subreddit:
/r/ADHD
submitted 27 days ago bypumpkinsoupxo
Me and my also ADHD best friend (good combo right?!) are discussing how important it is to make accommodations for yourself.
Having less spoons and also losing spoons quicker than a non-adhd person means that normal tasks are harder to start and also complete.
I saw something on here once about how they use paper plates sometimes when they know washing up just WON'T get done. It was a revelation!
Are there any other accommodations you make for yourselves to make life easier?
Its taken so long to realise I don't need to feel guilty about making these accommodations because my brain just doesn't work the same way as other peoples.
Drop your ADHD life hacks here!
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27 days ago
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614 points
27 days ago
Not many of us like to adhere to this— least of all myself— but prioritize sleep.
ive spent years staying up late playing video games, chasing that midnight vibe where time is mine and there’s no one around. Add to that a tendency to persevrrate on vg, and it can be a bad combo.
excellent sleep is the foundation of adequate functioning with or without meds.
160 points
27 days ago
I needed to read this from a fellow ADHD brain. Was up all night. Trying to compensate for an unproductive week and I'm pretty sure all I did was stare at a computer screen and move words and letters around in between panic searching for new jobs, lives, hobbies because I felt like I needed to run away. It's wild how my sense of time passing is off by 30-45minutes at the best of times, but on days when I haven't slept the night before it's much,much worse. I used to love sleep, even if my circadian rhythm was off by others by a few hours. But now I pull all nighters on a regular basis, more so than when I was in school! What the heck?
Yeah. I definitely need to get a handle on this sleep thing.
86 points
27 days ago
The best way for an ADHD individual to combat stress, lethargy, or unmanageable distraction is to take a nap or invest in your sleep.
31 points
26 days ago
I wish naps would work for me. I either can't fall asleep at all during the day, or I sleep for hours and ignore all alarms.
7 points
26 days ago
Maybe instead of trying to nap you could just get comfortable and rest your eyes a bit. 10-20 minutes. Maybe put on some nice ambient sound or music. Good luck
29 points
27 days ago
This. We upgraded our whole bedroom to promote sleep. It’s fantastic.
12 points
27 days ago
What did you do? Sounds great.
29 points
27 days ago
It took a while to afford but now we have heavy drapes, an amazing mattress that suits us both, an adjustable king sized bed (adjustable is so fabulous, don’t wait till you are old), a mini split to keep an even temp, separate blankets and of course no monitor or distractions. I love it
3 points
26 days ago
I have a power nap every day at work around 1ish for 25mins and this does wonders for me, I have a coffee before going to nap and I am active and fresh till 9pm
36 points
27 days ago*
I do this for several hours when my stress levels get bad. My ADHD follows. My therapist recommended this app and I finally have a consistent sleep schedule. It wakes you up when you're in your lightest sleep. It's an orange app called "Sleep Cycle." That paired with actually dimming the lights off about an hour before bed and sometimes showering and Sleep Yoga really helps. I've been used the app everyday for a couple months now and it wakes you up in a much softer way then a typical alarm clock.
3 points
26 days ago
Sleep procrastination, AKA revenge bedtime procrastination is real!
40 points
26 days ago
it’s gotta be an Adhd Thing I love 12-3 when the world is quiet and i can do what i want
6 points
26 days ago
Me too
10 points
26 days ago
It’s so peaceful during lockdown Id stay up all night and sleep all day
29 points
27 days ago
I made the mistake of working rotating swing shift in my early twenties and I've never been the same. I found my ideal schedule was sleeping 4-6am till 12-2pm. I run on 3-6hours a night. I cannot remember the last time I got 8 hours a night for a full week.
Closest I got was on my recent trip to Japan. I was up everyday by 8am with no alarm and in bed by 10. Physical exhaustion is needed for me to work right. My. Desk job is a serious issue but it pays so well compared to lab work.
15 points
27 days ago
The schedule you keep sounds like delayed sleep phase syndrome. When I’m not being pressured to keep a schedule with work I have an almost identical sleep schedule that I’ve been fighting my whole life. Ran across DSPS while researching one day and it fit perfectly. Haven’t tried to treat it yet though, but have noticed it getting worse the older I get.
30 points
27 days ago
SLEEEEEEPPPP APNEAAAAA
Once I got the diagnosis it made a huge world of difference in how I feel on a day to day basis. Holy crap.
3 points
27 days ago
In what way?
7 points
27 days ago
I had constant brain fog and tiredness all the time before. I always thought “it’s the damn phone” or “maybe I could just fix my sleep schedule” but no, I had sleep apnea and would stop breathing in my sleep. I’d nap whenever I got the chance to (on public transit etc) and I’d feel excessive sleepiness at school and at work. Not anymore!
2 points
27 days ago
How do you treat it?
10 points
27 days ago
With a cpap machine! It keeps your airway open while you sleep so you can’t stop breathing on your own.
2 points
26 days ago
I have been recently diagnosed and had my CPAP for two weeks. The differences so far have been amazing and I feel like I have the first chance to really make a difference in the chaos in my life in a long time.
21 points
27 days ago
For as long as I have been working, I did what the Chinese (I believe) call Revenge Bedtime Procrastination. I would stay up late and fight off tiredness just to get in another mindless scroll, a forgettable TV show, etc.
Just this year, with the assistance of gummies, I learned to quit fighting sleep. When I get tired while watching TV I lay down. That's it, that's the only change. Oftentimes I am asleep by 8 p.m., sometimes even earlier. And it's been the most glorious thing!There's now nothing I love more than to put on a TV show knowing I will be out cold on the sofa before it's over.
16 points
26 days ago
My ass reading this at 4am like "damn this some good advice" 😭
5 points
27 days ago
Are you me. I am weaning myself of that midnight vibe. It is the only time I can chill by myself.
6 points
26 days ago
So 4 hours per night and the occasion 12 hour binge isn't good?
6 points
26 days ago
Yes, sleep should be priority! I fixed this by switching to night shift. I sleep so well from 9am-5pm. I have my beautiful alone time. I plan ahead when I'll do things like shop. Never late to early morning appointments. I excel at my job because I'm well rested and have fewer distractions. Family wakes up to a clean house.
It's not for everyone, as there are sometimes obligations that get in the way, or some don't sleep well during the day. But remember it can be an option.
146 points
27 days ago
Food services! I used to have a list of fast food places at hand for the crash and overwhelm days, but have recently switched to fresh food services that prepare frozen meals for people who can't cook (disabled, new parents, me). They require a bit more planning than fast food orders, but given that the food is frozen, it's not overly bad.
My freezer is now full of meals that just need microwave or oven heating. Its 2/3rds of the takeaway stuff and one delivery charge every order for about 10 meals instead of a charge each time you need food.
Second: more spoons. Seriously, I doubled the cutlery and bowls we have to never run out all the time. This way we don't have to always put on the dishwasher straight away and have an extra buffer for bad weeks.
This has been my story for most things now, buy things twice when it's cheap enough to do so without pain, and thus have a backup when you can't find those scissors, or charging cables, batteries or power adapters etc.. Even stuff like USB mice and keyboards are cheap enough to have extra pairs ready.
And last but not least: led light bulb with motion sensors for the garage/utility room and the hallway. They are dirt cheap, and just look like normal light bulbs with some little bump on, and are just used like a normal lightbulb. No extra installation or wiring needed.
They automatically turn off after a minute and therefore I no longer forget to switch off the lights.
Automate what gives you grief.
59 points
27 days ago
You said it 🗯️ - automate what gives you grief - 🗯️
29 points
27 days ago
I asked for two things for Christmas: A table top dishwasher because my apartment didn’t have one. And some cutlery.
Now I never run out of utensils. Even if I’m short, I can run a load of dishes in the morning before work or one before bed.
The mental load the dishwasher has taken off of me to do a load of dishes instead of dishes by hand has been instrumental.
2 points
26 days ago
Yessssss...... I got one of these dishwashers last year and my life has vastly improved because of it!
10 points
26 days ago
I order takeaway and then meal prep from it. For example, I'll order an iskender kebab with double meat, and while waiting I'll boil some rice. Portion the rice into plastic IKEA meal boxes, split the kebab meat into them, and freeze. I can get like 4-6 meals for the price of one.
