Many people with ADHD are having systems and things to make life easier.

This makes me curious: what are some hacks, or items that you purchased which helps with your ADHD?

I will start: I hate folding laundry. It just so boring to do and I cannot do it neatly. I recently bought a foldingboard off Amazon (but you can also DIY them!). You just place your T-shirt on it and then fold the squares. This is super quick, neatly and makes everything the same size. I think it's marketed for kids and/or retail but this has been a huge help for me!

What are the weird and wonderful ways you find dopamine?

You know what I love? Being nice to people! It’s like a freaking drug to me. Complimenting strangers, smiling at people in the elevator, saying hello to store employees, offering food/water to people on the street, heart reacting to colleagues during Teams meetings, holding the door for others… I could go on!

Where do you find your pick-me-ups?

ADHD is like bad eye sight. Everyone has different levels of impairment, and the medication is like eye glasses or contacts. We can function without glasses or contacts, but it takes us way longer to do things or we don't do things at all, or we do them terribly. With the appropriate eye glasses or contacts, we can function like we have 20/20.

I hope this helps people better understand our mental illness, because some don’t think we have an illness because they can’t see it.

So I am extremely lucky that my roommates also have ADHD and this doesn’t bother them, but one of the things I have is buckets EVERYWHERE. They are in the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen, EVERYWHERE. If I set something down, it goes in a bucket. Whenever I need a thing I’ve lost, I go through the buckets. 9/10 it’s in one.

Edit: didn’t expect this to be this popular. Okay that’s kinda overwhelming. Thanks for sharing what works for you. I’m wanting to try something new things and see if they work for me

I’m a powerlifter and often I will have “paused reps” in my workout. For example I’ll do 3 sets of 5 reps with a 3 count pause. Bring bar to chest, count 1-2-3, press up. For years… forever… I struggled with going “down, 1-2-3, up, 1 rep, down 1-2-3, up, 2 reps, down 1-2-3, up, 4 rep, down, 1-2-3, up, wait what? What rep was that?” Today I switched it up. “down, A-B-C, up, 1 rep, down A-B-C, up, 2 reps, down A-B-C, up, 3 rep, down, A-B-C, up, 4 rep….” Got through a full workout without losing count of my reps.

I've only recently been diagnosed, like a few months ago, and finding out about adhd tax purchases have helped me so much already. The biggest for me being spending extra money on pre cut frozen fruit and vegetables has stopped me from throwing away so much food. What was the most life changing small purchase or trick for you?

If you could have any ADHD-friendly features built into your home, what would they be?

For example, features designed to help with organization, cleanliness, focus, time management, and relaxation. Idealy, these would be features that could address daily ADHD challenges and symptoms.

I assume a lot of us have issues with getting laundry actually done. Sure, we can start it and find the wet clothes in the dryer the next day, or dry and it sits in a pile. I’m sure most of us feel like we’re always lost somewhere in the laundry process and it feels more like a constant failure instead of the occasional partial win. I’m here to give you the solution:

Go to a laundromat. Even if you have access to a washer and dryer in your house, go to a laundromat. All you really have to do is get in your car with your laundry and that’s it. Once you get to the laundromat, they have the detergent you forgot, don’t worry. The machines are massive, so a months worth of clothes is maybe two or theee loads and you do them all at the same time. They have little carts that are the perfect height to transfer your clothes. They have folding tables, just dump the dry clothes on the table, watch a little judge Judy and you’re done. Everything there exists to aide you in getting this task done and keeps you focused. No exaggeration, you can bring in all your clothes, blankets, towels, etc. and walk out in about an hour feeling so accomplished.

Somehow it took 40+ years of brushing my teeth to realize that I could have different flavors of toothpaste.

Now I have a small bin of toothpaste tubes next to the sink and I can just pick whichever I'm in the mood for when I go to brush my teeth.

Heading out and I want my breath to feel fresher? Mint it is.

Eating afterwards and want something that's more neutral? I'll go for something charcoal based.

