ADHD Friendly House Hacks - Feat. MY HOUSE! (Executive Function Friendly Tips)
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- čas přidán 18. 10. 2021
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Come hang out with me in my new executive function friendly home! And if you have any tips and tricks leave them in the comments below. Let's help make our world more ADHD friendly.
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I'm actually kind of crying. I'm 60 years old and never diagnosed with ADHD, and yet every single issue you describe and struggle with is so familiar it's almost a pleasant feeling. "Oh, maybe I'm not just a lazy, disorganized, messy, forgetful, unambitious ingrate and failure at every massive talent I was born with." Thank you.
so true
52 here, and I feel you, sister!
I'm 49. They call women like us the "lost generation." Because our male peers were diagnosed, but we weren't.
Super giant virtual support to you! I'm 51 and have only last year figured out how loveably adhd I am. Ain't it great how the world turns and we are seen (at least by our fellows)?
the most glaring thing in this and the replies is that if you where a man you wouldn't have lived it in such a negative hurtful way simply because of social pressure.
or rather the insecurity is the same but the men where forced to get a job and eventually find success which ended up validating them while the women where just branded as failures and only good for housework in most cases. that's not ok...
I see how my grandfather operates (no diagnosis but he probably IS ADHD personified) and he's completely dysfunctional without my grandmother but the insecurity and failure feeling died in his 20s and he didn't have to change anything.
This is gold. There should be OCD friendly homes. Depression friendly homes. Anxiety friendly homes. This is the start of a new trend. A toast to you madam 🥂
Hey, love your ideas. What would you suggest for these types of homes? I need this info ASAP.
That’s a great idea!
Yes!!! And comorbid homes! (Although we should really come up with a better name cos that just sounds awful. 😂) I also would like to know what these different homes would look like. And then I’d like to order an ADHD/Depression friendly home, please! 😊
I have OCD and a lot of these things apply to that as well! Like the sensory dishes thing or the at arms tip, i just get so overwhelmed by everything i don't even do it LOL
Depression friendly homes would be very interesting to watch
For those of you watching... I was diagnosed and medicated for depression from the age of 17. And I never got better. I was finally diagnosed with ADHD at 35, after 6 months on regular ADHD medication, I never needed depression meds again. Totally life changing.
I'm going thru this too. My doc has me on Zoloft but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I think ADHD meds would actually help me
This is my exact story as well at the same ages! I'm only 20 days into my ADHD diagnosis and medication though so I'm really hoping I can stop my depression meds at some point. The improvements with ADHD meds are subtle but they're there. Hoping it continues to get better!
I'm so happy for you! I know I had the same reaction to my adhd meds after dealing with depression for decades. It's incredible the difference those can make.
Adhd medication is different than anxiety n depression ?
@@Oscaritoooo yeah the medications are different, generally the first medications that people with mood or anxiety disorders are prescribed are an SSRI, and for ADHD generally stimulant medications are recommended.
SSRIS and stimulant medications are different classes of drugs that affect brain chemistry in different ways
I don’t have adhd, but I do struggle with executive function due to depression, and I’ve found that tips for adhd people also help me quite a bit. Thank you!
There is also a lot of overlap with the executive dysfunction (and some other symptoms) experienced by those of us with cptsd. You are not alone! I'm glad you are finding validation and community here
Same
Here's my oddest point-of-performance hack:
I like to take my socks off as soon as I take my shoes off (socks are the enemy lol), so my living room floor was always strewn with dirty socks. Also, I always hated having to run back into my bedroom to get socks as I was about to leave the house (and then obviously getting distracted on the way).
Solution? I have two baskets right by my door, one for clean socks and one for dirty socks! Sure, it gets weird looks from the neurotypicals, but it's been a huge quality of life improvement!
This is brilliant 🙌🏽
I might do the socks basket thing! That’s brilliant! Finding socks is always an extra 5-10mins in the morning that makes me late because I can never find the matching pairs of the right type. Then if I do, I’ll put them down in the bathroom or next to the kettle on the way out of the bedroom. Thank you for sharing that!
I have a dirty sock basket in my living room, but sometimes when I wake up in the morning the cats have knocked it over and ran off with the socks
I do this too!!
Omg this just blew my mind!
"Now I'm talking my dog for a walk holding a coffee mug."
Girl, me and that coffee mug have done so many unnecessary things together...
✊🍻
Seriously! This was my favorite moment! Spoon rest… yep. Get that too!
Get a travel cup for your coffee- less spills when you walk the dog or get the mail/paper.
why am I in this room? Why do I have a mug? .... and then there are the 3 other half-drunk cups of coffee scattered everywhere cause I keep misplacing my cups of coffee cause I need coffee so badly
@@laurendeah4196 LOL! You need to get one BIG coffee mug so you can’t miss it for tripping over it. Mine is about the size of a 40 ounce peanut butter jar. :)
I'm 56 and when you walked away from the coffee pot to get filters and got distracted with throwing out chicken and then thinking about walking the dog I actually saw myself in you. What an eye opening thing to see. Subscribed and like and will be watching your channel forever more. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
I am so right there with you on that! :-)
I know! I about lost it!😂
Same I started laughing because it's so relatable, going to the kitchen for water will end in me walking out with a snack and forgetting my water.
Oh yes!!! Same with me 😂...
Me, too!!!
"that's not happening I'm just climbing up on the counter".... Yes. That is my natural reflex as well. 😂
I climbed up everything....until I fell. Now I have 2 ladders different sizes to do those climbing chores.
@@sherielowe4256 ooi, i hope no permanent damage was done.
oh me too!! I'm 58 and still climb on everything! and climb over things, and under things, and go places I'm not supposed to, and take "you shouldn't do that" as a challenge, and run back outside barefoot through whatever because I left something behind, etc. etc.
@@LindseyHP 😆 looks like we're cut from the same cloth!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The biggest thing that's helped me recently is having my toothbrush and toothpaste in a little cup by my bed. It's been super helpful for getting out of bed in the morning. I can start brushing my teeth while laying down and have a tangible/immediate need forcing me out of bed to start the day. And! I don't have to remember to brush my teeth when I'm rushing to get ready. It might be weird, but it really works :)
Oo I might try something like this! I put off brushing my teeth for hours and know I’d feel much more prepared if I did it right away!
That is absolutely genius!!!!!!
I need to steal this!
I've been trying so hard to find that system, thanks dude
Genius! Stealing
As someone married to an ADHD person, this was helpful for me understanding some of the ways our house doesn't work for my wife AND why she does certain things in certain areas that drive me bonkers. So, thank you for helping me see the ways I can share space more affectively.
I love that you are finding ways to understand her better!
This is awesome! I wish this had Spanish subtitles for my husband so he can understand me better.
This makes me so happy to read!
This is nice, but maybe you should try actually asking and listening to your wife? Communication is number 1 in relationships, not a single "manual" can replace that. Try understanding her in whole, not one condition she has. Might seem personal, but I am just saying what I would expect from and really admire in a partner. Have a nice day.
@@magic13christispage True, but for for myself it would be very hard to articulate why I’m so methodically disorganized and why no matter what kind of system I set up, I can never seem to keep it up.
I’ve been finding the concept of under stimulating just as important as over stimulating personally, and realising how important it is that my immediate surroundings and environment be the right level of stimulating, aka not an overwhelming club but not a sterile, grey cubicle (aka box of sadness). I personally find colour to be really important in getting this stimulation balance right and am working on bringing more colour into my life in every way I can (the greige interior design trend of the past decade bloody killed me)
I so agree on the color and stimulation balance.
My husband wants our bedroom and bathroom to be white. I'm not sure I can cope with that
That's why I have Christmas lights everywhere in my bedroom and living room! Currently in my living room I have three different types, which definitely makes it more interesting in here. My walls are mostly bare except around my desk, which is good because three different colors of lights felt kind of crazy at first.
There are color healing books and CDs you might want to look into for info.For what's it's worth.....
This is why I have rgb everything 😂
Being able to have a different space for every activity isn’t always practical, so I like to have a different “mode” for different activities in various rooms. “Sleeping” bedroom is different to “relaxing” bedroom and “transition” bedroom in intentional and constant ways. When I’m getting ready in the morning, my bedroom isn’t in “sleep mode” so it makes it easier to resist crawling back into bed. If that makes sense to anyone lol.
It how do you add an external help to remember or emphasize? I do a change of lighting. I have a lamp and bedroom light. They’re connected to my phone so I can turn them off electronically. I switch to the lamp for bedtime. Both in the morning, then just the top light when I get home from work.
I'm having major trouble with this as I'm chronically late or like right on time to every obligation and it makes me feel horrible... But humans choose pleasure over pain and staying cozy in bed is way less painful in my brain than being scolded for being late, which isn't logical.