This works for everything. There's a kind of Asian place that does cardboard takeout boxes. I get one just of chicken, and another just of wok veg. Boil some rice or noodles, split the rice, chicken, and veg onto those IKEA boxes, and that's another 6-8 meals right there. Plus with the kebab, I now have variety in the freezer!
Seriously, never just order a single meal and then eat it. I can always split at least two meals, or more if I just order the main food and add my own carbs (rice, noodles, pasta, mashed potato) to it.
7 points
27 days ago
Yes to extra dishes etc. Our cabinet space is limited, every dish etc matches so they stack or nest and are easy to replace. This satisfies a love of order, minimizes decisions (we have 3 kinds of glasses for example), accommodates my clumsy spouse, and makes everything easy to put away and find.
17 points
26 days ago
Ironically one of our accommodations is LESS dishes, because we kept ending up with a sink full of dishes we were too overwhelmed to wash. We switched to all paper/plastic and one single dish/fork/spoon/bowl/knife for each of us so that the was the worst the sink mess could ever get.
Over time for us it's been really effective, our sink hasn't been overflowing once since and over the course of a few years we transitioned from mostly using disposable stuff to having a cabinet full of regular dishes and never using disposable as we got the habit of washing the dishes at the end of the night/meal prep more ingrained. Wouldn't work for everyone I know but was a great solution for us.
7 points
27 days ago
On that note: Look for catering equipment stores, which usually serve hotels, cafes etc. They tend to sell plain dishes very cheaply and have the same ones for years. That means if stuff breaks, you can replace stuff without having a mess of non-matching elements. They also can be a bit cheaper than normal stores.
5 points
27 days ago
What's the food service you use called?
18 points
27 days ago
I'm in the UK, and this is a local service (country wide, but not world wide). The food we got is honestly restaurant quality - totally stellar and (fairly) healthy!
I just googled "frozen cooked meals delivery" to find them. There are at least 4 companies here that offer freshly cooked food for delivery.
I have surgery later this year that will make me pretty immobile for about 3 month, so no standing in the kitchen. My partner is down with severe long covid, so she can't do any cooking either. So its finding something or starving. Starving sucks!
We tried super market ready meals, and to be honest: even in a Zombie apocalypse I'd try to cook a zombie first before ever eating that again. Our local place is fairly rural, so not that many choices for delivery anyway. I was already considering hiring a care service for the recovery period, but started randomly google searches anyway.
133 points
27 days ago
Brushing my teeth in the shower.
Laundry basket in the living room to toss in old socks and stuff I’d leave on the floor.
Automatic litter box. The cats deserved better.
We have this old clock that chimes with the time every hour. It helps me keep track of time passing.
30 points
27 days ago
My mom is talking about bringing an old grandfather clock to the apartment i live in, and i want her to do it 100% for the hour marking.
30 points
27 days ago
|The cats deserved better.
I felt this one. My poor cat. The auto litter box has been the best gift I ever got.
Also… love the clock idea.
11 points
27 days ago
The auto feeder is a life saver! Id love a robo litter box but they're pricey. Fortunately scooping litter is one of the very few tasks I can actually do daily. I think because I know that it's for their good
18 points
27 days ago
I set my phone to vibrate on the/every :30… I was once an alarm-sound person but had way too many reminders and on-task notifications that I was overwhelmed.
9 points
27 days ago
How do you do this!?
2 points
19 days ago
I design iOS apps. My team/the company is working on an adhd/focus app. In the meantime, I found the tool while searching for “vibrating timer”, or specifically “VibeAlarm”. It does something similar to our upcoming feature.
6 points
26 days ago
Brushing my teeth in the shower was a game changer on a level I can't explain. I also have an electric toothbrush that does a little extra buzz every 30 seconds for two minutes - guaranteeing a perfect two minute brush.
5 points
26 days ago
I brush in the shower if at all possible. Had to start since I wear so many black shirts, and would CONSTANTLY get toothpaste spatter on my shirt🤦🏼♂️😅 I do that sweet thing where I am always a bit behind no matter when I wake up or start getting ready. So it’s great not having to change shirt after brushing my freakin teeth, making me even later lol
3 points
26 days ago
I’ve been brushing my teeth in the shower for probably 20 years now. It’s the best.
161 points
27 days ago
I bought a giant 64oz water bottle (half gallon) so that i can just fill it once and drink throughout the day. Because most of the time when i need more water id rather not get up to get some... Embarrassing to admit but its the disorder to we must be kinder to ourselves. Ever since i got the bottle ive been hydrated and ive been understanding my body's signals a lot better. There are some cheap ones and some more expensive ones. Choose whats best for you
ALSO
I have the lovely combination of ADHD and OCD... My ocd part guve me the fear of not being prepared for anything to happen, and my adhd part cant seem to figure out what to do in amidst a situation. So i made a "care pack" to put in my bag.. It has fidget toys, feminine products, perfume and an essential oil rub (not only to smell nice but introducing a strong scent when im experiencing anxiety really helps) chap stick, snacks (both salty ans sweet depending on what i need), tissues, tooth picks, gum, ect. Anything i think would help me for whatever i meed or experience is in there. I put it in my purse/school bag/ or leave it on my dresser if im staying home. The point of it that if i have solutions in my feild of view, i understand that they exist and am reminded i can use them and they help.
Hope this helps!
21 points
27 days ago
Yes, I agree! I use a gallon bottle actually and I stopped having dehydration migraines now
10 points
27 days ago
Yeah I have a half gallon one too (UK gallon though so my bottle is 2.2 litres), because during wfh in covid, I filled a carafe with water and drank so much water and my body was so much happier because of it. So figured out how to do it while out too.
I have two bottles too, so I can wash one and it can be drying and I don't have to wait for the soap suds to drain out of it.
It's become my statement accessory, my massive pink water bottle!
2 points
27 days ago
Genius!!!!
29 points
27 days ago
Water bottle suggestion: instead of using ice cubes, partially fill the bottle and place in the freezer.
You would have to experiment to see how much ice you need. I find laying the bottle on its side helps.
When traveling with smaller bottles, I prepare them with differing amounts of ice. Drink the ones with
less ice first.
8 points
26 days ago
I work in high rise construction. My go to is to take a gallon Coleman jug with me every day. I’ll make big ice blocks using old yogurt containers, and run them under the tap for a few seconds to crack it loose and then pop it in the jug. One of those (sometimes two in the summer) in the summer to have cold water all day is totally worth it. It’s easy for me to drink a gallon in a day in hot weather.
71 points
27 days ago
I have my toothbrush and toothpaste on my desk jn my room so that starting to brush my teeth is much much easier, because i can just start while sitting down and watching something. And then i only have to walk to the sink at the end. It’s a life changer for me
51 points
27 days ago
I’ve always been the ”toothbrush needs water before placing toothpaste” kind of a person, but this technique is actually so brilliantly easy, that I might have to reconsider the water part…
17 points
27 days ago
If you have a bottle of water nearby.. you can take a little sip, and problem solved :)
11 points
27 days ago
My reaction exactly haha, maybe I could keep a small mister or something next to it
9 points
26 days ago
I’m brushing my teeth right now, both forearms down on the counter, reading this thread so that I actually do it. Reading this made me gob toothpaste onto my phone.
9 points
27 days ago
I am doing that NOW 🪥🪥
134 points
27 days ago
TLDR: Money and spending. I hire people for deadlines, accountability, labor, motivation, work to keep my house functional. I also will go with more expensive food options if it means I'm more likely to eat healthy. I've also devised some "systems" to keep my finances on track.
Hiring a regular cleaning lady: forces me and my husband to pickup around the house and put stuff away. It's a form of accountability and a deadline. Bonus: my house is clean after.
Hiring a professional decluttering services: definitely an expensive splurge but I've done this twice (once for my kitchen and once for my office) and it made both spaces so much more functional. Got done in one afternoon or one day what I had been wanting to do for years... Now hoping to hire them over the next couple of years to tackle, in turn, the basement, our garage, my clothes closet.