Craving the taste of something sweet after a meal? Time for orange.

It seems like it's helped a lot to add novelty to the process and make it feel less monotonous.

For anyone else who struggles with brushing, it could be worth a try.

(also helpful: rinsing my month whenever I go to get a drink of water - that seems to cut down a lot on what's left to brush / floss away later)

I’ve already made drastic improvements on my sleeping, so that I’m able to fall asleep within the first hour or so- I only stay up all night once every blue moon, I can confidently say I got a healthy sleeping routine going on, getting atleast 8-9 hours of sleep.

But despite ALL THAT EFFORT and getting scientifically proven “enough” sleep in the morning, I find myself extremely groggy and no matter how early I sleep, I seem to need atleast 10-12hours of sleep either way, to wake up fully awake and being able to get out of bed/ be functional. Otherwise I just barely crawl out of bed and take my meds and I’ll be functional once the meds kick in.

I’ve gotten apple watch to monitor my sleep and even tried waking up at various times in the morning to see if I was just waking up during REM sleep which could be the reason why I’m so groggy but that isn’t it either. I wake up so tired and sleepy no matter WHAT- whether I take sleeping pills, benzos (all prescribed by the doctor) or nothing (raw dogging it) before sleep does not affect this pattern either.

Is this just me? I feel like I do get enough sleep but regardless I wake up barely functional until I get at least another 3-4 hours of sleep in after my 8-9hours of sleep, but then that means I have harder time falling asleep that day because I’ve ‘over slept’.

Is this happening to just me? Should I get sleep study done? Is it the ADHD (I take concerta) meds?

I’m so frustrated because its been the reason why I’ve been barely making it to work at the right hours, or just daily when I want to get things done early but I can’t seem to be functional until a few hours after I take my meds. It’s genuinely frustrating.

Anyone with similar experiences? Anyone with advice? Please I need some help on this; it’s just so debilitating I don’t even know if this is part of ADHD symptom or if it’s the comorbidity of my depression. 😭

I have such extreme sleep procrastination… like I WANT to sleep, but can’t. And then unless I have somewhere important to be the next morning, I could literally sleep all day… this is resulting in me being zombie level exhausted all the time. I’ve tried changing when I take my meds, when I eat, I got a sunrise alarm clock, but nothing seems to be helping. Anyone else going through this? Has anyone found successful solutions?

(Paragraphs are titled because everyone reading this has ADHD lol)

Me personally:

I'm 28, I have a career, I build furniture for fun, and I somehow can't [insert every basic household chore here]. I desperately want to, but those kind of foundation-level tasks just make my brain explode, hello ADHD. So you know what I did? It was nowhere near easy, but I hired a nanny. For myself. Just this past month. And it's fucking amazing.

The more I learned about my ADHD, the more I've come to terms with the fact that I am not lazy, I have a goddamn mental disorder! This is a DISABILITY so why the hell are we all pretending it's our fault??

Validating my choice, societal scale:

I did some hard thinking on ~society~ and realized that the whole reason humans thrive is because we chip in with the things we're good at and get help from others who have the skills we lack. That's why there's the sales department and the engineering department, no one would expect those people to be interchangeable. You've got the baker and the blacksmith, both relying on each other and no one bats an eye at that. (In the US at least) we have this poisonous and completely false emphasis on individuality and independence that just a flat out lie. Nobody actually lives like that.

...and then personal scale:

So bringing it back: I'm not bad at doing chores, per se, but it takes me an absurd amount of energy to do what others can do easily, so I thought, why am I killing myself like this? I know my problems stem from ADHD which I can only control so much, and I've tried everything I could possibly think of to make it easier, so why am I counting this as a failure? Why should I even NEED to be fully independent on these things when someone else could and would help me?

So I did it!!!

I had to wrangle my ingrained humiliation, but I went online and hired someone with the understanding that I have insurmountable problems (don't downplay yourself, it's just the truth) and need assistance to thrive (as all humans do with all sorts of different things).

