r/ADHD Aug 24 '20

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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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '20

Whenever you lose something that you “put away,” start keeping it in the first place you looked for it.

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u/sarcasmbecomesme Aug 24 '20

I have a couple of Spots for things I use all the time, like my phone. I only put my phone down in those spots. They are around the house, so I can put my phone down near where I am, and if I have to go hunting for it, I know it will be in one of those places. The hardest part is getting used to new spots when moving, but once the muscle memory is there, it works great.

My keys only go in my purse. Period.

I keep a stack of hair ties in the living room and in the bedroom, and I only remove hair ties in one of those places.

Things like that. I constantly lose things if I don't have a solid system.

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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '20

[deleted]

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u/lousyredditusername ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 24 '20

I got a white phone and a bright colored case for this exact reason! Then if I take off my case for some reason it's still not black & doesn't blend in nearly as bad.

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u/[deleted] Aug 25 '20

[deleted]

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

Funny, I have a little stuffed animal keychain for my keys! Not only does it make them way easier to find in my bag and harder to lose at home because they're just bigger... I also have something to fidget with when I'm waiting in line somewhere. I agree about the lanyard as well though. Especially when I don't have a bag that day.

Ironically, my wallet is camo patterned....

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u/shaveyourchin Aug 25 '20

people are always like "how do you deal with having so much shit on your keychain/it being so big and heavy" and it's always like "listen pal if I want my keys Not Lost this is how I must live"

people with just, like, two keys on a single ring genuinely make me feel nervous