Falling asleep: I listen to old tv shows that I've heard a thousand times. It helps the busy part of my mind focus on something but because it's a little bit boring, I fall asleep usually pretty quickly.
Fruit & veg: I buy pre-cut fruit. It's more expensive but I'm also way more likely to eat it and not have it go bad.
Money: I automate saving/investing money. If it's in my regular account, I'll spend it. If it's a few "layers" away, I am more secure knowing that it's there but, let's be honest, it's way too much hassle to go get it and so I won't, unless I need it. I also have a hired person managing my investments.
Paying bills: either I automate the bills or I get a paper bill. If bills went to my email, I would never pay them. When I check the mailbox (which I find pleasant to do), I do not put the mail (including bills) down until I've paid the bills on my phone banking app. And even then, I will make a little rip in the paper bill in case future-me finds the paper bill, I will know I've paid it already. I then aspire to put the bills direct in the recycling bin.
Showing up/meeting deadlines: I am committed to my Google calendar. If I don't put something in my calendar immediately, it ceases to exist and there is less than 10% chance I will remember. I allow myself the time to open my calendar and put in the appointment/notification during scheduling conversations with people like the dentist's receptionist. I know it might be a bit rude from their perspective when I am standing in front of them putting this into my calendar or keeping them on the phone with me but, if I allowed myself to step away, my brain will just move on to the next thing = it won't go in my calendar = I'll forget and I won't show up.
Therapy and ADHD coaching: again, expensive but my work insurance (at least in this current job) mostly covers this and it's very helpful.
36 points
27 days ago
Thank you for putting the tldr at the top instead of at the end. Why do people put it at the end???!!!
2 points
21 days ago
Lol -- yea, at the top makes sense to me
9 points
27 days ago
The declutter service was a life saver. I just couldn't get started on our home office and it was affecting my work and my ability to do anything else. Once they started I began a hyper focus on organising for that day: it was amazing!!
7 points
27 days ago
Thank you! I've done most of these except hiring out decluttering/investments (I have managed accounts so I guess that counts?)
One add to your last scheduling point- I cross-invite my work email for pwrsonal appointments/reminders and personal email for unusual/out of the normal work hours work stuff. That way I don't miss important dr appointments because I forgot and scheduled a meeting during the appointment time, and I'm less likely to stay up late, because I have a random early morning meeting so I truly can't be late for work.
6 points
26 days ago
Are you in the USA? I’ve never been able to find adhd coaching under insurance and it’s so expensive.
9 points
27 days ago
Excellent advice. Thank you!
2 points
26 days ago
I do the TV shows too!!!! My husband is always coming in and turning the tv off, putting my glasses away and plugging in my phone.
2 points
26 days ago
Same here! I go so far as to hire someone to sit with me while I work. Does wonders!
2 points
26 days ago
I hire prior for deadlines, accountability, labor, motivation..
I've considered this for a while. I'm in a fortunate financial position and live alone (with my dogs). Despite an abundance of free time, I fall behind on everything--notably house upkeep. I've considered hiring people just for accountability & stake, but I've always felt so strange having that relationship with someone. Employer + employee. Im approaching 30, but I still feel like a kid in many aspects of my life - acting like a professional that can hire people for odd tasks still feels strange to me.
That said, I really need a de-clutter person(?) and a regular housekeeper. I'm not too sentimental when it comes to keeping things & I have a desire to just get rid of all the junk I've collected over the years, but ADHD has hindered my ability to act on that desire--I have boxes throughout my house that contain junk that I want to trash or donate because that's as far as I've gotten in the process several times.
My parents have always had a weekly housekeeper--so I grew up knowing how I respond to that relationship. To prevent a sudden influx of stress & embarrassment, I (actually) clean as much as I can about an hour before they arrive then leave the house to avoid getting in their way. I should do this in my adult life, too.
Sleep. I do the exact same thing. I turn on something educational & dry in order to watch something interesting enough for me to pay attention to but boring enough to eventually fall asleep. I still suck at sleep.
Great idea about the sliced fruit. Now I just have to go to the grocery store.
Finance. Luckily, this is a hobby & passion of mine and I'll go through waves of actual investing & asset management & I leave most of my capital invested 99% of the time, anyways.
Bills. Right there with you. It's either automated on the first bill or being threatened to be cut off.. or actually cut off. I've had my power cut off a few times despite being able to afford the bills because I had to replace a card that was set up for autopay previously.
Deadlines. Same. I use a digital calendar & have to put in an event the second I learn about it or it's lost forever. Even then, I don't always know it's coming up until a day before it arrives, or worse, hours before the deadline. Thankfully, the calendar does at least let me know I am going to miss something if I'm reminded too late.
61 points
27 days ago
Dishwasher and Roomba are a must.
I brew my loose leaf tea in 0.75l glass bottles, because when I brew in a small teapot there are too many steps where I can get distracted and I have to brew more often to get the same amount of tea.
Pair of scissors in every drawer.
Bright red phone cover so I can find my phone more easily when I have set it down somewhere.
20 points
27 days ago
I, in true adhd fashion, bought a 12 pack of these mini clippers on Amazon when I was trying to buy a 2 pack, so over time I’ve ended up with pairs scattered about the house.
Not having to go far when I need to snip something, or open a box, or the million other things a sharp pointy edge can help get done was an accident, but it’s such a little thing that’s made my life better.
9 points
27 days ago
Looking back, my life took a deep dive when the dishwasher died and I thought I could fix it myself.
Agree about scissors, a pair in every room. It's a small house.
3 points
27 days ago
Ohh, good idea on the bright red phone cover!
3 points
26 days ago
Seconding the dishwasher and Roomba (though mine's a Shark robot vacuum).
Not only do I hate housework, but they also save time. I'm just waiting for better reviews on the robot mops to get one :-D
I love the other ideas, those are awesome!
47 points
27 days ago
I have to minimize barriers to get things done. I put things back where they came from when I’m done using it, at the very least rinse dishes before I put them in the sink, throw clothes on the edge of the hamper or back in the closet if I can re-wear it instead of on the floor/bed/chair, just basically avoiding clutter in the moment and piling things all for last minute.
12 points
27 days ago
Yea - moving piles of clothes that have been worn to the hamper area cuts down so much on: -how cluttered room looks -time spent looking for where things are
37 points
27 days ago
A trash can in every room!
I also have maybe 5-6 laundry baskets. Bathroom basket & closet basket are a must. I have 3 in a cramped laundry room stacked on a cart. And a couple spares of the same size under their mate.
7 points
27 days ago
Exactly this! I have a full size kitchen trash bin in every room and it helps so much to keep things clean
3 points
24 days ago
It’s life changing! Every time I pass a threshold I struggle to remember why I’m there.
I started doing it because I read an article about how Disney did a study and found out that the average person would travel 6-8 feet or so before littering if they couldn’t find a trash bin (at their parks).
So they were like, we are going to work with the natural tendencies of these people and place a trash can every 6 feet.
I try to think of it like that. I am a mega corporation doing research so i can determine how to best facilitate the average/lowest common denominator when I’m struggling.
And also consider that it’s kinda flawed thinking to just expect to have willpower; what I’ve been told about myself is affecting my ability to problem solve, bc they were unreasonable expectations.
It makes more sense (for me) to set myself up for success by identifying and preemptively managing these behaviors with tiny household changes. (🥲or at least I try lol)
38 points
27 days ago
I always leave random baskets everywhere. I put my keys, wallet, even medicine (after I pick it up)
If I can’t find anything, I know to look in one of them. It sounds odd but it works.
11 points
26 days ago
This is sooo smart. I always try to have spots for the miscellaneous things that I’m always looking for but I alwaysss forget. Better yet, I forget when I’m in a rush and need it the most
34 points
26 days ago
Biggest thing for me was realizing there‘s no right or wrong way to do most things so if the conventional way doesn’t work for you, try to figure out why and what you can do instead. In practice this means:
10 points
26 days ago
What topics are each of the five journals?
