Are you embarrassed about your secret ADHD coping mechanisms? Me, too. But I want to share things with you that are totally free.
And these aren't those Pinterest worthy hacks or the gadgets made by neurotypical people. These are real things that you can do that have drastically improved my executive function and help me get stuff done. Wait, quick disclaimer.
I'm not a doctor, a psychiatrist, or anybody smart. This is just this is just stuff that works. I email myself probably a dozen times a day or I'll send myself a text message with every random thought that I don't want to forget in my brain or something that I see that's cool or it's like don't forget to do this awesome thing because I will immediately forget to do the awesome thing.
But the next time I pick up my phone or in the morning when I check my email, I'll see the reminder. Plus, this is searchable. So if you always use the same kind of like subject line like important or don't forget then you can just search that and all those emails will come up.
So you could go back and be reminded like to do things. I remember what I was going to say. Here's why it's important.
It's kind of like a time capsule but also you can search it for all the things like groceries or whatever. And also my point is when your memory sucks, use technology. You have a random thought that's awesome, send it to yourself.
This works. Let's talk about going to zombie land. When my executive function crashes, like when my brain just can't brain anymore, I do something called going to zombie land.
And this is where I listen to an audio book. I turn off my brain. to like focus on the book so that my body can just do things like a zombie without me realizing it.
It's really perfect for those mindless tasks like cleaning or watering flowers or putting away laundry. And it's kind of like a reboot for my brain. So, anytime that I need to check out, but I still want to be productive, going to zombie land.
super extra helpful if the book is fiction and romance like with werewolves and vampires and witches or you do you. I am a terrible driver. Like worst driver ever.
But here's my hack. When I'm driving, I listen to loud music, like club music, dance music. Like I'm having a midlife crisis up in here.
Why? Because it stimulates my brain so that I can actually focus. And I know that seems really counterintuitive, but extremely loud like with a heavy beat music puts me in the zone and I stop worrying about anxiety and I stop looking for dopamine everywhere and instead I actually become an incredible driver.
So sorry to my neighbors, sorry to the person beside me at the stoplight, but this is the awesomest ADHD hack if you also have driving anxiety. I've said this a million times, but it really works. And that is having like an alarm ecosystem.
I have alarms constantly, and then I have alarms right after my alarms because I'm going to snooze the first alarm. And I have an Alexa in every room to constantly just remind me of the things that I know I should be doing, but I will immediately forget to do those things. And it isn't just doctor's appointments or don't forget about that Zoom meeting that you're totally going to forget, but it's things like don't forget to drink water.
Don't forget to stretch and like stand up every now and then. All of these little alarms going off throughout my home and on my phone cuz sometimes I can't find my phone are a key to making my brain do things. My memory is the worst, especially with people's names.
I don't remember. It's good if I remember I even met the person, let alone their name. So, I started doing something years ago that I called like narrative nicknames, which I also found out was actually called pneumonic devices.
>> You look like the drummer from foreigner. A foreigner is from France. France friends with ants.
Ants ruin a picnic. >> What's up, Nick? >> Which is a fancy scientific term for creating a story around something so that you can retain the information specifically with people's names.
I'm going to give you example. I just went to a party and it was like a katan party and I met this person and her name was Alice and I'm like how am I going to remember her name? I was like Alice in Wonderland but she didn't look like Alice in Wonderland cuz she had brown hair but she did look like someone who boiled bunnies.
If you know you know. So then I was like Alice in Wonderland boiled white bunnies like the bunny that went down the rabbit. And now every time I look at her I know her name is Alice because she boils bunnies which I'm sure she doesn't actually boil bunnies.
Let's talk about bed rot. Bedrot, if you don't know, is when you stay in bed and do nothing else for at least a day. And this is something that I do often.
