Faster Than Normal

Introduction

Imagine writing an entire book during a 30-hour flight to Tokyo. Sounds impossible, right? Well, that's exactly what Peter Shankman, the author of "Faster Than Normal," accomplished. Shankman has mastered the art of harnessing his ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) to achieve extraordinary feats. From creating and selling multiple businesses to completing Ironman Triathlons, Shankman has turned what many consider a disorder into his superpower.

In "Faster Than Normal," Shankman shares his journey and insights, offering hope and practical strategies for those with ADHD to unlock their potential. But this book isn't just for those diagnosed with ADHD. Anyone looking to boost their productivity and reduce distractions can benefit from Shankman's experiences and advice.

The ADHD Journey: From Curse to Blessing

Growing Up Different

Peter Shankman's childhood in 1980s New York City was marked by constant struggles. He often found himself in trouble for blurting out thoughts without thinking, leading to frequent visits to the principal's office and confrontations with peers. His behavior at home was equally perplexing - he'd forget to tidy his room for weeks, then suddenly clean the entire house and do all the family's laundry in a burst of energy.

This pattern of inconsistency followed Shankman into adulthood, particularly affecting his personal relationships. A string of failed romances left him feeling frustrated and confused about his inability to maintain stable connections.

The Turning Point

During a therapy session where Shankman was lamenting yet another failed relationship, his therapist literally threw a book at him. The book, "Delivered from Distraction" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey, hit Shankman in the gut - both physically and emotionally.

As he read the book's description of ADHD, Shankman felt a profound sense of recognition. For the first time, he understood why he experienced such extreme swings in focus, confidence, and behavior. Most importantly, the book presented a revolutionary idea: ADHD wasn't a curse, but a potential blessing.

ADHD as a Superpower

This realization became the foundation of Shankman's philosophy and the core message of "Faster Than Normal." ADHD, when properly understood and managed, can be a superpower that leads to an extraordinary life.

People with ADHD often possess traits that can be incredibly valuable:

1. Creativity
2. Eagerness
3. Spontaneity
4. Daring
5. Inventiveness
6. Compassion

Their brains operate at a higher speed, which can lead to remarkable achievements when channeled correctly.

Historical Context

Shankman points out that many of history's most renowned thinkers exhibited traits that today might be diagnosed as ADHD. Names like Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Louis Pasteur, Henry Ford, and Albert Einstein are among those who struggled with everyday tasks or school but went on to change the world with their unique perspectives and abilities.

Understanding ADHD

While our modern understanding of ADHD has only developed in the last 25 years or so, doctors have been observing and noting ADHD-like behaviors since the mid-1800s. These include wild swings in attention span and lack of verbal filter.

From a biological standpoint, people with ADHD typically don't produce enough of the chemicals that help with focus and happiness - dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline. This chemical imbalance contributes to the challenges faced by those with ADHD.

The Dark Side of ADHD

If left unchecked, ADHD can have serious negative consequences. People with ADHD may struggle with:

1. Forgetfulness
2. Distractibility
3. Unreliability
4. Difficulty relaxing or sleeping
5. Proneness to addiction, anxiety, and depression

That's why it's crucial to develop strategies to harness the power of ADHD while mitigating its potential downsides.

Harnessing ADHD: The Power of Rituals

Eliminating Choices

One of Shankman's key strategies for managing his ADHD is eliminating unnecessary choices. He shares an example from his professional life: when speaking at events in Las Vegas, his contract stipulates that he only speaks at lunch and stays in the city for a maximum of eight hours.

Why such specific conditions? Shankman knows himself well enough to recognize that having free time in Las Vegas could lead to problematic behavior. By eliminating the choice to stay longer, he avoids potential ADHD-related pitfalls.

While most people don't have global speaking engagements, this principle can be applied to daily life. Identifying and eliminating choices that lead to distraction or trigger negative ADHD symptoms can be a powerful tool for anyone looking to improve their focus and productivity.

The Importance of Rituals

Shankman emphasizes the difference between resolutions and rituals. Resolutions are often just words - like a flimsy shack built on air. Rituals, on the other hand, are built on action and routine, providing a solid foundation for lasting change.

To build effective rituals:

1. Start with the end in mind: Focus on the positive feeling you'll have after completing the ritual, not on the potentially challenging aspects of the ritual itself.
2. Build backward: Work from your goal back to the steps needed to achieve it.
3. Make it personal: Tailor your rituals to your specific needs and challenges.