I've found that having smart lights and setting my phone to change them at different times of day can really help me with that differentiation of the bedroom because in a tiny apartment makes it hard to separate areas based on activities. But I've started to build "invisible" walls to separate the rooms better. (Couch acts as a barrier for the living room, sound proof panels around the desk, and tv at the foot of the bed to close it off from eye sight as I'm getting dressed and ready. There are many small things like these that can be done to minimize distractions.
I fully understand.
@@emilyboyer9211look into circadian rhythms and blue light blocking. Will help you feel less tired.
One of things I've learned that helps me is to keep a light on in the rooms where I needed to do something. The biggest example is the laundry room. I can see the light from across the house and remember, "Oh yeah I put clothes in the washer, they are probably done by now."
I do this too!!
Video game quest logic
Me too! I'm lucky my laundry room door has a window, it's too cold to keep the door open. The other day I turned the light off, forgot to take the damp clothes out, and they froze. 😂
Smart!
That's really smart
An ADHD house trick that helped me read more was to stop putting my books on my nightstand and place them next to my laptop instead. When I'm bored, I always default to going to my computer for entertainment, even if I don't actually feel like doing anything in particular on it. Seeing the book next to it works as a visual cue for me to stop and say "do I really want to go into my computer?".
Also, I stopped buying books for my e-book and went back to buying physical books. Seeing the cover pictures and colors is much more effective to put me in the mood for reading that just seeing my e-book lol
I also have switched back to physical books and am having so much more success with reading again!! glad to not be alone in this
I'll try that as well, i bought 5 books and as they were laying around i put them away on a shelf. Guess who hasnt read a single page since
This is super smart!!
I've been trying to explain my preference for physical books for the longest time, I think this about sums it up!
I never understood why I preferred physical books over e-readers so strongly until just now.
I kinda wanted to cry when I noticed she did some things I do and prefer because of how difficult things can be for me. And then in other parts I'd go "THAT IS SO SMART. IM GOING TO DO THAT" so thank you. Your videos always bring such peace, validation, and comfort for me and I cannot explain how thankful I am for you and your youtube channel. You're doing great :,)
Why did i have the same reaction😂
Me too. I'm chilling in my bedroom in a chair with a soft blanket next to my books and my allergy meds are right here at point of performance. Wow
Totally, but I'm like "Oh, yeah, I should do that to" just to get to the point where I want to do it but can't because of my ADHD🙄😅
I'm in my 50's and it is just so interesting how we usually figure out most of these on our own. It's so nice that people can see ideas, without so much struggling, to find what makes our world work for us.
My ex never understood why I needed to be able to see everything and have it within arms reach.
I work from home and have a tea/coffee station. I have a small refrigerator and electric kettle etc. This prevents me from going downstairs to my kitchen where I could be distracted.
Thank you for inviting us in to your home.
Wish I could have a little fridge and microwave in my home office. It would make my life so much easier. Either the beverages and snacks are too far away to actually get up and get them or when I do go to intentionally get lunch or a drink I end up finding 3 other things to do.
i can't stand dealing with laundry! so learning about downsizing my wardrobe and finding 'my style' has actually helped reduce the amount of laundry, AND has helped me enjoy whatever clothes im wearing, even on laundry day. PRO TIP: buy laundry bins that are the size of 1 load of laundry, it's helped my brain think of laundry as a smaller task.
YES! I have one article of clothing for bed-long shirt/nightie so I don't sleep in my clothes and I just switched completely to leggings and t-shirts so I can get dressed no problem. Just get more leggings and t-shirts and no issue haha. Way better than struggling into jeans with a belt or undershirts and blouses or layering skirts or dresses with stockings etc.
But then I'd have to do laundry more often, and not just in one enormous amalgamated pile I'll ultimately have to split up, because I'll go a whole month first 🤦♀️
I love the smaller laundry basket! I also started a capsule wardrobe. It helps me so much and saves a lot of energy for other things.😊
I am almost the opposite. I hate laundry because I have to go to a laundromat 15 minutes away, so I tend to shop in thrift stores for clothes and have enough clothes that I can lessen the amount of times I need to do laundry in a month. It takes about the same amount of time to do three loads of laundry at a laundromat as it does for one.
Lol I just posted about this and then kept reading and saw your post!! Downsizing and simplifying my wardrobe was the best thing I ever did!!
When I was a kid, my mom always told me that I am not finished with a task until I’ve set myself up for next time. Genius tip…because I’m prepping for the next time while I’m in the magical land of hyper focus. And I’ve eliminated the hardest step (getting started).
I love this. Your mom is really smart
😎🧠
That is a GREAT tip!
I'm 65yrs old and ADHD. I do alot of similar things, nice to know I'm not the one. Thank you.
Great tip, how do you not get bored with the task and wander off before it’s even finished though? 😅
Since the day we moved into our house (22 years ago), my husband has insisted on keeping the glasses next to the fridge. Because that's where he uses them! That's actually been his explanation. So cool to see other ADHDers use it!
If you can't keep something next to where it's used it's super helpful to switch out your cabinet doors with framed glass doors. That way you can see it instead of opening every cabinet looking for it.
My question is why that’s been an issue for you for 22 years? What is so wrong about keeping the glasses next to the fridge that after 22 years you are still having an issue with it? Are there other things that your husband does that really shouldn’t be an issue to a reasonable partner/spouse but still get under your skin and you haven’t been able to simply accept them for 22 years? Maybe you have OCD or NPD?
@@trippmoorewhat made you think it was an issue? sounds like they are just making a correlation.
I’m late to the party but here’s my BIG tip: an Alexa in as many rooms as u can afford. That way before I can forget the task I have to do that’s popped in my mind, I say “Alexa remind me to ______ in 45m”. Same for lists to create. Big help.
Same for me!!!!
Alexa nags me too much and gives me guilt trips. Oh the computer version, not the human Alexa. I might try that tip.
Hello darling child!
I am a 76 year old woman with ADD. I was not diagnosed till I was in my mid 50’s. I could tell you so many stories, my favorite thing from my late husband was that he would say “SHARIE, your a hand full!”
I had so much anxiety and difficulties in school.
I am deleted that I have found you. I find so much validation from the things you describe.
Thank you for your efforts and kindness🥰
In 50 n feel very much the same way. Thank u so much
58 here, just found out last year. The stories we could tell…
I'm 47, and...samsies!
Cheers to you!! I too am an senior (yikes) at 60 years old. I do t feel that old because my mind is playful, easily distracted, and ....undisciplined. I suspected I had ADHD since my son was diagnosed 26 years ago. Finally diagnosed and prescribed meds 3 yeas ago. When that helps, we still need a mental PLAN. DIRECTION. You coined it perfectly with POINT OF PERFORMANCE, SEE EVERYTHING AT A GLANCE (Marie Condo) BASKETS/BINS (choose your battles). Etc!!!
You darling have been such an inspiration to me for a couple years! I am proud of your accomplishments and success! GOD BLESS YOU!!
Wow. I feel fortunate having found out at 32 now. Thank you so much for sharing!
I personally have a problem with just throwing clothes on the floor when I take them off, especially if they’re clean enough to wear again, but one thing that helps is having a “doesn’t need to be washed YET” bin near your laundry bin
this is such a good idea!!! i always throw them on my floor then i forget what’s clean and what’s not and end up wearing the same item one too many times 😊
I put the next day's clothing in the bathroom, where I get dressed - I could use a bin for not dirty enough stuff to wear the second day - instead of keep wearing it overnight. I have fibromyalgia so pain and fatigue complicate things for me.
This is wonderful advice!! Thanks!
I've always used a chair for clothes that are clean enough to wear again - I would even put them on a hanger in times when I'm less overwhelmed and more organized than now. Fresh air refreshes clothes. It's an important way for me to avoid the mental load of running laundry too often but also good economically and ecologically.
Oh yes, i got my spouse and I each one of those slide under the bed storage bins and we each use them on our side of the bed for "to be worn again". Works great for not really dirty PJs & lounging clothes. I love to take my work clothes off after a long day, and I'll throw on my hoodie & yoga pants from the under-bed bin!
Hi my 10 year old granddaughter has ADHD, although she hasn't been officially diagnosed. I'm finding your videos so helpful. It shows me that she is not been naughty or deliberately winding us up but that she actually cannot help it. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these video's. Bless you x
It’s amazing for you to realize this 🤩
from other adhd-ers who’s family thinks something is “wrong” with you: thank you. You doing this research now and even just being open to the idea of some other things going on will make a WORLD of difference!
