For Small Business Saturday, you can find ways to shop small and support one of your local retailers who sells Time Timers! You can find your closest store using the list below, which is sorted by U.S. state. Know another store we should add? Email us at support@timetimer.com. Thanks for shopping small this holiday! 

CommericalCafe.com, a national commercial real estate blog, just listed Time Timer^® as one of the best ways to make your office disability friendly. You can read the entire article below and learn about other great ways to make your own office accessible to all.

This Thanksgiving, we’ve got tips to help you cultivate not only thankfulness but a true attitude of gratitude in your children, which we hope will benefit them all year long!

Six Tips to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

In November, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, which is a time to celebrate with family and friends and be grateful for blessings in their lives. At Time Timer, we want to help you make every moment count with tips for cultivating an attitude of gratitude you can use this Thanksgiving season and beyond.

Scientists have found that practicing gratitude has genuine health benefits, shifting the heart to a healthier rhythm. Focusing on positive thoughts can also rewire the brain and change body chemistry--shifting our neural wiring from a negative bias (on the lookout for threats) to a positive bias, reducing stress.

In order to help you embrace this positive outlook, we wanted to make it easy for you to get started. Here are six easy tips to begin your gratitude practice, in 5 minutes or less!

1. Begin the day thinking of what you are grateful for.

If it’s hard to get started, take the negative emotions you are feeling and shift them to positive thoughts. Are you stressed about making school lunches for kids? Shift to being thankful you have the resources to feed your kids, and that you have a healthy family. Do you have a long commute? Be grateful for the podcast you can listen to or the companionship of a carpool buddy.

2. Thank people throughout the day.

Thank the person who saves the elevator for you as you run in and the mail carrier who checks to see if you have anything outgoing. Thank the barista, even if they spell your name incorrectly.

3. Focus on one person to be grateful for each day.

Kim Ridley on beliefnet.com calls this “Seeing the giver behind the gift.” As you practice finding someone to be grateful for, include your friends and family but also think of everyday people you don’t even know who provide benefits to you, from the person who delivers your dry cleaning to the toll booth collector who lets you continue on your journey.

4. Avoid comparisons.

Comparing what you have to what your neighbor has can steal your joy. Don’t let it. When you find yourself feeling jealous of what someone else has, steer your thoughts back to what you do have, and be thankful.

5. Give back.

Volunteering is an excellent way to practice gratitude by reminding you of the blessings you have. If you’re strapped for time, you can still make time for a financial donation or even practicing simple random acts of kindness to the person behind you in the drive-through.

6. Keep a gratitude journal.

Write at least three things you are thankful for at the end of each day. This not only seals your new gratitude practice but also can help ease the tension you might feel about the following day. You’ve made it to the end of the day, and you can do it again tomorrow.

These tips are suggestions for your gratitude practice. Whatever you do, focus on consciously recognizing your blessings until it becomes an effortless practice.

Next week, we’ll take a look at tips for helping our kids practice gratitude.

While most kids face difficulties preparing for tests at one time or another, children with ADHD can face special challenges routinely. Thankfully, there are many ways you can help your child cope. Try these tips to help improve time management and sleep habits so your youngster can perform her best from Mark Connor, director of DriveSafely.Info, a resource for parents of children with ADHD.

Are you winning the homework battle? Is the distraction of Fortnite keeping YOU up at night, wondering how you can help your child finish their homework? These five steps culled from some of our favorite experts in the field of ADHD can help you keep homework on track.

October is ADHD Awareness Month. To help set the record straight on ADHD, we're sharing these 7 must-know facts from our friends at the ADHD Awareness Coalition.

1. ADHD is Real

Nearly every mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organization in the United States long ago concluded that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a real, brain-based medical disorder. These organizations also concluded that children and adults with ADHD benefit from appropriate treatment. ^{[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]}

2. ADHD is a Common, Non-Discriminatory Disorder

ADHD is a non-discriminatory disorder affecting people of every age, gender, IQ, religious and socio-economic background.

In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the percentage of children in the United States who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD is now 9.5%. ^[8] Boys are diagnosed two to three times as often as girls.

Among adults, the Harvard/NIMH National Comorbidity Survey Replication found 4.4% percent of adults, ages 18-44 in the United States, experience symptoms and some disability. ^[9]

ADHD, AD/HD, and ADD all refer to the same disorder. The only difference is that some people have hyperactivity and some people don’t.

3. Diagnosing ADHD is a Complex Process

In order for a diagnosis of ADHD to be considered, the person must exhibit a large number of symptoms, demonstrate significant problems with daily life in several major life areas (work, school, or friends), and have had the symptoms for a minimum of six months.