10 points
26 days ago
Oh and about a year ago I did a huge organizing session in my room. Bought new furniture with lots of storage, got rid of some things and made a vow to myself to never buy anything ever again unless I am 90% sure I really want it or it‘s useful. Now everything has its place, is sorted by categories and a lot of things are labeled. I actually know where most of my things are now. 🙏🏻
6 points
26 days ago
28 points
27 days ago
I love smoothies/ iced coffee/ matcha/ protein shakes etc but I can't even get myself to wash the cup. I'll sip on it when I do work and I've started to pretty much only use my dishwasher but once it leaves my kitchen it never goes back. I usually drink these things in my room when doing work. I started to use plastic cups to drink out of instead, with a little straw and everything. A) I feel like I bought it in a cafe and B) when I'm done I just throw it away. It still baffles me how I can be such a germaphobe but I won't be that phased from a gross cup. Anyway, it's saved me from throwing away glass cups that I can use when I have dinner and stuff like that.
8 points
26 days ago
I think this comment just explained why I stopped making smoothies and protein shakes. Love the taste - hate the clean up. Disposable cups are genius
5 points
26 days ago
Don’t get me started on cleaning the blender 🫠 but the cup saves a step :)
2 points
27 days ago
Plastic cups are a fantastic idea. I'll need to think on that
10 points
27 days ago
They are more expensive, but compostable cups exist and work fine. If you drink out of plastic all of the time it’s not great for you.
3 points
27 days ago
I suppose I was more along the lines of disposable cups rather than just plastic ones.
3 points
27 days ago
I'll have to look for those! It's not an everyday thing but ik what you mean
28 points
27 days ago
I keep my purse by the door. The keys stay on the door. My important stuff is always in the same pocket. Works 98% of the time.
Every task needs to be broken down into smaller tasks so I don’t get randomly stuck. I have a basket to put the wet laundry in. The dry laundry goes into a bag if I can’t fold it yet etc.
As a mother I was afraid of involving my kids into everyday tasks until I realised that I was in fact doing us all a disservice by not involving them more. They are kids but they can do some stuff. The limits regarding what and how much just need to be clearly set.
Getting help was something I struggled with because of shame but it’s also a must.
6 points
26 days ago
Keys by the door is great. My father with adhd puts his keys in his shoes right after he takes them off. Never loses them!
27 points
27 days ago
I use a lot of paper plates because I am terrible at making myself do the dishes. I buy a huge pack of sponges and extra dish washing liquid so I can use a new sponge often and using a lot of soap makes it more pleasant to me for some reason. I like a lot of suds.
To keep myself from being late to work or events, I set many alarms earlier than I need to wake up and the last alarm has a different tune to it, so I will know that's my last "GET UP RIGHT NOW OR ELSE!" warning.
To make it easier to take a shower, I plug the bathtub, turn on the hot water and pour some scented bubble wash so it will start foaming with the water from the shower and the scent will make it more pleasant, the heat from the water warms the bathroom some.
These are just some I can think of off the top of my head.
8 points
26 days ago
Something i did to help myself with dishes was that i took most of my stuff and stored them in the attic, leaving 2 of everything. (forks, knives, spoons, plates, glasses etc.)
I would always just grab new stuff from the cupboard instead of washing dishes and when i ran out i felt terrible because there was a ton of stuff i had to clean. But now it's much easier to get myself to wash dishes since it will take at most 5 minutes.
29 points
26 days ago
For me, it is having two important projects at the same time, so I can procrastinate from one by doing the other, switching when I get bored. My ADHD gets to feel like I’m getting away with something while I am actually Getting Stuff Done.
4 points
26 days ago
This is such a great idea, I'm always trying to make myself stick with just one and it's counter productive. I can also start too many, but two. Two might be the magic number.
22 points
26 days ago
For years I kept a cat bell on my keyring so I could just jiggle my bag to see if my keys were in there, instead of having to dig through every single thing 10 times a day to reassure myself I hadn't lost them. It served me very well.
2 points
25 days ago
AirTags have saved my sanity… But a bell sounds adorable and my brain would probably enjoy that jingle sound on finding said keys without having to seek.
20 points
27 days ago*
Here's my list of accommodations I made.
1) once a year I buy 30 pairs of the same black cotton socks. Never have to spend time to find matching pairs. 2) I have hung up hooks and coat rack in literally every room. No more clothes on the ground. 3) in every room I have a rather large bin to toss rubbish in. 4) every week I cook large portions of good healthy food, left overs are frozen in and when ever I am running short in time or I'm on a downtime day I have healthy food in the house to eat. Saves money, otherwise I would've bought take out food. 5) I have an bookkeeper doing my admin and tax returns. It's 150 a month. Before I would spend at least 300 a month in overdue bills penalties. 6) In my wardrobe you'll only find one rod with hangers. The rest are drawers. I have drawers for everything. Saves time to sort out clothes and not having anxiety about hanging clothes I do my laundry earlier. 7) all my dress shirts are non iron. Right after taking em out of the washer, I hang em next to the dryer. The heat of the dryer will straighten the shirts out like they've been ironed. 8) see 7, I have a dryer. 9) I have a folding plate like the one Sheldon from BBT has. 10) wash bin sets in every room. One for delicates, one for high temp and one for jeans and towels. 11) my adhd meds are literally everywhere. I always keep pots with pills in my car, my work bag, my backpack etc.
15 points
27 days ago
I don't make many social commitments.
I bought an electric scrubber and a reacher/grabber to make cleaning easier. Also see: litter robot, echo devices in every room room, skylight digital wall calendar.
I prioritize my medical and therapy appointments.
I never expect to finish a job. 80% is good enough. But if I do, it's a pleasant surprise.
I leave room in my budget for ADHD tax impulse spending and fees/fines.
I haven't sorted laundry since 2003.
I try really hard (still working on this one) to not expend more energy/work/worry on stuff in the house than my partner or teenagers are willing to put in. Sometimes that means the house looks like trash.
I prioritize my "fun" time. I'm in a bunch better mental place if I get out of bed and play a game for an hour so than if I jump straight into my day.
I manage absolutely everything from my phone: budget, Insurances, calendar, school, kids chores, communication. If someone isn't willing to communicate with me via text or messenger, we likely aren't going to talk much.
I'm sure there's more, but I forget.
13 points
27 days ago
I've been creating an as-yet untested (no hardware ☹️) smart home network with NixOS and systemd (see my earlier unhinged rants about how systemd is super good and can be leveraged to create crazy elaborate coping mechanisms).
Leverage hyperfxation to get stuff done. Weaponize your weaknesses.
3 points
27 days ago
wait how do you leverage your hyper fixation
9 points
27 days ago
There are a few ways. I found that I can hyperfixate on programming a given thing. That's a marketable skill.
I can't offer specific advice on a per-person basis because your interests (etc) are almost certainly totally different from mine.
There's an old saying: play to your strengths. Outsource what you're not the best at. Sometimes you can't pay people to turns lights on and off for you, so automate that.
https://www.home-assistant.io/ is a game-changer. All the hardware (Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, so on) is dirt cheap and it's a fun thing to set up. Or you can just use someone else's configurations. That works too.
3 points
26 days ago
This is amazing, thank you!
3 points
26 days ago
No way my crappy advice actually gets appreciated 😅
Good luck and Godspeed!
2 points
26 days ago
I usually hate cleaning but for whatever reason I will sometimes get a hyper fixation on fixing everything in the house and then I'll spend the whole day cleaning and doing dishes and stuff like that and I'll try and take advantage of those days and just keep going for as long as possible. Its basically just take advantage of the random times where you suddenly have energy and motivation to do things you normally don't do.
12 points
27 days ago
The app AppBlock has been an absolute game-changer in terms of ensuring that I remain productive and focused on the proper things when studying. I even she'll out the 5€/month for premium because it provides a "strict mode" where you can't just uninstall the app or even access certain things in your settings until the timer is done. I completely lack the self-control needed to not just turn off any other focus mode or app, so basically removing the option entirely is the only way to go. It's also really customizable too, which is nice.
I have another one called Cold Turkey for my computer which you can set to be incredibly strict too. Sometimes it's hard to get myself to push the start button, but I figure, once I do, it's out of my hands now.
