My girlfriend sometimes calls me "ADD Boy.” She jokes about getting me a superhero costume, complete with cape. My best friend tells me that I have the attention span of a child. Shiny things distract me. So what am I doing writing an article about how to stay focused? Believe it or not, I know a few tricks for those moments when I am wandering all over the place. Unfortunately, none of these tips will help you full-time, but that is another matter entirely. If you really think that you suffer from A.D.D., you should speak with your therapist about getting a formal diagnosis and treatment. There are some drugs that are combination anti-depressants and A.D.D. medications.

The first thing to do is identify set goals for the day and write them down. If they need to be completed at a certain time, then make a note of that. This is something best done by hand, not on the computer. When writing by hand, it is sometimes easier to make the connection. The second step is to find the things that cause the most distraction. It is pro

bably a good idea to eliminate them if possible. You may need to have a pen around, but you do not need to keep 12 of them around. Thirdly, put on some music without words, classical or jazz. Music with words, or the television, or talk radio would be too easy to get distracted by as you start to sing along, or watch, or argue with. Since the music I suggested has no words (not all jazz lacks vocals but some does), you will be able to let it provide background music, drowning out distracting noise, and still get your work done. Finally, close any computer programs that you don't need open. Hopefully, this will help you stay on track when you have work to do.

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