Practical Strategies For Navigating ADHD

My son was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and it's been a huge learning curve for both of us. 

I've been on a mission to find practical strategies that work. 

I want to share a few things that have made a real difference in his daily life—and maybe they can help you or someone you know, too.

📖 Let’s start with a definition. Executive functions are the brain’s ability to self-regulate, organize, plan, use working memory, and self-initiate tasks—skills that are often challenging for individuals with ADHD.

When I first read about executive functions, it was a lightbulb moment. 💡I could finally understand why my son acts the way he does, giving me some tools to help him rather than expect him to function in ways he can't.

We're two months into the school year, and things are going relatively better after I've implemented these strategies, than they have the last two years. 

Maybe something in here will be helpful to you, too.

✅ Write Things Down: My son has a fantastic memory. He can remember the finest details of his life starting at a very early age. However, I can't tell you how often I must tell him to do something daily. For example, I used to have to remind him about chores or homework 3 to 4 times a day before he would remember to do it. He also gets overwhelmed easily, so writing down the chore or task and the steps needed to complete it has helped him remember to do it.

✅ Use a Calendar: His ability to plan and remember things is challenging. We now use a shared calendar, and I will also put his task list in it. He has a widget on his phone's home screen, so he can't 'not see' the calendar. 

✅ Use a Reminder System: A friend with ADHD draws on his hand to remember things. I use the Reminders app and widget on my phone. My son used to set alarms to remind him to do everything, from eating a meal to turning in homework. It doesn't matter what the system is; if it works for you, use it!

✅ Build a Realistic Daily Schedule: Routine and structure are helpful for my son, but creating a daily schedule helps him set realistic expectations for himself and what he wants to accomplish. Otherwise, he gets overwhelmed and can't get anything done.

✅ Break Tasks Down: Multi-step instructions rarely work with my son. He gets overwhelmed, overstimulated, and forgets everything after step one. His teachers will break down big projects for him, and I do the same at home. 

I'm always looking for more research on ADHD and strategies that will help my son. If you have found training, tools, or techniques that have helped you or someone you know, please share them with me!