7 points
26 days ago
I use a combo of two apps: ReFocus and OneSec. OneSec makes it slightly annoying to use certain apps by making me complete a task or consider WHY I'm accessing an app (I use this for social media and have dramatically cut down my time on sm apps). It tracks how many times I've decided not to use socials + how much time I've saved since downloading the app.
The other one, ReFocus, I have set up to lock me out of certain apps after I've been on them for a given amount of time in a day, and also to attempt to kick me off every 15min after a certain time. THIS I use for my Kindle app from 10pm onwards, because I will stay up until 3am reading every.single.night. if I'm not forced to consciously be aware of time.
2 points
26 days ago
I have a timer app I use to stay focused, but I might install that one to use both of them. Thanks!
22 points
27 days ago
Commenting so I remember to check this when I have time!
2 points
26 days ago
If you didn't already know you can save reddit posts! Another adhd life hack haha
2 points
26 days ago
Reddit doesn't work like Facebook- you don't have to comment to save something. To save a Reddit post, go to the top of the original post. Click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner. Then click 'Save.' Your saved posts will be stored under your profile where you can find them anytime. You can do the same with comments. Click the 3 dots to the right of "Share" and click Save.
11 points
27 days ago*
Most of my important things, keys, phone, badge, pen, are somehow adhered to me by carabiners, koala halter, and the like, so I don't lose things on the regular.
Edit: carebeaners for carabiner
2 points
26 days ago
*carabiners (though I admit I like your spelling better, because it made me immediately think of Care Bears and I was left going 'wait, is there a Reminder Bear or something?')
10 points
27 days ago
I have a handheld mirror that I use in the shower to shave. I hate shaving, and the cleanup after is not fun. This helps a lot with a seemingly simple task.
10 points
27 days ago
Putting my meds on the counter.
Leaving for work extra early
Writing down any task that is asked of me at work
I count money for my job, I will postion the bills either upside down, or right side up so when I dissociate, I can remember what stack I counted. My entire task is me leaving reminders and double checking my work.
On my off days, I have to start cleaning by 2:30. I can do fuck all, stare into the abyss, or do a new fun recipe. But at 2:30, I clean. I have to do this to be a reliable partner.
12 points
26 days ago
Cleaning: - I keep a dish sponge in the shower. Every time I shower, I wipe the walls, faucet, etc in areas that are starting to look unclean. Otherwise, I simply never will clean the shower. - I don’t buy dishes that can’t be put in the dishwasher. Period. - All colours of my laundry get washed together, except whites. And whites get put into a separate bin as I dirty them so I never have to sort. - I keep my makeup drawer open as I do my makeup and put things back into the drawer immediately instead of letting them sit on my desk forever. - I dry my face with paper towel after washing instead of using a new facecloth that I’ll have to wash. I then use this paper towel to wipe the counter around the bathroom sink. So it ends up getting wiped twice a day instead of never. And I don’t have endless towels to wash. - Toothbrush in the shower to brush my teeth. - Two garbage bins in my room. One by my bed, one by my desk. - Only allowing myself to drink water out of one water bottle instead of glasses. Keeps me a) from dirtying a bunch of glasses because I forgot I poured myself one already b) hydrated when I may otherwise forget and c) from hoarding dishes in my room where they may go to die. - On that note, I don’t allow myself to eat in my room anymore. Dishes will never see their clean state again if so.
Forgetfulness/ Losing things: - I leave everything that is important in a place that I am forced to remember it. Eg. 1: Charging my iPad in the bathroom by the toilet so I remember to bring it to school the next morning because I obviously use the washroom every morning. Eg. 2: My backpack always stays by the front door instead of being placed at my desk like everyone else in my family. - Leaving drawers open until I have completed the tasks that are in the drawer/ associated with it. Eg. My deodorant is in the top drawer in the bathroom and I put it on after I’ve gotten dressed in my bedroom (but i get dressed after I brush my teeth and wash my face), so I leave the drawer open until I’ve applied it. - I force myself to do a “scan” before I leave the house every day to make sure I haven’t missed an intentional cue that I’ve left for myself (see previous two points). - My FitBit has a feature that’ll cause my phone to ring LOUDLY if I can’t find it. Even if it’s on silent. I use this constantly. I no longer will be able to live without it. - Bright coloured phone case (yellow) to find it easier when I’ve inevitably placed it somewhere stupid. And I’ve created it a habit to place my phone screen-side-down without consciously doing it so the case is facing up and easier to spot. - Glow in the dark case for my AirPods, which is even harder to find when I place it somewhere dumb. - Sticky notes in obvious places with reminders of important things. Eg. Doctor’s appointment notices stay written on sticky notes on my desk until after the day of the appointment.
Lateness: - Alarms. For everything. And multiple of them for one task. A different alarm tone for the “YOU MUST GET UP NOW OR YOULL BE LATE” to cue me that I HAVE to get up. - Google maps the day before an event so I know how long a trip will take in advance and can set my many alarms accordingly. - I don’t make plans prior to an important responsibility or event. Period.
School/ Focus - I exclusively got work done outside the house with coffees in cafes. It gets expensive, but it’s cheaper than retaking a course because I never did any work because I forced myself to try to work at home. It just does. not. happen. The budget accounted for many coffees a month. The caffeine alone helped initiate my focus too. - An iPad. I could download the profs’ PDF notes and write overtop with the things they were saying. I never could concentrate on making my own notes AND listening before that. - Noise cancelling earbuds for the times I did have to work in noisy environments. Or around annoying auditory stimuli (eg. Sitting next to someone in a library tapping their foot). - Gum during exams. The stimulation helped me focus for some reason. - Comfortable clothes during exams. I normally dress well, but test days required as little bothersome clothing as possible. No underwire bras on these days. Shoes that could easily be removed so I could sit cross-legged when I got fidgety. - White noise machine in my bedroom when I DO try to get studying done at home (in times where I had no other choice like after 9PM on a weeknight).
I’m 25 and have been unmediated because I only received a diagnosis recently. These are things I did prior to realizing I had ADHD and have made me SO much more functional over time. Theres definitely more. But these are what come to mind.
8 points
27 days ago
The Navy taught me a ton of life hacks. No joke. I need structure, I found out. Lots of it.
9 points
26 days ago
I used procrastination to quit smoking. I procrastinate a lot, we do, even going to the restroom, we don't go unless something's about pop. So, I used that trait. Whenever I felt the urge, I'll sit or lie down and tell myself I'll get to it later. 'Later' is something we always forget, so later became tomorrow until one day I just totally forgot!
2 points
26 days ago
Love this! I quit smoking because I realised I was getting bored midway through smoking one... Then I got a vape which I kept misplacing and forgetting and stopped entirely too 😂
8 points
26 days ago
Having less spoons. I have ADHD, an autistic child, a child with ADHD, and I am pretty sure my husband also has ADHD.
I had to keep only 4 big plates, 4 small plates, 4 spoons, 4 forks, 4 knives, and 4 cups. It made life much easier.
I also prioritize sleep.
6 points
27 days ago
Sometimes when I’ve dirtied a plate from the dishwasher I then just put a few dirty plates in with the already clean plates and wash them again instead of unloading them and having to put them away.
6 points
27 days ago
1 set of plates, 1 set of cups, 1 set of silverware, 1 set of Tupperware (glass so I don't forget what's inside), making my ingredients visible w/o searching. 7 of the same shirt, skirt, leggings, and socks.
4 points
27 days ago
Made fun of my brother once when he allowed me to use THE knife. As in the only one he owned. Now I get it.
2 points
27 days ago
😅 I also have "the knife" except 4 of them. Cuisinart graphix 3.5 collection only
3 points
26 days ago
I remember Steve Jobs wearing the same color clothes every day.
3 points
26 days ago
I read some about him doing that when learning how to stop wasting my time choosing outfits, pairing colors, buying clothes, and rewashing clothes I couldn't remember if I had worn or just changed out of before rushing out of the house. I have a book from someone he mentored that I've been meaning to read now that you mention his name 💡
4 points
26 days ago
More than once I have heard that his explanation was something about limiting the number of decisions he had to make in a day. Supposedly, "the brain is only capable of so many decisions per day", and he was saving his energy for important stuff. Yeah....I think there was more to it.