And I'm actually ashamed about it, but I don't feel like I should be ashamed because this is how I cope and recharge when I'm mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. I literally just eat in my bed and drink in my bed and lay in my bed doing nothing all day. But it's very easy for me to turn one day of bed rot into like five consecutive days.
So I have bed rot breakers which is I force myself to shower. I force myself to go for a 10-minute walk or I force myself to just get up and like stretch, bend, touch my toes, that type of thing. The little movements or kind of like that pattern interrupter can snap me out of it.
I guess the hack is allow yourself to bed rot if you have to, but don't let the bed rot go for more than one consecutive day. This is a long video. I'm actually curious.
Let me know in the comments below if you are a bed rotter. Not when you're sick. This isn't about being like physically sick.
This is about being mentally just wore out. So, you need a whole day of just nothing. Potato.
Potato. Let me know if you're a potato in the comments below. Entertainment anchor.
This is so important for me, especially when I'm doing something where I have to stay still, like cooking. I can't tell you how many times I've wandered away and the stove is overflowed or like burned things. So, I'll watch a show to anchor me in place.
I also do this if I'm putting away laundry in one specific spot, just so I'm not distracted and I don't wander away. It can't be like an a podcast because I could wander with that. It has to be like a show that I watch on my iPad keeping me anchored to where I need to be.
If you also are a wanderer, this will work for you. Have you heard of the allergy method? I don't know how you're going to feel about this one, but here's what I do.
I am impulsive. Impulsive is an understatement. I have zero self-control except when I tell myself like I pretend that I'm deathly allergic to things that I can't help but over consume.
The first thing I ever did this to was alcohol because one margarita cast is naked on a table. You know what I'm trying like it turns into 50 real quick. So I do not drink alcohol and in fact I tell myself that I'm allergic to alcohol in my brain.
This is so helpful to for me to have that like all or nothing protective barrier to stop myself from overindulging. So right now I'm allergic to ice cream because I have a tendency to overindulge and then I do kind of feel sick. So I mean it's not really a lie.
But the point is if there's something you want to just stay away from, something that you have a tendency to become overly impulsive with, try the allergy method today. I just want to let you know that if you're noticing lately maybe in this video that I'm a little bit off, it's because I'm actually not taking my ADHD medication at the current time because I've been having migraines and like going blind and seeing flashing lights. So, I'm trying to stop taking a bunch of different things to see if perhaps that's causing the migraines.
So, is it an excuse? No, I don't have to make an excuse for my behavior, but also just know that I'm like not on something. I'm off something, which makes me seem like I'm on something.
If you know, you know. I fidget. I mean, everyone fidgets, but especially in meetings or anytime I'm doing something boring, instead of traditional fidget toys, I'm like a doodle or Dan.
So, I've got my like little notebook and I make squirrels or smiley faces or suns and flowers. And this helps my brain actually focus. The other thing that I love so much are paper clips, especially colored paper clips, and I will make chains.
So, I will just like mindlessly, some people crochet. I make useless paperclip chains and put them all together or I'll color coordinate them. This, for some reason, helps my brain.
You've heard of all these new college kids and university students like crocheting in class. It's because doing something with your hand actually helps your brain learn and pay attention. is bonkadons, but it works.
Look at this pretty one. Look at this. Ready to get Mary Poppins up in here?
You know, it's like spoonful of sugar. >> The point is, um, I'm not great at remembering to take meds or taking vitamins because, uh, boring and I need a bunch. So, candy vitamins, chewable vitamins that are delicious and nutritious, are the secret to me actually taking my vitamins every day because I want to cuz they're yummy.
Try it. You're welcome. Sometimes I use shame as a motivator, which I know is kind of weird, but do you know when you want to do something in your brain, but like your body just doesn't feel the energy or you can't make yourself do the thing?
I actually have an app. I'm not sponsored. This isn't I'm not recommending this app.
You can find all of this on YouTube, but the app I listen to is called Pep Talk. And it is a combination of a bunch of the most motivational speeches broken down into little segments or pep talks. And it's like people saying get up and be amazing.
