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From Ruth’s Desk: Insights & Strategies for Life with ADHD
Helpful articles, tips, and stories to support your academic and professional journey.
Doing Thanksgiving with Humor
Thanksgiving comes every year. It's meant to be a celebration of gratitude and family values, right? But let’s be honest—who has time for gratitude when you’re busy planning an entire feast, coordinating family schedules, and gearing up for the Black Friday marathon...
Imposter Syndrome and ADHD Part 1
Everyone seems to be talking about Imposter Syndrome these days, so let’s dive in. I encounter it often—both in the people I coach and in myself. Let me walk you through what it feels like to experience Imposter Syndrome and how those affected tend to think. When...
Tips for Managing Mental Energy with ADHD
Our brains, weighing just about 3 pounds, are the biggest consumers of energy in our bodies, accounting for roughly 20% of our total energy expenditure. Engaging in deliberate, top-down thinking, switching between tasks, and making numerous decisions throughout the...
The Day ChatGPT Went Down! Your Brain is Enough.
I recently started using ChatGPT. One of my overall rules for life is Stay relevant. Embrace learning new things. So along those lines. I explored the wonders of ChatGPT. My Jiminy Cricket kept chirping in my ear about the ethics of using AI. Isn't using ChatGPT like...
Overcoming ADHD: How to Find Your Motivation to Exercise and Boost Productivity as an Overwhelmed PhD Student
Giggles loves to play catch! Dear Dr. Ruth, I have ADHD and I'm drowning. I teach as an adjunct professor, I'm working on my dissertation, and I have a second job just to make ends meet. I know exercise would boost my mood and productivity, but I just can't find my...
Facilitating Committees with ADHD: Tips for New Professionals
This is Giggles. She is planning her next meeting with the roosters. Dear Dr. Ruth, I've just completed my PhD, and now my department head has tasked me with facilitating a committee. This committee has a tight deadline to generate recommendations that will form the...
Mastering Dissertation Energy: Overcoming ADHD Challenges and Boosting Productivity
Goats Never Run Out of Energy! Dear Dr. Ruth, I'm a PhD student dealing with ADHD, and I'm struggling to sustain my energy levels throughout my dissertation work. I have these intense bursts of energy, but they fizzle out before I can accomplish what's truly...
Anxiety and Basic Self-Care for Dissertation Students
My dog knows how to get quality sleep and exercise. We're still working on the nutrition part. She loves to eat trash out of the garbage. Dear Dr. Ruth, I am a PhD student with ADHD. I'm writing my dissertation. My perfectionism is kicking in which triggers my...
Overcoming isolation for PhD students with ADHD
Lonely calf reminds me of how dissertation writing can feel isolating. Dear Dr. Ruth, I am struggling with my dissertation and I have ADHD. I try real hard. I have good days and bad days. Some areas are organized but other are not going well and are messy. It's all...
Dissertation Loneliness
Dear Dr. Ruth, I have ADHD. All my strategies and life hacks worked during undergrad and my master level work but now the loneliness of dissertation work is overwhelming me. My ADHD brain is all over the place. It feels impossible. How do I handle the lonely work of...
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