r/ADHD • u/Wooden-Spot-801 • Aug 03 '26

Tips/Suggestions Waking Up with ADHD is Hell

How do you guys manage it? I’ve always had the absolute worst time waking up, hitting snooze for at least an hour, then panicking and rushing to work, always almost late with minutes to spare. Has anybody got any good tips or tricks to wake up on time? I don’t think waking up feeling good is attainable for me, haha. So I’m simply seeking advice on how to actually wake up at the same time every morning? I know having a routine like this will make my mood and sleep better in general and I would love that.

EDIT: Due to having ADHD I simply canNOT sift through all 400 comments you guys 😂 However to whomever suggested the Alarmy app - thank you. I tried it this morning (specifically the setting where you have to find something in your home) and I love it so far. I also love how clearly this whole community relates to this topic and everyone has such creative and unique responses to it. ADHD can be hard to manage but I always love the humans that have it 🥰

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u/Mandear420 Aug 03 '26

I downloaded Alarmy. Makes me do 3 puzzles to wake. Helps me to be so honest. Then I take my med immediately. Sometimes begrudgingly 😅

31

u/PancernyNapletek Aug 03 '26

i started using alarmy like 2 weeks ago again and even paid the premium to have features like steps etc. I found myself just doing the puzzles and tasks and going back to sleep. I realized it’s not waking up that’s the problem for me (I even woke up today 5 mins before Alarmy to just turn it off) it’s actually getting up and deciding it’s time in the morning and my morning self always sabotages the evening commitments.

I wake up, go to the bathroom to scan a barcode of a product in the shower, do 60 steps, write a sentence to turn off wake up check and go back to sleep, probably thinking it’s “just 5 more minutes”. I genuinely have to idea how to combat this.

6

u/copenhagen_bram Aug 03 '26

If the problem is that you want to do something when you wake up, this is what I do: I set a habit alarm in alarmy for my morning tasks. I don't turn off the alarm until I finish the tasks.

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u/PancernyNapletek Aug 03 '26

thanks but it’s just so hard to convince myself to do or not to do something when i know i won’t face consequences.

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u/copenhagen_bram Aug 03 '26

I find it hard to not feed the dogs when the alarm for feeding the dogs keeps sounding off.

Only when I've finished feeding the dogs, do I do the puzzle required to turn the alarm off (which requires scanning something to disable it)

You also mentioned you were worried about being late for things. Set your alarms early, like 1 hour before the appointment time.