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Practical Ways to Keep Your ADD Under Control During the Holiday
Season
By ADD Management Coach Jennifer Koretsky


Do November's Thanksgiving experiences have you dreading
the December holidays? The idea of gifts, family, and days
off sounds great…but we all know that holidays are some of
the most stressful times of the year. When an ADDer starts
to become immersed in the shopping, cooking, traveling, and
family interactions, their ADD can complicate matters. You
can find yourself quickly feeling overwhelmed and
overloaded. You may not be able to avoid these feelings
altogether, but there are some strategies you can employ to
help keep your ADD under control during the holiday season.

The first thing that you can do for yourself is to schedule
some "you" time. Find something that will recharge your
battery - take a walk, go for a drive, sit quietly in a
favorite chair, meditate, exercise, lay down and close your
eyes, etc. Find something that works for you, and commit to
doing it every day. Don't wait until you feel your ADD
getting out of control. The holiday season can become more
and more intense from day to day. Daily recharging is a
method for preventing the intense feelings of being
overwhelmed.

Another thing that you can do to keep your ADD under control
is to take frequent breaks during chaotic times. First,
identify your stressors. Personally, I find myself
overwhelmed and agitated while shopping during the holiday
season. The streets, the malls, and all the stores are so
crowded that it's hard to get where you want to go, find the
things you need, and navigate your way without bumping into
people! Some people don't mind this experience, but it
instantly overwhelms me. So I make sure that my shopping
trips are short, and I allow myself to take time out to go
outside or sit with a cup of coffee when I feel myself
getting agitated. I don't pressure myself to do it all in a
set amount of time.

And finally, another good strategy is to prioritize your
tasks. Do you already feel like your list is building with
holiday cards to send, decorations to put up, gifts to buy,
etc.? Plan in the time you need, and spread out the tasks
so that you don't end up scrambling at the last minute.
Make a list of all the things you need to do, and then
prioritize it. After your list is prioritized, commit some
time to those things. As an added incentive, make
appointments to do these things with other people. Ask your
spouse to commit to a day to put up the decorations, invite
a friend to have coffee and write out cards together, see if
your mom wants to go shopping with you…you get the picture!
Making the tasks fun and social may help keep you on track.

Remember, the holidays are stressful for everyone,
especially ADDers, but you can keep your ADD in check.
Schedule in daily recharging time. Take breaks when you
need them. And plan ahead to avoid procrastinating. Using
these strategies to the best of your ability will help you
keep your ADD under control this holiday season!

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© Copyright 2004 Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD
Management Coach who helps adults manage their ADD and move forward
in life. She encourages clients to increase self-awareness, focus on
strengths and talents,and create realistic action plans. She offers a
90-day intensive skill-building program, workshops, and private
coaching. Her work has been featured in numerous media, including The
New York Times Magazine and The Times (UK). To subscribe to
Jennifer's free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide,
please visit http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm