. Call me Pollyanna, but I am addicted to my attitude of gratitude. How can you begin to list the positive things in your life? For example, I am grateful for my sun-filled home, for my son’s sense of humor, for my daughter’s sense of responsibility, for my cat’s purrs, for my dog’s unconditional love, for my good health, etc.

How do you want to feel? In many initial consults, clients begin to list all of their shortcomings, negative traits, challenges and inabilities. They often begin to list all of the major tasks they have failed to complete, or even begin. They wallow in how awful they feel, stuck in a spiral of shame and overwhelm.

To say that everyone is stressed lately is an understatement. The ADHD turbo thinking brain tends to be challenged by stress even more so because of its inability to regulate emotions. Developing the awareness and the ability to observe yourself without judgement is the first step to calming yourself down. When stress takes over, the amygdala hijacks the prefrontal cortex and your brain cannot produce rational thoughts or make wise decisions.

Since having attended Dr. John Ratey’s keynote presentation at the International ADHD Conference, I have been jazzed about exercise. It has been a lot easier to get out of bed and out the door for a run in the neighborhood or on the track. I can stay on my yoga mat longer and go deeper. I can enjoy my weekend bike rides and skate jams with even more fervor. I have seen the scientific evidence that I can improve my executive function skills and my emotional regulation just by moving my body.

If you’re looking for an ADHD coach for your child, the clearer you and your child are about your goals for coaching, the more likely it is that the effort will be a success.

And the same goes for your own personal goals with coaching, whether you’re seeking coaching for your own goals or to work on aspects of parenting a child with ADHD.

Myth: ADHD affects only childrenFACT: Anyone can have ADHD! Adult women very often go undiagnosed, as do adult men. Every year we learn more about the human brain and about ADHD. The general public does not yet realize that this condition affects all ages and sexes. Unfortunately, this includes many physicians and therapists as well.

What types of affirmations do work for Turbo thinkers? In my experience, the ones that work best are the ones that you make up yourself. Through a process of self discovery, you become reacquainted with your most authentic self.

Like individual coaching, group coaching is a collaborative process led by the creative dynamics of everyone involved.

One of my favorite ways of socializing during the pandemic has been the “walk & talk” visit. Sometimes I take my dog, and with a six foot leash, we can easily gauge a safe social distance from my friends. The walk & talk visit allows for so many opportunities