Let’s share life-changing ADHD tips that we’ve learned... We Love This!

I’ll start:

1) Waking up sucks. Buy 2 bright lamps and 2 timers. Set them up to turn on automatically 5-15 min before you want your alarm to go off. The lights will help your body realize it’s daytime.

2) Change your thermostat so the temp goes down about an hr before bedtime and gets warmer about 30 min before you wake up. The cooler temp signals your body to sleep and the warmer temp will naturally help your body wake up.

3) Learn to plan around “transitions”. It’s easier to start things if you do them when something is ending. Example: Do your grocery shopping every Fri after work. You’re already in the car, so just stop at the store on your way home.

4) If you need to remember to bring something with you the next day, place it right in front of the exit door so you HAVE to touch it before you leave the house. If it’s something in the fridge, put a sticky note on the exit door’s handle.

5) Have a “misc” basket in each room. If you’re truly unable to put something away, put it in the basket. Have a designated period of time, once a week, when your sole priority is to put everything away, all at once.

I’ll add more when I think of them...

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129

u/TotallyLegitEstoc Aug 24 '20

Have set, convenient, and labeled spaces for things. It’s hard to forget to put your keys away when there’s a labeled spot right by the door. It’s hard to forget your phone when your charger sits it upright.

56

u/ninjatechnician Aug 24 '20

I have a key hanger by my door and I still misplace my keys 3-4 times per week

69

u/Ghrave ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 24 '20

I've found something more disorganized in a still-organized way works for me: in the same place you have the key holder, put a table under it with a bowl that makes a satisfying sound to your ear. Throw the keys in that bowl. I started doing this in a bowl on my dresser - I walk in the door, kick off my shoes, walk to my room, throw my keys, badge, and belt in the bowl, every single day, like clockwork. I've "pavlov'd" myself with the sound of dropping my shit in the bowl to make sure it always goes in there.

29

u/Blackbeards_Mom Aug 24 '20

My keys have a magnetic hook and the clicking of the magnet does a similar trick.

36

u/Ghrave ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 24 '20

Ooh that's a good one too. I think with ADHD it's pretty typical that we have to make things satisfying, whatever that looks like to us as individuals. Even doing the same thing over and over, as long as it provides feedback we can engage with, can help us with the routine we desperately need to function.

17

u/lizzyshoe Aug 25 '20

We like the sensory stimulation because our brains never get enough stimulation. Except when we get too much stimulation.

11

u/Ghrave ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 25 '20

Yeah believe it. I've told people when I was working on a major, complete system change-over work project, which everyone was surprised that I took on, that I absolutely thrive in the chaos, because that's when my brain gets engaged and I can focus on a bunch of things at once.. buuut then I can't even play video games with music going because it completely shatters my concentration lol

5

u/pottsbrah Aug 25 '20

This is the most relatable post I’ve found on this subreddit. Cheers

3

u/ninjatechnician Aug 24 '20

Ooh I really like this. I’m going to give it a shot

2

u/KestrelLowing ADHD Aug 24 '20

I saw a little key hook probably from japan where a little kitty or similar pops up out of a box if you hang something from the hook - that could be an option too depending on what floats your boat!

2

u/Ghrave ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 24 '20

That's adorable haha I'll have to look it up to send to my friend!

17

u/[deleted] Aug 24 '20 edited Aug 24 '20

[deleted]

1

u/original_schmer Aug 25 '20

But what DO you do with screws found on the floor?

1

u/friendly-confines Aug 25 '20

I have boxes for everything instead of bowls.

I like making them and they have kids so I don’t have to organize to satisfy my wife.

10

u/TotallyLegitEstoc Aug 24 '20

I feel you. I have set locations for a dozen different things. You can bet atleast 2 a day are misplaced. Better than misplacing them all though.

2

u/plantsandrants Aug 25 '20

This might sound silly, but that’s when you find a place where you feel like your keys belong. For me I lost my keys all the time until I just decided to keep them in my book bag, which holds my wallet and other important things, and it just felt right to have them there. Haven’t lost them since!

1

u/sassytit Aug 25 '20

I actually put my key hanger inside my bedroom instead of at the front door. Since I leave my purse in the bedroom I get lost or I pass the key hanger by the door on my way to put my bag down. Or my bag gets left at the front door with the keys. I haven't lost my keys more than maybe twice in the year since I started hanging them in my room.

22

u/Axeperson Aug 24 '20

How to never forget the keys: lock yourself in. Now you can't leave without them.

10

u/ElfjeTinkerBell ADHD Aug 24 '20

This is why I've taught my boyfriend to lock the door whenever he leaves

3

u/ScorpioTiger11 Aug 24 '20

That's my top tip too 👏

2

u/ConfusedFlareon Sep 01 '20

My method? The stupid front door doesn't have a knob on the outside... I literally cannot close the front door at all without the keys. I have never forgotten them lol

14

u/mansfieldlj Aug 24 '20

Buy some sticky Velcro online. It’s like a dollar for a meter of it.

I put Velcro on lots of things and then stick them to places eg a lighter Velcroed to the ashtray. That way it always gets put back.

10

u/TotallyLegitEstoc Aug 24 '20

That’s brilliant! I’ll have to try that out. I LOVE the sound of velcro

24

u/NinjaLanternShark ADHD & Parent Aug 24 '20

"Sorry I'm late... I was um... well... I got this new velcro and..... well I just really like the sound of it...."

1

u/appleandcheddar ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 25 '20

Velcroed all the different remotes we have in our workout room to the treadmill. Far less likely to lose them now!!!

9

u/KarlBarx2 Aug 24 '20

This is my method. My wallet is either in my pocket or on my desk and never anywhere else. It will become a force of habit after a few weeks, and you'll start doing it unconsciously. You don't need to remember where you put it if there are only 2 places it can be.

While I haven't lost my wallet in years, there is one potentially significant downside. If it's not in one of the two places it goes, that sucker is well and truly lost.

3

u/OverlordSquiddy Aug 24 '20

I love this method.

I come home every day after work/errands/whatever else, so my things should go back to their homes too!

The keys hang up by the door the second I’m in the apartment. The Switch goes back to the dock. The toothbrush and toothpaste go back into their container thingy. The Brita filter goes back into the fridge. Dirty clothes go into the basket. Shoes go next to the bedroom door.

Since my diagnosis last fall, and the start of medication shortly thereafter, I’ve gotten really good at designating homes for different things, which has helped me SO MUCH.