If you can afford $30/week to have somebody nice to come over twice a week for an hour and help you catch up on chores, I can tell you it is absolutely life changing. Simply having that safety net has even made me able to handle some of the things I previously couldn't, all on my own!! My depression is even on vacation!

HOW I did it (in detail — bolded important parts)

I tried several methods that didn't pan out, until my therapist recommended care.com. It has a fee but it was worth it, because they have such a wide user base and the people are legitimately good.

There is basically no acknowledgment (in general) that adults with ADHD even deserve this kind of help (and therefore no category for it) so I chose the closest and I put an ad in the Nanny category, and this was effective! (Elderly Care was runner-up) This worked because most people interested in being a nanny just genuinely want to help make someone's life easier. Some people also just really love kids, so I read people's bios to judge who would be sympathetic and would really enjoy helping me.

I was super clear in my ad that I'm an adult and I need help looking after my home life and details of precisely what kind of help I was looking for so there were no misunderstandings. (Here's what I wrote) I felt super vulnerable and scared and I actually asked a close friend if they would help me answer messages, but I ended up being able to do it on my own. After a few days I got a lot of hits and also reached out to people who had the magic combo of Nanny, Housekeeping, and Special Needs as their fields.

People were unbelievably nice! One girl even messaged me to say that she did not have any availability but she was proud of me and wished me the best and I'm crying right now LMAO

Anyway it worked!!!!! This awesome lady comes over to my apartment twice a week now (she's a mom and has two autistic sons, so she GETS IT). She just helps me do all my chores and anything that I've been having a hard time with.

What she does for me:

She comes twice a week:

1. First, she does my dishes because that is the hardest thing for me. She just walks in, over to the sink, and immediately grabs the sponge <3

2. I make a list of what I have been putting off for the past few days, and we work together!

3. She does the things that are giving me the most stress, and I do whatever I feel comfortable with. (She has assured me that she wouldn't mind doing everything, but I want to help and her presence unlocks my paralysis.)

4. She's super nice and straightforward and we enjoy each other's company, which is a plus!

Anyway, I'm sharing this journey because every single person with ADHD deserves someone to help them. ADHD is a disability and that isn't shameful. I know how hard it is to find help when everyone tells you you shouldn't need it, so I hope this can help somebody!

💖

Edit: I've added a pic of the job posting I wrote

Edit 2: Regarding price! Many people have pointed out that $30/week seems super low. This is because the person I've hired is not working for me as a nanny or a housekeeper. The workload is much lighter than a nanny, and the focus of the work is very different than a housekeeper. Housekeepers help the home, but the person I hired helps me help the home.

She also doesn't rely on this for income. I've found that there are a lot of people out there in the same position. For instance, I've found that some are stay-at-home moms who legitimately like this stuff and just want to help somebody and get out of the house for a couple hours a week. (Also, I told her to name her price and she asked for less than I ended up giving her, so 🤷)

For reference, my average regional prices:

• Housekeeper — $120/visit
• Nanny — $25-35/hr
• Minimum wage — $9.70/hr

For the record, I have ADHD myself and know what it’s like to be on the patient side and often feel like my doctors don’t understand at all and I just sit through it to get my medication. But obviously I am more often on the treating side and I want to know what your experiences have been so I can better treat all of my ADHD patients. Both positive and negative experiences are helpful, thank you!

Edit: Thank you all SO much for sharing your personal experiences. I’m still getting through the comments but so far it’s been incredible to see that everyone can openly share their struggles and for the sole purpose of bettering care for others. I’ve treated hundreds of patients with ADHD over the years and while I have had the psychiatric training, read countless books and research on ADHD and continue to struggle with it myself, I was still able to learn a great deal from all of you and put some things into perspective. I truly hope that you’re all treated with love and respect by your doctors, and if not, that you’re able to advocate yourself and seek the care you deserve. Love this community. 🥺

Tell them to imagine driving in the rain with no windshield wipers.