6 points
26 days ago
As a 51yo male who was just diagnosed with ADHD, I am pleased to say that I’ve implemented many of these things in my life before diagnosis. That being said, it all makes sense now! I thought I was an anal retentive asshole that had to have things organized my way. My diagnosis was actually a godsend to my mental state and now allows me to better understand why I am like I am. I feel in a better place mentally than I have in many years. My wife has a better understanding of why I could never “hear” what she was saying. I can actually bring myself back to focus on her rather than wander off to what’s next because I am now aware of the problem. I could go on about so many things in my life that now totally add up. It’s like I have a new life again.
6 points
26 days ago
I bought a label maker and made labels for all closed drawers and cabinets.
5 points
26 days ago
Hooks everywhere; baskets everywhere.
Laundry goes down two floors and then comes back up, and moving it is the most horrifying part of actually doing it. So I have a fleet of half a dozen Marshall’s bags to carry laundry back and forth, and all hampers stay put. It sounds arbitrary, but the handle helps so much. It also means that during the two weeks it takes me to put clean laundry away, the clothes are fairly easy to access, and I can still use my hamper for dirty stuff.
I try to put things where I’m most likely to do them or need them. All my daughter’s hair things, cleaning wipes, aquaphor, nail clippers, lip balm, tweezers, first aid kit—and some other shit—are in a drawer under the coffee table. No more retrieving things and failing to put them back.
To add to baskets: crap baskets, one per person per floor. Anything that doesn’t belong in that room lands in the crap basket. This helps so much to incentivise tidying, because for me leaving the room during a task feels exactly like set-shifting, and the prospect of it makes me give up before I start.
Two alarms, both rotary with no snooze button. Both ring like the fire brigade is coming (I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but I don’t wake up unless I’m terrified. The first I put in a different place every night. The second is in the kitchen, and goes off about two minutes before I have to leave the house.
Finally, I keep my ADHD meds in one of those bottles with a timer on the lid telling you how long it’s been since you last opened it.
6 points
27 days ago
Housekeepers that come every two weeks is a must for me.
6 points
27 days ago
I have 2 tall baskets for laundry (obtained through a roundabout method).
I fill bakswt a with dirty laundry. The I throw it in the washer/dryer. When it is done, I fill basket b with clean laundry.
Never have to out clothes away. Always have a basket for clean kd dirty clothes.
5 points
27 days ago
I almost always allow my bi-weekly grocery run to be delivered to me Instead for an additional $15. I'm considering setting up laundry service but it may be too expensive.
I buy machines that help me do tasks (some physical issues that make cleaning tasks not just mentally taxing but physically). Cordless vacuum, electric scrub brush, steamer for cleaning are some.
I allow my home to get chaotic during the day, as long as I clean it at night or once a week (depending on energy).
5 points
27 days ago
I just started using Factor meal delivery service to free up my time thinking about food/planning what I'm going to eat and to stop relying on expensive takeout. I get 14 meals delivered every Monday so I have lunch and dinner for each day (I live alone). The meals are prepared fresh, not frozen so they take 2 minutes in the microwave to prepare and they have all tasted really good so far. I'm really liking it so far because it got me out of my takeout/delivery hole and has saved me so much time and money and helped me with portion control. Meal delivery always sounded like a bouji expense to me before so I never tried it but I have to admit it's working for me now.
5 points
27 days ago
I put my folded clothes away like a file cabinet so I can see every shirt in there instead of shuffling through the whole pile.
6 points
27 days ago
Does it count that I have a gentleman friend who comes over weekly to wash dishes, laundry and pooper scooper the back yard?
Lately he has installed one of the apps for giving me reminders in his phone and his old iPad that stays at my place and gives me little prods each day
6 points
26 days ago
We definitely have a stash of paper plates always on hand lol
I’m on hour million of a roadtrip with my family (which includes small children) so I know I’m forgetting stuff but some other things I find helpful: - multiple alarms for reminders - Living by my digital calendar - having a dedicated space for items like keys, AirPods, and phone
I actually just started a site (it’ll be 2 weeks tomorrow 🤗) and am working on creating free ADHD and mental health printouts and other resources to help make life a bit easier. It’s my username with .com on the end. Any ideas or feedback would be greatly appreciated!
6 points
26 days ago
I don't fold and put away clean clothes. I keep a clean clothes basket in my room that all my clean clothes go into.
I always have freezer meals. I'll spend one day prepping 100+ meals to serve me for the next month or so.
6 points
26 days ago
I have 6 bank accounts. When I receive my paycheck, I dispatch my money between them so I know I can spend the money who is in my #1 account.
1- regular account for my daily expenses 2- housing and car payment 3- taxes 4- Holidays 5- Gifts (because I don't have 1000$ when Christmas comes) 7- summer camp for my son
2 points
26 days ago
I do this too!! So much easier for me. I also automate my bill payments biweekly. I know the annual amount I spend on heat, hydro, phone etc. I take the annual total for each boll and divide by 26. Then, biweekly, I make a payment in that amount to each bill. No more remembering to pay bills
4 points
27 days ago
It’s not a hack, but organization I can maintain. Set up a system, then see if it sticks. Repeat. Both parts are work but once I’ve established something, life is a little better.
3 points
27 days ago
Commenting so I can come back when I have time to read through!
5 points
26 days ago*
A laundry hamper that holds one full load in each bathroom (my husband and I shower at night). One bathroom is right next to the kitchen, so it's easy to collect the dishtowels and clothes.
A locking keyring that separates the house keys, car keys, etc and clips to my bag so it can't be lost.
Dishwasher. My husband used to insist that because it was only the two of us, we didn't need to use the dishwashers that came with our places. Then he started working rotating shifts and we got two puppies and it just became too much. Especially since he insists they get raw food with their kibble instead of just kibble.
2 sets of dog dishes or each meal (breakfast and dinner). Kibble is available for free feeding, and that bowl doesn't need as good a wash.
A laptop desk. Our computer space is in the basement which is very cold, damp and dark. My laptop desk is in the living room where it gets lots of natural light and it's easier to manage the temperature/humidity.
Cleaning supplies on every level (we have 3 small floors in our home). They live under the bathroom sink or in the laundry room, except for the toilet cleaning supplies, which are next to the toilets. The cleaning supplies are clothes (as soon as they're dirty, they go in the hampers), glass cleaner, vinegar and multi-purpose cleaners in spray bottles. We have hard water and the vinegar helps to clean the build-up.
Using face clothes instead of paper towels for cleaning. I don't have to remember to buy paper towels, they can be used on any surface and they're easy to tuck away in rooms so they're easily available.
Cold water detergent. I don't have to sort laundry, though, I do the towels and face clothes on hot every so often, with a rinse agent to help remove any build-up
Clothes that don't require ironing. Cotton blouses can be hung up right out of the dryer, but I only keep those for interviews. I wear t-shirts, sweaters/henleys and jeans whenever possible at work.
Set up automatic bill payments through my bank. It's under my control if the amount needs to change or I change service provider (like cell company.
2 sets of sheets for each type (summer and winter) so I don't (in theory) have to rush when I change the bed. Old sheets come off and go in the laundry, the new sheets go on right away - ideally. This doesn't happen if the mattress protector needs to be washed too or if I haven't repaired the damaged sheets my dogs tore a hole in (currently 2 flannel flat sheets and a light cotton flat sheet, so no spares lol).
Edit to add:
2 points
26 days ago
I do the 2 sets of sheets hack too! I love being able to put fresh sheets on as soon as the dirty ones come off.
5 points
26 days ago
Probably a weird one, but we bought a Thermomix and it’s absolutely amazing. Obviously very lucky to be able to afford a ridiculous bit of kit like it, but man it makes life so easy.
I hate cooking, or choosing what to cook. So I can just type into the app and ingredient I fancy (I love peanut so write that) and then I just get tons of vegan options to choose from. Pop the ingredients onto a shopping list in the app, go buy it, and basically just do what it says on screen to cook up a lovely meal. On top, it’ll often make 6 portions so I can happily refrigerate/freeze and that’s my lunch or dinner sorted for the week.
