August 22, 2008
GMail To-Do list idea
I tend to forget things I mean to do, so I have come up with this system (that’s not working too well) where I mark important emails as unread so they stand out to me, and when I open some web pages to get work done, then get interrupted or sidetracked, I leave the web pages open so I’ll eventually see them and hopefully get to that task. (Firefox’s tabs have really helped me cut down on taskbar clutter) If I bookmark an item, it tends to fall into my uncategorized bookmark abyss and is rarely seen ever again.
There are 2 major problems with my existing system, though –
- If my computer shuts down or I accidentally close a window, some of my to-do tasks go missing. This also prevents me from shutting down my computer regularly because I don’t want to close the windows. Windows Update and my memory aren’t too happy about me rarely rebooting.
- I tend to pile up a lot of half-done tasks, so I end up with a TON of windows open, which both slows down my computer, and slightly overwhelms me.
August 21, 2008
Music that’s been helping me focus
Just thought I’d share:
http://www.pandora.com/stations/03b123e4d833fa79a0d87fdc745d5691e3c751ee3636d9de#
August 16, 2008
Michael Phelps & ADHD
I know I haven’t been good about updating this blog, but in case anyone has been waiting for me to post something, here’s a cool article about how Olympian Michael Phelps and his mom had to deal with ADHD as a kid. I am especially proud to post this article, since Michael decided to manage his ADHD challenges without medication.
He has 7 gold medals, 6 world records, and 1 Olympic record in this Olympics (so far!), and is the winningest Olympian in modern history, so it goes to show ADD/ADHD doesn’t have to hold anyone back from succeeding!
Michael showed swimming prowess on his back, then on his front, side, and every way in between. But in the classroom, he floundered. An inability to concentrate was his biggest problem.
“I was told by one of his teachers that he couldn’t focus on anything,” says Debbie. She consulted a doctor, and nine-year-old Michael was diagnosed with ADHD.
“That just hit my heart,” says Debbie. “It made me want to prove everyone wrong. I knew that, if I collaborated with Michael, he could achieve anything he set his mind to.”
There are also sections on Ty Pennington (from Trading Spaces, Extreme Home Makeover, etc.) and a mountain climbing girl. The article starts here:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1998.html
Or you can skip to the Michael Phelps part here:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1998-2.html
Edit: Here’s a video of the most recent interview with Michael and his mother by Bob Costas on NBC (aired 8/17/08)
HE GOT A GOLD MEDAL AND SET RECORDS IN ALL 8 EVENTS HE COMPETED IN!! That’s a huge deal, and it beats the record that Mark Spitz set in the 1970s! Go Phelps and the USA Swim Team!
Kick My ADD 