Erica Severson

Recent Posts

Why the Chicago River Turns Green and What It Teaches About Protecting What Matters

Posted by Erica Severson on March 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Every March, before the parade kicks off and the crowds fill the streets, the Chicago River turns an unreal shade of green. It doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t last long. Crews from the Chicago Plumbers Union launch their boats at exactly 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, spraying a secret formula into the water until the whole stretch between Columbus Drive and Fairbanks Court glows bright as a clover. If you want to catch it, that’s your window. The color fades in hours, and by the next day, it’s mostly gone. So you show up on time or you miss it.

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Topics: Chicagoan, Chicagoan - Culture

Crack the ADHD Motivation Code: Shift From Bored to Focused in Under 24 Hours

Posted by Erica Severson on January 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM

You have a mind that doesn’t react to the usual carrots or sticks. You try to get started on something important, yet no matter how many deadlines or warnings you set, your brain shrugs them off. For most people, importance or possible consequences spark a sense of urgency. But for someone with ADHD, that spark may not ignite until the last possible second. Scientific research shows that, in adults, ADHD affects about 4.4% of the population in the United States (Kessler et al., 2006), and it’s linked with motivation systems that don’t run along the standard tracks. What sets ADHD apart is that your focus often lights up when something grabs your interest, or when an immediate crisis demands your attention.

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Topics: Mind Reboot, Mind Reboot - ADHD

Better Grades in 30 Days: How Cutting Screen Time Can Transform a Child’s Life

Posted by Erica Severson on January 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM

It can feel overwhelming when a child is slipping in school and teachers suggest quick solutions that do not quite sit right with you. Maybe it starts with a whisper about an attention problem or a note asking whether medication might help. As a parent, it is natural to question whether that step is necessary, especially if something in your gut says a big piece of the puzzle is being overlooked. When it comes to helping a kid learn, you know there are no easy fixes, but that does not mean there is no simple change worth trying first.

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Topics: Mind Reboot, Mind Reboot - Mental Health

Calm Your ADHD Emotions: Gain Better Control in 14 Days

Posted by Erica Severson on January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM

You have likely felt the weight of emotions that rush through you before you have a chance to slow down. Some say ADHD affects the way you focus and organize tasks, but few talk about what happens deep in your mind when strong feelings rise up. Researchers have found that a key part of your brain, known as the anterior cingulate cortex, shows less activity in adults with ADHD (Bush et al., 2005, Biological Psychiatry). This region often helps people handle social and emotional conflict. In those without ADHD, it lights up when they must choose how to behave under stress. In individuals with ADHD, that same spark may be dimmer. Because of that, you can feel surges of frustration, impatience, or anger that catch you off guard.

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Topics: Mind Reboot, Mind Reboot - ADHD

Cut Overwhelm by 25% in 4 Weeks: Simple ADHD Tools That Work

Posted by Erica Severson on January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM

It might feel confusing when your mind is juggling too many thoughts and daily tasks slip through the cracks. Living with ADHD, which stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, can lead to big challenges, and this isn’t just about getting distracted now and then. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 9.4% of children in the United States have received an ADHD diagnosis, and many carry these traits into adulthood. This condition isn’t made up; it’s recognized by experts worldwide and supported by decades of research. The core symptoms, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), include difficulty paying attention to routine chores, an urge to seek out new and exciting things, and sometimes feeling like the environment is pushing too much information at once.

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Topics: Mind Reboot, Mind Reboot - ADHD

No Gene for ADHD: Transform Sensitivity into Strength in 30 Days

Posted by Erica Severson on January 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM

You know what it feels like when those around you talk about ADHD as if it came stamped into your DNA. Many people think it is carved into your genes, as fixed as your eye color. Yet no single gene for ADHD has ever been found. Research, including work shared by the National Institute of Mental Health, points instead to a web of tiny genetic factors, each too subtle to stand alone as the cause. Over time, scientists have learned that ADHD comes from a mix of influences. One of the strongest is how you react to the world around you. This idea that your mind’s natural reactions shape your focus may feel odd at first, but it can help you see that your traits are not set in stone. They shift, bend, and grow based on what surrounds you.

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Topics: Mind Reboot, Mind Reboot - ADHD