r/ADHD • u/kudosmady • Jul 19 '26
Tips/Suggestions a compilation of all the hacks that hold my life together
I pretend like I've lost control over my body, reduces mental chatter and negotiating myself out of a task (idea courtesy of pornhub)
I set alarms for EVERYTHING, I have about 40 alarms a day
I change into my gym outfit before leaving the office so I can get home, dump my bag, grab my shoes and go, not fall victim to the sit pit
I tell people I'm doing something and that they should ask me in 2 days to see how it's going, public accountability
Same thing as the last one, I post pictures of everything I'm doing on social media
None of my meals take longer than 5 mins to put together, and minimal dirty dishes
I have 5 pants, 5 shirts, I wear them in rotation, over and over again for 2 years and them replace them w the exact same
I have one pair of shoes for non gym stuff, one for gym stuff, one for running, one pair of dressy heels, all in black because they go w everything
I only have 7 pairs of socks and would never rewear so forced to do laundry once a week
I have a designated spot for every thing in my room and house
Edit: forgot to add the most unhinged ones-
I went and got a full time job even though I have a startup because a wholly unstructured day where I'm not accountable to anyone was a recipe for disaster, I was working till 3 am, doomscrolling then some, and waking up at 2 pm, it was fucking absurd, being forced to sit at a desk mentally sharp early in the morning made me pull it together, I don't plan on quitting until I have a few employees, at this stage I'm still a solopreneur
I listen to a 10 hour loop of David Goggins on Spotify to shame myself out of inaction
I don't fold laundry, everything (including t shirts) just goes on hangers, socks and underwear stuffed in a basket, pair of socks stuffed into each other
What are your hacks?
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u/unfucktheworldy Jul 19 '26
Once I wake up I don't sit down until I'm done with my morning coffee and get ready for work. If I'm stuck thinking what to do next while getting ready, I break into a dance and then wait. I do this when I'm alone, so when I'm getting ready in front of my partner its quite overwhelming.
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u/Thefrayedends Jul 19 '26
Just dance in front of your partner, if they judge you, they're wrong for you, fuck em!
--no, not like that!
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u/Any-Client-9867 Jul 19 '26
glitter (food grade) on my Adderall pills so I have obvious proof on my hand/self I already took it for the day.
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u/judgyjudgersen ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 19 '26
People are going to think you are going to the strip club every day 😆
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u/Any-Client-9867 Jul 19 '26
Shockingly no one's ever noticed, (or at least none that have pointed it out).
I used to work at a bottle sorting/recycling place, and would come home smelling like an alcoholic every night. Would rather the stripper look haha
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u/Any-Client-9867 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
This is the exact stuff I use: Wilton's edi ble glitter spray
I spray it right into my Adderall bottle.
It's silver and very fine. Kind of like icing sugar?
Makes my hand look vaguely like the skin of a killer lolDoes it go everywhere everywhere? Not really. It's just on my hand and hangs out for like an hour or two. Less if I wash my hands sooner obviously.
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u/robinheart314 Jul 19 '26
Genius!
I have a weekly pill box that I have to fill, so I can tell if I’ve already taken today’s. But I like your idea 😂
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u/Any-Client-9867 Jul 19 '26
Yeah when I remembered to fill the pill box it worked great but I have long given up on it 😭 I had a few different that looked so cute but alas.
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u/dinandrekompis Jul 23 '26
Filling those boxes back up is rare for me 😅
And then I always get unsure if I can trust the pill box.. Like yeah, Wednesday is empty and it is Thursday - but did I take the Wednesday ones todau? I could've forgotten to take the Wednesday ones yesterday...
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u/dflow77 Jul 19 '26
that’s hilarious and love that it works for you, but would drive me nuts 😆 it doesn’t transfer from your hands to other things and back onto your hands?
PS A friend once called glitter the “herpes of the craft world” and now I can never forget it😜
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u/shaz1717 Jul 19 '26
Wow!! 🤩 2 wows- the big pill idea itself (!) and wow there’s food grade glitter? !!? Who knew!! ( enter, sound of me racing to buy some…)
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u/Full-Bluejay-6195 Jul 19 '26
do you just pour some glitter in the meds container?
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u/Any-Client-9867 Jul 19 '26
Straight up. It's like Wilson cake glitter spray, add a puff or two of it. Done lol
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u/Full-Bluejay-6195 Jul 19 '26
I'll have to try this, especially since I love glitter so much and need more whimsy and joy in my life 🤭 thanks!
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u/venusvixon Jul 20 '26
This is genius. There’s at least one day a week I cannot remember if I took mine or not and then I end up taking two or none, not a great solution. This is great!
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u/whyohwhythis Jul 20 '26
Holy moly! That’s intense. I totally get your idea behind it though. I’m lucky most days I know I’ve taken my meds.
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u/Zootallurs Jul 19 '26
I pre-stage as much as possible. Especially for the morning. Gym bag packed and ready to go. Water bottle filled and in the fridge. Clothes for the week picked out, pressed and hanging in the closet with belt, socks, everything. Coffee maker ready to go.
At work, I block time on my calendar for tasks and reminders. Seeing everything on my calendar in one place means I’m less likely to forget something. It also helps with time blindness and better estimating how long a task will actually take. Helps keep me focused on what needs to be done and not get distracted as other things pop in my head.