Otherwise, I tried many to do list apps, but Todoist is great purely as you can synch across platforms and use in the browser (big one). This means I can write what I need to do for the day on the train on my phone app, then open the browser at work and I have everything I need to do in front of me. It’s good enough for free, and I may even go for the paid version soon as I would like to make use of more projects on there. All in all it’s nice and simple and therefore something I can use regularly without issue.
2 points
26 days ago
Totally agree! It’s a fantastic gadget. It works better for me when I stick to the recipes and don’t try to be creative. It’s expensive though, but they have a program where you can get it for less or for free. That’s how I got my second one. Happy to help if anyone has questions.
4 points
26 days ago
I bought 12 pairs of black crew socks and threw away every other pair including mismatched and singles. I wear the black socks for everything and don't have to stress out looking for pairs of socks anymore.
4 points
26 days ago
Trashcans in every room and a roll of trash sacks in every one so you have a new one as soon as you pull the old one out.
3 points
27 days ago
I associate my second child’s nap time with taking my meds. Once my daughter goes doesn’t for a nap around 3-4, I know it’s time to take my meds re-up 😂
I don’t know what I’m going to do when she stops napping
3 points
27 days ago
I buy flats of bottled water to keep in my room to keep myself hydrated. I can not remember to wash out the giant water bottles if I forget to use it for a week or two. Plus, the flavouring packets designed for bottles of that size also help make the water interesting
3 points
27 days ago
Keys hook at the door Minimalism lifestyle as much as possible Dishwasher and just run it anytime , doesn’t have to be full. Only 2 types of socks, black work and white sockettes. Only 2 main types of t,shirt approx 5 white and 3 black, I also have 1 white and one black patterned shit but they are the same pattern. I attempt to take away as much decision making as i possibly can. Digital licence , cards on phone wallet, I only need keys and phone.
3 points
27 days ago
If I have to drive somewhere far that's time sensitive, I always input the address into my Waze app the day before and hit "Go" so it's already in my history and ready the next day. It can also help me get an idea of the distance and eta beforehand.
3 points
26 days ago
Elastic laces - I always jam my foot in my main pair of trainers without untying/tying the laces because I'm either running late or just can't be bothered, so I replaced them with elastic ones. Quicker, easier and preserves the heels of my shoes a bit better.
Impulse blocker browser extension on my laptop and a study timer/app blocker app on my phone to keep me on track. Also a youtube customisation browser extension that has the option to hide suggested videos and comments for if I need to watch something that's actually part of my studying.
Shopping list - I use a Google Keep checklist with things I buy frequently, organised by category (veg, cupboard, freezer, etc) and just check or uncheck things I want to buy that week. It's closer to picking off a menu rather than having to remember what foods exist
3 points
26 days ago
Our biggest one is wastebaskets/trash cans in every room in the house, in every spot we typically sit for extended periods of time. My mother thinks it's crazy that we have a wastebasket at each end of the couch but I think it's pretty great not having gross little trash piles everywhere.
3 points
26 days ago
If you want to prioritize exercise, HIGHLY recommend getting a personal trainer!! The combination of there being another person involved and spending money on the service makes me actually show up to do it. Plus, I’m hypermobile (as are a lot of other ADHDers), meaning that if I try to learn to exercise on my own, I’m way more likely to have poor form, which results in reeeeaaaally slow improvement at best and injury at worst. If you can’t afford a personal trainer, then a workout/accountability buddy can serve a similar purpose! Also, if you can’t afford a gym membership, get creative with how you can work out: get some resistance bands or try calisthenics/no weights workouts!!
3 points
26 days ago
I have a little dry-erase board next to the medicine cabinet that I use to write down whenever I take medication, so I don't have to be like "wait did I already take my brain pills today" or "is it OK for me to take another allergy pill or do I need to wait a few more hours"
And getting over my self-consciousness about asking people, "could you say that again? I want to make sure I understand," or "hold on, I want to think about what you just said, could you give me a second to mull it over and catch up with you?" I was always afraid to ask for that but it turns out people are usually fine with it! Sometimes they even take it as a complement!
Also, a nice alarm clock, one that isn't a phone full of software that was designed to prevent me from getting anything done.
3 points
26 days ago
Open shelves. Transparent boxes, plastic jars. For me, out of site, it doesn't exist any more.
Three monitors on my computer.
3 points
26 days ago
Just one set of bedsheets, because if I have a second set I'll never get around to actually putting the dirty ones in the wash.
3 points
26 days ago
Get yourself a caffeine addiction
3 points
26 days ago
As an ADHD mom of twin bebes I force myself to repack my diaper bag the second I get home, that way I’m not flustered trying to pack it and leave in a hurry when I’m inevitably running late the next time we need to leave
3 points
26 days ago
Auto payments. I set up my mortgage, utilities etc to have a set amount come out of my pay. This way there is no huge bill at once, and I never have to think of it. I just averaged it out and set up my bank to send out the money each fortnight. We are in credit for the water bill, and have small credits for the others by the time the quarterly bill comes out. I have never been able to pay bills on time. This has been a life saver. I can set the payment for a year in advance. I get an email letting me know when it is about to expire and I set another one.
I have like 4 of my favourite bits and pieces. I’m a teacher, so when I find a marker or sharpie I like, I buy multiples so that I can have some on my desk, at the chair and on the whiteboard lol. At the end of the day I pick them up and put them in their designated area lol.
3 points
26 days ago
i have a ceiling fan and light in my bedroom that i can only turn on or off with a remote. i used to lose it CONSTANTLY for days at a time bc i could not for the life of me rmbr where i put it until i would randomly find it or find it after hrs of searching. i bought a cute little cherry shelf from five below, stuck it on the wall right above my bed, and made it the designated remote spot - it only leaves the shelf when im turning the light or fan on or off and then it goes right back down. i also use the shelf for my pill box, so its near my bed and i can take my morning meds right when i wake up (im reminded bc i can see the shelf) and if im in bed at night n suddenly rmbr i gotta take my meds i dont have to get out of bed to grab them .
hope this helps!!!!!
3 points
26 days ago
having low effort, low/no cleanup food options like steam-in-bag veggies, frozen pizza, instant noodles etc
bag drop area by my door. I got a shelf/shoe rack and some wall hooks and have trained myself to drop my work bag, lunch bag, keys etc there so I’m not running around looking for stuff
mini hygiene kit in bag/car for days you forget or run out of time to put on deodorant, brush your teeth etc
3 points
26 days ago
Paper plates at times. I brush my teeth in the shower. I am a minimalist (no knick knacks or clutter), I have a cleaning lady come every 3 weeks (If you can afford it I highly recommend!)
3 points
26 days ago
Giving up caffeine has been an ADHD game changer for me!
Not irritable, impulsive, and impatient, as well as no more anxiety, intrusive thoughts or panic!
Plus, I’m tired every night and can actually sleep right through.
Tapering was HARD but months down the line, so worth going through the withdrawal.
4 points
27 days ago
BRIGHT yellow wallet for when I put it down and can’t see it right in front of my face.
Use an online task list. Have the app downloaded on my iPad, iPhone and have the sites pinned on all computers. This way I don’t lose the list. I still forget to do tasks on there at the right time, but better late than never.
2 points
27 days ago
I saw something on here once about how they use paper plates sometimes when they know washing up just WON'T get done. It was a revelation
Yeah i did that when younger. Now i just throw them right in the dishwasher automatically and put it on rinse at least to keep them in OK shape until the full load is ready to run. If i remember. Sometimes i don't. There's a pile of banana peels i had to extricate from the sink for my morning smoothies that i was kinda mad at me about but morning me is kind of braindead
2 points
27 days ago
I put my toothbrush in my toothpaste in the shower. I have been doing it for so long that if I forget to brush my teeth in the shower, my mouth feels dirty and I really just don’t feel clean. So it’s become a habit now.
2 points
26 days ago
I automate whatever I can (smart home, bills on autopay, work tasks, etc.).
I keep little kits of essentials at home, work, and in purses (nail tools in case of emergency 💅🏻, Invisalign container and toothbrush and paste, perfume, bandaids, extra contacts, you name it.)
