What Keeps Us Marching On

There’s no way I can put words together to express how I feel about what’s going on in the Ukraine right now better than Chef José Andrés does in the video below. His heart and his generosity of spirit are constantly inspiring.

In 2010 he founded World Central Kitchen with the mission that “wherever there is a fight so that hungry people may eat, we will be there”. And he has been. He’s a man who shows up. If you’d like to support his work in the Ukraine and many other places where people are hungry, you can do that here.

“People of the World…Reporting from the Ukraine border! This is one of the places @WCKitchen has hot meals. It is below freezing tonight & I am meeting so many refugees, families who are escaping & don’t know what’s next…We will do our best not to let them down!” #ChefsForUkraine

-Chef José Andrés

The world needs more people like José Andrés.

War makes a lot of our daily worries seem trivial, and the state of the world can also be overwhelming for many of us right now. I’m doing my best to stay positive and it’s something I’ve been focusing on with my clients more than ever. If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed the affirmations I’ve been posting daily.

They’re something I create for my clients when they need them, affirmations for what they’re dealing with in that moment, a little random pop of color and positive energy that I text them at the end of their session or between sessions. I enjoy doing it and my clients tell me receiving them makes them feel good. (If you want your own customized affirmation, just let me know, I’d be happy to make one for you.) I had been thinking it would be great to share them with the rest of you in some way, when boom! I got an email that The 100 Day Project was about to get started this year.

If you’re not familiar with The 100 Day Project, the goal is to choose a creative project that you’ll do every day for 100 days and share your progress each day on Instagram or Facebook. It’s something I’ve attempted a few times in the past, but never completed. (Yes, even the ADHD Strategist doesn’t complete things sometimes.) From my professional perspective, I can tell you that my past projects have either been too complicated (hello, time management anyone?) or very poorly planned (yikes!). But this year, I have a clear vision, it’s something I feel passionate about, I made an achievable plan ahead of time, and I’m breaking the 100 days down into 10 groups of 10. Because I can do 10 days, right? I’m currently on my second group of 10 so I’ll keep you posted as I push on to 100.

March is a full month, with a lot of things to share with you. RecMo is launching soon, if you haven’t joined the Facebook group, now’s the time to do it. We pushed the launch back because we have a very exciting event that I’ll be announcing soon. Keep an eye out for that and maybe some March Madness Tournament fun too.

Next Tuesday is International Women’s Day and I’m working on a special project featuring all the amazing women I know. March is Women’s History Month too. This year’s theme is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” and I’m looking forward to learning more about that along with all of you.

Speaking of learning, yesterday was Self -Injury Awareness Day. I put together some information for you, along with some resources. You can check it out here. And remember, we’re all doing the best we can right now. Keep spreading kindness where you can, check in with people when you can, and take good care. Xo, Meg

Random Blog of Kindness Ideas

From The Desk Of Meg

So things have not been great lately, or since 2019 really. We can all agree on that, right? Words like swimmingly or spectacular or super fantastic are not being bandied around at the same rate that they were back in 2019, I would imagine. I might be wrong. There might be a research study out there that says I’m wrong. But I’m talking about what I’m seeing and hearing from my clients, colleagues, and friends. It’s what I’m hearing from the amazing people who joined me in the February Reset.

Good things are still happening and we are practicing gratitude because those good things are keeping us going.

But the fatigue. The fatigue is what I hear about the most. The tiredness, the brain fog, the weird feeling of losing track of time. The unloading and reloading of the dishwasher. I bet the dishwashers are actually the most fatigued. They haven’t seen this kind of use in years, maybe ever. And they got no warning. Neither did we. I think that’s a big part of the fatigue, that we’re all struggling to figure out how the world works right now, how to adapt to the constantly changing changes and that’s not easy. So what do we do?

“When you find yourself with some extra time, instead of scrolling on your phone or through Netflix, ask yourself, what is the kinder thing to do right now? What is the thing I can do that will make me smile? And then, 3, 2, 1 Go!”

Tomorrow is Random Acts of Kindness Day and I want to expand on the idea, really stretch it out.

Yes, let’s practice kindness to others in ways they might not expect it tomorrow. Practicing kindness towards others on a regulate basis is something to strive for, and also what if you thought about random things you could do to make yourself and others feel better?

Yes, we’re giving ourselves permission to rest more, and we’re working on better self care. Those are great, but they can also feel like more things to add to our already long lists .

I’m talking about a mindful decision to do something different, something that invigorates you, mixes things up, and makes you smile. It’s going to take some extra effort, but it could be worth it. Do you have an extra 20 minutes in your schedule? What happens if you just stand up and go for a walk? Listen to some music that reminds you of a good day? Treat yourself to a smoothie or a snack you don’t usually buy and take the time to actually really sit and enjoy it. Have an hour? Meet a friend for that walk, or see if you can stop by for a visit, bring them a treat, sit and talk, and listen, and maybe even laugh.