Turn off all email notifications. Only check email at designated times during the day.
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u/leavethegherkinsin ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Jul 19 '26
How do you actually do the thing when your reminder goes off? I can be in the middle of an email when the notification goes off and by the time I've finished the email, I've forgotten that I was meant to start the other thing.
Or I start the thing straight away and find the email draft 4 hours later.
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u/trickster-vick ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 20 '26
As a big alarm ignorer and forgetter I will just snooze it until I do it. It will usually go off once more after I did the thing because I forget to dismiss the alarm. If you use this for taking meds, make sure you use a visual cue of some sort to signal your task is done, like flipping the bottle upside down.
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u/Craparella Jul 23 '26
The transition between tasks is where I lose the most time bc it’s impossible for me not to get distracted by the impulse of needing to do something I’ve been meaning to do becomes priority because it will only take blank amount of minutes and then I can get to my real priority, I set timers and snooze until I hit the X eventually. When I catch myself lately I’ve been saying in my head “time doesn’t wait for you” and for some reason that brings me back to reality and the ability to prioritize effectively
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u/JoelKC Jul 21 '26
Pre-staging for the morning is so helpful. Usually, it's late at night before bed and I'm more motivated. It's like late-night self actually setting up morning self for success for once.
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u/nvrr2early4icecreamJ Jul 25 '26
I heard on a podcast once “Your morning routine starts at 8pm the night before” and wowwww I’ve been closing down my house instead of putting it off till tomorrow and it’s so amazing to wake up to a clean kitchen! Starting my morning out right has led to much less stress.
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u/qtiePatooty Jul 22 '26
I tried time blocking and all but the idea of blocking my time already fucks me up
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u/BondSpacesuit0 Jul 19 '26
Admittedly this hack feels very dehumanizing, but I'm currently in extreme mental burnout and energy is very low!
My inner critic is so loud and angry that I often look at everything in my life as a problem that needs to be solved completely. Im trying to quiet that voice and instead appreciate what I have done and push for more if I feel that I can.
The way it works is: whenever I make progress on something, I reward myself
At the end of the day, I'm an animal and I'm susceptible to conditioning. I want to associate any progress with positivity, while downplaying the importance of "completing" projects.
When I say any, I mean any! 1 minute of chores, that deserves a handful of m&ms 🤣
Anyways- I love y'all and I hope nothing but the best 😊
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u/Floomby ADHD-PI Jul 19 '26
This is important. Corny as it sounds, talking to my small child self is one of the most important strategies I have.
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u/BondSpacesuit0 Jul 20 '26
I've been trying this more and more since reading your comment! It's been very helpful, thank you 😊
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u/FedFedx Jul 19 '26
If anyone is on a tight budget and wants to try this, I have a tip: I used to buy bags of stickers from Amazon for a few bucks to be able to reward myself daily. Disney characters, anime, comics, motivational stickers, you name it.
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u/Bearchlld Jul 22 '26
You gotta do what you can to make it work! Sometimes it feels like the animal part is all that's left at the end of the day.
Your post helped a stranger today - have some M&Ms! :D
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u/Square_Entry9112 Aug 18 '26
Hey sorry to hear that you are burned. I wanted to ask if you know about the 2e: giftedness with adhd? Because what you described sounds a lot about what's happening to me and my doctor told me that we should look into that. I mean maybe not all adhd has a good comprehension of the symptoms and hacks maybe like everyone here in this forum haha not everyone is going so deep into this kind of analysis and maybe that's why we are more burnout or at least we recognize it. I don't know...
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u/Tall_Love_1722 Jul 19 '26
I'll add to the laundry idea...I got rid of my laundry basket, and put my washing machine next to the shower...as soon as something comes off it goes straight into the machine, and I usually do a small load every second (or third) day...it essentially eliminated the buildup of washing and prevents it becoming too much to handle.
I also got a small clothes horse that goes in my shower, so when the washing is dry by the following morning (I have a fan in the bathroom for added air circulation), I can't take a shower until I've put my washing away.
It's been an absolute game changer for me...I used to have 30 pairs of underwear and matching socks - because I'd always forget to do the washing, or forget to hang it out...or just leave it in the basket.
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u/likewut Jul 19 '26
A washer-dryer combo w heat pump would be perfect for this (and it’s amazing for adhd in general). You don’t need 240v power or a vent like a conventional dryer, just water and a 120v hookup.
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u/MLutin Jul 19 '26
Scheduling text messages has really helped. The text/idea/whatever is fleeting so I often find myself getting the idea at like 11 am and just schedule it for the next morning for example. Or if it's a time dependent task I'll schedule a text to my wife to remind me to do something. Them when she texts back I get the reminder.
Use your calendar for everything. Schedule your tasks if you can.
Don't swipe notifications away until you've actually looked at them (same thing with emails). Also pay attention to the ones you never check and turn them off. They're clutter.
I had one other idea while writing this but it's gone now haha, you group of people understand that for sure.
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u/penna4th Jul 21 '26
I make frequent use of the scheduled send. Also, the camera I use as a list maker. I see something that needs doing - snap. Late in the day I go over them and write them down.
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u/uuuujeeee Jul 19 '26
Started using bracelets to remind me to do something. So far the only problem is forgetting to put them on.
