ADHD

When Susan Baroncini-Moe was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), in her late 30s, she finally understood why she had a hard time completing projects, forgot things frequently, and talked so much. On the other hand, the diagnosis made her question who she was. Did her diagnosis define her personality?

“I realized it really didn’t matter whether ADHD was responsible for my quirkiness,” she says. “I am who I am. I have ADHD. And that’s just how it is.” She didn’t feel she was broken, so she developed strategies, not to fix herself, but to become a better version of herself.

As an executive coach, Baroncini-Moe understood firsthand how working with a coach could help. So she hired one for herself. It helped to have someone ask her what she had accomplished and to hold her accountable for her goals. Having a coach who has ADHD and “gets it” is her most valuable tool.

Creating systems and staying organized also worked for her. When you have ADHD, it helps to “look at how you function and when you do specific tasks most effectively, and schedule your day accordingly.”

Some of the other tools Baroncini-Moe uses are exercise and meditation. She works at a treadmill desk. Her favourite type of meditation starts with guided meditation and moves to silence, except for reminders to refocus her attention.

Despite finding strategies that have helped her overcome some of the challenges of living with ADHD, Baroncini-Moe is ready to try something new. “I consider myself a work in progress. I’m always looking for new strategies, new ways of improving myself or optimizing my life.”