Do you want to keep living the life you're living or do you want to live an extraordinary life? Do you you tired of the way things are going? It's always going to go this way if you don't change it.
Anyways, the point is I hit play. I set this down and I just have this running in the background. whether I'm bedrodding or I'm getting ready or whatever and instantly I feel shamed into being motivated.
This is such a good hack. I use it on my husband. I'll just hit play and like set it beside him.
Maybe I shouldn't call this shame as much as tough love or tough motivation. If this is something that you think will work for you too and you want to declutter, a couple of months ago I did like a Colonel Cass tough love declutter video which hopefully can help motivate you to get up and get stuff out of your house. I'll put a link to that in the description below.
The tendency hack. I love this so much. It's basically a way for you to motivate yourself to get things done by just understanding your natural tendency.
This is from the book Gretch and Rubin called the four tendencies. And the whole concept is I'm an obliger, which means I know that I'll only do things if it's tied to other people. Cuz I'm a people pleaser and I don't like confrontation or disappointing others.
So if I want to go grocery shopping, but I don't want to go grocery shopping, I'll schedule a pickup. So I have to go pick up the food or else the person who's packed it is going to be super upset and disappointed. or if I should work out, I'll make an appointment with a friend or a personal trainer.
So, like I have to go or they're going to be sad, right? Tying it to someone else. Make it a promise or an appointment.
That's how I get stuff done. So, read the four tendencies, learn your tendency, and watch magic happen. Costumes.
Costumes are freaking powerful, man. If there is, say, something you want to do, but you don't want to do, but like you want to do it, but you really don't want to do it, a costume can put your brain into motivated mode. Seriously, put on an apron and some gloves and you're going to want to clean.
Put on some workout gear and running shoes. You're way more likely to work out. Put on a business jacket and you're captain business up in here, ready to work on businessy things.
I don't know the science behind it. I only know that it works. So seriously, dress the part and like magic, you will become the person you want to be.
Try it. Vision boards work different for ADHD brains. Like abstract goals, useless.
Visual reminders, game changer. When I started doing a vision board, I wasn't like picking pie in the sky things. I was thinking about real goals I wanted to work towards.
And there's something really powerful about seeing these goals. I mean, some of them are a little pie in the sky, but the majority of them are things like plant a garden, book a vacation, become a beekeeper. These are things that I'll see kind of in my peripheral vision.
I'll be reminded that they're important. So, I'm subconsciously always working towards these goals. You've probably heard make a vision board a million times before, but I promise if you have ADHD, give this a try.
Print some pictures off the internet or cut things out of magazines. This reminder will change your life. I have a free vision board template so you can turn your computer screen or your lock screen on your phone or the background of your phone into a vision board totally free.
I'm going to put a link in the description below. Let's talk about a break person. Joy says in our relationship that I'm the gas and he's the break.
And I do think this is important when you have ADHD. If you are very impulsive and you make dumb decisions and you are very forgetful to have someone in your life that you can just go to and say, "Is this really a bad idea? " and trust that they're going to tell you.
I'm not saying like it's not some weird patriarchy patriarchy stuff where I'm making him the boss, but there are lots of times where I think something is genius and he is like actually that's illegal. Then I'm like, yeah, won't be doing that. Sometimes he'll say, "No, you shouldn't do that.
" But he won't be stern with it, like firefighting or beekeeping. And so I'll squeak those ones by. But when he's adamant like absolutely we are not selling everything we own and moving to Bali because we have children and responsibilities.
I know that's something we shouldn't do. So think about your own life. Do you have a break person?
This is so helpful when you have ADHD. And there you have it. 15 weird but strangely amazingly helpful strategies that help me cope in a world that's built for neurotypical people.