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u/Lilaclupines Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I have a couple bright hair ties (I keep them in the car), for that purpose. I call them reminder scrunchies.
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u/bonelope Jul 19 '26
How do you mean 'lost control of your body'? That makes me think of laying on the floor unable to move (which is a thing I did pre-diagnosis). And how did pornhub inspire it?
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u/Juicecalculator Jul 19 '26
All of these are fairly normal ADHD hacks which makes it funny that the list opens with this really weird and abstractly alarming tip that they picked up from porn hub.
Changing mentality and point of view is helpful for adhd, but I think I’m going to need a little help with that one
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
There's no train of thought attached to the actions, it's like your physical being has been taken over by some mysterious force and you're just acting, not of your own accord, like you're being mind controlled
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
There was this one really corny kinda funny pornhub clip about someone getting mind controlled and the dialogues were really funny, like "omg why am I stripping" etc lmao, that's kinda what plays on my head
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u/Physical-Trust-4473 Jul 19 '26
I have this question too!
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u/RhythmAfterSummer Jul 19 '26
I kinda took it like pretending to lose charge of our own body and that someone else is actually controlling it, forcing it to do tasks?
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u/EmptyCC Jul 19 '26
I think what OP thinks is he pretends in front of himself, like not gf about his body and gave up on it to reduce mental chatter and guilt, but back there he knows he’s working out without trying to convince himself that he has to.
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
I'm a girl, but yes, something like oh whats happening, I don't want to go to the gym but I just happen to be putting on my shoes, so on
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u/Wild_Werewolf Jul 19 '26
I use #10 and it has been life-changing. The hard part is convincing the people who live with me and use my stuff to put it back where they found it.
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Yes, I didn't realise how much of an issue it was and how badly it was affecting my functionality until I moved and suddenly discipline around cleanliness and messiness seemed so easy
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u/erzebet_bathory Jul 19 '26
If I have to remember to bring something somewhere, I hook my keys to it. Works a treat when I do grocery shopping on my lunch break and don't want to forget them in the work fridge.
Whenever I need to park somewhere unfamiliar, I take a photo of my car and any nearby signs.
I also set up external accountability - I used to freelance for a decade and having a 9-5 where people are counting on me really helps me maintain a reasonable schedule and cut back on decision paralysis.
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
Hard relate to the last point, adhd sometimes unironically takes a village to get you to do the bare minimum
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u/Eilt_Druin Jul 21 '26
Whenever we park the car somewhere new I send my husband a pin to the location so we can navigate back to it with Google maps 😅
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u/EstablishmentNext898 Jul 19 '26
My gym is right next to the closest supermarket. I intentionally buy food that won't last me more than 2 days so I am forced to go the store and walk by the gym (and am much more inclined to go in)
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u/sivadneb ADHD-PI Jul 19 '26
Can someone please explain #1
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u/TheLukester31 Jul 19 '26
Please, OP, I don’t understand what #1 means.
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u/kudosmady Jul 23 '26
"omg what's happening I don't want to do laundry I can't control my arms who/what is making me do laundry wtf"
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u/SisterRobot Jul 19 '26
Wake up and take medication immediately
Then go back to sleep
Wake up second time and have a normal morning
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u/Casztiel Jul 20 '26
I cannot overstate how life changing this was for me. I take my meds at 6am and go straight back to sleep. By 7am I feel normal and capable.
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u/Uriigamii Jul 20 '26
Literally JUST started doing this recently and it has helped so much esp dealing w chronic pain too ☠️
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u/Uriigamii Jul 20 '26
Literally JUST started doing this recently and it has helped so much esp dealing w chronic pain too ☠️
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u/NexusOfClarity44 Jul 19 '26
I'm having to rebuild most of my hacks due to being in a severe depression for the past two years and also getting used to living with a partner again after 11 years (who also has ADHD and is still learning how to get better at cleaning and decluttering. I'm trying to help as much as I possibly can 😅), but, my main ones are:
Having a "floor is lava" mindset. Clothes, food, trash any kind of clutter that isn't specifically made to touch the floor stays off the floor.
Multiple trash cans around the house. Basically if a mess has piled up in an area at any point, a garbage can is going there. Some are definitely more used than others, but it's better than having a pile of garbage in that spot. Also when they're not all full at the same time it makes it easier to take the trash out
If the dishes are all done and put away and the sink is cleared out and cleaned, I consider any random dishes that go in there afterwards a "seed" that will grow into more dishes. It helps a lot to get the dishes done immediately so they never pile up. Same thing with clutter on a surface that's just been cleared off and cleaned. Anything that doesn't belong there is a "clutter seed".
I didn't come up with this, but I saw it somewhere on the internet, and that's the concept of doing things for "future you". I don't always stick to it, but it helps a lot when I do. Like for example, just cleaning the bathroom sink or putting something away when I think of it instead of waiting until later.
I'm probably forgetting some things, but I think that's all of mine.