I’m sure there are a million things we can all do. I’m challenging you to see what you can come up with this week. When you find yourself with some extra time, instead of scrolling on your phone or through Netflix, ask yourself, what is the kinder thing to do right now? What is the thing I can do that will make me smile? And then, 3, 2, 1 Go! No over planning, or over complicating.

Plan for it to be completely random and see what happens. I can’t wait to hear about your adventures! Keep me updated, let me know what you come up with, and take good care! Xo, Meg

Two Things To Love This February

From The Desk Of Meg

Well, we made it through January. Let’s all give ourselves some credit for that accomplishment because it was a big one this year. In that spirit of celebration, I have two pretty exciting things to share that I think you’ll all enjoy.

The first is my February Reset. For years I’ve been saying that one of the reasons January can be so difficult for people is resolutions. In theory, it’s a great idea to reflect on the previous year and resolve to improve things in the new one. But in reality, this doesn’t really work for most people.

We’ve just made it through the year, we finally get a chance to relax and celebrate with our family and friends, and there’s lots of food and drink, staying up late, sleeping in, and probably not as much exercise as usual. Most resolutions don’t ease you out of that and into a healthier, more productive lifestyle.

Most people don’t make small, achievable resolutions. There’s a tendency to want to proclaim sweeping resolutions, set the expectation that change should happen overnight, and when it doesn’t, you feel bad about yourself. Chances are you lose your resolve. It’s the exact opposite of what you intended. And it can get you down (see my last post re: Blue Monday).

That’s why I believe in the February Reset. Give yourself January to recoup, recover, purge, reflect, brainstorm, dream. Remove the pressure to change all of your behaviors the morning of January 1st. An artist needs to stretch and prep a canvas before the painting can begin. January is your month to clear out the old, literally and figuratively, and provide yourself with the clarity and strength to make change.

Then in February, right around the Chinese New Year, you’ll be motivated and ready to begin. Which is appropriate, since the Chinese New Year celebration is centered around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good.

I’ve been working on strategies and resources that I’ll be sharing here and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so be sure to follow along. Thursday night I’ll also be back as a guest on The Life Got In The Way Podcast, talking with Nikki C about my February Reset and sharing some strategies everyone can use. I’ll let you know when it drops!

What’s RecMo?

My second announcement is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I’ve talked about putting together a Book Club, but I know how busy everyone is and keeping up with the reading for a book club can be stressful. The one day while I was walking the dog, I thought, how great would it be to have a book club where there’s no pressure to read the assigned book. It was a seed of an idea that I started calling the Easy Peasy Book Club.

The plan was to have a suggested book that you had the option to read if it interested you. If it didn’t, you’d come with a book you’ve read and enjoyed, and share it with the group. Then everyone has fun and goes home with a list of good book recommendations. Easy Peasy! Then the pandemic happened.

Suddenly nothing was easy peasy. Binge watching television was a great escape, podcasts kept our minds occupied. We found new ways to connect. I walked the dog a lot, and had time to think, to revise the Easy Peasy Book Club idea. I saw everyone on social media asking for recommendations for good television and interesting podcasts. The seed of the Easy Peasy Book Club had sprouted.

Everyone wants good recommendations and we all need motivation. But, The Easy Peasy Recommendation & Motivation Club is a mouthful. And way too long for a hashtag.

So RecMo was born. I’m excited and I think you will be too. I’ll be revealing it to all of you on Sunday, February 13th. Until then, stay tuned for more details and take good care. Xo, Meg

Blue Monday: The Most Depressing Day of The Year?

From the desk of Meg
and a very blue Arthur

Hello friends! I hope 2022 is treating you right. I’m hearing from a lot of you that you’re feeling down, a little more so than usual, and having trouble pulling out of it. I want you to know you’re not alone.

There’s research that finds this is actually the most depressing time of the year, specifically Monday of this week. Dr. Cliff Arnall examined a number of different factors including: the weather, post-holiday debt, time since Christmas, failing New Year’s resolutions, low motivation, and lack of decisive action. Do any of those factors sound familiar? Add to that combo yet another pandemic surge and it’s a pretty good recipe for the blues. So what can you do?

I promised I would keep these posts short, so I’m going to get right to one of my strategies for coping with the winter blues, or feeling overwhelmed in any season, really. I have some others I’ll be sharing on social media and in future blogs, so be sure to follow me and check back here for more.

STRATEGY: STOP FIGHTING. So many clients tell me they’re “fighting off” the winter blues. Fighting is exhausting. You’re already fatigued. Putting up a good fight to push through sounds noble, but it just means you’re expending a lot of energy pushing away your feelings. Turn off the TV, your computer, put away your phone, and sit still in a quiet place. (Maybe even lie down, or treat yourself and light a candle, it’s entirely optional, just a suggestion.)

Most people fight the unknown. Things we fear often appear larger than they really are. What if you stop fighting and ask yourself what you’re feeling? And what if you give yourself permission to think about those things, without judgement, without noise, without trying to shut them out? You might find that they’re not so scary. (Or they might scare the hell out of you, which is also a good thing to know, it just means you might want to reach out to a professional to help support you as you process things.)