To complicate the diagnostic process, many of the symptoms look like extreme forms of normal behavior. Additionally, a number of other conditions resemble ADHD. Therefore, other possible causes of the symptoms must be taken into consideration before reaching a diagnosis of ADHD.

What makes ADHD different from other conditions is that the symptoms are excessive, pervasive, and persistent. That is, behaviors are more extreme, show up in multiple settings, and continue showing up throughout life.

No single test will confirm that a person has ADHD. Instead, diagnosticians rely on a variety of tools, the most important of which is information about the person and his or her behavior and environment. If the person meets all of the criteria for ADHD ^[10,11], he or she will be diagnosed with the disorder.

4. Other Mental Health Conditions Often Occur Along With ADHD

• Up to 30% of children and 25-40% of adults with ADHD have a co-existing anxiety disorder. ^[12]
• Experts claim that up to 70% of those with ADHD will be treated for depression at some point in their lives. ^[13]
• Sleep disorders affect people with ADHD two to three times as often as those without it. ^[14]

5. ADHD is Not Benign

ADHD is not benign.^[15] Particularly when the ADHD is undiagnosed and untreated, ADHD contributes to:

• Problems succeeding in school and successfully graduating. ^[16,17]
• Problems at work, lost productivity, and reduced earning power. ^{[18,19,20,21]}
• Problems with relationships. ^[22,23]
• More driving citations and accidents. ^{[24,25,26,27]}
• Problems with overeating and obesity. ^{[28,29,30,31]}
• Problems with the law. ^[32,33]

According to Dr. Joseph Biederman, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, ADHD may be one of the costliest medical conditions in the United States: “Evaluating, diagnosing and treating this condition may not only improve the quality of life, but may save billions of dollars every year.” ^[34]

6. ADHD is Nobody’s FAULT

ADHD is NOT caused by moral failure, poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers or schools, too much TV, food allergies, or excess sugar. Instead, research shows that ADHD is both highly genetic (with the majority of ADHD cases having a genetic component), and a brain-based disorder (with the symptoms of ADHD linked to many specific brain areas). ^[35]

The factors that appear to increase a child’s likelihood of having the disorder include gender, family history, prenatal risks, environmental toxins, and physical differences in the brain. ^[36]

7. ADHD Treatment is Multi-Faceted

Currently, available treatments focus on reducing the symptoms of ADHD and improving functioning. Treatments include medication, various types of psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, education or training, and educational support. Usually a person with ADHD receives a combination of treatments. ^[37,38]

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Back to the top

1. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, Chapter 3, Section 4: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec4.html
2. National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/
3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/
4. U.S Department of Education Research: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/adhd/
5. American Academy of Pediatrics Children’s Health Topics: ADHD. www.aap.org/healthtopics/adhd.cfm
6. Phelan, K. (2002). World of Distraction: Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/03/18/hlsa0318.htm
7. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: ADHD Resource Center. www.aacap.org/cs/ADHD.ResourceCenter

   Back to Fact 1

8. Akinbami, L.J., Liu, X., Pastor, P.N., Reuben, C.A. (2011). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Children Aged 5–17 Years in the United States, 1998–2009. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db70.htm
9. National Institute of Mental Health. (2006). Harvard Study Suggests Significant Prevalence of ADHD Symptoms Among Adults. www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/harvard-study-suggests-significant-prevalence-of-adhd-symptoms-among-adults.shtml

   Back Fact 2

10. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Diagnosis. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html
11. Searight, H.R., Burke, J.M., Rottnek, F. (2000). Adult ADHD: Evaluation and Treatment in Family Medicine. www.aafp.org/afp/20001101/2077.html

    Back to Fact 3

12. National Resource Center on ADHD. (2008). What We Know: AD/HD and Coexisting Conditions. www.help4adhd.org/documents/WWK5.pdf
13. National Resource Center on ADHD. (2008). What We Know: AD/HD and Coexisting Conditions: Depression. www.help4adhd.org/documents/WWK5c.pdf
14. National Resource Center on ADHD. (2008). What We Know: AD/HD, Sleep, and Sleep Disorders. www.help4adhd.org/documents/WWK5d.pdf

    Back to Fact 4

15. Barkley, R.A., et al. (2002). International Consensus Statement on ADHD. www.russellbarkley.org/images/Consensus 2002.pdf
16. Adler, L.A and Cohen, J. (2002). ADHD: Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. www.medscape.org/viewarticle/443113
17. Biederman, J., Faraone, S.V. (2006). The Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Employment and Household Income. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/536264
18. Adler, L.A and Cohen, J. (2002). ADHD: Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. www.medscape.org/viewarticle/443113
19. Kessler, R. C., Lane, M., Stang, P. E., Van Brunt, D. L. (2009). The Prevalence and Workplace Costs of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Large Manufacturing Firm. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18423074