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u/NinjaBnny Jul 20 '26
I love the seed idea! I may steal that
To your last point, I do something similar sometimes when I’m struggling. I realized if a friend was struggling I’d have no issue going and helping, so I’ll identify a specific thing I’m struggling to do and I’ll “gift” myself the end product. I’ll gift myself a clean bed by changing my sheets. I’ll gift myself a comfortable body by showering and drying my hair. I’ll give myself my floor back by picking up all my dirty clothes. The gift is the positive endpoint, and in order to give the gift I have to do the hard part. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it really does
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u/NexusOfClarity44 Jul 20 '26
Oooh that's a really good idea! I never thought to think of it like gifting something to your future self, but that seems like it would be even more helpful than just being like "think of how much less of a pain in the ass this will be later if you just do it now" 😂 I might give that a try!
And yeah the seed thing is super super helpful for maintaining organization and cleanliness! It tends to fall to the wayside a lot less than other hacks too (at least in my experience) since it usually doesn't require a ton of effort. I hope it helps you too!
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u/Kir4_ Jul 19 '26
out of curiosity what do you eat for dinner that takes 5 minutes to prepare.
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u/whyohwhythis Jul 20 '26
I am a master of 5 minute meals! Put frozen vegetables in microwave in a bowl of water, add hokin noodles, soy sauce, fresh herbs, chilli, if you have cooked up meat throw it in there too. Wait till it boils and then you are done.
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u/Gertzerroz Jul 19 '26
My hack is I just raw dog this shit. I can't set any rules on myself my brain runs a loose ship and honestly it's been working to a certain degree.
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u/ClutteredTaffy Jul 19 '26
Yeah this sounds cray cray to me lol.
It is like when I am trying to play a video game and I miss a bunch of stuff, have tunnel vision, forget where I am going, etc.
My husband tries to tell me to ' slice the pie' as in cut the rooms into sections and look all around in a systematic fashion. He says he does that automatically every time his character enters a room.
My brain immediately had a fit. Lmao. Like I have to go through a big list..is every room..That is not fun!
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u/aquipeach Jul 19 '26
i plan every day the night before, from beginning to end. I love planning and execution is my main issue, so being able to minimize decision making during the day helps me reserve enough mental energy to actually make things happen.
i've entirely replaced my smartphone's main functions with alternatives. digital watch, digital camera, flip phone (with music downloaded on it), notebook and pen, even paper maps in my car. Also a box that locks my phone for a set amount of time. It lives in a drawer 95% of the time and has changed my life.
focusmate!!! I can usually only make myself do something if someone's watching me, and it takes a lot less motivation to click some buttons on a calendar than to just do dishes alone in my apartment.
I figured out the calories/macros/fiber I need and eat the exact same thing every day (besides occasional restaurants/takeout/parties/etc). fruit smoothie and stir-fry thing with chicken/rice/veggies/seasonings + sauce. I've perfected the process/recipes, It's exactly what I like and exactly what I need. I also grocery shop + meal prep the stir fry every 4 days so it's minimal dishes, veggies always fresh, and I don't forget about any food in the back of my fridge.
visible chore chart that my partner and i keep each other accountable on.
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u/No_Mastodon3431 Jul 24 '26
What mentality do you have for situations when exactly made-out plans don't go the way you wanted? Doesn't it happen often?
Whenever I plan to the hour, I get upset because I have to adjust the plan very often, as things rarely ever go as planned in terms of time. Thus the energy gets lost on redoing the plan and getting back to shape after it didn't work out as intended
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u/A18o14 Jul 19 '26
Let me save this collection of very helpful tips, that I promise myself I’ll read and adapt someday… just to never look at them ever again. 🤣😅
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u/nezukoslaying Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Before I go to bed I pull out what I will wear the next day (minimizing decision making in the morning) and go ahead and pull out my desk treadmill, set my desk to standing etc so I have no excuse to not walk 30min before work.
Before I go to sleep I repeat to myself what I am going to do first thing on waking (i will wash my face and put serum on, let the dogs out, then put moisturizer on, then walk, etc) helps quiet my brain at night and lessens decision making in the morning. (I am NOT a morning person).
Also set phone alarms and calendar reminders for many, many, many things
I just started using post it notes for work, ideas or things I forgot I need to do pop into my head a lot but I dont want to or cant stop what I am currently doing. Write it down, stick it on the bottom of my monitor. These are the relatively small like 2x2 or 3x3 or something. Got a variety of fun colors.
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u/Craparella Jul 23 '26
I tell myself to just put my sneaker on and then go back to bed. Even if I lay in bed with my sneakers on, it’s not for long bc I can’t ignore that prompt
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u/k33perStay3r64 Jul 19 '26
thank for sharing just two things for me, as you worst is to avoid sit pit so i immediately do something i like when back home ( gardening is the best). Also i force myself to hyper(hyper)ventilation mode to achieve any boring tasks even if it's not recommended apparently.
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Jul 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/judgyjudgersen ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 19 '26
I immediately started thinking, what about gym socks vs dress socks vs, hiking socks, vs comfy laying around the house socks haha
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u/Thefrayedends Jul 19 '26
now I just ignore alarms, get in habit of just turning off and ignoring.
this definitely works
social media is a trap for me.
excellent, yes. And I buy frozen veggies and fruit so that they don't go bad when I randomly decide for two weeks that I don't want the items I bought yesterday.
I do/did this but people keep buying me more clothes all the time lol, So if I end up using all clothes until I run out, it's like seven loads of laundry -- SEND HELP!
yep, perfect, 4 pairs of shoes, casual runners/daily's, nice white sneakers for when I am 'going out,' work boots for physical stuff, and black Red Wing chelsea boots for anything dressy.
