Hi ADHDers! Does anyone else have ridiculous ADHD hacks? Like the sort of hack that would make someone say '“you ain’t gotta do all that”! I have at least 10 of them! I know what you’re thinking, 10 is a lot. But I’m going to cut right to the chase, no fluff! Well, not that much.
I should have written this FIRST: THANK YOU for starting this newsletter!! I was diagnosed with severe ADHD very late in life, 47. I am 51, now, so I am super grateful to be learning anything you have to share.
I can relate to ALL of those. Currrently Gamification is the ONLY way I can get started on anything. Also I love a particular game at the moment and can't justify in game purchases so I have to EARN them by completing home chores or "advanced adulting" missions. Yesterday I paid a bill that was 8 months overdue, a bill that was due (bonus points for it not being late!) and set up a direct payment for a bill (that was threating to take me to court - an unfortunate normal form of ADHD mental tax). I also don't have a to do list (to depressing and a procrastination tool as I can spend HOURS just writing the list) - instead I have a Things To Remember List each month. When I get to the last week of the month I usual find I haven't done anything on that list, panic and do most of them! (We are currently in the last week of February so yesterday's productive day is entirely down to anxiety) I only write things down that I have actually done in my bujo.
I have some to add:
Certain emotions get me moving. Anger is the easiest. So I start an argument with myself...lol. I go over a task that needs doing, all the dumb excuses I gave for not starting, etc. My favourite argument is getting angry with myself like I am another person for not doing the job which usually culminates in my saying "Well, if your not going to do it then I will!"
I tend to get more done on busy days so sometimes I create artificially busy days.
Plan to invite someone over (I don't actually invite them!) as then I prepare for the visit. This is playing off my ADHD traits with my autistic traits. I sometimes need a body double but also hate other people observing or helping (interfering!). So I plan for someone to help me with a job as this pushes me to get the job done before they come to "help".
Here's the T 🫖 I recently purchased a thermos flask and my partner then bought me a giant thermos flask so my tea can stay toasty and it doesn't get cold when I inevitably go into focus mode... Means I have more tea and it lasts for hours... Win win in my book!
It’s late. I am currently suffering from the adderall shortage. It messes with my sleep pattern. So…yes I did a responsible workout, reorganized a bit in the basement…joined your Substack…and now I’m going to add one more tip you probably already know about? Pleasure bundling? I heard about it on NPR. Say you don’t want to necessarily have a meeting with someone…Make the meeting at one of your favorite restaurants. (Especially if they’re paying). But you don’t have to go that far, just pair whatever you don’t want to do together with something you DO.
Having trouble getting to the gym? Only listen to your favorite crime podcast when you workout. Believe me. You will be RACING to the gym.
And if you go at the buttcrack of dawn, sleep in your gym clothes…if you need an extra 5 minutes. My kid’s 16, now, but when she was 3, I could’ve used that one, big time.
I found ‘dateless’ date-books at Walgreens…for me, this is a total game changer! I must have a dozen failed attempts of an organized life, with only two pages and birthdays filled out in each one.
It might take me ten years to fill that bad boy out, but at least I’ll finally be able to account for my time.
I use the habit tracker in the app TickTick (the app Streaks also works well) to track all my habits and if I can keep my streak going I reward myself by giving myself money (£1 for every habit streak I keep going each week) to treat myself. I use Monzo banking’s pot system to help with this. It gamifies doing the habits (trying to keep my best streak going) and I get money rewards which go towards buying things I want (usually video or board games).
Love this list of yours! It truly is astonishing (frustrating) how many accommodations/hacks we need to function smoothly. But big high fives for acknowledging and sharing this - makes me feel infinitely less alone and shameful about it.
My biggest hack is similar yours - timers for everything!! Helps to both race the clock and snap me back into reality if I mentally wander from what I’m meant to be doing.
I should have written this FIRST: THANK YOU for starting this newsletter!! I was diagnosed with severe ADHD very late in life, 47. I am 51, now, so I am super grateful to be learning anything you have to share.
I can relate to ALL of those. Currrently Gamification is the ONLY way I can get started on anything. Also I love a particular game at the moment and can't justify in game purchases so I have to EARN them by completing home chores or "advanced adulting" missions. Yesterday I paid a bill that was 8 months overdue, a bill that was due (bonus points for it not being late!) and set up a direct payment for a bill (that was threating to take me to court - an unfortunate normal form of ADHD mental tax). I also don't have a to do list (to depressing and a procrastination tool as I can spend HOURS just writing the list) - instead I have a Things To Remember List each month. When I get to the last week of the month I usual find I haven't done anything on that list, panic and do most of them! (We are currently in the last week of February so yesterday's productive day is entirely down to anxiety) I only write things down that I have actually done in my bujo.
I have some to add:
Certain emotions get me moving. Anger is the easiest. So I start an argument with myself...lol. I go over a task that needs doing, all the dumb excuses I gave for not starting, etc. My favourite argument is getting angry with myself like I am another person for not doing the job which usually culminates in my saying "Well, if your not going to do it then I will!"
I tend to get more done on busy days so sometimes I create artificially busy days.
Plan to invite someone over (I don't actually invite them!) as then I prepare for the visit. This is playing off my ADHD traits with my autistic traits. I sometimes need a body double but also hate other people observing or helping (interfering!). So I plan for someone to help me with a job as this pushes me to get the job done before they come to "help".
Here's the T 🫖 I recently purchased a thermos flask and my partner then bought me a giant thermos flask so my tea can stay toasty and it doesn't get cold when I inevitably go into focus mode... Means I have more tea and it lasts for hours... Win win in my book!
It’s late. I am currently suffering from the adderall shortage. It messes with my sleep pattern. So…yes I did a responsible workout, reorganized a bit in the basement…joined your Substack…and now I’m going to add one more tip you probably already know about? Pleasure bundling? I heard about it on NPR. Say you don’t want to necessarily have a meeting with someone…Make the meeting at one of your favorite restaurants. (Especially if they’re paying). But you don’t have to go that far, just pair whatever you don’t want to do together with something you DO.
Having trouble getting to the gym? Only listen to your favorite crime podcast when you workout. Believe me. You will be RACING to the gym.
And if you go at the buttcrack of dawn, sleep in your gym clothes…if you need an extra 5 minutes. My kid’s 16, now, but when she was 3, I could’ve used that one, big time.
I found ‘dateless’ date-books at Walgreens…for me, this is a total game changer! I must have a dozen failed attempts of an organized life, with only two pages and birthdays filled out in each one.
It might take me ten years to fill that bad boy out, but at least I’ll finally be able to account for my time.
These are great! I use a bunch of these regularly.
These are awesome. I thought I was the only one who felt more productive with shoes on. Would love to add to this list!
I use the habit tracker in the app TickTick (the app Streaks also works well) to track all my habits and if I can keep my streak going I reward myself by giving myself money (£1 for every habit streak I keep going each week) to treat myself. I use Monzo banking’s pot system to help with this. It gamifies doing the habits (trying to keep my best streak going) and I get money rewards which go towards buying things I want (usually video or board games).
Love this list of yours! It truly is astonishing (frustrating) how many accommodations/hacks we need to function smoothly. But big high fives for acknowledging and sharing this - makes me feel infinitely less alone and shameful about it.
My biggest hack is similar yours - timers for everything!! Helps to both race the clock and snap me back into reality if I mentally wander from what I’m meant to be doing.
YES. Love this post so much.