So now we are in full-bore holiday mode. Like most people, I love parts of this time of year, and dread other parts.  
   
On the downside, we see the rapacious commercialization that has come to infest the month of December. We see shopping malls crowded to the point of being almost impossible to get to, let alone shop in. We see lonely people surrounded by celebrations that only leave them feeling more lonely. We see office parties that reek of hypocrisy as people feel they have to attend, even though they may quite dislike the place where they work. We see people getting triggered by memories of unhappy holidays from their childhood, or even just last year. In short, we see a ton of misery under the mistletoe, amidst the Hanukkah gifts, or around whichever tradition you might choose. Even if you are part of no tradition, that creates its own peculiar sorrow.
   
On the other hand. There's always that other hand. The older I get, the more sorrow I see, but also the more courage I witness. 

ADHD is commonly considered a childhood disorder, but many adults have ADHD. Dr. Hallowell explains on Boston's WCVB Channel 5 Chronicle how a diagnosis can change your life, no matter your age

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Q: Dear Dr. Hallowell, I have a fairly new job with a lot of demands and stress. It seems the more that gets added to my list, the less quickly I work. I think I panic or something, but I am now not keeping up. Do you have advice for me?
 
A: It is very likely that distractions are keeping you from completing your tasks. My latest book, Driven to Distraction at Work will help you to work smarter, not harder. There is not enough room to address all the issues here, but I highlight a woman named Jean in the book, who does everything she can to handle an overwhelming load. People like Jean become increasingly and uncharacteristically hurried, curt and unfocused, while trying valiantly to pretend that everything is under control. Driven to Distraction at Work details these six most common distractions at work, and how to overcome them: Screen Sucking, Multitasking, Idea Hopping, Worrying, Playing the Hero and Dropping the Ball. Read about the 5 reasons you can't focus and what to do about it in Fast Company.

Could you have Attention Deficit Trait (ADT)?

• Do you often feel anxious or overwhelmed?
• Do you have a hard time setting priorities?
• Are constant demands keeping you from getting things done?

Take this short assessment now!

Decorate the house. Done

 

Mail the holiday cards.  Done

 

Buy gifts.  Done

 

Sigh...if only planning for the holidays was that simple.

In reality though, for the nearly 9 million adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dr. Hallowell knows that the holidays create the perfect storm.  It's a stressful time for anyone and when you add ADHD into the mix, it can be overwhelming.  

 

Between juggling work, holiday parties, tons of lists, chaos with kids and unpredictable surprises along the way, it's enough to send even the calmest person into a panic.

 

It's a never ending cycle of to-do lists that never get done, juggling acts that falter and expectations that fall short.

 

Follow Dr. Hallowell's 6 tips to help cross out some of those items on your holiday to do list and ease the holiday headache:

 

1. Shop smart and shop early. Last minute shopping is a big no. There's too much pressure.  Start as early as possible. 

 Read More 

Dr. Hallowell joins a group of multi-disciplinary specialists in at the Center for Integrative Health and Wellness in Hingham, Mass. In addition to traditional psychotherapy and psychiatry, the Center will provide holistic treatment approaches including yoga, meditation, nutrition management and college counseling. Please visit here and read more here.

Report Card S.O.S. - Emergency Academic Recovery Service (EARS) was developed after years of training middle school to college age students to ramp up their school performance in very short periods of time. Often, executive functioning is the culprit -- planning, organizing, initiating, emotional regulation, working memory, inhibition and the ability to shift between tasks and emotional states. Everyone has some executive functioning strengths, but it's the weaknesses that can cause havoc in school performance. This is not traditional tutoring. EARS enables your student to develop the skills and habits for long-term success.  Read more at Hallowell Sudbury Center.

 

"InventiveLabs is up and running! I went see their wonderful space in Amesbury, MA and was impressed by the size, scope and feel of the operation. I expect to see great things from the Inventives I met at the Lab in the near future. Please RSVP to join me on January 20th to experience it for yourself. You can read more about InventiveLabs in this Boston Business Journal article." - Dr. Hallowell 

 

 

You may remember previous praise in past newsletters for Focus@Will, an extraordinary audio service that enhances attention and productivity through scientifically re-engineered music. I've reported glowing testimonials about Focus@Will from a number of my clients, and, In Driven to Distraction at Work, gave my own personal endorsement of Focus@Will:

"For years, I've listened to classical music while writing.... A British rock musician turned scientist of sound...[h]as created music engineered not to engage the listener. Amazingly, if you listen to this music while, say writing, your focus improves significantly. I now swear by it. I am listening to his music as I write these lines. If you want to try it, go to the website, focusatwill.com. I predict you will be as impressed by it as I am."

Based on my personal enthusiasm for Focus@Will, I became an advisor to the Company. I'm now pleased to pass on this special offer that includes a FREE electronic copy* of my new book, Driven to Distraction at Work, for every paying subscriber who registers via this special offer page by year's end.

I urge you to try Focus@Will (registration for the trial takes less than 2 minutes and doesn't require a credit card). And if you do, please don't forget to drop me a note telling me how it worked for you.