You can still drive, but it requires that much more effort, concentration, focus. You're white-knuckling the steering wheel the whole time, trying to squint through the rain and make your way. Maybe a little slower than everyone around you. Doable, but what a grind...

Take meds? It's like getting windshield wipers. Suddenly you can do what everyone else can do with ease. Your anxiety level drops, your ability to stay focused isn't hampered by the constant "on alert" your brain was before, your sense of stasis returns.

I think this resonates with people because they can "feel" the tension of driving with no wipers in rain. Just imagine that being life 24/7, and you suddenly see why ADHD can be such a disadvantage.

Then for those "Well if you just applied yourself... because you can do X well" types...

Well, the days they see that "potential" (i.e. hyperfocus most often) are the days it's raining for EVERYONE to the point their wipers don't work, and suddenly the ADHDer with endless experience driving with no wipers looks like they have an edge. They suddenly feel stasis in the chaos everyone else feels. That's the catch-22 of the ADHD brain.

My 2 cents as someone who's struggled for years to express WHY it's so difficult to a non ADHD brain. Now being on meds and seeing the pure misinformation from people even in the medical space, it really got me thinking about how misunderstood it is.

I’m sure I’m not the only one struggling with this. I have such a hard time eating like a regular person, if it doesn’t take 3 seconds to put together/scarf down I won’t eat it. The post cook clean up makes it impossible for me to want to make anything from scratch, and I’m super picky about leftovers, to the point where meal prepping isn’t really an option for me as I usually end up wasting everything I make. My usual go to is a protein bar or 10 piece from McDonald’s and I know my diet contributes to the severity of my adhd. How do y’all maintain a healthy eating routine? What are your 10 second put together meals that won’t go bad in the fridge? I’m desperate 😅

I'm sure what i'm describing has a name but i've just been calling them "rolling tasks" in my head. For example, I need to ship a box of merch to my old boss for a charity auction. But why bother doing just that if I can also ship all the late xmas gifts? and the missing orders? and count all my stock and mail it? Or having to shower, but I can't shower without vacuuming the cat litter off the bathroom floor first, and I can't do that because the vacuum is full, but I can't empty it because there's no garbage bag.

One achievable task turns into a "roll" of a bunch of tasks and ends up paralyzing me and I do nothing instead! Does this have a name? What has helped you to deal with it?

EDIT: Thanks for all the new funny terms and advice! If you also deal with this, how do you get around it? Usually if I have a big batch of things I end up doing nothing instead of trying to do just one. Or are we just screwed in that department

Just checking in with my fellow ADHDers on this small but annoying task. Because if my husband hadn’t don’t it I probably wouldn’t have done it yet. Also the oven and the car. I know none of us actually have analogue clocks in our homes!

Oh my god how many more characters until I reach the minimum?! Found it.

Saw a post about being home alone makes them "regress" or do nothing. I thought it was common knowledge that one of ADHD's core struggles is executive dysfunction, aka you need someone/something other than yourself in charge.

You may notice this in ways like brushing your teeth/showering when you have to leave the house compared to when you don't. Or when you have a deadline impending vs a task with no deadline. When someone is home that is expecting chores to be done vs when you're home alone.

Yes, it's not impossible to self motivate, but it's inconsistent at best. So any possible way you can outsource consequences or expectations of your behavior, goals, or tasks should be taken if you're wanting to see more consistent functioning.

Understanding ADHD is half the battle! The more you understand how your brain works, the more you can work with it.

For context, I have some really important exams next week. I deleted Instagram and TikTok 1 Month ago to not get distracted. And guys.. it really helped me with my ADHD. ( I kept Reddit because I don't follow any meme sites here, just reading content. )

I'm not constantly having the same TikTok/reel song in my head, my mind is much more calmer than it ever was. I'm not constantly checking Instagram when I need dopamine. I try to move or read an article about something that's interesting.

I have learned so much about my brain this month, it's amazing. Of course my ADHD is not healed and I'm still taking my meds and I'm still forgetful and all of the symptoms didn't disappear.

