Best Buy Recycles

I'm a devoted Best Buy shopper and love hearing that they have included other customer services. Here's some good news to all of us that have anything electronic, including TVs, DVD players, cell phones, audio and video cables, computer monitors and more. No matter where you bought it, what brand, or how old it is, bring it to Best Buy for recycling. They will make sure it's properly and safely recycled. It's all part of their Greener Together™ program.

Most things are recycled absolutely free, with a few restrictions. Each state has their own restrictions, so look-up your states info before you visit a store. In Texas, you can bring three items per household per day to recycle. If you are recycling a computer, the hard drive must be removed before you recycle it. Best Buy charges a fee of $9.99 for the Geek Squad to remove your hard drive. Best Buy charges $10 to recycle televisions and monitors, but you receive a $10 Best Buy gift card good toward a future purchase. Check out their website for additional info: http://www.bestbuy.com

Warning Signs of Tech Overload

From a very interesting NY Times article, here are "The Seven Signs of Tech Overload:"
Sign 1- Do you always check your e-mail before doing other things?
Sign 2- Do you frequently find yourself anticipating the next time you'll be online?
Sign 3- When you're online and someone needs you, do you usually say "just a few more minutes" before stopping?
Sign 4- Have you ever lied about or tried to hide how long you've been online?
Sign 5- Have you ever chosen to spend time online rather than going out with others?
Sign 6- Does going online lift you from a depressed or nervous mood?
Sign 7- Do others in your life often complain about the amount of time you spend using technology?

This doesn't sound like me. Does this sound like you?

To read this article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?pagewanted=1

WatchMinder2 for ADHD Time Management

I have suggested using the WatchMinder2 (www.watchminder.com) to a number of my clients with ADD and have challenges from ABI's (Acquired Brain Injury) & TBI's (Traumatic Brain Injury) to name a few of their time management and life management issues. For more info on ABI's or TBI's check out: http://www.biatx.org. More to be written about ABI's & TBI's in future blogs.

One client in particular has a number of cognitive challenges from an illness that left her with short term memory loss. She wants to use the WatchMinder for herself before she buys additional ones for family members that have ADD. She is trying to figure out whether the WatchMinder would be more helpful on her wrist or hanging around her neck. Around the wrist might be uncomfortable for her. I look forward to finding out how this tool will work best for her and why. I'll be sure to add her input into this blog.

If you are currently using a helpful tool like the WatchMinder or any other device to help you with focus, attention, positive reinforcement or anything else, I'd appreciate it if you would share that info with me. Thanks.

iPad & Beyond

So, I didn't end up buying an iPad for my brother for his birthday. He would have gotten the iPad way after his birthday, which wouldn't have worked at all. But what I did find out was the usefulness of the iPad for one of my clients. This client has cognitive and memory issues. So, how does the iPad help her.

Well, she wanted to use the iPad like she used her iPhone, with the all important alarms that are built into the iPhone. She came to find out that the iPad didn't have alarms as part of the operating system. Instead, she had to find an app of an alarm, which didn't work for her. The app alarm wouldn't always work. So, she had to contact the programmer that designed the alarm to find out if the alarm could work independently, when the phone was on or off. This didn't work, so she now has to program the app to make sure it is on all the time. She is talking to the designer of the app to find out if there is a way that the app could work better for her needs. She is also contacting Apple to request that the alarm/timer app be included as a part of the operating system of the iPad, to make the alarm useability seamless.

Besides that, she loves the iPad for all the wonderful things that it can do for her. Have you had any experiences with the iPad that you would like to share. Thanks!!!

An iPad as a gift.

I've been a Mac user since the 80's, so I have been sold on Apple products for a very long time. As a rule, I'm not a person that purchases the latest tech product. I have to research it, review how it does in the marketplace, understand the advantages or disadvantages of a product. Essentially, I take my time before making such a purchase.

This is not the case with the iPad, since I'm purchasing one as a gift for a family member. Apple calls it "A magical & revolutionary product" & I can understand why after visiting the Apple Store. It's personal & business functions are exceptional. Very impressed by it's ease & comfort of use, especially the touch screen functionality. I'd recommend this product to high & low-tech users.

http://www.apple.com/ipad

WatchMinder2 for ADHD Time Management

I am always checking out different types of gadgets & this one looks like a winner. It is called the WatchMinder2. It is an easy way to help you to set and use alarms as a tool to work for you to track and manage your time.

Here is the information from their website: The WatchMinder2 is a programmable vibrating reminder watch that looks like a standard sports wristwatch - the watch vibrates and a reminder message discreetly appears!

• The WatchMinder2 was invented by a licensed Child Psychologist with over 30 years experience working with children, teens, and adults with ADD and AD/HD...

• The WatchMinder2 can be programmed to discreetly cue or remind yourself to do various things throughout the day...

• Preprogrammed messages include PAY ATTN, MEDS, BE POS, and RELAX or program your own unique messages. For more information go to http://www.watchminder.com.

Do just a little bit.

This afternoon, I received a call from a potential client that had physical and cognitive challenges from a brain injury. She said she was really overwhelmed with paperwork. She explained that she didn't think that she had the funds to afford my services, even after I offered to give her a reduced rate to assess her needs and get her started with some simple strategies.

I was driving when she called, so I pulled over and proceeded to have an in-depth conversation with her. I was able to ascertain that she was auto-paying many of her bills, which was really helping her manage some of her mail. But she still received a large amount of mail that was really causing her anxiety. She loved her catalogs, but she hated the management of all that paper.

I suggested that instead of looking at all of the piles of paperwork strewn around her apartment, how about if she just focused on a small area of the dining room table, just a 1' x 1' space. What if she just concentrated on attacking that small space, and processing the papers just in that area. She loved that idea. She said that it made her feel more in control of just that small doable space. She could work on that space and then have a feeling of accomplishment for taking care of one area at a time.

She had mentioned in our conversation that music helped her stay on task as she was working. So, I suggested that she put on her favorite music, which could help her to stay on task and motivated to complete the area she agreed to work on. I also asked her to email me after she accomplished her task and let me know how it went. What worked and what didn't.

A few hours later she emailed me that she was able to clear off an even larger area then we agreed upon. She was really elated and said that she was looking forward to working some more on the dining room table tomorrow. She would use the same technique of just doing a little bit at a time. Slow and steady won the race, just as the tortoise.