ADHD and the Smartwatch

This past week I purchased a Pebble Time smartwatch for use in my business. It allows me to be notified of emails quickly so I can respond in a timely manner and have instant access to my schedule. These are the features that drew me to my first experience of wearable technology. However the more I've used it the more it is showing itself to be one of the most useful things for my ADHD I've encountered in quite a while.

There are people who look askance at anyone who uses and relies on technology heavily. Especially a young person, fearing, I assume, that it is harmful to them. Certainly modern technology has had negative impacts on people, most notably to me the disconnection instant access has caused first world societies, socially.

However, it doesn't behoove anyone to dismiss or judge how others live their lives.

While in my ADDCA coach training, the co-founder, David Giwerc, extolled the uses dictation software had and the freedom it allowed him in writing his book Permission to Proceed. He finds typing very difficult and tedious and were it not for this software, he told me and my classmates, the book would not have been written.

Similarly the reminder app Alarmed allows me to run my life and business smoothly where otherwise I would need a full-time personal assistant and/or maid. That being said, should the zombie horde rise up, my life will instantly fall to pieces. But then again, not many people need to check their email during the apocalypse so perhaps everything will even out in the end.

Another feature of the Pebble Time is the sleep and step tracking. For the first time in my life I know how far I walk in a day (and have extra encouragement to increase that distance) and how much sleep and deep sleep I get each night. Exercise and sleep are two cornerstones of ADHD management and studies have even shown that, in some cases, exercise can replace ADHD medication, without the side effects.

I've also tried the Pomodoro technique for the first time as a result of a Pebble Time app.

The absolute best ADHD management benefit though, in my opinion, is the streamlined nature of my focus. When a notification goes off on my phone, I'm tempted to open it, play a game, check Facebook, and so on. Even if I simply check email, I waste time. When a notification comes in on the watch, I can screen the importance, and avoid the temptation and distractions.

As with so many things, the key to making technology work for you is balance.

Five More Reasons You Want an ADHD Brain on Your Zombie Apocalypse Team (Part 4)

Fourth installment of a four part series. (Part 1 is here.)

Disclaimer: Not every person with ADHD will have any or all of these. Displaying anything in this list doesn’t mean a person has ADHD. The things on this list aren’t unique to ADHD.

16. The sunny side of armageddon

Through a lifetime of negativity that is constantly bombarding us, we have developed a defense mechanism of optimism that is infectious and hard to destroy. We can see a light at the end of the tunnel, beyond the shuffling horde, and we’ll tell you about it.

17. “It’s ok. Go ahead...”

Practical and realistic is something you maybe didn’t expect, but if somebody gets bit, we won’t hesitate to do the right thing, even if it’s us. We’ll understand.

18. What you see is what you get

ADHD people are genuine and authentic. We don’t hide anything. In a situation where secrets end lives we skip the drama.

19. Canary in the coalmine

Our sensitivities mean we will sense and express a problem even before the rest of the team has realized anything is wrong. That seemingly innocent person we just took into the group? We know what that scrape really came from.

20. Maverick

Even before the apocalypse we looked for excitement everywhere. Now that works to the team’s advantage. We will be quick to take risks, volunteer first for dangerous missions, running through zombie-infested streets to rescue babies and all those other hero things. No photos, please.

Five More Reasons You Want an ADHD Brain on Your Zombie Apocalypse Team (Part 3)

Third installment of a 4 part series. Part 1 is here.

Disclaimer: not every person with ADHD will have any or all of these. Displaying anything in this list doesn't mean a person has ADHD. The things on this list aren't unique to ADHD.

11. More sensitive than an optical mouse

Because we know what it’s like to be hurt, a lot, (I mean really, all the time) we have no desire to put that on anyone else. We will be very cognizant of other’s feels and needs. Another reason we won’t end up on that pesky “previously on” reel.

