Repost: The Cloud is Here to Set You Free

I’ve frequently mentioned and posted material from Dr. David Nowell here before, and this is another great piece from him, this time describing the many ways that “cloud computing” can help those of us with ADHD to manage our symptoms a little better.

The full article is available on www.psychologytoday.com and can be read in its entirety here: The Cloud Is Here to Set You Free.

(From Ed the editor/webmaster): My only gripe with his article is that it doesn’t explain clearly enough what “the cloud” is for the truly technology-challenged. Here’s my quick addendum:

As it relates to helping people with ADHD function better, “the cloud” refers to a variety of web-based (meaning they exist out on the internet, not on your own PC or cell phone) tools that do things like provide us with calendars, to-do lists, alarms & reminders, and instant access to key information anywhere, any time. One good example of this is Google’s GMAIL and Google Docs products. GMAIL is a web-based email system (probably like the one you’re using right now) and Google Docs is a secure, personal folder for your documents, photos, etc. that you can access from any internet-connected computer and most smart phones.

How does this help with ADHD? Say you’ve got a family member who’s taking a lot of prescription medications. You could write all of their meds down in a document and store it in Google Docs so it’s always available through your phone when you’re visiting the doctor or pharmacist. Or maybe it’s the game schedule for your daughter’s soccer team, or your packing list for the upcoming camping trip. You get the idea.

GMAIL and Google Docs tie in together and share a web-based calendar, to do list and address book as well.) Throw in tools that can provide instant maps and driving directions like Google Maps and you start seeing how this could be helpful for those of us who can be forgetful or who are perpetually running behind all through our day.

GMAIL

Google Calendar

Google Docs

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The Cloud Is Here to Set You Free

Web-based strategies for an organized and focused life

Published on August 8, 2011 by David D. Nowell, Ph.D. in Intrinsic Motivation and Magical Unicorns

One of the challenges for people with ADHD -- or any of us for that matter -- is having the necessary tools at hand when we need them. My clients who struggle with organization and time management tell me they spend 30 to 60 minutes on a typical day looking for their car keys, their calendar, or their phone. And even if it doesn't entirely "set you free", the cloud does offer some practical solutions for many of these challenges.

Now the cloud is not a real thing, and it's not even a new thing. Much of your social life is already in the cloud (think Facebook) and available to you at your office, home, and on your phone. Your email has been in the cloud since the mid 1990s. Anyone who had a Rocketmail account 15 years ago was essentially engaged in cloud-based communication, and one of the great features of webmail was its universal accessibility. It was always just there.

And there's more that the cloud can do for you. Three common organizational problems with practical cloud solutions are:

Read the full article

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How are you using The Cloud to help stay organized, efficient, or at least more or less sane? What’s worked well for you? What hasn’t been as effective? Why?

Best ADHD Quote Ever

“Knowing What You Want Can Save You a Lot of Heartache.”

Here’s another posting from Dr. Nowell’s own web site, www.drnowell.com:

“Knowing What You Want Can Save You a Lot of Heartache.”

…And I am convinced that each of us is here to do and have and be something unique, something particular. And I am convinced that if we are doing that, those around us will benefit as well. What better gift to offer our partners, our students, our children, than the gift of our truly centered, and deeply happy, presence?

Click here to view the entire posting.

While everyone should strive to align their work and personal goals with their passions (since that’s where we all do our best), this notion is especially important for those of us with ADHD, as we do our best at focusing on tasks and goals that we’re genuinely passionate about.

• To what extent have you been able to align your goals with your passions?
• Has it helped you to be more successful? Happier? More productive? More in control of your ADHD?
• What barriers to aligning your goals and passions have you encountered? How have you dealt with them?

(Want to add your comment but not 100% sure how to do so? It'seasy.Click here for a super-quick tutorial!)

Is the ADHD Brain More Creative?

Dr. David Nowell has several blogs he maintains that frequently address topics of interest to persons with ADHD, their families and the professionals who are helping them to more effectively manage their ADHD:

• http://www.drnowell.com/blog.html
• Intrinsic Motivation and Magical Unicorns (The Art and Science of Time Management) (worth checking out if only for its title)
• The Neuropsychology of Happiness (discontinued but still available with a variety of older blog postings worth reading)

If you’re not following his blogs, or at least following him on Twitter (@davidnowell), you’re missing out on a steady flow of great information. I try to capture most of it here through reposts, but you’re only getting the high points…there’s much more for you if you go directly to the source.

