HELP! I can't concentrate...
Have you ever sat down to do some work, and 2 hours later you realize you've accomplished a little bit of a lot, but not the actual task at hand!? Or have you tried to have a conversation, but your thought process kept steering you in 10 different directions!?
Welcome to the brain of someone with ADD.
Other classic symptoms include:
-Difficulty with memory recall
-Easily distracted
-Difficulty following directions
-Forgetfulness
-Losing personal items (like keys)
-Not paying attention to details
It's more common than you'd think, and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. We're living in a day where instant gratification is at the forefront, and our attention is naturally being pulled in 50000 different directions at once. It's no wonder that people are finding it more and more difficult to complete one task before starting another.
I'm an adult with ADD, and I choose not to take medication. Sure, I've tried it (Adderall), because that's what my doctor recommended when the test results came back. But I instantly knew it wasn't for me, and stopped taking the pills.
This meant that I had to find different mechanisms to help me concentrate and function as I built my business, worked my day job and maintained a social life. It wasn't easy!
If you find yourself experiencing any of the above, my hope is that some of these recommendations will help you too!
Mid-day rest
When I have a lot of work and "to-do's" on my plate, I often find myself getting overwhelmed if I don't schedule a few minutes to reboot. Think of your brain like a computer, if you keep it on all the time and don't reset or shut down, it eventually starts to not function properly and slows WAY down. Set aside a few minutes around mid-day to close your eyes and breathe to give your brain that same refresh that a restart does for your computer.
Grounding
Grounding is an incredible tool that can help your body and mind in so many ways! It's essentially the act of getting your bare skin to touch the Earth to encourage a recalibration of the ions in your body. You see - all of your tech devices PUMP your body with positive ions, which can leave you feeling anxious, drained and foggy brained. When your body connects with the earth (whether that's sand at the beach, grass in your back yard or hugging a tree), it naturally absorbs the negative ions from the Earth which off-sets the positive ones leaving you in a much calmer state of mind.
Nootropics
Nootropics are substances that boost brain performance. I have personally seen a significant increase in memory function and concentration by taking Qualia's Mind Nootropic. This company has developed a "scientific paradigm that (1) supports up-regulation of multiple pathways and processes, (2) identifies and takes advantage of nutrient synergies, and (3) embraces the Goldilocks zone, or just-right amount, when it comes to ingredients and dosage."
To try this product at a 10% discount, create an account through this link and search for: H28462
Once you've created a profile with Wellevate, feel free to search for your other favorite supplements and receive 10% off every item on their site!
Herbs
When I first starting researching and playing around with different ways to help manage my ADD, I started with herbs. The most effective one I had found at the time was Rhodiola (my favorite one can be found on Wellevate using this product code: RHOD3). Rhodiola is a plant that has been found to help with alertness, attention and accuracy.
Then recently I found my new secret weapon - Genius Drops!
At first I was skeptical since the product is marketed towards children, but please don't let that fool you. A serving for an adult is around 3 droppers full, and WOW do I feel a difference when I use it. I've had a few friends and family try it out as well, and they all reported instantly feeling a shift in their mental focus.
I love that this product is all natural, and strictly herbs (it includes Rhodiola too)!
The ingredient list is super clean including: Hibiscus Flower, Ginkgo Leaf, Gotu Kola Herb, Rhodiola Root, Licorice Root and Peppermint leaf.
If you do decide to try this one out, use code: SARAHTYER20 at checkout for 20% off!
It makes me so happy that there are so many alternatives out there to assist my brain's performance rather than turning to pharmaceutical drugs. As always, please work with your doctor before stopping any medication (especially if you have been on it a long time), and take these all as suggestions and not medical advice.
If you try any of the above, please let me know how they made a difference for YOU! I love hearing from all of you.