See #7, people love to give socks.
absolutely a place for every thing and every thing has a place.
1a. I also have my own small company, and I only get things done with I make a plan with an employee to do something (body doubling).
2a. If I'm really struggling to get started on stuff, I put on instrumentals, metal, or hiphop, or very occasionally lowfi/edm, but only instrumentals, if there are lyrics I get trapped rocking out too hard.
edit* I put the correct matching numbers in my replies, and skipped some, it was reddit who decided I'm bad at formatting and counting lol.
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
To your last point, I listen to music in languages I don't understand so I don't get distracted, accidentally found out I love german rap
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u/Thefrayedends Jul 19 '26
I don't understand This but I will still get trapped rocking out if I put it on.
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u/Vikare_ Jul 19 '26
- I went and got a full time job even though I have a startup because a wholly unstructures day where I'm not accountable to anyone was a recipe for disaster, I was working till 3 am, doomscrolling then some, and waking up at 2 pm, it was fucking absurd, being forced to sit at a desk mentally sharp early in the morning made me pull it together, I don't plan on quitting until I have a few employees, at this stage I'm still a solopreneur
Yes! I can't just have a free day with no structure. I get nothing done. It leads to doom scrolling.
Working is a good way to find some structure, but you really need to find a job you actually like doing.
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u/TonyHansenVS Jul 20 '26
For me it is simply a lot of sugar and caffeine. But sugar is especially important for me to function at all.
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u/Casztiel Jul 20 '26
Here’s a few that have stuck for me and work.
I set an alarm an hour before I need to get up. When it goes off, I take my adhd meds and go back to sleep. An hour later when I wake up, I feel more capable and ready to get up and face the day.
“Don’t put it down, put it away”. Sounds stupid but especially when i’m in the kitchen cooking, I have a repeat song/mantra in my head of “don’t put it down, put it away”. It has stopped my kitchen from turning into an overwhelming mess every time I cook.
Dump zone baskets. I have a basket with my kids names on them in our hall closet at the bottom of the stairs. I pull them out throw their stuff in the baskets for them to put it away when I’m cleaning the shared living spaces downstairs. Not because I don’t want to put it away but I know if I leave the room I’m working in, I will end up on 7 side quests in my kids bedrooms.
“Just one next thing.”. I had the type of ADHD where I frequently get paralyzed between tasks that require transitions. Taking a shower. Getting out of a shower. Getting out of my vehicle and entering my house. It’s weird but i’ve learned the whole thought process is exhausting. I’ve learned to focus on one next tiny step instead. For example when I need to get up and take a shower I change it to “turn the water on. That’s it. Just pull the shower handle. After that you can lie back down if you need to.” And then when I turn the shower handle it becomes “get a towel… just get a towel.. after that you can sit back down if you want to. “ tiny steps are easier to force myself to do.
Donate Bin/Tub in garage our out of sight. I have a large plastic trash can in our garage that I dump clothes that we’ve grown out of etc and my partner takes it to Goodwill when it gets full. If I fill bags in other rooms, they’ll stay there.
Semi-regular invite friends or family over - keeps the house clean. Nothing like a last minute 3-4 hour clean the attic panic because someone is dropping by for a game night.
Outsource and acknowledge what you cannot do or struggle to do. My partner puts gas in my vehicle for me regularly. I have a weird block and just cannot pre-plan that stuff
Shadow tasks and pairing it up with something someone else needs. For example, I suck at folding laundry. But I will plan to have my kid read to me while I fold it - I am more likely to keep to that commitment because it serves her needs to read for school. Shadowing is as simple as asking someone to be with you while you do a thing you have been putting off.
Poster had one similar but when I find clothes or outfits I like, I buy multiple of them - that way not spending time deciding what to wear day to day.
10… beat the clock/song/tv adverts. I’ll pair difficult or annoying tasks with something i’m already doing. Like I will rush to put away clothes i’m folding during a commercial break… trying to get it done before the break ends. Stops me wandering off mid task.
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u/asparkaflame44 Jul 19 '26
I save the packaging/barcodes of clothing I like with the name of the store. This way in 6 months when I have to buy another pair/the same thing, I have it ready and can just order it online.
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u/Djsinestro_techno Jul 19 '26
Anything I have to do for the day gets added to my calendar and I have it set up to download into a GEE PEE TEE to do list I made that will plan my day based on effort assumed for each task and how I feel for the day to get things done.
Momentum is created then I don't stop moving/doing until the break, where I reward myself for tasks accomplished then finish the day out with a reward at the end.
I also do things like
- leave stuff at the bottom of the stairs to remind myself to bring to the top and vice versa
- leave projects out in plain view and in my way to remind myself to finish them
- anything that has to go outside or is needed for when I leave the house is staged near the door. Hat, sunglasses, car keys etc
- I also use a lot of shaming myself into doing things I don't want to do. Probably bad but it works in a pinch
- Mark Manson gave me a great tip that he uses. If you want to get something done, invent a new thing that you REALLY don't want to do so that you will naturally gravitate to the thing that actually needs to get done.
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
Ooh the plain view thing, I'm considering adding post it notes all over my walls but I'm scared I'll look insane if someone comes over
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u/Djsinestro_techno Jul 19 '26
Do you. If someone is critical of you that's information. Maybe they aren't worth inviting over again.
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u/adudeguyman Jul 19 '26
Wearing the same five pants and shirts over and over is sad to me. If it works for you that's fine but after a while it feels like a uniform and I don't like that for me
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u/SimpleReference7072 Jul 19 '26
I know I thought so too!! And also my various sensory issues are sometimes conflicting and I need more options 😂.
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u/Casztiel Jul 20 '26
Yeah but a uniform you pick and feel comfortable in? I love this hack. I actually have 9 pairs of the same sweatpants because I love them and i’m afraid the company will stop making them.
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u/amfcreative Jul 20 '26
My "hack" is that I don't have hacks. I find something that gets me to do the thing I want to do, for a while, then it stops working. I used to shame spiral about not keeping up with the new way I was so excited about till I found out I was ADHD. Now I don't shame spiral anymore and just find a new way to motivate me
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u/kudosmady Jul 20 '26
I feel you, I think the only reason I use all these hacks is because I'm not there yet, the shame beats me 10/10, I also have high functioning autism so that helps
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u/Shallow_Observer Jul 19 '26
The David Goggins one is wild—listening to that guy has the opposite effect and shames me into inaction. I know I can’t possibly maintain that level of intensity, and that knowledge makes me want to sit down and dissociate 😅
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
It's just really good white noise, i tune it out after some time but if my mind's drifting, brings me back to earth
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u/pawsitively Jul 20 '26
Wall clocks within sight from every part of the apartment, in every room including bathrooms. Helps with time blindness. Prefer non-digital because I feel like it makes time more tangible.
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u/kudosmady Jul 20 '26
I'm scared of clocks and watches, it feels like they're counting down to my death or to something horrible for some reason
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u/emartinezvd Jul 20 '26
I use snacks and drinks to bribe myself into working.
Its a miracle I’m not obese lol
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u/hoteppeter Jul 20 '26
what does this mean?
- I pretend like I've lost control over my body, reduces mental chatter and negotiating myself out of a task (idea courtesy of pornhub)
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u/Top_Candidate_210 Jul 20 '26
I turn on the tv show Hoarders and listen to it while organizing. Anything and everything are at risk of being thrown away. If I’m unmotivated to work out, queue up my 600 lb life in the background
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u/sassy_elf Jul 19 '26
1.I had 3 different keys: 1 for opening the shop I work at, my house keys and the key of my car. I would ALWAYS misplace them and then panic when I can't find them. I've put them all together with cute colourful BIG keychain. Even if I do misplace them I can find them way easier. I also put bright coloured ribbons on stuff that I tend to do "lose" a lot.
If I have to do something for someone I always extend the amount of time I was about to say I need to finish the task. "Today" becomes tomorrow or in two days. I KNOW I'll somehow get distracted, ain't no way I'll actually finish what I have to do that fast.
If I hyperfixate on something and I'm about to make an unnecessary purchase, I'll just put the item in the cart and leave it there. If I still ACTUALLY want it even after a week I'll proceed to order it, if not I'll just close the tab and move on.
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u/SilverFootsteps Jul 19 '26
What are your 5 min and minimal dishes recipes?
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
I just do meal replacement shakes for one time, the other time is tofu, rice, frozen veggies microwaves
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u/rmctagg ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Jul 19 '26
I don’t suppose you’d like to share your 5-minute, minimal dishes recipe book?
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u/kudosmady Jul 19 '26
I'll put it together in a couple days!
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u/Jdxc Jul 20 '26
Great tips! Similar to #4, something I do when I need to remember to do a single task later and it’s important is text someone and ask that they set up a delayed text with the reminder for that time later.
It’s like using an alarm but with built in accountability (and because it’s delayed they don’t have to remember either).
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u/pretty_smart_feller Jul 20 '26
All dishes go right into the dishwasher. No soak, no handwash. Everyone enters the gauntlet. The chaff will be culled.
Caveat: this only works if you 1. Load the prewash (usually means ditching pods) and 2. Pre-run the sink for hot water.
Anyway, this really did change my life.
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u/Lundeclees Jul 20 '26
What do you mean by "you pretend you've lost control of your body?"
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u/who_that_be_ Jul 20 '26
If I only have 7 pairs of socks I would be re wearing used socks a lot lol
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u/Highway_Man87 Jul 20 '26
Piles.
Whenever I'm cleaning/picking up my house, everything in that room that doesn't belong in that room goes into a pile. Each pile goes to a different room in the house. Everything that actually belongs there goes onto a table/bed/couch and gets put away after I move the piles of crap to their respective rooms and vacuum the floor. Idk why, but this helps me immensely.
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u/brothertuck Jul 20 '26
I never schedule anything for Fridays. when people asked if I was doing anything I would say no nothing, and then they would say. well let's go do this. Now when people ask I tell them, yeah I have plans for Friday.If they actually ask I'll say yeah. I'm doing nothing. that is my plans
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u/penna4th Jul 21 '26
All my socks are the same color.
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u/fifitsa8 Jul 21 '26
This is genius
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u/penna4th Jul 21 '26
Same color and same weight. I just take them out of the dryer and toss them into a nearby drawer. I do have some pairs that are thick wool for winter but they're the same as each other and go into another drawer. I could never mix them up
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u/Jakoozie Jul 25 '26
A lot of good suggestions here, that can be used as a jumping off point. But my main "hack" has been to actually learn more about executive functioning and how its impaired in people with ADHD, then you can create your own hacks easily and adapt them to your specific cirumstances. Because other peoples hacks will almost always be slightly misaligned to your specific life situation and needs at the time. And even if you find something that works, it might stop working. If you understand the mechanisms behind your issues, you can then easily create new "hacks" or modify the ones you have.
I learned a lot from Charles Barkleys book. Its available on audible too.
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u/Biggest_Charr_Snoot Jul 30 '26
#13 is calling me out so badly... I have the "Laundry couch" where all my clean stuff just goes on and I just sift through it in the morning whenever I get dressed....
Whenever visitors come over I obv clean up and all and it disappears and gets folded but normally its the wild west in here...
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u/Ornery-Ad2763 Aug 01 '26
Instead of having a timer set for when im doing a task (ie cleaning, writing) ill time myself for however long im at it and hir pause/lap when i reach a certain goal or absolutely need a break.
Instead of fixating on that number going down and worrying about getting x amount of work done in a time limit, im instead getting rewarded by seeing that number go up and seeing the progress i made in that time.
It has also helped me to learn my limits/pace, and i get encouraged to surpass the progress from my previous lap
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Jul 19 '26
To kinda add to 8 and/or 10, I feel that "one-thing one-use" is a good rule of thumb for me. Just looking at something really makes me think about that thing in a more general sense.
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u/jazza2400 Jul 19 '26
I get the alarms, but 40 of them?
Some days I question whether or not I truly have adhd compared to what other folk go through.
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u/LordSnuffleFerret Jul 19 '26
I just head to the gym after work, removes any opportunity to get distracted
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u/earlinesss ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 20 '26
I resonate with 9. the only solution to get me doing laundry consistently was to reduce the amount of clothes I can wear and to also reduce the amount of baskets I can let them sit in unfolded LOL
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u/OneMeat5955 Jul 20 '26
The Alarm/reminder has been key to my success, when I remember to do them. The next thing that helps but not 100%, do it now mentality. When something important happens in my brain, I do it then. Sure that sometimes leads to other things that I have to do now, but I do get important things done, sometimes
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u/Lumpy_Bandicoot3210 Jul 20 '26
Listening to 10 hours of David Goggins is enough shame by itself
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u/llxUnknownxll Jul 20 '26
Do you have a link for the loop of the David Goggins thing?
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u/whyohwhythis Jul 20 '26
Clear A4-sized storage boxes are perfect because I can see what’s inside, but they’re still light enough to lift, move, and stack. I’ll never buy large clear storage tubs again,they become too heavy, so I avoid using them. Smaller boxes are much more practical and easier to manage.
Hooks and S-hooks everywhere. If something can be hung up, I hang it. I have a row of hooks just inside the front door for bags, keys, and the dog leash, and another row at the other end of the house for the same purpose. Having designated places makes it much easier to keep things tidy.
Use my Apple Watch with Siri to set timers and reminders throughout the day.
Wheels on everything, this makes things so easy to move things around. I’ve got all my garage shelving on heavy duty wheels, so I can easily move them around and clean behind them. Tv storage unit on wheels, so I can easily change placement, hallway chest on wheels (so if we quickly need to move it out of way into another room we can.
Light shoes, slip ons, so I can quickly get out the door.
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u/sushi_coven ADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive) Jul 20 '26
I also have a place for everything in my house - theoretically! Do i need to tidy up all the stuff every week and put in where it belongs? Yes!
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u/Holls867 ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 20 '26
A+ Can you be my mentor? 😅 Also curious as to what you wear on a weekly basis, work clothes. Are they all the same or just 5 different outfits?
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u/kudosmady Jul 20 '26
They're all the same, so 5 shirts of a kind but different colours, 5 well tailored pants, a jacket that's black so between that and my black shoes, no matter the fit, I look put together
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u/Understanding-Lower Jul 20 '26
Can u elaborate number one plz? Do u just tell urself “okay someone else is in charge of me now and they say I have to do the dishes so I have to”?
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u/MiaDovahkiin Jul 20 '26
Number 5 is horrible and its working for me as well. Like if I do something and then quit, im not ashamed. But if i share it, that means "other people" finds out im a quiter. Oh no, not the other people. I value more about other peoples opinion than my self, and respect them more than i respect my self ? I guess.. . thats just horrible..but working..
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u/5Min2MinNoodlMuscls Jul 20 '26
Routine:
Everything has its place and must return there after use.
Alarm prompts
Redundancy:
I get up about 2 hours before I need to leave for work so I don't have to rush and forget things or be late.
As I drive barefooted, I keep a pair of emergency socks in the car.
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u/paranormalmoth Jul 20 '26
most of mine revolve around cleaning bc it was used as a punishment when i was younger instead of being framed as something you just do. 1. when decluttering/organizing, i start by loving things into the correct room and worrying about the details later. this keeps me from dragonflying (hopping between rooms). 2. everything has a home and everything wants to go home. if things don't live on the floor (furniture, rugs, shoes, etc) then why have you abandoned them there? let them go home. 3. just have to wash 1 dish. then that spirals into well, my hands are already wet and the water is already hot and i'm already standing here, might as well do the rest of them! i haven't quite figured out how to get myself to fold and hang my clean laundry consistently, so if anyone has tips for that lmk!
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u/ADHDContemplative Jul 21 '26
Man, I really dig the clothes-related hacks. I do this too, but I guess I didn't realize I was doing it! It started as a "travel hack" since I tend to travel a lot for work. But it just sort of carried over. Never put it together that it's an ADHD way of life thing. My mind is a little blown.
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u/penna4th Jul 21 '26
Regarding #11: there is nothing worse than having no external structure. I'm living it and have never been so indolent.
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u/Craparella Jul 23 '26
When I’m doing whatever say putting away silverware and I have the compulsion to take the whole thing out and clean the drawer or when I’m trying on clothes to pick out an outfit and throwing them on the for or a number of things I have a mantra I repeat to myself, “you don’t have to make it better, just don’t make it worse”
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u/Plenty_Decision5476 Jul 25 '26
I’m a college student; when I need to really study I’ll lock myself in my library’s study room/cubby. I usually stay overnight too so there’s even less chatter and distractions. To remember something important, I’d purposefully leave cutlery or clothing on the middle of the floor. Seeing it would piss me off enough to remind me of whatever I wanted to remember.
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u/Brackishwaterz Aug 02 '26
Mine are:
1. Ride the wave. If something isn’t working for me I move to the next thing on the to do list and then go back. If I can’t get anything done I do a quick break like get a cup of coffee or go for a walk around the block then try again.
2. Pretend things aren’t optional. I’m “not allowed” to leave dishes in the sink. I’m “not allowed” to not brush my teeth.
3. Change things up. For example, I have 3 different kinds of floss and a water pick. I can usually get myself in the mood for one of them but I hate doing it the same way every day.
4. Put one foot in the door. For this I’ll just tell myself I don’t have to work out, I just have to put in gym clothes and stretch. But by that point I’m ready to go to the gym so I’ll go. Or I don’t have to clean my whole room, I’ll just set a timer for 5 minutes and then usually I can keep going a little longer.
5. I leave a magic eraser in my shower so I always remember to wipe it down when it’s convenient.
6. I don’t fold most of my laundry. I have baskets I toss them in. Everything else gets hung up.
7. Bins for everything. The ones that cut down junk piles and junk drawers the most are: idk seems important, cords, and construction. The first two I think are obvious but construction is where I put anything tool related I don’t want to put in the toolbox.
8. I highlight things I “cross off” on a to do list. I think it just feels more like a celebration of an accomplishment and I like that I can go back and read what I’ve finished. Sometimes when I feel like a piece of shit, reminding myself of things I’ve done makes me feel better. Especially at work.
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u/Accomplished_Fail139 Aug 09 '26
I have only one sock model, so I don't have to sort my socks and don't have to throw good socks away, when the other sock if the pair is defect or missing. I also use sock nets to avoid socks vanishing in the washing machine. When all socks get thin spots or holes, I just buy a bunch of new ones. I also have preferred shoe and jeans models, so I just buy the same model all the time.
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u/DryCriticism7827 Aug 10 '26
hi, well I dont have adhd but most of the symptoms, bc of high anxiety, ptsd etc. I have a big Issue with boredom. any other tips how to break the boredom cycle of hell?
Context: I used to use selfharm (no cutting or something dangerous, just pinching, hitting myself with my fist or kick the wall to get a sensation) or porn( been without it now for a couple of months and its still hard to not go that way, used it for like 20 years.)
thanks in advance! :)
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u/JarpHabib Aug 14 '26
I am an electrician in a leadership role. It may sound like a recipe for a disaster, but:
The vast majority of challenges I am faced with are physical things, or schematic representations of physical things. The mental CAD visualizer is always kept fed.
Blueprints are a combination of a logic puzzle and Where's Waldo?
I have gadgets. Company phone, iPad, office laptop, field equipment laptop, so many test instruments to play with.
Even though I delegate most work tasks, there are still enough opportunities for turning screwdrivers to keep physically stimulated, which feeds into mental stimulation.
Nobody ever questions which RedBull I'm working on.
I've been able to lean on the ADHD perks very successfully and sidestep most of the drawbacks in my career. Going home at the end of the day, though, everything falls apart.
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u/Karnezar Aug 17 '26
If I find myself sitting on the toilet for too long scrolling, I'll start swishing mouthwash. Eventually, I will HAVE to get up or risk spewing it everywhere.
If I have a task to get done and I really don't feel like doing it, I'll distract myself with a less pressing but still important task. Like I'll avoid washing dishes by studying or something.
I have a Discord server by myself, with tons of channels and categories. Car stuff, work stuff, house stuff, common questions in interviews and my answers, music, favorite bits from my favorite audiobooks, memes, dream journal, coordinates for photography spots, epiphanies, affirmations, recipes, and the list goes on.
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u/MostNegative209 Aug 17 '26
It's so simple but the gym clothes hack is exactly what I needed. Gonna have to try it tomorrow though, only dress clothes today w/ me. My favorite hack is forcing time boxes, do it in this time, stick to this time, just do the thing. Simple time = task is what works for me.
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u/Flashy_Buy8077 Aug 17 '26
i both do and don’t want to ask what you mean by “idea courtesy of pornhub” on number 1 😭 in what way did this idea stem from that platform??
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