    Back to Fact 5

20. Gjervan, B., Torgersen, T., Nordahl, J M., Rasmussen, K. (2011). Functional Impairment and Occupational Outcome in Adults with ADHD. jad.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/06/29/1087054711413074.abstract
21. Biederman, J., Faraone, S.V. (2006). The Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Employment and Household Income. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/536264
22. Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K., and Fischer, M. (2007). ADHD in Adults, What the Science Says. New York, NY: Gilford Press.
23. Biederman, J., et al (2006). Functional Impairments in Adults with Self-reports of Diagnosed ADHD: A Controlled Study of 1001 Adults in the Community. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16669717

    Back to Fact 5

24. Barkley, R.A., Guevremont, D.C., Anastopoulos, A.D., DuPaul, G.J. & Shelton, T.L. (1993). Driving—Related Risks and Outcomes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults: A 3- to 5-Year Follow-up Survey. pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/92/2/212.abstract
25. Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R., Kwasnik, D. (1996). Motor Vehicle Driving Competencies and Risks in Teens and Young Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/98/6/1089.abstract
26. Snyder, J. (2001). ADHD & Driving: A Guide For Parents of Teens with AD/HD. Whitefish, MO: Whitefish Consultants.
27. Murphy, K. (2006). Driving Risks in Adolescents and Young Adults with ADHD. preview.tinyurl.com/3nkpn7u
28. Dukarm, C.P. (2006). Pieces of a Puzzle: The Link Between Eating Disorders and ADD. Washington, DC: Advantage Books.
29. Waring, M.E., and LaPane, K.L. (2008). Overweight in Children and Adolescents in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results From a National Sample. pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/1/e1.full.pdf

    Back to Fact 5

30. Pagoto, S.L. et al. (2009). Association Between Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Obesity in the US Population. www.nature.com/oby/journal/v17/n3/full/oby2008587a.html
31. Dempsey, A., Dyhouse, J. and Schafer, J. (2011). The relationship between executive function, AD/HD, overeating, and obesity. wjn.sagepub.com/content/33/5/609.abstract
32. Quily, P. (2011). Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap. adultaddstrengths.com/2011/01/12/adhd-and-crime-ignore-now-jail-later-15-clinical-studies/
33. Biederman, J., et al (2006). Functional Impairments in Adults with Self-reports of Diagnosed ADHD: A Controlled Study of 1001 Adults in the Community. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16669717
34. Medical News Today. (2005). $77 billion in lost income is attributed to ADHD annually in USA. www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/24988.php

    Back to Fact 5

35. Barkley, R.A., et al. (2002). International Consensus Statement on ADHD. www.russellbarkley.org/images/Consensus 2002.pdf
36. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: ADHD Resource Center. www.aacap.org/cs/ADHD.ResourceCenter/adhd_faqs

    Back to Fact 6

37. National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/how-is-adhd-treated.shtml
38. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html

Jake Knapp, author of the bestselling book Sprint, just launched Make Time,  a new book about finding focus and energy in your daily life featuring Time Timer ® ! 

Make Time is not a list of hacks or tips. It’s about creating time for what matters by rethinking the defaults of constant busyness and distraction. Knapp shows you how to make small shifts in your environment to liberate yourself from constant business and distraction. 

September is self-improvement month according to, well, the Internet. When I tried to research the origins of the designation, I couldn’t find much. No matter the origin, September makes a lot of sense as a time to dedicate time to reflect on positive changes you want to make in your life.

Whether you teach, have a student in your household, are currently a student or none of the above, something about the back-to-school season signals a time for new routines. As the days begin to shorten and summer activities adjourn, everyone seems to get to work on something new.

Even if you haven’t seen a classroom since, well, the Internet, it’s time to take advantage of the spirit of September and sharpen your skills by thinking like a student--specifically a college student. (Don’t worry, there is no admissions test.)

My family recently traveled out west for 2.5 weeks, enjoying AAA baseball, science and natural history museums, national parks and historic landmarks. We also enjoyed forgetting a sentimental Curious George stuffie in the Mesa Verde National Park lodge (thanks for sending it back, Janice!), complaints about not wanting to look out the window at any more scenery and dodged a few forest fires.

But we did have a great time! And I thought I’d share five things that helped (or would have helped and will help next time) just in time for your Labor Day Weekend travels.