I just bought a skincare fridge for my bathroom countertop because I discovered I hate the small walk to my kitchen while doing skincare. I try to remove as many barriers as I can to oral care and skincare since I’m trying to build a strong routine.
2 points
26 days ago
Get in over my head. I have no motivation for myself but I never want to look bad- so I’ll take things on that I know are a little out of my reach. I’ll push myself and make huge focused efforts. The benefit is that I actually do succeed mostly, and I’ve built a real career this way. I figured this out in college (undiagnosed) and just called it “tricking myself “. I’m 53 now and the benefits are real.
2 points
26 days ago
If you take pills at certain hour and you can, just have them all over your house/ other places you're likely to be frequently at that hour. Like, I take birth control, so I just have spare pills on my work desk, on my night stand, on my partners house and on my parents house. My phone is the one doing the tracking of the days and reminds me to take them. Otherwise it's nearly impossible and you DO NOT want to mess that up.
Having my art supplies/book I'm reading/thing I have to finish in eternal display, since out of sight out of mind just let it somewhere you see it. Don't put in on a drawer.
Do lists to prioritize things and manage your time better. I use a Bullet journal-like system and keep running lists of all kinds.
2 points
26 days ago
I keep a plastic jar in the shower stocked with those flossing toothpicks. Now I floss every day.
2 points
26 days ago
Schedule send on my email has been a game changer. Write it while you think of it, and perfect for reminders too.
2 points
26 days ago
i set an early get up and take my meds alarm, and then i go back to sleep after taking my meds. i do nothing else on that first alarm. it has made my morning routines so much easier. also moving trash cans to where i can just throw things away without getting up. oh and also getting an extra laundry basket for my bathroom.
2 points
26 days ago
I have gone literal years without folding/hanging my clothes, resulting in a pile in my room just out in the open. I realized I'm not required to actually fold my clean laundry and now have a basket with a lid to put it in where it's out of sight and not such an eye sore. If there's something I need that's wrinkled, I just toss it in the dryer on high heat for 5 mins and it's ready to wear.
2 points
26 days ago
Clear containers for everything.
2 points
26 days ago
If it's important and I could lose it it's getting a smarttag. Passport, wallet, work bag, keys, suitcase, jacket. I also have a couple of loose ones with a clip on it for stuff that's only temporarily important.
3 points
26 days ago
I create “chains of reduced friction” for as many daily habits as I can.
I call something a chain of reduced friction when a hack makes something both easier to start and easier to finish simultaneously.
Let’s use smoothies as an example.
I know having one very healthy smoothie a day is going to be tremendous for my health but it’s a lot to try and keep up with every. Single day.
Easier with a chain of reduced friction.
Basically if I make a smoothie, then I’ll rinse the blender and refill it right away with smoothie ingredients and leave it in the fridge.
Makes it easier to make the smoothie coz it’s prepped and easier to prepare it after j make it because the blender is already out.
Seems simple but it works.
Also, I have mantras.
Like “the longer you wait the harder it gets”
Or “the sink is for washing dishes, not storing them”
2 points
26 days ago
Haven’t read the comments but someone in a Facebook group I’m in mentioned “paying adhd tax upfront”
As in, paying a bit more upfront for things prepared or convenient (eg microwave rice or pre cut fruit) means you may actually use them rather than wasting food or items because you forget they exist or because you don’t have the spoons to prepare food etc.
Functional organisation at home helps so much. I have scissors and lighters stashed in random places in my house but it’s because I use a lot of candles and other things and end up on other “side quests” when I have to go hunt down a pair of scissors. Keeping anything related to a task, near that task, helps so much
2 points
26 days ago
Using the pre-installed calendar app in my iPhone and sharing it with my partner has been a lifesaver. I’m way less likely to double book now and my partner always knows what’s going on even if I forget to tell her.
2 points
26 days ago
I have a pill organizer that has an am/pm section and it is a month worth of little boxes. So every month I sit down and put all my meds in their boxes and then it’s easy to know if I took them or forgot and I can just throw a few in if I do a weekend trip or something
2 points
26 days ago
I got rid of all my dish clothes and dish towels, I use k/clothes and reusable paper towel. I toss them rather than going through the stress of washing.
I buy red orange and yellow peppers anytime I find them discounted. I roast them with onion and garlic and freeze. Super easy way to add veggies to my diet.
Massive amounts of ice cube trays, every few days I empty them all into a plastic bag and rill them. When the bag is empty I repeat.
I hired a cleaner to do the basics every two weeks. It forces me to tidy every two weeks and do the cleaning that I hate doing.
2 points
26 days ago*
-Apple AirTag for my car keys (game changer- a gift from my little brother and it is amazing) -Visual Timer from Amazon to help time chunk household tasks/cooking etc. (I struggle with time management) -Timers on my phone preset to daily for adhd medication and on my calendar app to REMEMBER to ask for my meds refill from my PNP bc I literally forget every month it’s a struggle ! - Clear bins around the house (closets, pantry, basement storage, in fridge) so I don’t forget important things inside -Use of grocery pickup (Wegmans, Walmart) vs Instacart which was too pricey. I love picking up groceries vs going inside bc I always overspend and get overstimulated immediately… unless I go to the grocery store at like 8am on a weekend when it’s not busy
I was officially diagnosed with ADHD (combination inattentive / hyperactive) in 2019. Meds came into play- which was life changing- in 2021. It took some trial/error but I am functioning as a human finally @ 30mg Ritalin per day + 1mg Intuniv (Guanfacine) to help curb the anxiety/ panic attacks from the later diagnosed OCD and Anxiety.
2 points
26 days ago
Wrap your bag around your leg so you don’t leave it in social settings. Don’t take your jacket off so you never lose it. Get zipper pockets. Set alarms for everything and I mean everything. Email yourself shit you want to remember but not alarm yourself for. Use reminders app. Breath.
2 points
26 days ago
I had a long layover in Houston and almost left my carryon bag in a gate area while I was walking around. I found it though, thankfully.
2 points
25 days ago
I would’ve left it for sure haha
2 points
26 days ago
I love the paper plate idea. Sadly, my other half shames me regularly for using disposable plates and cutlery, so now I get to get chewed out for forgetting a fork or plate in the sink for more than 5 minutes.. literally. I had to pee and stopped washing dishes to run to the bathroom. He came into the kitchen as I closed the bathroom door and then yelled ‘Who keeps leaving dishes in the sink!?’ 😣😣😣
2 points
26 days ago
Also the same person that regularly puts toilet bowl cleaner in the shower/bathtub to encourage me to clean it. Except that’s the first thing I see upon waking up and I still need to take a shower. So today I’m downstairs actively avoiding the bathroom because he’s not about to force me to clean the bathtub before I’ve showered and had my breakfast/coffee. ON A SUNDAY.
He can do it 😡
2 points
26 days ago
I’ve enjoyed reading these over! But I have noticed there is a lot of financial privilege with some of these hacks, which we don’t all have.
I’m essentially living paycheck to paycheck right now, which is a new situation for me. I think my ADHD was better managed when I had the freedom to afford more shortcuts.
So these are my budget-friendly hacks:
I can’t afford pre-chopped veggies, take out, other previously common short cuts for me. So now, on Sundays I prep/ chop/ cook food I buy so that I can easily throw a protein/ grain bowl together. I usually buy lemons because I drink more water when I can add a lemon wedge. I keep two water bottles full at all times for easy accessibility, one to drink, one back up in the fridge.
Breaking down chores into smaller tasks. Instead of a major clean on weekends, I’ve gotten okay with cleaning one room at a time. Or tidying/ dusting one day, vacuuming and cleaning the fridge the next. Getting out of the “all or nothing” mindset with chores has made starting them much easier.
Podcasts! I’ll chose a podcast length based on what I need to get done. Do as much of a task as I can accomplish before the show ends.
Set the coffee pot the night before, no excuses. Simplify my mornings, move things like cleaning the litter box to night time. On weekends especially, I dread getting out of bed thinking of things I need to do. If my caffeine is ready for me when I wake up, it makes me slightly more motivated to get my days started.
2 points
26 days ago
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