Connecting on phone?

I’m interested especially in people with ADHD.  Talking on the phone is an important way to keep connected to people and socially happy, especially as people are so mobile these days, and it seems harder than ever to stay in touch; not because of time but because I don’t like to call people.  I’ve been working hard trying to figure out why I don’t love talking on the phone like I used to when I was much younger, and I think I have it figured out.

When there was an actual phone, with a cord to the wall, it felt very grounding. I could sit on my bed, or on my couch, and give my complete focus to the conversation in an environment I had intentionally created for the purpose.  There was a place and time and purpose to the connection and when I was having it I felt really present and happy.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I am reading a book by John Ratey, M.D., about exercise and all of the benefits to the brain.  There is a part in the book about stress, with a specific header on ‘Focus’, and of course it particularly caught my eye as I am always looking for insights into how to improve focus. What he wrote surprised me.

I know it seems impossible, at least to me. But I just read it in an organization book — and there is actually a book called Never Check E-mail in the Morning: and Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Life Work. It is written by Julie Morgenstern, a world renown organization expert. Julie is an Oprah favorite, and Cathy Black, president of Hearst, says the book is one of the top five best business books.

I’m trying out Remember the Milk, and I really love the application so far. I thought I would share a bit of a review in case you are interested in using the tool. When I wake up I hit the gym / do what I normally do in the morning and then sit down with some tea, I turn on my computer and my Outlook calendar pops up ‘Remember the Milk.’ (I have it set to a daily task for Outlook.)

I click the link, log in, and can start focusing on my day. I’ve set it up so that I update it on Sundays / throughout the week as needed, but I pretty much have things planned on Sunday.

So this is why I like it: