Re: Dayparts: Question for the panel…

[Anonymous]

wgreen – I think that the subconscious mind works on your issues as you sleep, then without all of the interruptions of the day, it’s free to flood your waking brain with ideas that sometimes seemingly come from nowhere. That can also happen at any time during the day for me – it completely takes me over because I have to follow the brainstorm.

I try to follow a strict routine first thing in the morning because I have a commitment with my teacher to practice a certain amount of time day and evening. So the only way I can accomplish that is to start meditation practice first thing before anything else, even meds, since to get the meds, I have to go to my computer (where I leave them laid out so I won’t forget them), and also pass the kitchen. I just get up and use the bathroom if I need to, brush my teeth, then go sit. Of course many thoughts come up during meditation practice, they can’t be stopped, but I can keep trying to come back to the intended focus of attention. I say “try” because it isn’t easy for non-ADDers, even more challenging for ADDers. But the attempts are actually the practice, over and over again.

Then after my morning practice, the problems and obstacles start, that keep me from getting out of the house early. I work for myself, so there’s no boss to complain that I am consistently late getting to work.

I have always had a hard time getting going in the morning, without a very strict plan laid out the night before, I can be waylaid by any number of things. I might notice some crumbs on the counter and start rearranging the countertops, taking an hour or more (sometimes I take extra stuff downstairs and I get lost in something in the basement). I might decide to start looking on the internet for something I thought of the day before, hours and hours can be wasted because it’s so easy to click on the next “suggested” link and go off in cyberspace. If the toilet looks a bit dirty, I would clean it, continue on to the sink and tub. I wouldn’t be able to resist leaving it for another time. If I had to go into the laundry closet for paper, I might notice it needed filling up, and go do that.

The more time I give myself to get going in the morning, the more time I take. One strategy for me is to just get up, no computer, do the very basics, and get the heck to work. Once I surprised myself by getting there by 8:15 am. Most days I arrive at 10 am.

Meds help, but they only unlock the door to seeing what patterns are running for me. They’re pretty strong patterns!

In the evening is when my mind can’t stop, and practice is harder and less “successful”. I’ve had the whole day to encounter new problems or issues or ideas, and my mind wants to review what I did, what I could have done, that great idea I can’t resist thinking of, etc. Unfortunately my meds don’t last into the evening.

Peter – I have a friend who does coffee meditation too!

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