Eleni Sfiroudis ADHD & Executive Function Coach

13/02/2021

Distance learning and executive function skills--can your child master one without the other?
Yes---with the right support!
When students are in school, many of these skills develop naturally. When kids are learning remotely, parents need strategies to support their executive function development.

I can help with ADHD and Executive function support for students and parents--PM me to learn more!

Picture your child with ADHD moving through their classes during a typical (pre-COVID) school day. Now imagine what would happen if you were standing in the back of the classroom, prompting them whenever you felt they were off task, not paying attention, or getting distracted. Would your presence he...

05/01/2021

Welcome 2021 and Happy New Year!
Last year redefined how we live. How did it change how you think?

In January 2020 my daughter gave me a gratitude journal and challenged me to find one thing every day for a year for which I was grateful. Who knew how 2020 would test this challenge!
Reading through it, I was surprised to see where I found daily inspiration and grace. Some days I struggled but never left a day blank. On those days I saw that I noticed things that I might have overlooked: small changes, tiny steps, acknowledging positive things around me. What we pay attention to grows and last year for me, that was consistency and patience. For that, I am really grateful.
Are you ready reframe your mindset for 2021? PM me for more information!

23/07/2020

Have you had a "summer switch off"?

The ADHD brain seeks constant input and what's more stimulating than social media? These platforms release the chemical dopamine in our brains, which makes us feel good-- so we continue scrolling until we lose track of time and have a hard time stopping!! They are designed to keep us online (that's a separate post!).

So what happens when you disconnect?

Walking by the sea makes me feel calm and relaxed. I love seeing the tranquility of the boats, hearing the birds, smelling the salty air. I don't bring my phone or AirPods and I don't even keep track of my steps :)

And during that peaceful time, I just let my mind wander and be present in these beautiful surroundings. I end my walk feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Have you given your brain the opportunity to "switch off"?
If not yet, please do Faigy Liebermann! And enjoy the calm :)

Do you have questions about the ADHD brain and technology? PM me to learn more!

01/07/2020

Last time I talked about sticking with a task during "stops and starts". But I'm wondering....has anybody ever sought out the boring tasks?
Yes--that's me too!

When there's a really big, complicated or difficult task ahead, sometimes I'll do anything to avoid it. Kind of like doing the easy things first, to feel good and gain a sense of accomplishment.

But why do the "easy wins" get in your way of growth? I will be digging deeper into this question!

This is a classic ADHD situation that involves so many emotions--for starters, fear. It can be really difficult to recognise our successes when we compare what that looks like to achievements of others. Rather than inspire us, it can destroy our motivation and that underlying fear can prevent a growth mindset.

Some tips:
•Don't make assumptions. We may have no idea about someone else's journey or challenges and experience has shown me that most people struggle with something. We can be our own toughest critics!
•Think about what you want to achieve--don't even worry about making it specific. Think of your end destination as a journey that will become a goal. By asking yourself questions about why it is important to you, you may find it needs to be adjusted.
•Consider working with a coach. An ADHD or Executive Function coach can help you define and focus what you want to achieve, what's in our way and help you break down your tasks into manageable steps that keep you moving forward.

Still feeling stuck? PM me to talk more about coaching!

26/06/2020

This week was full of stops and starts. Our flight was cancelled..not once, but twice. I was on hold for ages, getting really annoyed...and when that was sorted, I was frustrated at the time I wasted.

I had to deal with an urgent but unexpected issue, and still juggle other things that needed my attention. Has this ever happened to you?

The ADHD brain is not always good with transitioning from a plan to dealing with the unexpected. We can hyperfocus really well when something is interesting-planned or not- but attending to and finishing the boring stuff can be really, really hard!

I looked at my list and thought about what I could get done easily, and got on with plowing through a few things I didn't want to do but knew I could finish fast. It took me less than 30 minutes and despite a lousy day, I felt good about crossing things off because they were done :)

A few tips from my week:
•Dealing with unexpected things isn't wasting time--it just means reorganising and reprioritising.
•How you view something unexpected really can change how you think! I'm really glad I had the chance to sort out our flights, rather than dwell on how annoyed I was to be on hold for ages.
•I can pick up where I left off--with no judgements.