Examples of Rituals

Shankman shares several examples of rituals he's developed to manage his ADHD:

1. Wardrobe simplification: He has two "uniforms" - one for office days and one for speaking engagements. This eliminates the distraction of choosing outfits and the potential for getting sidetracked in a messy closet.

2. Meal planning: He eats the same meals week after week and only eats between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This eliminates decision fatigue around food choices and late-night snacking.

3. Exercise routine: Regular physical activity helps regulate the body's production of dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline - the "focus and happy" chemicals that can help manage ADHD symptoms.

4. Sleep schedule: Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms and overall well-being.

Creating Your Own Rituals

While Shankman's specific rituals may not work for everyone, he provides some general guidelines for developing personalized rituals:

1. Exercise: Start with 20 minutes a day, six days a week of any activity that's "beyond normal" for you. Do this activity outdoors and in nature when possible.

2. Sleep: Try cutting out late-night television to gain extra sleep time.

3. Eating: Focus on vegetables and avoid foods that are heavily advertised on TV.

4. Tracking: Religiously track your exercise, sleep, and eating habits to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

The key is to create and maintain rituals that work for your specific ADHD symptoms and lifestyle. As you develop these habits, you'll likely find that your ability to harness your ADHD "superpower" improves, leading to increased productivity and overall life satisfaction.

Identifying and Avoiding Triggers

Just as rituals can help harness the power of ADHD, understanding and avoiding personal triggers is crucial for managing its potential downsides. Triggers are situations, places, or things that can lead to self-destructive behavior or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Shankman's Personal Triggers

1. Las Vegas: As mentioned earlier, Shankman knows that the environment of Las Vegas could trigger his addictive tendencies. Rather than testing his willpower, he simply avoids spending unnecessary time there.

2. Alcohol: After discovering drinking as an adult, Shankman realized his ADHD made him prone to excess. Now, he avoids alcohol altogether.

3. Being late: Tardiness causes stress for Shankman, distracting him from the task or event at hand. His solution is to live life "30 minutes early," reducing anxiety and allowing him to focus on what's important.

4. Lack of deadlines: Without clear deadlines, Shankman finds that his ADHD brain can easily get sidetracked by a thousand other things. He insists on hard deadlines for both professional and personal tasks to ensure completion.

Identifying Your Triggers

While Shankman's triggers may not be the same as yours, the process of identifying and managing them is universal. Here are some steps to help you recognize your own ADHD triggers:

1. Reflect on past experiences: Think about times when your ADHD symptoms were particularly challenging. What was happening in your environment?

2. Keep a journal: Record your daily activities and mood. Look for patterns that emerge when your symptoms are more pronounced.

3. Ask for feedback: Sometimes, others can see patterns in our behavior that we miss. Ask trusted friends or family members if they've noticed particular situations that seem to trigger your ADHD symptoms.

4. Pay attention to physical responses: Notice when you feel particularly anxious, unfocused, or impulsive. What's happening around you in those moments?

Strategies for Avoiding Triggers

Once you've identified your triggers, you can develop strategies to avoid or manage them:

1. Create boundaries: Like Shankman's Las Vegas rule, set clear boundaries around situations that trigger your ADHD symptoms.

2. Develop coping mechanisms: For unavoidable triggers, have a plan in place to manage your response. This might include deep breathing exercises, stepping away for a short break, or using a fidget tool to help maintain focus.

3. Communicate with others: Let the people in your life know about your triggers and the strategies you're using to manage them. This can help them support you and avoid inadvertently creating triggering situations.

4. Practice mindfulness: Being more aware of your thoughts and feelings in the moment can help you recognize when you're approaching a trigger and take proactive steps to manage it.

5. Adjust your environment: If certain aspects of your home or workspace consistently trigger ADHD symptoms, consider making changes to create a more supportive environment.

Remember, managing triggers is an ongoing process. As you become more aware of your ADHD and how it affects you, you may discover new triggers or find that old ones no longer have the same impact. Stay flexible and be willing to adjust your strategies as needed.

Tools for Success: Apps and Organization

In today's digital age, there are numerous tools and apps available that can help manage ADHD symptoms and increase productivity. Shankman shares some of his favorites and offers advice on how to use technology effectively without getting overwhelmed or distracted.

Digital Organization

One of Shankman's key pieces of advice is to keep all your apps on one screen. For people with ADHD, scrolling through multiple screens can be a minefield of distractions. Here are some tips for digital organization:

1. Use folders and groups to organize your apps on your home screen.
2. Regularly review and delete apps you don't use.
3. Turn off notifications for non-essential apps to reduce distractions.