Bless you for realizing your granddaughter has ADHD even though she hasn't been diagnosed. Speaking for myself, it would have been a huge help if my grandparents realized I had ADHD
your granddaughter will appreciate this of u so much later in life. thank you for supporting her
Your 'coffee table' tray is such a good idea! I refuse to have a coffee table and have been questioned about it. We need one for when visitors come so yours is a great idea! 👍
I have similar ones from ikea
Where do you get those trays without it being pricy?
This might be more of a depression thing, but actually dressing is fairly difficult for me when i get up in the morning, but if i don't dress i can't do anything. One thing that has helped me immensely with actually getting that done is to drastically reduce my outfit options. I made two or three outfits for each season that i love and feel good in and i just always wear the clean one. That way i don't have to think about it or confront the way things interact with my body, i jusf have to put them on.
What a great idea! Thank you Asilja Nijara for sharing this, it is brilliant and inspires me to do the same.
That's what I did during burnout! It's a great energy saver
i struggle with that too, and what works for me is to sleep in minimal clothing so when i get out of bed i have to put clothes on to stay warm
@@dumpsterfire3214 I would never get out of bed if I did this! In fact I had to make the leap to warm pyjamas recently, just so I could get to work on time
I love this! An additional hack for this is to fold / put away / hang the outfit items together so you don’t have to ruffle through multiple drawers to get dressed. That way they go into the wash together as well and it’s a much easier cycle and removes decision making.
"It's a work in progress" - the most ADHD thing ever said.
I am a 66 yo guy just coming to grips with my ADHD, I have developed a number of the strategies you are offering but it is somehow comforting to know the why of my behaviour. It is comforting and disturbing. Thank you for what you do.
I also keep my meds by my bed and take them an hour before I need to “get up” but my stomach is really sensitive and gets mad if I take them when it’s empty so I also keep peanut butter crackers there too!
PB CRACKERS ARE A REALLY GOOD ADDITION. I did something similar with trail mix when I really don't wanna get outta bed cause I'm hungry. Having little healthy snacks around really really helped me to get on and keep on with my day.
I started to keep dark chocolate by my bed for the same reason. I’ve not kept using that meds but I keep chocolate by my bed cos it is such a nice little lump of serotonin and energy and selfcare.
Personally I have my favourite salt crackers because they come in convenient little packs so they're preportionned+ if the box falls into my bed overnight I Don't get a crumb invasion
Haha, yes! Except now that I have kids AND homeschool AND work from home I can hardly wake up to take my pill!!! It’s a season.
There are also med bottles with timer caps Incase you're not sure if you did take any.
Hack for not forgetting to put leftovers away: we put a kitchen timer on top of the container that is cooling down. That way, when the alarm goes off, it keeps annoying us until we physically get up and turn it off. While we're there, we might as well put the leftovers away!
It's saved us a lot of possible food waste!
Sending love from Australia :)
I leave my kitchen light on when I have leftovers that are too hot to go in the fridge right away. Since I compulsively turn off lights, the kitchen light being on is a cue to make sure my leftovers were put away before I go to bed.
Oo I’m stealing this! Thanks @casey bear ☺️
🙏
Something that works for me is to put leftovers in their own containers as I'm serving myself. I'm already making a plate, might as well just make plates for leftovers, too! Saves SO much time for cleanup! Sometimes I'll even be feeling zesty enough to quickly rinse out the pots and pans that were used to cook on my way out of the kitchen, which cuts SO much effort later on!
@@SuperCayce I do the same thing with running loads of laundry! Light stays on until it's completely dry.
When she said we have a hard time feeding ourselves I felt that a lot!!!!! I’ve been eating chips cause everything else is not fast enough 😬
Saltine crackers for me lol
Same here! I’ve actually procrastinated getting meals because I couldn’t decide what to eat.
@@user181 Yep. Same.
Literalllllllly
Apple chips!
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.sporessss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place.
Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac.
He's constantly talking about killing someone.
He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
Is he on instagram?
Yes he is. dr.sporessss
I know this is an older video, but I hope you and/or your team see this. I would love to see more videos on maintaining organization throughout the home. Ours was a disaster up until the moment we had to move and list it for sale. I hope I don’t fall into the same traps that made the house messy once we are in our new home.
This, I would appreciate more home videos too. It’s constantly the difficult thing for me.
How to deal with laundry would be great. It is boring, never ending and requires numerous steps.
I got my diagnosis today after 18 years of struggling and quite frankly it both feels amazing and horrible at the same time- i can explain all my past actions today but at the same time I grief what could‘ve been. I think now I‘m just gonna strive to accept this part of me and I found that you really help me to understand myself better thank you for that 😊
Best of luck dear fellow brain 🤞
It can be tough sometimes but you’re gonna do great in your very own way! Celebrate the smallest achievements that you, YOURSELF (not anyone else) consider important or a great step forward! Take your time, be patient and kind to yourself and don’t forget that you’re not alone! Wish you all the best! ❤️❤️❤️
22 years and I feel relief bc I finally make sense to myself
My wife and I had a similar experience when we got diagnosed as adults back in our 30s, and many of my friends and coworkers who have ADHD have discussed similar feelings, so know that's normal, and it's okay to have the "well this would have been good to know 20 years ago" reaction, you need to do a little of that as part of healing and acceptance, but don't overdo it, b/c that'll cause a shame spiral and that's not helpful.
Also, it's worth recognizing all of the GOOD parts of ADHD - we're natural explorers, entrepreneurs, creatives, etc.
Evolution and natural selection wouldn't have kept ADHD around if there wasn't a beneficial use for it in society somewhere, so, keep that in mind too, it's not all bad by any means.
And lastly, remember to compare yourself to who you were yesterday, and not who others are today.
Give yourself time and permission to grieve. It's natural and not just for death! I was diagnosed just before 7 th grade and still have what ifs about if I had been diagnosed sooner, 25 years after I was diagnosed. I don't want that to discourage you; just make you aware of that fact so you will press on despite the doubts! You CAN do this!
I broke down in tears the day I got my diagnosis. It was so ever whelming to get medication and finally have control over my impulses.
The best advice I ever received for ADHD housekeeping is to adjust your environment to your habits. Can't bring yourself to hang up your coat in the closet? Put up some hooks or get a coat rack. Leaving trash around the living room because it's too much of a hassle to get up and go to the kitchen? Get some small, covered trash bins to put near the couch. Put laundry baskets/hampers where piles of laundry tend to congregate, get bowls to hold wallets and keys in places you tend to leave them (preferably near the door), and so on and so forth. It's so much more effective than constantly fighting yourself over what you think a clean house should look like.
Hooks everywhere have been a game changer for me.
I agree, and I love your tips, I finally had to give up on having a nice looking home for a well functioning one. And I’m so tired of neurotypical “practical” advice people usually give. If the neurotypical advice worked I probably wouldn’t have this diagnosis.
Another not-so-decorative but very effective organization hack that helped me declutter my ridiculously tiny bathroom is hanging one of those over-the-door hanging canvas shoe organizers (with the clear plastic pockets) in my bathroom to help hold things that I couldn’t seem to find a permanent home for or that just looked like clutter even if it was something I used frequently (like how deodorant and random hairstyling products with lost lids would just sit on my counter, collecting moisture and dust). Also the over the door hooks it’s hanging on are still accessible for robes or towels too, they just hang against the shoe organizer. It was so helpful I got a smaller one to hang on the towel rack for makeup and brushes (got cute shower curtain hooks to hold it up). Function > Fashion when it comes to organizing with ADHD.
Also, are there any more you can think of??
@@ChromaChamaeleon I love your idea for bathroom organization. I currently use a basket for random items, which means I spend more time than needed rummaging and often "lose" things in the bottom. I do use a similar idea for my granddaughter who can never find socks when she wants to go outside. They now go in the hanging shoe holder by the door with the shoes!
Omg... I INVENTED a coat rack like a lazy Susan that had 48 hooks on it. My hubby made one for our main entry and smaller version for bath towels. Loved it. Raised 4 boys using them.
I've been subconsciously doing a lot of these for years and I've only just recently realized that I have ADHD omg
I'm absolutely thrilled that your channel exists. We get judged so much for being lazy, disorganized, etc. People really don't understand that we are just wired differently - I saw this video today for the first time but you can be sure that you have gained a follower for life. Thank you for showing me how to ADHD 😁
The single best thing I’ve done for my ADHD is to become a minimalist. Clutter makes me have a melt-down and having very few things just keeps my life soooo low stress and less frustrating. I got rid of a ton of stuff and haven’t regretted any of it.
Sounds awesome
I feel this. I've learned I thrive with visual simplicity
I want to do that SO bad because it helps my ADD but I've got ADD pack rats in the house😭. My house is constantly a mess especially since my daughter and husband can't get rid of things even if their broken.
