The two wolves of ADHD
Inside you there are two wolves. Choose which one you feed wisely
Inside you are two wolves
Wolf one
The impulsive wolf. If he deems the task non-rewarding, he steals your attention and motivation all for himself. He’s a bit of a jerk who is used to getting his way. He thrives on immediate gratification, instead of taking the road less travelled (an unfamilar but demanding task). Don’t you dare make him wait for anything!
Wolf two
The wolf of undermined potential. This wolf is weaker and smaller than the impulsive wolf, but dont underestimate him. The other wolf steals his food and pushes him around. He is just as strong if not stronger than wolf one. If only we could free him somehow…
Wolf management
When we resist the impulsivity and inattention inherent to ADHD, we can start building new behaviors (building new neural pathways). Think about the last time you resisted a temptation. Whether it is avoiding sneaking in some phone time while doing work or resisting the urge to eat potato chips, when we resist a temptation we are telling our brain that WE are the ones in charge.
Tips
One of my weaknesses is time management. Due to attention deficits, I have a skewed sense of time. More than most people, I lose track of it. Also I focus on the wrong things in the wrong order. So now, instead of jumping straight into completing a task, writing down how long it takes and the steps really helps me remain focused and motivated. It also acts as a safeguard against careless mistakes.
I also found that changing from a night owl to a morning person helps my brain feel more alert during the day. Speaking of healthy habits, don’t skip meals! I find that my ADHD symptoms are at their worst when I’m not eating properly. This is probably due to low blood sugar.
Be the leader of the wolf pack! At the end of the day, only you can figure out how to tame the two wolves inside of you. How will you tame your inner wolves?