Fidget to Focus

After the ADD Class on Fidget to Focus, my friend and fellow coach, Rick Prevatt, sent us these strategies that have worked for his clients:

• One client used to strap a light to his head, and go walking around the block at night. Said he could read it one time and remember it that way.
• I had clients that put something underneath one leg of the chair or desk at school so it was unbalanced, and they could rock it.
• Rocking in a rocking chair while studying works consistently with many people.
• Listening to books on tape while running or exercising works well too.
• One client would read out loud, but it was boring her and she couldn’t retain the info. When I listened to her, it bored me too. I had her then read it in a funny comical way, and she could remember and understand easily that way.
• Another person had problems focusing during test. I sent her a pen that had a level in it. She would balance the bubble in the middle, and it was just enough to allow her to focus easily.

Next month we’ll be featured at ADD Classes. The teleclass is free. For more information and to sign up, go here.

The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) has created a brochure with information everyone should know about ADHD in the workplace. It talks about the issue and bullet points key information about disclosure, accommodations, resources (including Fidget to Focus), and more. Download your copy!

I have trouble at two points in my sleep cycle: difficulty falling asleep and waking too early because my body is hyperactive and restless. In the latter case, I also feel bored with having slept so long already (but not nearly long enough!). It often feels like getting to sleep and staying sleep is a chore.

My fidget has to do with having pressure on my body to help me sleep. First, I sleep much better with very heavy blankets (in the summer, I turn the air conditioning up high to compensate). Second, my spouse notices when I get to the state where I need more help sleeping — not even being fully awake herself — and puts her feet and lower legs across my lower legs (about halfway down the calf), in effect, pinning my legs to the bed. This really helps! It’s like magic.

My other sleep fidget is to keep a talk radio on low all night, at a level where you have to strain a bit to make out the words.

Of course, getting to sleep also means good bedtime habits for ADDers — a different strategy than fidgets (and harder to do).

Your book has helped me so much and I often share the information with other ADDers, encouraging them to buy it.

- Silvia (from email)

I coach a lot of kids, teens with ADHD from upper class/upper middle class homes. They all want their kids to get straight A’s, of course. Well, as a good teacher, and having dealt with my own restlessness as well as with many ADHD teens in high schools for over 14 years, I experimented a lot with how to keep focused. Accidentally I found ways to do it: I used play dough, beanie babies, silly putty, food, you name it. Then I found your book!!!!

Not only do I feel justified for doing all those things that principal’s used to think were nuts, but my mind was set at ease. I also had a justifiable argument with “strict” parents for a way to allow their kids to find their own learning styles. That is so important.

I used to do all sorts of things with my daughter, who is now going to be a senior in high school and is on the Honor Roll. I was told she would NEVER earn more than a C and would always be just average!!!! Well, NOT.

Not only have I read your book, but I buy extra copies and hand it out to parents. In fact, I am going out and getting more books. I have one very uptight parent, and I want her to see what you have to say. I have said it, but your book supports my views and it’s actually in writing!!!! It sounds so much more scientific that way.

- Sandy (from email)

This has been one of the easiest and most to the point book I have read on the subject of ADHD so far. The authors have explained the fundamentals of ADD/ADHD in the most simplest terms and given fidget a whole new meaning!

A wonderful read.

- Raquel Arsic-Mills (from Amazon.com review)

Thanks to the great folks in Norther California CHADD, we will be on our first ever book tour next month. We’ll be at the Palo Alto CHADD meeting on Wednesday and the Marin County CHADD meeting on Thursday. Here are the details:

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
The Friends Meeting House, 957 Colorado, Palo Alto
Coordinator: Gina Pera, GPera@rcn.com

Thursday, April 5th, 2007, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
Coordinator: Holly Seerly, HSeerley@aol.com

We’ll be giving our presentation, answering questions, and selling and signing our book. Hope to see you there!

Dr. Patricia Quinn cites Fidget to Focus in her article on how to deal with ADHD in the work place. Read her article: “Stretch Your Attention Span: ADHD at Work: Six Strategies for Adults with ADHD Who Want to Gain and Maintain Focus at Work”.

This article was originally published in the December 2006/January 2007 issue of ADDitude.

To read that issue of ADDitude in full, purchase the back issue and SUBSCRIBE NOW to ensure you don’t miss a single issue.

Just want  to tell you how much I love your Fidget to Focus book. I coach adults diagnosed with ADHD and am a CHADD support group facilitator. This is the “missing piece” to what can pave the way for a successful or not so successful day for many struggling with an ADHD brain style. Understanding that sensory stimulation can provide an opportunity to focus is a huge piece of knowledge to share with my clients and group attendees.

I am recommending your book to all of my clients, my group members, the health care providers in my area, and just about everybody else that comes across my path. Your book is well written, easy to read and full of helpful tips.

Thanks for providing the “missing piece”!

- Gayla Wilson (from email)

In the Ask the Expert section of the November 2006 issue of ADDitude magazine, a woman wrote that her boss was opposed to her knitting during meetings. You wrote that she should try some other, perhaps more discrete, mindless activity to help her stay focused (see Staying Focused).

I found many mindless activities in my local dollar store!

Your book lists the Alert Program web site as a Resource. When I checked out the products there I discovered that at the dollar store I had purchased a reflex ball, similar to ones priced from $5.95 to $15.95 on the website, for–you guessed it–only $1.00!

I also wanted to add that The Atlas Pen and Pencil Co. sells bendable pencils, velvet pencils and other sensory-type writing tools on the web site ForTeachersOnly.com.

- Anne (from email)