Omg thisss! I told my doctor I have emotional meltdowns when my house is too cluttered and she diagnosed me with depression -.-
@@eringraber3777 I’m like your family members. I know it will help but I have such a hard time letting go of things. Working with a therapist on it. I just moved and for now the junk is in my garage so it’s at least not cluttering the house, but I have to go through bag by bag to decide what to get rid of 😩
I keep my daily makeup in a small makeup bag. I tip everything onto the countertop and return each item to the bag after I use it. Once there’s nothing left on the countertop my make up must be done. No room for error - no forgetting one part of my makeup routine.
This is GENIUS!
I shed it on a little tray, so it can t fall off and i skip it back in 1 go
Same! Except I take the hand towel currently in use and lay it on the counter (because... soft?). And returning each item to the bag after use is what I do too, just didn't know it was brilliant until now LOL.
My gosh, this video is giving me life. I'm almost 40 and though I was suspected of having ADD and my teachers implored my mom to get me tested she refused because she didn't want me to be a part of the medication craze. She tried homeopathic remedies but I strugglebussed my way through school, barely graduated and still struggle in the workplace.
Anyway, having someone describe the alterations they have made to their home environment (and why) is so helpful, relatable and validating. Now I have verbage to explain my mode of thinking with how I set up my workspace. Or why I obsess over making my kitchen more efficient.
I’m 36 years old and my psychologist said she suspected ADHD about 4/5 months ago. She suggested it after seeing the state of my apartment on a zoom call. Seeing almost every struggle I’ve had in maintaining my home highlighted in this video is… kind of mind blowing. No wonder she seemed so confident so quick lol. I look forward to trying some of these.
Same! I was diagnosed at age 35. So many things in this video are spot on.
Another kitchen hack: Use scissors or shears during cooking! For Herbs, spinach small veggies etc - I find myself avoiding cutting boards because dishes
That's genius! Thank you 😃
Yes!! I don’t have a pizza cutter-I use kitchen scissors!
I do that too. Even better, I use inexpensive scissors ($1 each) so when they get dull they aren't troublesome to replace.
I had scissors & pizza cutters (multiple) with kids.. pancakes, French toast, waffles, I’d use a pizza cutter & cut them smaller for small kids! It saved me years!😂 But like sandwiches seemed to work better with scissors because you can hold it and cut.
I use scissors to chop chicken. Or shred it but it’s cutting it. Lol
I feel like this could be a new mini-series - ADHD House Hacks. Just short little 2-4 minute videos that hit 1 or 2 items. Love this! Thank you. Keep up the great content.
Dude that would be a total life saver. I would watch it religiously and it'll be easier to explain it to my parents 😂
I would love to watch that especially as a neurodivergent single parent who’s got to keep the house up 👍 such a good idea
Please
That's a great idea! With shorter videos it's also easier to only bookmark the ones that contained something useful for me and it's also less daunting to (re-)watch a short video.
a book full would actually be epic xD
"Didn't even know my PS4 was in there!" Out of sight, out of mind is the ADHD way! I have enough stuff in my purse to survive falling through a time portal or an interdemensional wormhole but I can't ever recall what's in there so every now and again I'll empty the whole thing out, realize I already have 3 (or 7) of the same item then repack the bag.... and completely forget about a third of what's in there by the time I've finished packing it because it's no longer within my sight. My husband "favorite" is when I say "I put it somewhere I won't forget" because that means it's probably lost forever. I put it in a weird spot and I'll never recall because I can no longer see it. I did learn one thing, and that's how to stack clothes in the dresser, that's so cool! That'll make things way easier with my kids! Thanks!
I’m actually very comforted by the fact that almost everything you do, I have also learned to do on my own. I wasn’t diagnosed until fairly recently, but these were things that helped me cope with a lot of the triggers that threw off off my day. Now, the only difficult part is to get my husband to understand why I do the things I do and respect it. Don’t get me wrong, he’s great, but has a tendency to move things around and then forget where he puts them. Or just uses stuff and doesn’t put it back in the rightful place. So frustrating!! But anyway, one takeaway I have is the folding clothes thing!! I’ve never heard of this but yearn for a better way of storing and accessing my clothing. Since I work at home, I usually end up wearing the same thing two days in a row so I don’t have to think about hunting for another outfit. Thank you for all your videos!! So appreciative of the thoughtfulness that goes into your content!! ❤
Another tip for the dishes- I run the dishwasher every night. It is part of my night routine, so it happens pretty regularly. I turn it on before I go to bed, and they are clean in the morning. It is easier to put the dishes away because it is part of my morning routine. I used to wait to turn the dishwasher on only when it was completely full, but It was often completely full of dirty dishes at the worst moments. And whenever it finished, I wasn't ready to put them away. Dishwashers are so much more efficient than hand washing it only needs eight items to be "worth" running (I have to remind myself of this).
I love this, but the dishwasher is too noisy for me to fall asleep if it's on but not loud enough to wake me up - so I put a time delay on, so it will start when I know I'll be fast asleep.
Odd, I do this with my kitchen garbage can. I empty it after dinner whether it's full or not so that it never overflows, and this way it becomes part of the evening routine. I hadn't thought to apply the same strategy to the dishwasher. Thanks!
I never heard the 8 item thing but it makes sense! Great tip! Routines 👍👍!
The nighttime DW works for me, too. I first was prompted by a detergent commercial but it makes sense. And how easy is it to unload?
I used to obsess over the dishwasher not being full enough... decided it was making me crazy waiting for one or two more cups or a dish - so now - every night.
Just a side note: Over the years - no, DECADES! Gosh, I’m getting old… - I‘ve noticed that that „point of performance“ approach to organizing the whereabouts in the household is extremely common among people who do or did work as a waiter/waitress, and much less so among everyone else, regardless whether they’re ADHDers or not.
I always cringe a bit inside when I see a friend basically running around their whole kitchen just to prepare a cup of coffee… 😁
That's an interesting connection. I always thought it was an obvious method, but I've worked as a cook my whole career
I got around it by making cold coffee, so I need to go around my whole kitchen only one time a week.
To think about it though, my coffee is pretty near to my moka and my stove so... win?
Yes! Waiting tables as a teen has helped me now. I’d be a real mess otherwise!
I would love to do this, but my kitchen is so small I have half my pantry in the office, small appliances on a shelf in a corner, and plastic drawers of my pots and pans in my living room. The only things I can fit in my kitchen are basic dishes and containers. I even have my spices in cubes on top of my washer and dryer (in my pantry). I am in a small apartment with small children with the oldest showing signs of ADHD already, so it's hard to organize while also both my husband and I working full time.
My kitchen is so small that everything is within reach anyway… It makes cooking a lot easier, if I ever find the focus to actually cook.
I’m 54 years old and just realized that I likely have ADHD. So many of the things you share hit home and I’ve had so many 😮 moments watching your videos. One that really hit home was the Marie Kondo clothes folding and storage. I’ve been doing it for years and it has been such a fantastic hack. Thanks for everything you’re doing!
I don't know how it is like to live with ADHD or other neurodivergents, but everything you showed in your video is just really really good ideas and ways to make your live easier ❤️
It's why I can organize anyone's space and make it better - it just makes sense!
These tips can definitely be helpful to anyone 😊 I hope you learned a bit about how we operate/ what we deal with. Having neurotypical people understand is very nice for us. Glad the hacks can be beneficial to you too 😊 have a good day 💛
I'm the same. I think what you're describing is... organisation. I don't know how some people live without it. I think we need to realise people are neurally diverse not just divergent, and we work in different ways. So much of ADHD could be attributed to normal behaviours for some people.
I have adhd and so does my boyfriend and daughter, so our house is pretty much chaos or so i believed until i saw this video. Thank you for telling me that its not messy having random item bins in every room, its actually keeping places clean from cluttering and i dont have to have empty countertops, if things are hidden away for cleaner look, they wont get used. Thank you for telling me that its totally normal have million blankets, pillows, fluffy rugs and other comfy things and that my wallart is not odd places, they are actually placed perfectly to view from my comfy spot. Thank you for telling me that my house is not messy, its just adhd friendly:)
Organised chaos is what I call my house ^_^
Someone once told me I was the most organised disorganised person they knew. I told them that was the nicest thing anyone ever told me XD
you almost made me cry, this is exactly what I thought.
I love the cleaning/organizing channel Clutterbug! She talks about the different types of organizers. If i remember correctly she has ADHD too so she gets our struggles.
OMG, the blanket thing totally resonated with me as well. I have fuzzy blankets for basically every "nesting" surface. AKA, the couch, the bed, the reading chair etc. I have a lot of pillows as well.
1:48 no bs - Walked my dog holding an empty, clean cereal bowl this morning. Felt very crazy then stumbled onto this. Thank goodness I’m not TOO crazy
Haha that happens to me too. Recently i went on a walk with qn entire bottle of milk....
