The Disorganized Mind Quotes

“Too many adults with ADHD are so focused on what they can’t do that they forget the positive aspects of who they are and what they’ve managed to achieve, their ADHD deficits notwithstanding. They think that if something comes easily to them, there’s only one of two reasons why: Either they’re doing it incorrectly, or it must come easily to everyone else, too. Having spent their whole lives listening to criticism, they don’t even have language for their own success. Many have practiced for so long covering up their weaknesses that they simply cannot acknowledge that they do anything well.”
― Nancy A. Ratey, The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents

“All the apologies in the world, all the tears and accusations and pleas and promises, would do nothing to alter her sense of time. But separating herself from her problem and taking action would.”
― Nancy A. Ratey, The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents

“I want you to succeed at self-coaching. I don't want you to set up a losing proposition by trying to change too many things at once.”
― Nancy A. Ratey, The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents

“If you find yourself not following through on one of your strategies, for example, slow yourself down and list the actions you actually took instead of the actions detailed in your strategy. Use your notes to question yourself the way I questioned David when he wasn’t paying his bills once a week as he had planned. Your answer to “What did I do instead?” might reveal that you need to change your strategy and devise a plan that will work with your strengths and interests, not against them.”
― Nancy A. Ratey, The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents

“The notebook will also be demanding, especially of the attention it deserves. No matter how difficult the notion of writing in it might seem now, you’ll need to commit to it if you’re going to succeed, which means developing a new habit, or ritual, of record keeping. Make it easy on yourself by eliminating potential problems before they begin: Keep the notebook visible, keep it in the same place, keep a pen right next to it, set a specific time to update it, post reminders to yourself that it’s waiting for you! Treat your notebook like a friend or trusted ally who wants only the best for you, and it will reward you in ways you can actually document. On the other hand, in this era of technology,”
― Nancy A. Ratey, The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents