In our intensely workaholic culture, most people I know feel their focus is distracted every few minutes to attend to multiple demands. We jokingly claim this "talent for ADD" as an asset of our competence.
IT'S NO JOKING MATTER But it's no joke when it takes a toll on one's work life. It's estimated that 8-9 million American adults have ADD or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the correct term. How does your company support them to do their best work?
Our aim in "Walks With Bliss" is to help employers or individuals with ADHD strengthen their own capabilities without drugs or therapy. We have firsthand understanding of the challenges, exercises and techniques for managing symptoms - and enjoy the super intelligence and creativity that often goes hand-in-hand with ADHD. [This is not to say that drugs and therapy aren't useful tools for some people to manage symptoms, though. It's just not the focus of our Facilitated Walks.]
LEARN ABOUT OUR STUDY ON WALKING FOR ADHD AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
HOW TO COPE WITH ADHD AT WORK?
While most of my friends and colleagues with ADHD are vastly intelligent, creative, competent and ambitious on their own terms, there was virtually no information I could find in my research on the one factor that helped me with my own ADHD symptoms - Walking!
Keeping people imprisoned in chairs at desks is just wrong in so many ways!
Web MD's information about ADHD at work cited a study showing "that people with ADHD often had more difficulty with attention, working memory, mental processing, and verbal fluency -- executive-function abilities”, yet only offered drug and talking therapies essentially, to improve coping with the condition.
That's why we offer our Facilitated Walks, initially designed for business leaders - and now a version for employees with ADHD. We've posted some articles and research on walking to give you an idea of why this works so well.
A BANE AND A BLESSING One of my brilliant advisors, himself a psychologist and expert on ADHD offers this perspective on the impulsive behavior of people with ADHD:
"Impulsivity is the bane and blessing of ADHD. When it goes wrong we hurt people’s feelings, or run around in circles. When it goes right our excitability can become a spark to everyone around us. When it goes right we see the world in new light and find solutions no one else could. With a little focus we can find ways to deal with the emotional liability, distractions, interruptions, and disorganization that has been inhibiting our success."
LEARN ABOUT OUR STUDY ON WALKING FOR ADHD AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
FACILITATED GROUP WALKS FOR LEADERSHIP TEAMS & EMPLOYEES
Our Walks With Bliss offer guided facilitation for CEO's and business owners to gain answers for issues arising at work - building business, managing teams or employees, handling stress, marketing strategies, thinking things through and more.
These therapeutic educational walks are also designed for people with ADHD who struggle with common memory, organizational, time management, and detail-focussed struggles affecting their work. Our facilitators have tools and specific, practical techniques for each of these common issues.
FACILITATORS: PSYCHOLOGIST, EXECUTIVE COACH & BUSINESS CONSULTANT (firsthand experience in ADHD) In fact, we have a Ph.D. Psychologist and an Executive Coach as facilitators to supplement Business Consulting in order to "walk clients into clarity" around these coping issues. As founder of the walks, I've developed many business resources, systems, tools and techniques to work efficiently which I share with clients on these walks, if requested.
UNIQUE GENIUS INHERENT IN ADHD
True genius is not measured simply in the ability to solve math problems quickly or to ace a test. Rather, genius is measured with giant leaps of imagination from multiple disparate sources of information to figure out the through line, meaning or approach - seeing the "big picture" or "having vision", as it's commonly known.
In fact, my friends tell me that the visionary Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, used to take business walks when he had to make important decisions. Apparently, he writes about this in his biographical book, although I haven't yet read it.
This visionary imagination is a major talent that seems to be lacking in so many companies with cultures that don't support or seem to value this higher intelligence. So, take heart if you have ADHD because in some jobs with forward-thinking leaders, it's seen as a huge asset rather than a disability.
Success is truly imminent with skill, discipline and resources. For the rest of you, knowing your strengths and having tools to help with your weaknesses can be quite empowering. The challenges that go with this type of intelligence are just like math problems - they can be learned. Ask about our therapeutically-designed Walks With Bliss, if this rings a bell for you or your employer!
ARTICLE ON DISCLOSING ADHD TO EMPLOYER: Before you run to your employer to ask for them to pay for your walk, I suggest you read this article to get some practical tips.
CONFIDENTIALITY is critical for our clients. If you wish to get more information, or add our therapeutic Walks with Bliss to your Wellness Program, simply contact us online or call: 510-879-7600, to discuss privately.
OUR SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON ADHD & WALKING
Because of our success guiding organizations and leaders into breakthroughs on our consultative walks, the Walks With Bliss program has been chosen to pilot a scientific study on the affects of walking on ADHD. If you are interested in participating in this groundbreaking research and sharing your experiences, confidentially, contact Allison privately. She will contact you for scheduling, once launched.
YOU WILL RECEIVE; our facilitated therapeutic & educational walk (an $80 value) for free, as a qualified participant. We look forward to changing the way ADHD is viewed as the outcome of this research!
Naturally, you're welcome to contact us privately if you have questions or concerns.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN COMMENTS
Please share your experience, ideas and thoughts about this topic so you can help others understand more thoroughly. If you cannot post a comment privately, feel free to email us and we'll privately post for you.
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