Here are two more interesting articles that Dr. Nowell tweeted about in the past few days.

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The first article comes to us via Psychology Today:

Is the ADHD Brain More Creative?

Is it possible that the impulsivity and quick-thinking that accompanies ADHD may also boost creativity? And what role does medication have in that creative process? Does stimulant medication hamper creativity, or boost it?

Click here for the full article.

While I have neither the impressive educational backround and extensive professional experience of Dr. Nowell or the article’s author, Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, I do bring one thing to the table that they don’t: I write and edit this blog. Based on that sole qualification, I’d like to weigh in on the question of whether or not we people with ADHD are more creative than the common, non-ADHD rabble all around us.

Short answer: yes. Fully 98% of people with ADHD are at least twice as creative as people without ADHD.

I can back that claim up! It was my creative, ADHD brain that just completely made up that statistic. Case closed!

What do you think? Do you feel that ADHD makes you more creative than most people? Do you feel that stimulant medications impact your creativity one way or the other?

(Want to add your comment but not 100% sure how to do so? It'seasy.Click here for a super-quick tutorial!)

FOCUS+ Meeting Tues, 6/13 & Potluck Tues, 6/21

Hello, All!

ALERT: FOCUS+ will have its annual picnic potluck  on TUESDAY, JUNE 21! NOTE the date change!!!

Normally, we would be having our FOCUS+ meeting this Tuesday, June 14, HOWEVER, we have decided to have our monthly meeting this month, on the THIRD Tuesday, June 21. There is a Community Mental Health presentation at Christ Memorial Church, this Tuesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m.  You're welcome to attend and find out what resources and services CMH provides for the community.

IF you can handle two Tuesday evenings in a row, you're invited to attend the CMH meeting on June 14, AND the FOCUS+ picnic meeting on the following TUESDAY, June 21, at 6:30 p.m. We will still meet at Christ Memorial church, as usual, but begin with a picnic potluck outside on the lawn. Everyone is invited to attend: bring a hot or cold "dish" to pass.

Hope to picnic with YOU on June 21, at Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Rd., 6:39-8:30 p.m. Rm 169 of the Adult Wing.

~Ruth Evenhouse

Child ADHD & Summer Activities

I follow Dr. David Nowell, Ph.D. on Twitter (http://twitter.com/davidnowell) and also through his blog, The Neuropsychology of Happiness (http://neuropsychologyofhappiness.blogspot.com/).

In addition to being a tremendous source of information about things related to ADHD and cognitive disorders himself, Dr. Nowell frequently tweets links to articles related to those topics as well.  If you’re on Twitter, he’s worth following.

One of the links he posted recently directed me to a good article at www.goodtherapy.org I thought the FOCUS+ crowd might find interesting:

June 1st, 2011

By Jeffrey S. Gallup, MA, LPC, Child & Adolescent Issues Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Jeffrey and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

During summer while away from school many children lose of some of their academic skills that help them to succeed at their classes. Loss of these academic skills can be even worse for a child with ADHD. As a parent, what can you do to prevent this loss during their summer vacation? What activities or outings can help? Honestly, just about anything that keeps your children thinking and engaged. Did you know that some studies have shown that kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. 6 hours of screen time a day and possibly more because it is summer and they do not have school. For activities, try the following suggestions.

Click here for the full article.

What have you tried in the past to help your kids with ADHD to improve their ability to manage it and get (or stay) sharp over the summer break so they’re primed to return to school in the fall?  What’s worked?  What didn’t?

(Want to add your comment but not 100% sure how to do so? It's easy.Click here for a super-quick tutorial!)

WANTED: Volunteer FACILITATOR!

WANTED: Volunteer FACILITATOR!  The FOCUS+ planning team is looking for a person or persons eager to have the support meetings continue this fall and willing to take over as facilitator(s).

Ruth has facilitated and lead the group since November of 2005 (almost 6 years!!), and she is looking for someone to step in as facilitator. If you have an interest in seeing the group continue and are willing to be involved in helping make it happen, please email Ruth. She will describe what is involved in continuing the monthly meetings. If no volunteer facilitator or facilitators are identified, the group will be discontinued.

Contact Ruth @ revenhouse@hotmail.com

616-392-4381

616-283-5554