And this goes without saying, but the best strategy is the one that actually works for you. Not everything is going to work for everyone because all of us have different brains, which is why I developed the clutterbug quiz and the four different organizing styles because it isn't one sizefits-all. So, if you haven't already, go check out my website and take that free quiz and find how your brain works when it comes to home organizing.
And do me like a huge favor and put in the comments below strange little hacks that work for you when it comes to coping and executive function and ADHD. I love trying new weirdo things. Weirdos Unite.
Also the podcast. It's got some pretty cool ADHD content. I'm going to put a link to all this stuff and more in the comments.
And I'll see you next time. Stay a weirdo, friend. Stay being a weirdo.
Thank you guys so much for those of you who have stayed to the end. Today, here in Canada where I live, it is officially the first day of back to school. Woo!
I have some friends who are moms that literally get like sad when their kids go back to school. I don't under Make this make sense. Also, what are you on and where can I get some?
Because when my kids are home all summer, it is I love them. I I love them so much, but they're always here and I work from home, so they're just constantly making messes and getting snacks and I'm trying to work and they're texting me, "Where are the cookies? " constantly.
And I'm just really, really, really happy that they're back in school. I don't know how homeschoolers do it. You guys are your saints.
You're saints. Let me know in the comments below. I feel like there's like two schools of moms.
The ones that want to be around their children 24/7 and love them more than anything and the ones who while love them just wish that maybe they would sometimes go away for like a short amount of time. I want to miss you. Are you Are you A or B?
See you guys next time. You feeling all right today? Beep.
Let's talk about a break person. I got a little dizzy from that. Beep.
Give me a name. Emily, go. >> Phil car.
Phil. Philly cheese steak. Does he look like he eats a lot of Philly cheese steak?
Unless he's thin. Then how can I do Phil? He's skinny, dude.
Phil. Is he full of Is he lying? So he's filled with Cuz he lies.
Phil. No. Give me another name.
An easier one. An easier one. Go >> Steve.
>> Steve. Oh, Steve Urkl. If he's a nerd, then I'm just like and then I'm up.
But if he's not a nerd, if he's hot, am I going like Steve? The dude that got stabbed by the thing in the water by the thing? No.
Does he look Australian? Steve? Was that the guy's name?
Steve? Maybe another one. Beep.
Okay, Emily. Like, maybe I'll just think of another one. I'm going to think.
I'm going to think. Dennis. Dennis the menace.
Somebody's like, "Hi, I'm Dennis. " Do they look like a grown-up version of Dennis the Menace? Even if they're not, I'm like, "That kid was a punk as a kid.
He's Dennis the Menace. " And then every time I see him, I'll know that he's Dennis. Because in my brain, it's Dennis the Menace.
Grown up as a 40-year-old who's still a real kid. You want to just boot into the sun. Beep.
Give me another one. Carol. Carol.
Does she look like she sings Christmas carols and wears like ugly Christmas sweaters? Yes. Is her hair in curls?
Carol. Carol. I'm going to tie a Christmas thing into here.
Unless she looks completely normal, then what would I do? Carol. Carol of the bells.
Bells. Dingleing. Nope.
Carol's going to be hard. It really depends what she looks like. Give me another one.
Another one. Beatric. Beatatrice.
Beatatric. I feel like there was a Beatric the Cow when I was a kid. Beatatrice.
Yeah. Does she look like Goofy's wife? Was it Goofy?
Goofy is not a cow. I think he's a dog. Beatric.
Beatric. It was a cow, wasn't it? Beatric the cow from the Looney Tunes.
No, from Mickey Mouse. It's Clementine. It's Clementine.
Doesn't matter. In my brain, it's Beatatric. So, alls I have to remember is that cow that Goofy was in love with.
So, maybe Beatatric husband is a real dope. And then he would be Goofy. And then she would be his wife cow, which is Beatatric, which isn't.
It's actually Clementine, but that's fine. What? Beep.
That was weird. That was weird because just end it, Cass. Just Just walk away.