Tracking Apps

Shankman is a strong advocate for tracking various aspects of daily life. He uses several apps for this purpose:

1. Withings: Tracks weight, sleep, blood pressure, and air quality.
2. Runkeeper: Monitors steps and exercise.
3. MyFitnessPal: Logs caloric intake and nutritional information.

Tracking is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD because it provides a sense of accomplishment and helps identify patterns in behavior and symptoms.

Productivity Tools

Shankman is a fan of Google Apps, particularly Google Calendar. The ability to access information from anywhere through the cloud is especially useful for ADHD brains that often want information immediately. Some benefits of using Google Apps include:

1. Syncing across devices for easy access to information.
2. Sharing calendars and documents for better collaboration.
3. Setting reminders and alerts to stay on top of tasks and appointments.

Physical Organization

The principle of keeping things organized and accessible applies to physical spaces as well. Shankman emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment:

1. Regularly declutter your home and workspace.

2. Create designated spaces for important items to reduce time spent searching.

3. Use visual organization systems like color-coding or labels to make finding things easier.

4. Implement a "one in, one out" rule to prevent accumulation of unnecessary items.

Choosing the Right Tools

While Shankman shares his preferred tools and apps, he emphasizes that what works for him may not work for everyone. When selecting tools to manage your ADHD:

1. Start small: Don't try to implement too many new systems at once.
2. Test different options: Try out various apps or organizational methods to see what feels most intuitive and helpful for you.
3. Be consistent: Give new tools a fair chance by using them consistently for a set period before deciding if they're effective.
4. Regularly reassess: As your needs change, be willing to adjust your tools and systems accordingly.

Remember, the goal is to find tools that enhance your productivity and help manage ADHD symptoms, not to add more complexity to your life.

The Power of Connection

One of the most inspiring aspects of Shankman's story is how a chance encounter with a book led to a meaningful connection. After reading "Delivered from Distraction" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey, Shankman took a leap and emailed Hallowell out of the blue. To his surprise, Hallowell responded, and they became friends. Hallowell even wrote the foreword to "Faster than Normal."

This experience highlights the potential benefits of reaching out and connecting with others, especially for those with ADHD. Some ways to foster connections include:

1. Joining ADHD support groups or online communities.
2. Attending conferences or workshops related to ADHD.
3. Sharing your experiences with friends and family to help them understand your challenges and strengths.
4. Seeking out mentors or role models who have successfully managed their ADHD.

Shankman encourages readers to reach out to him with questions, comments, or just to share their experiences. This open invitation underscores the importance of community and shared experiences in managing ADHD.

Embracing Your Unique Brain

Throughout "Faster Than Normal," Shankman emphasizes that ADHD, when properly understood and managed, can be a tremendous asset. By implementing rituals, avoiding triggers, using helpful tools, and fostering connections, people with ADHD can harness their unique brain wiring to achieve remarkable things.

Some key takeaways for embracing your ADHD brain include:

1. Recognize your strengths: ADHD often comes with gifts like creativity, enthusiasm, and the ability to hyperfocus on topics of interest.

2. Be patient with yourself: Managing ADHD is an ongoing process. There will be setbacks, but each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

3. Educate others: Help the people in your life understand ADHD and how it affects you. This can lead to more supportive relationships and environments.

4. Celebrate your successes: Take time to acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small they may seem.

5. Keep exploring: As you learn more about your ADHD, continue to try new strategies and tools to optimize your performance.

Final Thoughts

"Faster Than Normal" offers a refreshing and empowering perspective on ADHD. Rather than viewing it as a disorder to be overcome, Shankman presents ADHD as a unique way of experiencing and interacting with the world - one that, when properly channeled, can lead to extraordinary achievements.

The book serves as both a personal account of Shankman's journey with ADHD and a practical guide for others looking to harness their own "faster than normal" brains. By sharing his experiences, strategies, and insights, Shankman provides a roadmap for turning what many consider a liability into a powerful asset.

Whether you have ADHD or simply want to boost your productivity and focus, the principles outlined in "Faster Than Normal" offer valuable lessons. The emphasis on self-awareness, personalized strategies, and embracing one's unique traits can benefit anyone looking to optimize their performance and lead a more fulfilling life.

Ultimately, Shankman's message is one of hope and empowerment. ADHD doesn't have to be a limitation - with the right mindset and tools, it can be the key to unlocking your full potential. So embrace your faster-than-normal brain, create your rituals, avoid your triggers, find your tools, and connect with others. You might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.