PM me for more tips to help with the "stops and starts" that come our way x

01/06/2020

What gets in your way of getting stuff done? I've struggled to keep track and organise our family-especially these last few weeks.

As a mum of an ADHD child, you want to help... but how do you do that without constantly feeling drained? Our instinct is to help ..but doing so is often at our own expense. How does other people's 'stuff' affect you?

The ADHD brain seeks constant input, so moving to a new activity over and over is exciting and engaging--until it's not!! When there are half-finished projects lying around, not only is it no longer interesting, it can trigger feelings of anxiety and frustration that can be overwhelming. This can be a difficult cycle to break for parents and kids.

Some tips that can help:
• Recognise that the ADHD brain is looking to be distracted, so be mindful about what you allow to get in front of you and your child.
• Do you have the right skills to help your child? Could you delegate this task to someone else in the family?
• Protect your time. The ADHD brain seeks to please others, and doing so can mean taking on unneeded tasks. It is OK to say "no".
• Ask for help. Having someone objective keep you accountable for your time is a really powerful way to work on changing your behaviours.
• Make sure you finish your tasks so that you don't get overwhelmed.
• Carve out some "me" time, even if this means sitting in your car with a cuppa.

PM me for more tips, and to learn more about ADHD coaching and EF strategies! Faigy Liebermann

25/05/2020

Summer is almost here! For parents, schoolwork and working from home are no match for what's outside and keeping everyone moving forward-including ourselves!- can be overwhelming. What's going on?

Prioritising and completing work can be really hard when there is something more tempting to do. The ADHD brain seeks constant stimulation, which most times, can be a great thing. But... do you ever feel so overwhelmed you can't do anything? That's your brain trying to organise so many inputs at one time that you simply can't get started on anything--a classic symptom of ADHD.

Some tips we love to keep moving forward:

• Create a plan. What do you want to get done--for the day? The week? These are your goals and creating a plan is the first step. This may mean breaking down tasks into very specific action items, and that's a great way to keep your brain engaged and moving forward.
• Be kind to yourself! Remember your goals are for you and success can mean progress, not perfection.
• Celebrate what you get done, even if it seems small.
• Take regular breaks. Changing the environment gives the brain a break and at the same time, keeps it engaged. Remember-the ADHD brain thrives on stimulation!

Still feeling overwhelmed? ADHD coaching can really help you get started! Get in touch and I can tell you how, PM me for more details.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend x

18/05/2020

When can a routine become part of the problem? This happened to me this weekend:

We went to play tennis at the park and after wandered onto the High Street to find our favourite coffee shop open and serving ice cream-- what a treat! What started off as our daily exercise was becoming more like a pre-lockdown, leisurely Saturday. This was a relief to me, but I didn't realise that my child wasn't expecting the extra stops, it wasn't what he was used to.

Having a routine helped our family stay on track through lockdown.

With restrictions easing, the routine is changing....is your family ready to transition?

Some tips:
1. Talk to your child. Start by writing down a plan--start with a general schedule of what to expect for the day.
2. Remember that many kids with ADHD can view doing things as "now" or "not now"--so giving them time to transition is really important!
3. Get them involved too--like keeping track with a timer, or managing the schedule.
4. And keep talking and listening!--these are still uncertain times, your child is looking to you for support.

More questions? PM me to chat more x
Faigy Liebermann

11/05/2020

"School at home" started off with a lot of starts, stops, and do-overs ☺️ I'm seeing up close what my child needs to work on and focusing there--on skills like communication, time management, and structure.

These are Executive Function skills and they are SO important to stay organised in school-- and in life--especially for those with an ADHD diagnosis!

By strengthening these underlying skills, he's becoming better equipped to deal with life, not just homework.

School at home isn't perfect, but I feel like it's been successful for our family.

Do you have questions about Executive Functioning and ADHD? I can help you too, PM me for more information.

18/04/2020

Remember when we could go out, do something we love, and be with people that make us happy? That's self-care and these days, it looks a lot different!
Finding time alone can be hard--but it's more important than ever, especially when we are home together and stress levels can run high.
I love this article's reminders for self-care-- especially communication and setting boundaries. Stay healthy :)

Family stress is spiking due to pandemic monotony, virus fears, imperfect information, and strained communication. Learn how to set healthy boundaries here.