Giving full attention at work

I used to think that attention deficit disorder (ADD) was a problem plaguing only kids in elementary school — and their exhausted teachers and parents.

My image was an unruly boy squirming at his desk, daydreaming during class, fighting with other kids, failing to do his homework, ignoring teacher directions. None of these behaviors fit me.

Then, about 10 years ago, I ran across an illness called adult attention deficit disorder (AADD), which can create havoc in the workplace. Sufferers include both women and men who often flit from one project to other, procrastinate on tasks requiring intense concentration, act impulsively, show up late, speak before thinking, and meet deadlines — if at all — by the skin of their teeth. Uh, oh. Recognizing myself in some of the symptoms, I immediately went to the Barnes and Noble store in Exton and bought six books on the subject.

One author, Lynn Weiss, wrote three of them: Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults: Practical Help for Sufferers and their Spouses; ADD on the Job: Making Your ADD Work for You; and ADD and Creativity: Tapping Your Inner Muse. She chose to drop the first “A” in the name of the problem to show its lifelong effect.

“Although generally thought of as a children’s problem, ADD is most likely hereditary and frequently persists into adulthood, affecting as much as 10 percent of the population,” says the blurb on the back cover of one of Dr. Weiss’s books.

Alas, I never read the whole thing. Or the other five books, for that matter. Too much else to do, you know.

Well, the other day, I came across a flyer promoting a book called “More Attention: Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with AADD” by Ari Tuckman.

A practicing psychologist in West Chester, Tuckman also has written prolifically on the subject.

“There are lots of books written about adults with AADD; this is the book written for them,” the flyer says. “This es-

About 10 years ago, I ran across an illness called adult attention deficit disorder (AADD), which can create havoc in the workplace.

sential guidebook covers everything you need to know, from getting diagnosed to treatment options, plus tons of practical strategies you can use today.”

An added bonus: Chapters are short. And you can read them in any sequence.

Talk about targeting his prospective readers!

According to Royce Flippin, a writer at www.additudemag.com, “College graduates with ADD earn $4,300 less per year than their peers who don’t have ADD. People with ADD change jobs frequently, and are more likely to be fired, to miss work, and to have troubled relationships with co-workers.”

If any of these symptoms sound like you, the following strategies may help — and certainly won’t hurt — your desire to overcome attention issues.

• Get over your guilt. AADD is thought to be a hereditary neurological illness manifesting itself in a variety of ways. It does not mean you are lazy, stupid of crazy, according to authors Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo. You simply have a disorder that only began to be understood a few decades ago.

• Look at the positive. Many experts believe AADD is closely related to creativity. Because sufferers naturally see the world from a different perspective, they often uncover new possibilities essential for growth in selling any product or service — a huge plus in this business competitive world where innovation is considered a major key to success.

• Practice time management. Yes, getting control over the limited hours in a day is difficult for everyone in this busy era. But it’s essential if you have AADD. Some tips: break tasks into small parts, work on difficult jobs at your peak alertness, reward yourself for sticking to your schedule, aim for completion rather than perfection.

“Another solution is to set an alarm clock or a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, and focus on only one task until the timer sounds,” writes Beth Orenstein at www.everydayhealth.com. “A visual clock reminder really helps keep people focused.”

• Declutter your space. Overstimulation is the bane of AADD sufferers. Alas, multiple demands are typical in today’s frenetic workplace. To ease your anxiety, clear your desk of material unrelated to the task at hand, play soothing music, put on your earphohes. And go to it.

• Manage the phone. Get over the impulse to pick up a phone just because it rings. Send calls to voicemail and respond to them at the same time each day. Be ultra selective about breaking this rule for urgent calls, such as those from your boss or family members.

• Limit distractions. Sure, you want to keep up on office gossip. But, when faced with a crucial deadline, put a sign on your door to keep visitors out. Afraid of seeming ungracious? Then, instead of saying “Do not disturb until noon,” write “I’m available after noon.” Don’t have a door? Consider holing up in a conference room or other quiet spot.

• Seek professional help. Talking to a physician or psychologist may help you feel less rattled about your daily challenges. You may also want to consider one of the medications now available to AADD sufferers. I, for one, am planning to check in soon with Ari Tuckman. If I can find the time.