Meeting a huge demand, Peg Dawson and Richard Guare (authors of the bestselling Smart but Scattered books focusing on kids and teens) now provide a state-of-the-art resource specifically geared to adults. Drs. Dawson and Guare offer expert guidance for boosting executive skills--the core brain-based abilities needed to get more done with less stress. Readers will be drawn in by realistic examples, self-quizzes, and science-based tools for strengthening time management, organization, emotional control, and more. And what you can't change, you can work around! The book is packed with simple yet effective strategies for maintaining focus, conquering clutter, staying on top of work demands, and taming the chaos of family life. Numerous worksheets and forms (which purchasers can download and print in a convenient 8½" x 11" size) help readers customize the strategies to fit their needs. Reviews: “Dawson and Guare, masters of executive skills, have provided a user-friendly, practical, and immensely valuable guide. This book is an instant classic.” —Edward Hallowell, MD, coauthor ofDelivered from Distraction “This isn’t just a good book, it's a great book! Chock full of highly useful recommendations and guided by science and practice, this book is rich with methods to help any adult overcome problems with time management, organization, self-control, and related skills.” —Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, author ofTaking Charge of Adult ADHD “This book addresses the exact issues I struggle with when I'm feeling scattered and not accomplishing my goals. It helped me evaluate my areas of weakness and gave me clear, simple suggestions to help me improve some of the frustrating challenges I've experienced my whole life. The authors' personal, accessible, supportive writing style kept me engaged and focused.” —Sue V., Rochester, NY “As someone who consistently struggles with time management and organization, I was so glad to come across this book. Between the step-by-step breakdown of issues and the real-life stories, I found it both helpful and entertaining. The interactive worksheets were really enlightening.” —Cheryl T., Parsippany, New Jersey “Wow, am I glad to have this in my toolbox! The authors deftly unfold a plan to lead with your strengths, manage your weaknesses, and improve the areas that matter most. It will help me work with clients to break down their major career moves into smaller, attainable goals. The Action Plan alone is a life changer.” —DeAnne Pearson, MEd, ACC, owner and career coach, Deliberate Careers, LLC “Drs. Dawson and Guare provide adults of all ages with practical, well-grounded advice for staying on top of today's busy lives. Each chapter combines just-right background material with ready-to-use tips and tools to put into practice immediately.” —Joel T. Nigg, PhD, Professor and Director, Division of Psychology and ADHD Program, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University “This is a terrific self-help book—one of the best I’ve seen—for helping individuals develop their executive skills. Chapters offer sound solutions and strategies, with lots of everyday examples. The authors have an impressive grasp of current brain science, and have translated it into language that is meaningful and easy to understand.” —Mary V. Solanto, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine Table of Contents: I. Understanding the Executive in Your Brain 1. Are You Smart, Scattered, and Stressed? 2. Your Executive Skills Profile 3. Managing Executive Skills by Modifying the Environment 4. Improving Your Executive Skills II. Understanding the Impact of Executive Skills in Your Daily Life 5. Executive Skills in the Workplace 6. Executive Skills in the Home 7. Executive Skills in Relationships III. Strategies for Individual Executive Skills 8. Controlling Impulses: Response Inhibition 9. Keeping Track of It All: Working Memory 10. Being Cool: Emotional Control 11. Avoiding Procrastination: Task Initiation 12. Staying Focused: Sustained Attention 13. Defining a Path: Planning/Prioritizing 14. Clearing Clutter: Organization 15. Sticking to the Schedule: Time Management 16. Shifting Gears: Flexibility 17. Learning from Experience: Metacognition 18. Reaching the Finish Line: Goal-Directed Persistence 19. Rolling with the Punches: Stress Tolerance IV. Looking Ahead 20. Aging without Losing Your Edge: A Prescription for Preserving Executive Skills Resources About the Authors: Peg Dawson, EdD, is a staff psychologist at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she works with children and adults. With Richard Guare, she is coauthor of the bestselling Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens. Richard Guare, PhD, is a neuropsychologist and Director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders. His research and publications focus on understanding and treatment of learning and attention difficulties and neurological disorders. |