That is hilarious and lovable! Thank you for sharing!
Worst offender is when im dressing up in the morning and im getting school supplies and suddenly remember i still have the pile of clothes in my hand and not on me - oh thats why im cold!
Lmao!! Yup. Can relate.
I often have to clean out random dishes in the car. Im a mess trying to get the kids to school everyday on time and whatever is in my hand tends to come with us to the car!
I put my coffee table on carpet furniture sliders so I can scoot it wherever/whenever I need. Not the cutest, but I love it! I also have a whiteboard on my fridge with markers right there so that as SOON as we run out of something I write it on the list so I don’t forget about it as soon as it’s out of sight in the garbage/recycle. This is also helpful for things we’ve bought in bulk. I write a little note to myself that I don’t need to buy anymore X bc there’s a bunch in ____ part of the house. That way I also know where I “organized” it for myself that one time.
I thought I was insane about not wanting to touch slimy or textured dishes and even while washing clothes by hand I feel like they're tingling..... thank you for this
I have the same, I find washing dishes to be totally disgusting and I put everything I can in the dishwasher. i don't care if it is a fancy pan or not. I only try to wash my good knives by hand :D
I'd like to say two things about your place! (1) It looks great-well thought out, attractive, pleasant to live in. (2) It isn't perfect-and you are willing to share it even so! Thanks SO much for that. I'm so tired of seeing videos of perfection!
I agree, the perfection I see of others homes actually really gets me down. I know it should be the other way around, that’s why we make things nice before someone comes over, right? To make others happy? But perfection makes me feel like running out of there. I’m working on that feeling though. Trying to stay present even when I’m judging myself and to stop shutting out others when I’m feeling judged. It’s a spiritual integration process and it’s hard.
Also why do we call it perfect when we don't like it? Perfect should be a good thing right? What I mean is, its *not* perfect for us, and we should recognize that :) I totally agree, its great to see a home that seems lived in and not always clean and just cosy
@@Leffelini love that point!!! Perfect is what feels good to ME! 💗✨
It looks “perfect” to me
@@ChromaChamaeleon I totally understand. I feel uneasy in “perfect” homes. I’m not entirely sure why, but I suspect that it has something to do with the idea that if my own space was that spare - nothing “pending” in evidence, no “stuff of life” visible - I would absolutely forget to do important things. Being in perfect spaces makes me anxious. 🤷🏻♀️
The "mug still in hand" bit killed me. Not putting things down or putting them down without thinking is such a common issue for me. Can't count how many times I've misplaced my phone while looking for my keys.
Yup mug in hand definitely a shared experience. I went to heat my coffee up the other day but found myself trying to find the microwave buttons on the fridge door... inside of which I had just placed my mug! 🤦🏻♀️ I have decided this beats my previous personal best of finding my lost toothbrush in the cutlery drawer...still have no idea how it got there. I don't have an ADHD diagnosis but I do have impaired executive functioning.
yes! i constantly misplace something as i’m looking for something that i have misplaced. esp phone and keys or phone and sunglasses.
Does someone have a trick that could remind me to take a cart when I walk into the Supermaket? I always end up with a dozen things and too little hands to carry them safely to the cashier!!!
@@simonanardi4312
Tip #1: This one depends on whether you get there by car and if -- like here in Germany, where I'm from -- you need to put a coin or a coin shaped chip into the cart to unlock it. If both of those are the case: Get one of those chips and attach it to the key ring on your car key. When locking your car, you'll feel it there and the first few times it will be a new sensation that will remind you to get the cart. Once you're used to it, it will hopefully have become routine.
Tip #2: I used to have a pad of sticky notes in the shape of a shopping cart and I'd write my shopping list on there, always a decent reminder. I just tried to find a pad like that and couldn't, but here's what I'd recommend alternatively: always use the same pad to write your shopping list on. You can prepare the lists ahead and write the cart on the top every sheet. Maybe you're already in the store by the time you look at your list, but you probably haven't grabbed anything yet and can go back out to get the cart.
I've lost so many cups of coffee !
LOVE THIS! I am a AuDHD mama of 5 ADHD kiddos and learning about our needs late to the game; we have revamped our entire life to meet our needs most appropriately. I LOVE these tips and tricks and I think you are amazing! Thank you for sharing your home and this quality content you continuously provide! You are such a light!
I have an electric tea kettle that I can delay the start on and it's completely changed how I start my day. I set it before bed and I wake up with a mug of tea, instantly getting me out of bed as well. When I moved to a one bedroom (had a studio), I tried keeping it in the kitchen but I couldn't hear it from there and was miserable trying to get up in the morning. I moved the kettle to outside my bedroom on an old end table and filled it with tea stuff so it's a joy to wake up again
One thing that I have a hard time with is staying hydrated, especially on days I spend only at home. It was hard for me to find motivation to actually drink water. So what I did is I started collecting unique glasses in varying colors and styles, with different shapes and textures, so it was a fun sensory experience as well as necessary. I also got metal and plastic straws and ice cube trays with a few different shapes and sizes. It has really helped me a lot
I do this too!
Good idea, I will use this.
I like this idea! I found that just having straws helped me a lot with remembering to drink (in part just because it means I can drink without actively having to sit up if I'm lying back), but also that having things I could mix into water helped. I have a collection of mostly off-brand Mio-type "water enhancers," some with vitamins or electrolytes, or with caffeine, so that I can add them to a glass of water when the idea of just drinking water puts me off. This way, I can add as much or as little as I want, and change it up or add a little of another flavor when I'm tired of something.
Also, I have a filter pitcher that lives in the fridge, so that I can avoid having to put ice in my water (because that's _effort_ I don't always want to make). Having cold water right there is wonderful and convenient, and makes it so much easier to just get a glass and drink.
I forget too! That’s a great idea and it’s a treat for you! Good call!
@@Mokiefraggle I thought I was the only one who used straws so I didn’t have to sit up in bed! Lol! Make sure you use the bendy straws!
I was wondering if you could stick a straw in each ice cube as they are freezing. I may try that.
Oh, and some kitchen-related things that I’ve been doing: I’ve started cutting up veggies and freezing them, so that I can add them quickly to a meal! Having to wash and chop veggies was a pretty big deterrent for me in making healthy meals, but now it’s super easy to just grab a handful of chopped veggies from the freezer and throw them into whatever I’m cooking.
I also try to wash/de-stem grapes and leave them in an open container in the fridge door - so every time I’m looking for a snack, I can just grab a couple of grapes :D
I do the grape thing too! I throw mine in the freezer. Green grapes are so good frozen.
Ooo I’ve never tried frozen grapes, now I want to :D
And ahh this makes sense, thanks for the tip!!
Finding out you could freeze fresh spinach was a gamechanger for me. I'm a big fan of having frozen veg ready to go. It's super helpful.
Frozen fruits and veg are flash frozen when they're appropriately ripe, so they're super helpful.
I am 58 and have just recently discovered that I have ADHD and wow what a game changer for me. Over the years I have found certain ways around things to make my life easier, but still struggle maintaining everyday life. At the moment we are in the process of moving, we have lived in this house for 22 years and it is so overwhelming to even tackle one spot at a time. But I am slowly doing it. I was thinking how can I make my life easier for myself and family. This video hits the right spot and really makes sense. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
I’ve been diagnosed since I was 7 and I’m 34 now and you tube’s algorithm finally gave me a short clip that brought my brain here and I don’t know how long I’ve been looking for stuff for my own place to make my life easier but I have been getting a lot of resistance from people that I live with because apparently they don’t understand what I’m trying to tell them and I can’t seem to find the words that best describe what I’m trying to say and I just end up giving up because it’s hard.
Thank you
I truly hope i can remember too show these videos to my friends and family maybe they can finally understand what I have been trying to tell them
I love the phrase “point of performance”. I have tried to communicate that concept to my neurotypical husband unsuccessfully. This is huge for me. Loved this video.
Yes yes yes! I’m about ready to buy a broom for each room of the house 😂 The coffee station is no joke!
What was the timestamp on that, i didn't catch it
@@Luis-eu2ow 1:50 the coffee thingy
@@Luis-eu2ow actually its 1:07
Also, I have someone who comes once every 2 weeks to help me clean. I used to think it was a luxury I could not afford but now it is one of the most important self care expenses because it means that my place never gets completely out of control.
@@sinkingkitchen oh gosh it will feel so good when you finally do it!! A world of difference ☺️
@@sinkingkitchen Please consider this will be à win-win situation, you get a clear canvas to perform your daily life and chores without wasting precious time and feeling bad. You might get tips. You give someone the opportunity to earn a salary. 😊
Yaaas! That made a huge difference for me as well. With the executive functioning and my depression, it is a life saver. I don’t leave half finished projects around that get cluttered. Be dirty and sit around for weeks and then I don’t get down on myself for not cleaning and then depression and I can’t do anything downward spiral. I know no matter what things will reset every two weeks and that is a god send.
