Don't forget to eat: The thing about hyperfocus

There is a flip-side to more well known restlessness and distraction of ADD. It's what some call Hyperfocus.
Not many know about it, but it's a powerful tool that has allowed many ADDers to achieve amazing things.
Adults with ADD have had to cope with the condition their entire lives. While this can prove debilitating to as a child in school, you learn to compensate as you grow. The result is the ability to slip into a heightened period of tunnel vision and energy (and sometime brilliance) aimed at a particular goal.

In science fiction movies, you sometimes hear dialogue like this:

"Damnit, Johnson! You're obsessed! This death ray of yours is making you crazy. You haven't left this lab in days, you haven't eaten and you haven't slept! Snap out of it!"

Well, I'm no screenwriter

Anyhow, this skill comes in handy when taking on a long and difficult project. I've done 15-hour slogs through projects overnight without sleep, eating and a break. The weird thing is that it's not a conscious decision. If you pay attention, you can feel yourself slipping into that state. It feels great.

However, it's difficult to shake. I've found it very hard to stop when I should. Stepping away from that state is hard, especially since it's such a departure from my normal behavior.

Still, once you step back and see what you've done ... you'll often astound yourself.
That confidence you get will last long after the world rushes back into your head and you're back "normal."

Anyone have any stories of extreme hyperfocus?

Pulling back from the keyboard until next time,
Carlo

Track packacge shipments with Google

Here's a neat trick we all already know, right? Have a packacge to track? There's no need to go to the USPS or UPS site and hunt down the tracking page in order to look up your box's journey. Simply type or paste your tracking code into Google's search box and it'll give you a quick link to get the info! I've tried it with FedEx, USPS, UPS, DHL and even EMS. I've yet to find an instance where this didn't work. But you already knew this.

Your first hour versus your whole day

As I've gotten to understand the rhythms of an easily distracted mind, I've gome to treasure the first hour of work everyday. It's during this first hour that I look at my schedule, assignments, plans, messages and mail. From an hour of conscious thought about the day ahead, I can ensure that the next 8-10 hours will be productive and satisfying.

If this sounds like something you need, by all means, ask for it at work. It's a lifesaver, especially a clouded mind has you easily frazzled when you don't know what it is you're supposed to be doing next.

If you feel open enough with your bosses and coworkers, you'll find it's easy to ask to be left alone for an hour or until a specific time (such as 9:30 a.m. or your first coffee break). You'll be surprised at how well this works.

10 Barenaked Ladies songs to move your mood

Off the top of my head.
10. What a Good Boy
9. Enid
8. One Week
7. Fight the Power (From the "Coneheads" movie soundtrack).
6. When I Fall
5. McDonald's Girl
4. It's All Been Done
3. Pinch Me
2. If I Had a Million Dollars
1. Brian Wilson
That's the order they're in today. Have a listen if you need to explore your moods today.
-- Carlo

Inappropriately named eating establishments I saw in Manila

Don't click the links if you can help it ...

1. Little Poon's (A chinese restaurant)
   
2. Kiss: King of Balls (Specializing in dim sum and pearl shakes)
   
3. Cock Master (Chicken)
   
4. KKK Chicken (More Chicken)

Links to Urban Dictionary entries the owners can refer to upon seeing the puzzled looks of foreign visitors.

"Avoid this one, wait for the dvd, and when I say that, I mean wait until it comes out on DVD and then knock over the display."

Best line I've read regarding M. Knight's "The Happening."

I swear, after watching that film, I tried to call everyone I know and warn them to stay away from this depression-fest.