12. Creative as all get out

A 2011 study demonstrated what many professionals in the field had suspected for some time: the ADHD brain is actually more likely to be creative. Our solutions might be totally out of left field, but they will probably work and be something nobody else thought of. Ordinary thinking is probably what those zombies had before... Well, you know.

13. Bubbles?! YAY!!!

The delayed maturity in many ADHD people can show up as a fun-loving and lighthearted nature. This is essential for keeping up the morale of the whole team. What’s the point of fighting for the survival of humanity if you can’t laugh?

14. Chaotic survivalist

Since our lives before the apocalypse were probably pretty chaotic, we have learned how to survive and thrive in those conditions. The total collapse of civilization is really no big deal compared to trying to find a clean pair of socks. We got this.

15. I sense a disturbance in the Force...

We have wicked cool imaginations which means we can predict problems before they happen. Now, the likelihood of being attacked by a horde of the shuffling dead dressed exclusively in lolita dresses is admittedly low but... Aren’t you glad we’re prepared?

Five More Reasons You Want an ADHD Brain on Your Zombie Apocalypse Team (Part 2)

Second installment of a 4 part series. Part 1 is here.

Disclaimer: Not every person with ADHD will have any or all of these. Displaying anything on this list doesn’t mean a person has ADHD. The things on this list aren’t unique to ADHD.

6. Bro, do you even lift?

Physical hyperactivity can sometimes translate into physical fitness because the individual simply must move. Carrying firewood, fighting off the horde, running to safety, these are all important survival skills made easier by a high fitness level.

7. Change?! YAY!!!

Because boredom is the enemy, we adore change. Constantly moving from place to place, looking for the things we need to survive, not knowing where the next toilet paper is coming from? Perfect, to the ADHD brain.

8. Quick decision making

In an apocalypse there’s no time to discuss things in a committee. ADHD’s impulsivity will work to the team’s advantage in a crisis because sometimes delay is just as much of a killer. Our high levels of intuition means that more than likely that snap judgement will be a good one.

9. “Everyone’s saying ‘hello’ to each other, how wonderful.”

Another time saver will be pleasantries. We hate ‘em. We can’t stand ‘em. They’ll finally be gone now that the social constructs of civilization have deteriorated. Good riddance, so say I.

10. Easy-going, all day long

We are just the most chill subsection of people you’d ever care to meet. We’ll often go with the majority vote, because making decisions is hard, ok... We also have the worst memories which means all those grudges and feuds featured in the “previously on” clip don’t even matter to us.

Five Reasons You Want an ADHD Brain on Your Zombie Apocalypse Team (Part 1)

First installment of a 4 part series. Part 2 is here.

Disclaimer: Not every person with ADHD will have any or all of these. Displaying anything on this list doesn’t mean a person has ADHD. The things on this list aren’t unique to ADHD.

1. Built in alarm system

ADHD as a whole takes in a ton of information at all times. That’s why we can be prone to be Highly Sensitive Persons. This also means we will be the first to notice the footsteps of the approaching dead. In addition, our physical hyperactivity means we make fantastic perimeter guards. Just make sure to leave us with a buddy or we might get bored and wander off.

2. So. Incredibly. Useful.

Because boredom is our worst enemy, it’s likely we will continuously make ourselves useful around camp. We tend to be jacks of all trades and have random bits of knowledge and skills, at least some of which will have to come in handy during the apocalypse.

3. Intuition is off the charts

We will just know when something is off. Maybe the fauna around the camp stopped making noise, maybe one of our team is acting slightly off, maybe that water isn’t safe to drink. All these things will be evident to us without any explanation. Trust these random flashes of intuition, they might just save your life.

4. Fantastic in a crisis

The zombie apocalypse is just one crisis after another. This is good news for an ADHD brain which thrives under the instant adrenaline rush caused by a sudden emergency. We react and jump into action before other types of brains have even realized something is going down.

5. The nerd factor

Interest in a subject is key to ADHD success so when the end of times arrives, grab your nearest zombie apocalypse nerd with ADHD. They will be an expert in all things zombie and survival and remember everything they learned with perfect clarity.