I really want this
Have you heard of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency",? In one of the books in the series, Mma Ramotswe says that in Botswana, you are *supposed to* hire a help / cleaner if you are rich enough to afford it, because by doing so you are helping somebody who needs a job.
I hope this isn't insulting, but people with ADHD are so funny. Just the way they connect ideas and rapid fire talk about stuff and are almost doing stand-up comedy without even trying is so amusing. Some of the best and my favorite CZcamsrs have ADHD. 😅
Sometimes at work I just start rambling about things, and then wonder why anyone is still listening. This probably helps explain things a bit.
@@taladayarts Yeah! They're probably amused and like you!
It's interesting you say that because literally my entire life I was told I should do comedy, even by pros. I was recently diagnosed with adhd. I hated myself and couldn't bring myself to do it because my confidence was so low. I may just do it soon.
@@aja1108 Good for you! I'm sure you'll do great! :D
Most comedians who improve have some form of ADHD, the fast speed of ideas and connections is apparent.
So many things you've just described are things that I do that other people comment on as weird.
Why do you have so many blankets? Why do you keep things in buckets? Why does the coffee table have wheels?
My house. My rules
YOUR COFFEE TABLE HAS WHEELS?! 🤩
@@ace-of-bats absolutely, I move that guy around to suit my needs. Sometimes it's even a foot rest.
Just wanted to share that 3 minutes in I was unexpectedly sobbing because it feels SO GOOD to come to your channel and not feel broken or weird. Who knew your house tour would be the video that really gets me emotionally, but here we are! Thank you for everything.
I hear that! (I get weepy too when I feel ...understood. And maybe not so crazy/weird...or at least not so self conscious about being a little crazy/weird!
I've recently been diagnosed with autism and now i know i struggle SO MUCH with executive disfunction (preveously thought as lazyness >
I cry, at least a little bit, with just about every single one of her videos. Except the first which was her Ted talk. Then I sobbed like a damn baby.
I came here to say, SAME! I feel so seen and "normal" 😭 This comment just reaffirms that. (Thank you!)
Diddo everyone’s comments y’all! Good grief we have so much unpacking of judgment of self to do about our challenges eh? Now… is there an ADHD dating site? That would sure be cool. 💕 🙏🏽 💕
I love this video. I would add using your Alexa to "time" non preferred activities. I have a rule that anything that I don't want to do, I have to tackle it for the length of a song, if I want to quit after the song, I'm allowed - 80% of the time, it's done before the song is over (dishes, folding clothes, sweeping etc...) and when it's not, I generally just finish the task! :) Alexa helps with this because I can switch it on whenever I need to.
What a great idea!
I do the song tip too!! Or I just set up a timer for 5 minutes, but a song has to be playing in the background or I will get nothing done
I use Alexa too. I have her set reminders for when my laundry is done
I’m gonna try this! Tabata house cleaning!😂
Ahhh this is such great idea!
I forgot about the trick to take your meds and snooze the alarm til they kick in!! Great advice. I also love the makeup in a travel bag idea. And I laughed at your taking the dog on the walk with a mug joke.. that is me every day! Thanks for the great tips!!
I was diagnosed with adhd at 16 y/o and I lived between the disaster for YEARS before diagnosed, at 17 I grew into OCD and now my need to have EVERYTHING tiddy and cristal clean is making some issues in my current life and relationship, my bf is pretty comprehensive but of course there are days were he doesn't have the peace of mind to deal with my adhd and OCD.
I've tried to explain to him why is so important to me to have the house cristal clean and organized but couldn't grab the words to make my point, my marriage sank me into the oblivion and I just forgot why I do things like I do, I'm starting to remember who I am little by little and this vid is helping me a lot to remember what I wanted to convey to my bf.
I just wanted to thank u because I always seek your videos to get a little of wisdom or company when I don't know whtat to do or feel awful. So yeah, thanks and sorry for the long nonsense text (and the grammatical errors, is not my native language)
Many kisses and hugs for ya
Having "a staging area!" Where I put everything that I need to take to school (work) with me! I still forget things occasionally, but it relieves a lot of morning stress!!
Me too - - this is a really important part of making my home ADHD friendly. I am neuro divergent, and so are my two kids. They also tend not to look behind themselves, and to drop stuff wherever. Having a designated landing and launching space really helps avoid last minute search for shoes, keys, backpack, hat, etc. in the mornings.
A big game changer for me was to get two chargers for my computer, one for the office and one for home. Huge huge huge difference in the number of wasted hours going back home to get the charger! Small but really meant a lot to me. Also, For the staging area, I feel like mine just lives in my purse. ha! Pens, a notebook, keys *tied to my purse*, One pocket for my bus pass so I can just check one place and masks Everywhere.
I love this tip!!! A staging area, that's awesome, im definitely going to think about how to make something like that work for me!! Thanks for sharing!!!
I need to do that. Right now, I put stuff in a plastic shopping bag and hang it on the doorknob of the front door so that I take it when I go.
I do this too! I put them right next to my car keys, so when I go to grab my keys I will see the other stuff I need to grab.
I keep a squidgy, a spray bottle and a stack of microfiber clothes in the bathroom, so that every day I can give my bathroom a quick swish while I am in there (usually I don't even use the spray, I just dry the sink and the bathtub with a microfiber cloth). This way my bathroom always stays clean, and I don't have to scrub anything. This is actually a tip from the Flylady system, and I would love a review of this system and how it can help people with ADHD to stay on top of the messes in the house. The CZcams channel "the secret slob" explains the system very well. Best wishes from a brain in Austria!
I think for adhd people who struggle with time management it will depend on the person if that system works
.
I keep a magic eraser and a spray bottle in my shower so I can clean while I’m showering! I HATE climbing in and out of the tub in my clothes and accidentally getting wet. But if I’m showering? I’m already in there! Might as well get things clean!
@@tippisladaritz2638 this is why I would like a review 😬😬😬 for me it is the only thing that has ever worked, but I have changed it to fit me better. For example I don't split my house in zones and I do garbages every time I get out of the house instead of during the weekly home blessing. I would love to see how it can be changed in general to be even more ADHD friendly. Because I genuinely think it's really ADHD friendly, with the timers and so on.
@@meganclark-hutchings7464 🤯🤯🤯 GENIUS
@@AliraRodina I found Flylady through her “crisis cleaning” instructions. The bomb. I mean it. THE BOMB! I love her.
Another thing that I have found helpful for me is garbage cans everywhere. I live in a one bedroom apartment, but I have six garbage cans: one immediately upon entering the apartment, one next to my bed, one in my kitchen, one in my bathroom, one in my living room, and one on the balcony... This has really helped me because if I open a candy bar and there isn't a garbage can right there, the wrapper won't get thrown out, and if I bring fliers in from the mailbox, I'm more likely to toss them on the entryway bench and forget about them if there's no garbage bin right there.
Thank you for this. This inspires me to make more chill out zones, with blankets and books and pictures to look at. I used to have that when I was younger, a little meditation spot. Now I dont have that anymore, and like you said, we need something for our Minds to focus on that is not the things that we Are going to do… and EVERYTHING in our home is things we should have done… Thanks!
I've had a step stool in my kitchen for years, but it was the folding kind, and watching this video made me realize that the reason I never used it was the extra step of having to unfold (and then refold) it. I also used to work at a library and we had the Cramer Kik stools - they had rollers that would retract when you stepped on the stool, so you could push it around with your foot, but then it would be stable as soon as you stood on it. I'm getting one of those for my kitchen right now!
I just realized that that’s my problem too
I have a folding one that has a handle sticking out the top, and when you grab the handle it unfolds just by picking it up. Helps to keep it out of the way but also use it. Age also helps, my knees won't let me climb counters anymore.
I have one of those rolling step stools too and I love it.
@@DJTinyPrecious I have one of those folding stools in my truck so I can check the oil without hassle. We have very tall versions of the rolling ones at work, to take care of large vehicles so that we don't have to climb on them.
My mom, a librarian, gave me one when I bought my first house about 20 years ago. I still have it and love it. Enjoy your new Kik Step!!
I use a craft bin,which is like a tool box, it’s clear plastic….with sections, everything goes back into its spot, I absolutely love it. I don’t know if I have adhd, but can be scattered thinking, so I’ve always had rituals, and homes for things…before i did that i was always losing things, I have 2 containers for my rings, those are the only places I allow myself to put them, I have 4 places where i can lay my glasses…but they’re usually in the place first on my list, I have a box where i put my wallet and keys, it’s on the way to my car…I don’t lose my keys anymore. I have tons out of place, but working on getting that solved…at least i can find my glasses for driving, wallet and keys if there was an emergency…and I have had one and it was wonderful to find those things!