But you guys should really try this. I recommend this to you!

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I wanted to ask my mom how bad my symptoms were when I was a child and if anybody else in my extended family might have this disorder. I didn't even get a chance to get my whole thought out before she blurted, "Oh, yeah, I know you have ADHD. You were diagnosed when you were 7." I'm sorry. WHAT?! I've gone my entire life thinking that I'm not as smart as my friends. Thinking that I'm not good enough for the job that I have. Struggling through high school and college. How much easier would the last 23 years have been if I had been able to take medication?

My mom never once told me that I was diagnosed. I have never taken medication and I don't remember ever seeing any doctors when I was a child. Her reason for not pursuing any kind of corrective measures? Apparently the doctor that diagnosed me told her that ADHD is a sign of an intelligent brain. So she latched onto that and didn't think there was even a problem to address.

Not gonna lie, I'm livid right now.

I realised a while back that I can easily help friends when they're in a crisis or in need, and I can easily help friends with ADHD to stay on top of things. But when it comes to myself, I just cannot get it together to cook, clean, tidy up etc.

So now I pretend that I'm doing stuff for a friend who's having a hard time. The bonus is that I speak to myself really kindly. I'm like, "Hey, I know you don't want to get out of bed, but how about you have a nice shower and then have a coffee? I'll even make the bed for you.".

I know I'm only talking to myself, but since I already have an active imagination I can really get into the swing of it. The other day I even made myself dinner and cleaned up after saying, "Go take a nap, I'll do this for you! No need to thank me, I like doing nice things for you!".

I’m currently in that chronic boredom stage. Last hyperfixation has got boring and there is NOTHING I find entertaining on YouTube. I have ZERO obsessions right now and I’m going insane 😩

I really wish I could explain to people what ADHD chronic/manic/supersonic boredom feels like 😖

That feeling when you open like 20 YouTube vids you might like and within 5 seconds I’m like “nope boring” next video 😑 I hate it so much.

I can’t wait to go to uni tommorrow 🥴

I know it was said multiple times, but maybe it would help someone, as I just experienced a nice example of how movement can affect our productivity.

after weeks of struggling with work, deadlines, responsibilities, dishes (ah, mf dishes), and other things, not to mention the feelings, mind fogginess, running thoughts, etc. I decided to make a plan for the week to get up and sweat a little.

just that, 3 times per week in the morning, little running and body weight exercise afterward. I won't go into the details as this is very individual, and can be adjusted to each person.

I still struggle with some things, trying to quit smoking and other things, but after a week and less than 3 hours, I feel proud, motivated, satisfied to some degree, and happier.

daily walks in the sun are nice, but I think, in my experience, sweating for progressively longer times at least 2 or 3 times a week can make a huge difference to some.

I was spiraling into chaos and considering multiple negative ways to deal with it, but regular exercise and everyone saying how great it is for people with ADHD and in general, are true.

thank you and good luck everyone.

I've been doing a lot of researching and I'm just overloaded with all the stuff the Internet tells me to get because apparently 'It helps with adhd'

Instead of the Internet telling me, I just want to read what people have bought that geniunley has helped them with their adhd and they can't live without it

Edit: Wow I wasn't expecting this much useful information. Thanks everyone, I hope your recommendations help others as well!

Not one you WANT to use or dream the best version of you would do. Nothing on your Pinterest board LOL.

Something you’ve actually put into every day use, that’s changed you.

Here’s some I’ve actually used for years -

• only use crossover purses or book bags. If it’s not attached me, I’m losing it.

• turn my debit cards on and off so if I sign up for a bunch of subscriptions and forget to cancel, they don’t go through

• use a real alarm clock across the room from you, no more relying on the phone that you forgot to charge

• use that same alarm by hitting snooze over and over once you’re up to help with time blindness. Doesn’t get rid of it, but definitely helps make you more aware.

Edit - in shower lotion. You use it wet before you dry off. Another game changer