(no subject)

[vicarz]

Heard a NPR note the other day about someone saying the addressed their academic problems related to ADD by learning to hyper-focus on things even if they didn't initially enjoy them; and that to this day he'll play music "he knows really well" in the background to create enough of a stimulation that he can focus on the task at hand while not being distracted by that same stimulation.

I get the same thing - when I enjoy what I'm doing, I can vanish in it to such a degree it's very productive but also completely absorbing; distractions ruin this effect. When tasks are more droll, I greatly prefer some wordless ethereal music in the background - I hear it, but disappear somehow.

I bought a Simmon's mantel clock, manual, and had it completely restored. I have it running, and find I'm sleeping better. The damn thing gongs every 30 minutes, and ticks all the time...but somehow the noise doesn't bother me. Now I've dropped my daily coffee intake by 8oz or more, but I'm thinking the ADD or mild ADD or just my annoying nature if you don't think I have ADD - or just regular human nature - makes it easier to sleep with this noise in the background. Somehow unconscious is reassured by the bong, bong, bong of known activity as opposed to silence.

If I was at work this probably wouldn't have been worth sharing; not saying it was today, but with time this appears to be what I do.

Comments

[seaopaque.livejournal.com]

Besides what you've noted here, what is it about you that is particularly ADD?

I slept great in Keewatin with the train going by every now and then, 400 metres away, even with its loud whistle blast. We slept with a fan a lot in my house growing up, and the humidifier in my first house was just outside my bedroom. I loved the sound of that thing.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Mainly I was thrown out of nursery school and it must have been bad because a trip to the kiddie shrink followed - they diagnosed me with ADHD and said I couldn't go to regular school. My parent's reaction was to give me the vogue low-sugar diet and say fuckall with special ed or any other issue. I had my academic problems, but was in (honors) classes based on standardized testing so I'd say I like their vote better (and I rocked college pretty well).

What makes me ADD? Lack of focus, sometimes contrary reaction to stimulants (I can be hyper after coffee, or nap), and high degrees of energy overall. I have this pet theory that if treated you don't learn to focus the energy, and that I may do better than others because of my wiring and the lessons I learned pulling myself into check.

White noise is good to sleep to; I've been looking at some theories about complete darkness and silence for sleeping, but we're malleable creatures.

[mcoletti.livejournal.com]

I've ADD, too, which is why I like working in coffee shops. The background people noise helps me focus.

I've also been using this for the last few months with what I think is success. Could be a placebo effect, I dunno, but the site does seem to help me Get Shite Done.