Another thing about gloves and sensory things: I won’t do something else when I have the gloves on. If it’s annoying me that I thought of something else I want to do, having to take the gloves off is a cue to stay on task like “oh if I take them off this won’t get done. So do this first” and if I am afraid I’ll forget I have a small white board and dry erase market on the cabinet next to the sink.
Really appreciate that your place looks lived in and like you actually use everything in it. So many other videos suggest making your home more empty & "distraction free" by hiding everything or getting rid of everything. Yours is so much more practical and doesn't require rigorous upkeep.
Honestly if everything was hidden it does the opposite for my brain. Being too organized means I have extra steps to take it out or put away, so I would never do anything. Example: I put away my console or art supplies, the mere thought of having to take it out and get it situated just to start the fun... makes me not do the task. If I already have it out but then have to "clean up" then I just won't start it either. I will just lay in bed on my phone since minimal effort was needed.
Tbh the "distraction free" home seems anti-adhd, as opposed to adhd friendly
I married an ADHD spouse and it took a LOT of restructuring of my habits to make a functional home. One change we made that really helped was open shelving; We don't have cupboard doors in the kitchen or bathroom. I also don't put anything that needs to be frequently used in a closet; Closets are long-term storage or my stuff only.
Good idea. I switched to transparent storage bins. I no longer have to open it to see what I have stored. And with ADHD labels and inventory weren't enough for me.
My whole life I have always left cabinet doors and drawers open and didnt know why. 😅
I was diagnosed in college, so I'm always learning things like... oooohhh so thats an adhd thing.? 🤣
You guys they make cabinets with glass doors!!!!!!!!
YES to open shelving!!!
How do you deal with the issue of dust though? That's personally why I would go with glass cabinet doors over none if I had the choice.
I really like the idea of having everything needed for a task in the same spot. I’ve done that before in certain settings, but not consciously so I never really considered it. I understand completely now why I get frustrated doing certain things, and you put words to it.
Dishes never end unless I’m listening to music or audiobooks.
Oh and the “clutter box!” That’s such an amazing idea.
I have autism without ADHD but my mom just has ADHD your kitchen and her kitchen are set up almost identically I'm slowly going through your videos and finding things that I think will help my mom! Thank you for letting us look at your house!
It’s sort of hilarious, our house set ups are SO similar. Everything where I need it, where I use it. Designated spots for clutter. The “if it can’t survive the dishwasher” rule is SO REAL! I have the same rule for laundry and the washer/dryer too. A lot of the time people think my house is “too clean” for someone with ADHD, but it’s really just a careful system developed over time. And it’s important to me that everything follows the system or I lose things, get overwhelmed, etc. This video was so relatable!!
Right? I'm on the process of being diagnosed and they asked if my house is messy. And I'm like, no, it's EXTREMELY organised. And then I remembered, my room used to be impossibly messy when I was a kid and now I'm obsessed with being minimalistic and tidy because otherwise I simply cannot think and function. I live with a friend who is messy and we fought a lot about this and he lost hehe... so he's now very clean because he doesn't want to see the apocalypse unfold... but now I'll explain this to him so he can understand better... I don't want to be insufferable it's just that I literally get distracted if a single object is out of place...
Yes!! I swore I had OCD because everything has its place in my house (it stills gets messy but I schedule 10 min quick "pick ups" 3x a week). I've learned that its not true OCD, I had just implemented really good coping methods for my ADHD prior to being medicated.
@@luciarehermann7921 I'm literally the EXACT same, grew up with a constant messy room too! It's actually really validating to hear that because I read about how most ADHD-ers are so messy/disorganized.
My closet is definitely there right now since the weather change, but after two weeks, I literally can't function anymore without getting back to my system of work, home, and going out clothes organized by color. Haha!
Omg, SAME!! So many of these are things I’ve been implementing (and frequently begging for my husband to adhere to, bc otherwise I feel so out of control and stressed) for years!! And I didn’t realIze I’d been developing coping skills for my ADHD. It makes so much sense now!
“Same rule for laundry” me too if it’s not machine wash warm, tumble dry medium, I probably won’t wear it.
I'm amazed at how many of these things I've already implemeted in my home without thinking about ADHD specifically, i.e. before getting an official diagnosis. Just like I've adopted so many coping mechanisms that I learn now are extra suited for an ADHD brain.
"The fewer steps the better": So true. Being a chemist, I always jokingly called it "reducing the activation barrier".
Lol I'm also a chemist and I'm in the process of assessing whether I'm ADHD or not... During the last 10 years of living by myself I adopted most of the tricks she shows in the video to ease my everyday tasks and I also call them "lowering the activation barrier" :D
As a chef you could call it "Mise En Plase" (everything in its place) which as chefs we use as a strategy to stay organized and effective in our kitchens.
Same!
So so true , I was implementing strategies while living with other people which ofcourse made it more difficult hence I moved by myself.
@@Dezzyyx tbh working in hospo taught me so many coping mechanisms
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was fifteen, and finally everything in my life made so much more sense! I am now 37 and am so grateful that my therapist and psychologist helped me figure out my brain so that I can better accommodate my life to the way my brain works.
There isn't a video of yours that I've watched where I haven't learned something, both about myself and about ADHD in general.
This video has given me *so much* to work with and towards, thank you so much.
Good tips, I realize I naturally do most of these already!
- if you like the instant pot, also look into an Anova Sous Vide machine
- for clothes that are "worn but not dirty yet" I reorganized my dressers to include a drawer for them. So instead of landing on the floor or the bedroom chair, they go back in the one drawer. I don't bother folding them nicely (for the other drawers I use the Konmari method as well).
Instant also has an air fryer line I absolutely love. I only cook for myself most days so I don't really need a full oven plus it's faster than using an oven.
I bought a coat tree for this and it's one of my favorite things. Definitely reduces the pile on my dresser and completely eliminated my floordrobe - which doesn't work as someone with dogs.
@@sarahdesrocher301 I love this idea! I have an over-door 4-hook thing that doesn’t really have a purpose so it collects things that don’t belong there. I think I’ll assign this use to it. 😊
"Worn but not dirty yet." I didn't realize I needed a place for those until you said something. Time to go redo my drawer and stop tripping over yesterday's fuzzy lounge pants.
BRILLIANT! I've heard of people putting these 'temporary' clothes on a chair or something but that's just one piece of furniture/visual clutter too many. Never thought of having an actual drawer/shelf for them!
As someone who has really struggled with maintaining a “functional home” and battling clutter, this is really just generally encouraging to make me feel like I’m not the only person who struggles with stuff like this
I agree, feeling overwhelmed on a daily basis about my home and finding I’m not alone helps my heart.
Me too!!!
@@melissaj.beaver9164 omg me too
@@recovered4life I’m old(er) and have always been so ashamed that I couldn’t keep my house organized and cleaned like others. I’ve kept them out. I was recently diagnosed and realize my 72 year old mother has, probably, been dealing with ADD her entire life, also.
@@melissaj.beaver9164 I might cry with relief and gratitude reading this. Thank you so, so much for sharing your experience. It helps melt away some of the shame. I am working on my self-esteem and this helps! Much love to you!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!❤ I'm 53 & just found your channel. I immediately sent this to my mom & daughter. I've had a lot of major life changes that have my adhd in overdrive. My mom & daughter kept saying they don't understand all the clutter. We're trying to declutter my home. My mom & I actually got in an argument over blankets!😂😂 They said this really helped them understand. This is truly going to help me! My bathroom is a disaster with products & make-up covering the entire counter! The makeup bag was brilliant! It will really help! Thank you!❤
I love this. I haven't been diagnosed but considering the depression/anxiety/forgetfulness and 'squirreling' that I do, I wouldn't be surprised if I could add ADHD to the list. I love how you look at things in order to make it easier for you and work with your issues. I often get frustrated with myself because things are a mess. I feel like I'm being lazy but when I really think about it, it's often overwhelm that sort of paralyzes me. I'm glad I found this video and can't wait to check out more.
I'm weirdly proud of the fact that I already did a lot of these things like, I feel like my brain adapted to what I need over time. This video is very validating ^_^
Mhmmm!
Exactly!
yeah 😊 strategy and how ADHD does it make us? hmmm
💯
Same here!
Having a space dedicated to just chilling and hyperfocusing on randomness without necessarily a purpose, I absolutely love it! I want this! I need to make this in my room! Thank you so much for this video!
Just realized that my area to wander in my head is simply swinging.
