Summer Survival Tips for Adults with ADHD

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Published by Dr Charles Parker at July 6, 2014

Make the Most of your Summer:
Survival Tips for Adults with ADHD

Summer Survival Tips

It’s summertime and the living is easy. But what feels good and easy right now can lead to big issues anytime you suffer with Adult ADHD. The relaxed schedules and lack of structure can lull us into letting our guard down and ignoring those important ADHD systems and structures that keep us on track the rest of the year.

Personally, unless my reminder systems and schedule are strong and strategic, the business goals and organizing systems I had firmly in place in early June have drifted away by September.

Projects get neglected. Bills may be paid late. The clutter begins to build – both at work and at home.

But it that's not the way it has to be.

Strategic Planning

Being strategic is the key to enjoying your summer. Yes, it’s important to relax and let down your ADHD management guard a bit unless you want to spend September feeling disgusted with yourself. But an outcome of disorganization associated with digging out of the mess that accumulated while you were reading a book in the hammock can't work either.

You have to approach summer realistically – with a plan in mind. Balance works.

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View looking west from Long Island, Maine

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Three ADHD Summer Survival Tips – Keep It Simple

1. Be Realistic

With vacations, a more relaxed work schedule, lovely summer activities and the kids out of school you have to be realistic about what projects you’ll truly be able to get done. Identify time requirements for specific projects/fun.
Yes, you may get the deck refinished or learn to water ski, but will you really want to be indoors finishing that website? Conduct a reality check on your plans before you make them. Choose projects that excite you or fit into your summer plans. Schedule ahead.

2. Plan for Transitions

In ADHD lingo transitions are the time it takes for an ADHD adult to adjust from one situation to another. Transitions are a key time for ADHD adults, a time when they can drift off track, and may become unproductive.
One of the biggest summer transitions is coming back after vacation. Your ADHD brain usually takes longer to come back from vacation than your body.
Everyone is different and you need to know your transition re-entry pattern.
I know it typically takes me four days after I return from a trip to be fully back up to speed. Yes, there are ways to game the system, but if you plan to jump back into full productivity the day you return from vacation you’ll likely become frustrated. Plan: re-acclimate!
The bottom-line? Plan for those transitions, and know you won’t be at full productivity right when you return from vacation.

3. Schedule the Essential Stuff

With a more relaxed schedule it's easy to let some of the important things go by the wayside.
Unless you want your world to collapse around your ears in ADHD chaos, you’ve got to be extra, extra vigilant to make sure that essential tasks get done.
What are your essential tasks? Working with your clients, paying the bills, refilling your prescriptions, doing the dishes each day? Figure out what must get done to keep your world from collapsing and create a schedule and a plan to make it happen.

When you have ADHD it is so easy to have unrealistic expectations of yourself and what you will accomplish. Plan to take it easier during the summer. Plan fewer work projects and set fewer big goals.

Remember, even though you may relax a bit more during the summer, Adult ADHD never goes on vacation. Focusing on these three essential ADHD summer survival tips will help you stay on track.

There are many techniques for making life with ADHD not only manageable but productive, organized and happy. I hope these quick tips will help you balance your summer with both relaxation and efficiency!

For more information on Living with ADHD visit my Website. – And have a super summer!

Dana Rayburn – ADHD Coach: Stay Organized For Life!

Dana

Thanks for the pointers Dana!
cp
Dr Charles Parker
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