Once you’ve made a list of these things you now know (in your head or on paper) you can ask yourself two questions about each thing on the list. First: is it rational or irrational? Second: is it something I can solve, or something I have to accept? By the time you’ve made your way through the list, the answers to these questions will give you some clarity, a plan of action, and maybe even a sense of calm.

If you have symptoms of clinical depression that impede your ability to function on a daily basis, you’ll want to reach out to a professional for medical advice. This blog post is not in any way intended to be medical advice. And if you or someone you know is in distress or having thoughts about harming yourself and you can’t reach a medical professional, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741). Things may feel unbearable in the moment, but there are professionals who can help you get through that moment and make a plan to get the help you need.

Seasonal Affective DIsorder (SAD) is also something to discuss with your doctor. It’s a type of depression that is cyclical, beginning in the fall and subsiding in the spring. It effects your mood, thinking, and behaviors for about four to five months in the winter. About 5% of Americans experience symptoms severe enough to warrant a medical diagnosis.

But Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a pioneer in the research on SAD found that an additional 15% of Americans suffer with what’s called the “subsyndromal” form of SAD, which means roughly 1 in 5 people struggle during an average winter. Factor in pandemic fatigue and there are a lot of people dealing with the “winter blues” right now.

Yes, there are some basic things we can all do to improve our mental and physical health. Drinking enough water, shutting down the screens, getting enough sleep, moving your body for 30 minutes everyday. Those are the basics. And there will be days when you don’t drink enough water, don’t put down the phone, don’t get enough sleep, and don’t get off the couch to go to the gym or for a walk/run/ride. No one is perfect, but we can choose to do better. One glass of water at a time.

I hope this is helpful. If you try the strategy I shared, be sure to reach out and let me know how it goes. And remember, we’re only nine weeks away from spring! Hang in there, and take good care. Xo, Meg

Blogs are BACK

From the desk of Meg

And…I’m back. Just in time to grab the baton from pumpkin spice and get you through the school year, the holidays, whatever time is left in the day after you read this bi-weekly post. I promise I’ll keep it short.

This week I’m stopping by to thank you all for coming back, or if you’re new here, to say WELCOME.

It’s been a busy fall: offering new classes, advising my high school clients about college, sharing my ADHD knowledge with over 20,000 people, helping my college students get set up for success, catching up with my favorite test prep folks, working with my adult clients to get “unstuck” and make some exciting transitions, and talking with Niiki C on her podcast about creating the unique career that gives me the opportunity to do all of these things and more.

I love adventures and I’ve had lots of those too.

From joining an organic CSA to east coast road trips to learning about NFTs, the web 3.0, and how to host a clubhouse room, I’m doing my best to ensure #thelearningneverstops all while keeping the LL Employee of the Month entertained.

There are strategies, resources, ideas, insights, news, and some fun surprises to share. I’m still working out the exact format it will take (if you’ve got ideas, I’m all ears). What I know for sure is that I”ll do my best to make it helpful, informative, and fun.

We’re off to a good start. I’ll see you back here soon, ready to dive into it all. Until then, I’ll leave you with one of Arthur’s moments of zen, because we all deserve 20 seconds to simply BREATHE.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Keep up your snout.

Take good care! Xo, Meg

ADHD Expert Webinar Series

This fall, I’ll be presenting a three part webinar series for ADDitude Magazine. All webinars are available for download as podcasts after they air.

Part 1: Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Part 2: Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Part 3: Wednesday, October 20, 2021

WSJ Women of Note Launch

On a snowy Wednesday night in December, I headed to NYC for cocktails, canapés, and conversation at the WSJ Women of Note launch event, held in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center.

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The city was blanketed in a fresh coat of snow as we met and mingled with other network members. Bestselling author and leadership expert, Liz Wiseman, provided a scintillating keynote presentation, sparking our imaginations and challenging us to explore our leadership styles.

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Catching up with old friends and networking with new colleagues made for a wonderful evening. Many thanks to Sara Shenasky and everyone at WSJ who made the night so special for all of us through their hard work and careful attention to detail. I’m already looking forward to our next event…

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After You Write A Book, You Have a Party

And we did!

Meghan and Roberta launched Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Throughout the Lifespan to the public on December 12, 2014 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Philadelphia Salvage Annex in Bryn Mawr, PA.

More than 80 friends, colleagues and clients came out to celebrate the publication of the book. The folks at Philly Salvage decked the Annex out for the holidays and there was plenty of pizza from Jules Thin Crust as well as lots of holiday cheer.

The authors signed books and thanked guests for their support during the writing process. If you missed the party and would like more information about the book, author interviews, personal appearances or media requests feel free to contact Meghan at 484-222-0272 or info@leahylearning.com

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*A very special shoutout to Amanda Davis, Director of Projects at Leahy Learning who organized this grand event.

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