Everybody procrastinates from time to time. We put off all those “must do” chores we’re not particularly fond of doing. People who deal with their chores immediately and without hesitation are rare, but ADDers (i.e., people with Attention Deficit Disorder) who tackle such tasks with vigor are…well…pretty much non-existent.
It’s not that ADDers are lazy or unwilling to take on tough projects–quite the contrary! ADDers are full of spontaneity and inspiration. They tend to be what an ADD writer friend of mine once labeled “idea factories.” The problem is, they’re so busy generating new ideas, and the urge to move on to bigger and better things is so strong, that they have a difficult time completing projects, and often find themselves putting off mundane or repetitive chores all together.
So, how does a person with ADD resist the inborn urge to procrastinate? Thom Hartmann, author of the ground-breaking book, Healing ADD, suggests we need to tone-down our inner voice.
Each one of us, ADD and non-ADD alike, has a “nag.” It’s that little voice we hear in our heads that tells us, “You’ve got to do this. Why don’t you do that? Do you know how behind you are? Why can’t you get anything done?” Have you ever stopped listening to the voice of your nag–that ranting wicked step-mother in your head? It’s a shrill, demanding voice. My own nag rattles on incessantly, sounding like an audio track played a bit too fast. The tone is urgent…whiney. I’m reminded of Miles, the uptight editor from the TV show “Murphy Brown.”
Having our own personal nags in our heads doesn’t make tackling tough chores very appealing. In fact, that critical voice makes it darn near impossible for the ADDer to even consider actually knuckling down and getting some dreaded task completed. The solution is so simple, but it escapes most of us. While few people have the power to completely tune-out or turn off their inner nag, we do have the power to change its tone. Instead of letting it rant and whine and cajole ad nauseum, why not turn that voice into a soothing, gentle, almost sexy voice–a voice of encouragement?
The next time you’re trying to get to sleep and the nag in your head demands that you stay awake and dwell on problems and must-dos that are piling up, tone it down. Turn down the volume, slow down the pace, and make the voice in your head speak sweetly, like a supportive friend or lover. “Hey, it’s okay. Once you’re rested and refreshed, you’ll be able to get down to business. Can’t accomplish anything tonight, anyhow.” Then, in the morning, let that sexy voice encourage you again. “All right, let’s get down to it. This stuff’s not a lot of fun, but it’s not all bad, either. You’ll feel better once it’s done, and you’ll be able to get on with your day. No problem!”
I’ve had insomnia for two weeks. Last night, I decided to give Thom Hartmann’s advice a try. Any time that nagging voice started to kick in, I turned it into Barry White (you can, of course, select your soothing voice of choice). I was asleep within fifteen minutes, and I slept right on through the night. It may take some practice to perfect tuning-in to your nag and adjusting the tone, speed and volume, but it’s worth the effort. Once you put this technique to use, you’ll be amazed at what you can get done.
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