Merle's Blog | A Brilliant Mess

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Getting Started
Prioritizing
Simplifying
Personal Boundaries
Perfectionism
Moderating the Extremes
Frustrating Behavior Patterns

Jul 5, 2020
3 min

Bearing good fruit

So much of my worldview is filtered through what I think other people think or do. Other people and their opinions have to stop mattering

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Merle Kaplan

Aug 1, 2019
3 min

WHY does everything take me so long?

I'll be honest about my blogging problem: A year ago I'd committed with my business mentor that I'd write and post one blog a week. So,...

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Yesterday was great...but what happened to today? (A.K.A. "the slug monster phenomenon")

Merle Kaplan

May 15, 2019
3 min

Yesterday was great...but what happened to today? (A.K.A. "the slug monster phenomenon")

Yesterday was great. And by great, I mean productive for me. I woke up early, wrote in my journal, and without (much) delay I started t...

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I am doing the right thing at the right time in the right way

Merle Kaplan

Apr 26, 2019
2 min

I am doing the right thing at the right time in the right way

Yes, you read that right. I, Merle Kaplan, am, right now, doing the right thing at the right time in the right way. I'll say it again, ...

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Dear Executive function team--You're Fired!

Merle Kaplan

Mar 27, 2019
3 min

Dear Executive function team--You're Fired!

If you have ADHD, like I do, most likely your toughest challenge is regulating yourself. Regulating your "attention" means making sure y...

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Just do ONE thing at a time (not eighty)

Merle Kaplan

Feb 1, 2019
2 min

Just do ONE thing at a time (not eighty)

I dream of having a secretary. I could hire someone, of course, but how would I explain the job to them? "Hi, nice to meet you. Your jo...

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Why do you keep doing the same stupid things if you're so smart?

Merle Kaplan

Jan 12, 2019
2 min

Why do you keep doing the same stupid things if you're so smart?

You vow you'll never do THAT again (whatever THAT may be) because the wound (the undesirable result of THAT) is fresh and now you're suff...

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using the 80/20 rule to set priorities when you have ADHD

Merle Kaplan

Sep 19, 2018
2 min

using the 80/20 rule to set priorities when you have ADHD

I've always been intrigued by the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who disc...

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Why adults with ADHD often struggle with codependency -- recognize it and break free

Merle Kaplan

Jul 26, 2018
2 min

Why adults with ADHD often struggle with codependency -- recognize it and break free

I've long felt there's a link between ADHD and codependency. Codependency can be defined as: "A dysfunctional set of behaviors and attit...

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