People with ADHD don't hyperfocus. That's autism.
Very incorrect! ADHD does involve a lot of hyperfocus and hyperfixation
I have a pile of comfy pillows and a table with cool stuff around me like nostalgic childhood toys and stuff
@@ourosaquavaringas6061 Have a look at this Russell Barkley lecture time 21:20 and let me know you're thoughts.
czcams.com/video/XYmPWq8QPQg/video.html
Where are you getting your information around hyperfocus from?
This is amazing!! I’m so happy I came across your videos. Everything makes total sense! Thank you for being realistic with everything, it makes me feel less incompetent and less like I don’t adult very well. I guess it makes me feel seen. The tips are super helpful and achievable, I’m so happy I found your channel. Keep up the good work! ♥️
Thank you, love this!!! Your home is functional, happy and cozy! Love your style! Storing at point of use, eliminating extra steps have been so useful! Hoping to see more house hacks from you. A couple of hacks to remember: Robotic vac, robotic mop/wet floor cleaner, launch pad, hooks, alexa or similar. Toothpaste and toothpaste and cavity rinse in the shower. Near my front door: Sunscreen, hair gel, walking clothes so I'm more motivated! Also: deodorant everywhere: kitchen, front door, gym bag, car, work station because I forget to put it on after a shower and it only dawns on me a few hours later, same with dental products...multiple locations!!
ADHD eating healthy tip: Frozen fruits/veggies!!! No preparation needed, everything's already cut and washed, you can eat it as is. Open freezer, reach in bag, fruit time :)
It doesn't spoil half as fast as fresh produce b/c it's frozen, and if you want not frozen veggies, you can easy peasy cook them by steaming them in the microwave!
I've also found that the frozen helps regulate the flavor of fruit a bit more, so you rarely get just a Bad Taste Fruit if that's a block for you
Dried fruit has also been a godsend for me in that regard. I keep those little boxes of raisins you put in kids' lunch boxes, and some other stuff for variety (dried apricots, dried banana slices, stuff like that) - really helpful for when I've hyperfocused past a mealtime. After I've nomfed a box of raisins, I usually feel well enough to cook for real.
Yes! I love to lift weights (exercise is great for our brains😏) and I buy frozen blueberries now because they stay fresh longer and it’s so much more convenient to add to a protein smoothie than buying fruit every week that will probably go bad in a week-
Super random question question for anyone: I love bananas but I buy non-frozen bc sometimes I like them as a snack when they’re not in a smoothie…should I buy frozen bananas too?
i can’t stand the texture of most frozen fruits plain, so for me they’re best for smoothies or baking. except mango. i will eat bowls and bowls of frozen mango chunks. 100% recommend
Having a bowl with enough fruit for the day, or two days, means we see it and just pick it up. Way healthier than reaching into the biscuit tin. Lol. Keeping extra fruit in the fridge stops it going bad too quickly to eat it.
I also have a glass jar on the kitchen counter that's big enough for 1kg/2lb sugar. I fill it with my own mix of dried fruit and nuts that lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Good for protein and slow release energy. No cooking required.
Fresh pasta, like ravioli, can be cooked in 3 to 5 mins. Bonus points for having some salad ready to go with it.
@@micah1848 I also don't like fruit texture so a good tip is to buy frozen fruit and a single serve blender for smoothies. My ninja was $50 and you only have one cup to wash every time you make a smoothie because you drink out of the blender cup
I was SO seen when you said, "And now you are walking the dog with a coffee cup!" I am 51 and just now addressing my self diagnosed ADHD by seeking a real evaluation. The more I learn the more I mourn the time I have wasted working so hard to function in this world. "Point of performance" is that BEST!! Thank you!
Same
This mess of lost direction is exactly how I move through my days.
I’m only 19 and trying to get a diagnoses for my self-diagnosed adhd, and I agree so much. There have been so many times when I started cleaning my room and I just jumped from one task to another until it’s been an hour and now one hand is full of trash, there’s a pencil in my pocket for some reason, and the other hand is holding a shirt to go in the laundry and I just feel like I haven’t achieved anything because the last half hour was spent looking through a pile of papers on my desk
Just be careful with self diagnosis
I feel ya!!!
I love the way you fold clothes.... it helps me so much with the organization. I think it's so smart to have your kitchen organized the way you do and may try to do that when I live alone.
I actually love unloading and reloading the dishwasher. It’s right up there with filling ice cube trays! BUT only in the morning, when I’m craving the completion of tasks. So I never do the dishes after eating, at night, etc. I just do it in the morning or before lunch to get a dopamine hit. Working with myself instead of forcing myself to do what others say is the correct thing has been a revelation for me!
Great that that works for you! :) I'm a bit jealous though, I have severe problems with sound, and my noise-canceling headphones are great, but they don't always help. Some days I can hear phantom-screeching-sounds of dishes (even though I'm not even able to actually hear them through the headphones. My brain just makes them up, because it completes the "missing stimuli" from my environment) Ugh.
OMG. That's why I don’t unload the dishwasher at night? Our electricity is lower after 7pm so I run it then (but often forget till much later), so sometimes it's too hot to unload, or the thought of "one more job" depresses me. Sure, I like the effect unloading and reloading at night has on my morning, but unloading in the morning means I've accomplished something!
For me it's exclusively the cutlery rack so if it's already done and I don't get to treat myself to it the dishwasher might aswell be socksorting
@@ace_of_crows8041 My son has a flatware solution. He walks over to drawer and just dumps whole basket. No dividing or sorting. Goal unloaded - check. I was shocked but it is his flatware in his home. I want two baskets one clean and one dirty to load as I go. If in a hurry (and husband not watching), I unload enough and load dirty then run them again. My goal is a clean kitchen- check.
I do the same thing with parts of it. I don't like loading/unloading the dishwasher, so will do exactly what you said, but will always clean pots and pans right after I finish cooking, or they'll just sit there for days in the sink collecting muck. It's become part of the process of cooking, so that I force myself to be accountable for the mess, and it actually gets cleaned up.
for anyone who's interested (because I was, and then I happened to get it as a Christmas gift): the electric kettle she shows at 2:05 - 2:34 is a Chefman 1.8-Liter Electric Kettle and it is just as cool as it looks. I already know it's going to be super helpful when I go back to school ^_^
Thank you!
Came to the comments just for this info, Thanks!
I live in Germany and here, electric kettles are common. But not like this with the tea bag and stuff, this one is *fancy* i love it! 🤩
I think it’s the same one I bought for Mom
I love the look of it. Does it take on the flavor of the tea that's been brewing, or is it fairly easy to clean?
Wow! What an amazing video. I love how you explained and shared your tips n experiences. I'm 47, and struggle with OCD. And keeping things organized , neat is a struggle. Your space is so comforting. Beautiful . 🧡
I Ecco what’s so many people hear have already said. Self diagnosing ADHD and your kitchen is exactly like mine. It’s crazy how heard you make so many people feel. Thank you.
I have just found out at 39 years old that I have adhd and my house is set up almost exactly the same as yours and always has been. Especially blankets everywhere! I hadn't even realised everything is at point of performance until I saw this. I also keep make up and toiletries in travel bags, how random. But definitely not agreeing with your tea kettle, but that's most likely because I'm British! In addition to the rule that if it can't go in the dishwasher I will not own it, I also have the rule that if it's too delicate to be thrown in the same laundry load as everything else, or if it might need ironing, I just don't own it.
It is truly surreal finding out how much I have been adhd proofing my life for years without knowing I even had it. It so sad to think how much further I could have taken it had I only known. Your videos are so helpful to my new awakening, thank you.
Same here, I noticed I already do a lot of these anyway, because it's just so much simpler.
Yeeesss!!! I didn’t realize I had ADHD until I started down the research rabbit hole when my kids needed help…then once they got diagnosed three years ago, I got evaluated and diagnosed myself
But over the years (especially since having kids 13 years ago) I have been ADHD-proofing my house without really realizing it either
"It's a pile, but it's a pile in a bin!" YES I LOVE THIS. And the basket for kitchen clutter, and the not having a coffee table. Clutter buildup paralyzes me and these seem like amazing ways to help with that. Thank you!! (Have been watching your videos since being diagnosed a few years ago at 30 and they are incredibly helpful (and often emotional, even when the topic seems like it wouldn't be))
Like, that is literally what putting things away is, but why does it feel like such a life hack? I can’t believe NT people have organized bins. Like… show offs. Jk jk jk… ish.
I have a slightly broken laundry basket I use for things like items I want close by but don't have surface space for or pants that can have one more wear before wash. I also have a foot locker to lock away the mess that is not used as often but is still needed acationally like important papers and less often used are supplies like hot glue good for fixing things but not needed daily