10 Ways to Start Taking Control (Time Management, Goal Setting, Record Tracking)

 At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. 

But many of us with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. 

This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward. 

Practicing positive thinking allows people with ADD to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. 

This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions

Fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. 

If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. 

Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes

Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You NEVER call me!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.

6. Squash the "ANTs"

In his article "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family)

You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination

If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry.

 Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside.

 You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music. 

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. 

There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they're uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. 

To get these little things like stress under our skins won't solve our problems. Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we're turning to be workaholics than tell ourselves that we're not doing our best.

Accepting to Improve your Personal Life

Do you have the ability to accept the things you can change and the things you cannot change? Do you have the ability to accept that other people are opt to change them, rather than you changing them? Do you accept that you are who you are, regardless of what others think? Can you accept the many changes that take place in your life? 

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. 

If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation. 

When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you. 

Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! 

We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. 

Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the person's eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors. 

We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounded by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in house-holds, government, schools, and so forth.

 Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these people's behaviors and ways of thinking, but we can change ours. 

This is part of learning and accepting. 

The best way around the world is to become your own influence and allow disturbing other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. 

Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. 

Positive reflections are the key to living happier. 

Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity. 

Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in an unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. 

We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us, and move on.

 Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. 

Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change. 

As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you.

 In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences, and so on.

 Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.