Can music help me manage my ADHD? I’ve received many questions about this and the answer is Yes! Music is a great tool to help people with ADHD.
It can help you pay attention, reduce overwhelm and start on a task.
Whether you’re doing homework, desk work at the office, or trying to clean the house, using music or white noise to help you get into action and stay on track is a simple technique for living more easily with ADHD.
But what type of music works best? Well, that depends entirely upon the person and what they’re doing.
Also, since ADHD is consistently inconsistent, what marvelously promotes focus one moment won’t necessarily do the trick the next. That’s why I suggest using an online player like your smartphone or Alexa; it’s simple to switch genres to discover what helps you pay attention in that moment for that particular task.
How to Use Music to Manage ADHD
Here are my guidelines for how I personally use music to get into action, reduce overwhelm, and pay attention:
1. Start a Task: For me, getting started is often the hardest part of a task. When I need a jump start on something active like cooking or housework, I rely on energizing tunes such as rock, jazz, country or big band.
2. Reduce Overwhelm: I also get overwhelmed easily by external noise and chaos. Music I can sing along with, such as show tunes or pop, relieves the pressure.
3. Stay Focused: While at my desk writing, I listen to quieter music such as classical or folk. But sometimes I can write to rock so I try my favorites and see what works in that moment.
Another Excellent Tool to Help Focus ADHD Minds…
This discussion about sounds focusing our minds brings me to another tool, similar to music. Lately, I’ve been relying on a tool which brings me close to that magic brain management solution we all strive for. I use it daily to maintain focus and stimulate creativity while I’m writing and doing desk work. My ADHD coaching clients like it too.
I didn’t mention it in last month’s newsletter because I earn a tiny fee when I recommend it, and I don’t want you to think that’s why I mention it. But you’ve asked, so here it is.
It’s the Immarama Institute’s Focus CD set. It uses biofeedback to stimulate a highly focused brainwave state and triggers neural pathways to fire. It isn’t at all distracting. While listening to the soothing sound of a gentle rainstorm, my focus and creativity improve greatly.
If you’re interested, here’s the link to the Immarama Institute’s Focus CD web site. And if you want to learn more about ADHD and music here’s a link to a prior post Music – An Unexpected Way to Focus the ADHD Mind.
What do you think? How will you use music to increase focus and productivity in your life?
Dana Rayburn is an ADHD Coach in Oregon, but don’t worry… She works by telephone helping ADHD adults all over the world live more effortlessly and successfully with ADHD.
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