ADHD, PIZZA AND CHAOTIC DISCIPLINE

Understanding ADHD and Chaotic Discipline

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is like having a brain that’s constantly on a roller coaster ride—thrilling, unpredictable, and occasionally nauseating. By the way, I hate riding roller coasters! I often find myself battling traditional methods of organization and time management like a cat trying to swim. Spoiler alert: it NEVER ends well. It leads to frustration, burnout, and the occasional existential crisis—because who doesn’t love questioning their life choices at 2 AM?

Why I am learning to choose Chaotic Discipline?

Chaotic Discipline is the self-management approach that says, "Why stick to a schedule when you can embrace the beautiful chaos of life?" It’s like dancing to your own beat, even if that beat is a mix of pop, jazz, heavy metal, and a cat walking on a keyboard. Instead of rigid schedules that make me feel like a robot, this method encourages me to groove to my own unique rhythms, allowing for a more flexible and adaptive way of managing my tasks—kind of like a ninja, but with less stealth and more snacks.

The Key Principles of why I am choosing Chaotic Discipline

• Embraced Flexibility: I am recognizing that my energy levels can vary throughout the day. Some days I am a productivity machine and can accomplish more in 3 hours, than some people accomplish in 3 days, and other days I am just a potato. And that’s perfectly fine, or at least I am working hard to convince myself it is!

• Leveraged Novelty: I am Spicing things up.....by incorporating new and stimulating activities to keep my brain from turning into a snooze fest. Remember Michelle, boredom is your enemy!

• Adapting Work and Rest Periods: I am scheduling work sessions when I feel most alert—like a caffeinated squirrel—and taking breaks when my brain starts to feel like mush. These days this seems to happen around 1pm and again around 5pm.

• Setting Short-Term Goals: I am learning to break tasks into bite-sized pieces. I am finding it much easier to conquer a small mountain (these days maybe it is more like an ant hill), than to tackle Mount Everest in one go!

• Utilizing Tools and Techniques: I am experimenting with various organizational tools, like timers, lists, or even a magic wand—whatever helps me keep my sanity intact. I am learning to listen to my body. My body speaks to me.....does yours? If it does.....you probably have ADHD! ;)

  
  

The Benefits of Choosing Chaotic Discipline

• Reduced Stress: This new found flexibility means no more stressing over the rigid schedule. It’s like taking off a pair of too-tight shoes—ahh, relief!

• Increased Productivity: I am noticing that working during my peak focus times is leading to higher efficiency. I am catching the productivity wave before it crashes!

• Enhanced Motivation: I am engaging in varied activities daily, which is keeping the boredom monster at bay, and making me feel like a productivity superhero.

• Improved Self-Awareness: I am becoming in tune to my personal rhythms, like a DJ mixing the perfect playlist for my life. I am also noticing that listening to music, is helping to stop the non-stop chatter that makes my brain feel like it wants to explode somedays. This however can also lead to my brain singing a phrase from a song on constant repeat, once I turn the music off. Yesterday, on constant repeat was......"Goo a little dance, make a little flub...get down tonight..m m m m...get down tonight!" Those of you with ADHD, you're welcome! lol

  
  

Implementing Chaotic Discipline

To effectively implement Chaotic Discipline, I must consider implementing the following steps:

• Tracking My Energy Levels: I am becoming more self-aware at listening to my body to know when I am feeling like a genius and when I am just feeling... well, not that.

• Planning for Variety: I am mixing it up! I am currently incorporating a blend of tasks and activities to keep my routine from turning into a dull monologue; these include decorating the house for Christmas (Yes, I started in September), walking the dogs multiple times a day (shorter walks), training the new dog when my engery levels are up, while not putting pressure on myself to turn her into a "superdog" overnight (After all, I have the next 13+ years with her if we are both lucky), raking and more raking with Fall yard cleanup, and working on DIY Art Projects! Currently not on my list is house cleaning. I also hate house cleaning, especially toilets...GROSS! But I also have germ and bacteria concerns, and keep a very clean home.....I only vaccum twice a day, anyone else??

• Being Kinder to Myself: I am working hard at trying to remember, that some days I'll be a productivity rockstar, and other days I'll be more of a couch potato. Us ADHDer's carry around a lot of shame, about a lot of things. This is probably the hardest for me to let go of. It's all part of my journey!

• Adjusting as Needed: I have been regularly reassessing my approach this last 3 months. If something isn’t working for me, I am throwing it out like last week’s leftovers; or in some cases like last night's leftovers. I also hate leftovers, unless it is Pizza or Popcorn!

  
  

My Conclusion

Chaotic Discipline is offering me a refreshing alternative to the traditional self-management techniques. By embracing flexibility and working with my natural energy cycles, I am learning to create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to productivity. This method not only respects the unique challenges of my ADHD, but it also celebrates my strengths that come with it—because who wouldn’t want to turn their quirks into superpowers?