2025 Already? Impossible!
May explain why my ADHD has surpassed ludicrous speed.
I shudder when I think about it being 2025. Who turned time to ludicrous speed?
As I'm sure you know, my ADHD, which I controlled pretty well for several years, is back. Alive, well, and stirring up my mind to the point I haven't been able to do anything because there are too many possibilities. The result is zero progress. The paperclips above are similar to an ADHD mind. Even if I decide on blue…
This morning, reading on Substack motivated me to mold the numerous (usually 6-10) directions when I try to decide what I should be writing into fewer than five. Hopefully, 2-3 at a time.
Linda Carroll talked about creating a plan for what I’m writing. A plan for what I want to write? It would take a dozen plans or maybe two dozen! Too many possibilities ends up with zero progress on any of them.
A Plan! What a Concept!
That's what I've been missing. A plan, with specific projects listed so I can focus on one—or two or three, but no more—at a time.
I also pulled up a book on my Kindle that helped me a bit, too. I’ve read only the first part. Then I switched to trying to choose a novel to read from thousands of novels saved. Did I choose a novel? Do I ever? Sometimes. That's what my ADHD does to me. Going from book to book, reading a little, then on to other books, trying to find one that captures my interest within the first 5 pages.
I end up switching channels until my mind is so full, I can't squeeze in another thought. Most of the time, choosing a novel to read never happens.
Recommended Reading
A book I highly recommend, is The One Thing by Gary Keller.
Another book I recommend is James Clear's Atomic Habits.
GK says choosing a single thing to focus on is essential to success.
JC had a fail-proof method for creating a new, positive habit. Connect a difficult habit with an easy one. When you want to do an easy one, you do the difficult one first. That way, the easy one becomes a reward.
These books cannot be summarized so simply. Read the books.
Kindle’s Fault
I blame my Kindle, with its 2500+ books right there in my "library" for the splintering that occurs when I'm trying to decide which book to read next.
If only I could read as fast as my daughter does. Her brain photographs each page, then reads it to her while she's turning to a new page. Every word is remembered.
Her photographic memory isn't as much of a gift as it might seem. Without meticulous storage of her detailed memories, she'd become catatonic. So, I don't wish I had that kind of memory all the time.
But, it would be nice to have access to perfect recall when doing research or studying for an exam to add English, biology, history, geometry (the only math that isn't part of STAAR testing) physics, or chemistry secondary certification to my elementary K-8 certification.
Did you see what happened in that last sentence? Six areas of study, each with a workbook published by Texas to guide studying for certification.
Makes me breathe too fast, trying to get my mind around all six at once. Say no to English or History. English teachers stay forever. History is almost always attached to coaching. I couldn't get certified for only Geometry. I'd have to have MATH certification.
That brings me to teaching Junior High, which I’m already certified to teach. My mind just went blank. A rare happening.
Another example of my mind taking control and sending me down a dirt road that's a dead end.
Time to stop typing and DDDD! (Do dem damn dishes)
But first…my goals for 2025.
Write a Substack newsletter once a week. Day optional. I never know….
Write a new novel and send it to my editor at Harlequin.
Attach writing newsletters to something I have no trouble doing.
I’m still shuddering about time being kicked up to ludicrous speed. Recognize that phrase?
Hugs and big positive thoughts and PLANS for 2025!
Linda
Linda George and her husband, Charles, have homes in West Texas and Cloudcroft, New Mexico. They have written and published 75 books!
Hi Linda! I’ve missed you on Medium! Nice to find you here. I substitute teach at a private school - middle and high school - as my retirement gig
I had loads of books on my Kindle I never knew where to start so I made a collection of 'maybe, one day,' and want to read. That way I now have a smaller selection to choose from but haven't deleted any of the others.