Reacting to ADHD Brain Hacks on Tiktok

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Last time I did this I reacted to ADHD TikToks. Today I'm reacting to ADHD brain hacks... should I be afraid of what I might find??

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[HowtoADHD]

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[sageordnung]

The best way I’ve found to avoid paying that adhd tax for groceries going bad is to buy a smaller amount of groceries. I just buy enough to make meals for 3 days and then buy more groceries. It sets the bar lower and I’m not setting myself up for failure if something goes bad. Yeah it’s annoying to go to the grocery store twice a week but it’s been the most effective solution so far.

[dancingsilverwolf]

No cupboard doors: not being able to close them away actually stresses me out. There are too many things to see and they can distract me. Plus, I only get them in there "good enough" in order to move on and not think about it too much. If they were always visible I'd want it to look pretty so the clutter didn't give me anxiety, which takes more effort than I have time to give it.

[kanz]

I'm the opposite to the 'take the doors off your cabinets' girl, I need everything to be out of sight most of the time and keep my space really neutral with hardly anything visible because I get so easily overwhelmed by visual stimuli. Especially when my ADHD and anxiety are colliding. Sometimes I even cover things in sheets so I can't see them if they're too colorful or detailed, unless I'm specifically working on a project

[Izzy-cpyt]

"Don't put it down, put it away" sounds like the constant nagging I heard as a kid, and it honestly makes me want to do it way less. Especially depending on what it is and when it's happening, sometimes I'm tired, or just can't bring myself to do it, or maybe I'm hungry and need to eat first, or have to start laundry because I need something the next day. It's one of those "perfect tips" that sound like a perfect fix but really aren't. Like "put it in your planner!" or "set a reminder!" Sounds good, doesn't work as perfectly as you think it will.

[flo]

What _does_ work for me is having multiple spaces for things I lose often. So I have a little vertical container near my door; in the bathroom; in my bedroom; near my couch. That way, if I need to put my glasses down somewhere, I don't have to go anywhere to put them away, but they aren't just out in the wild. If I do lose them, then 99% of the time they are in one of those 4 boxes.

[sammarks]

A softer variation of the "don't put it down, put it away" rule that works for me, is having specific rules like "It's not ok to leave things on the floor". I give myself permission to leave things on my desk, my shelves, etc. Just never, ever my floor (unless they're kept neatly in a box or something). By giving myself a rule that I can follow, I'm making steps toward the right direction, without holding myself to an impossible standard.

[backuppixiedust]

Gotta say the weirdest adhd brain hack Ive ever pulled off is how, when I got to college, I had been doing sudoku puzzles and playing around with an old Mensa riddle book I’d found, and I accidentally convinced my brain that Math was just more fun puzzles.

[carly]

Thank you for clarifying on the definition of object permanence. It’s something that really annoys me when I hear people using it for ADHD, particularly since I’ve watched family members with dementia lose something much closer to “object permanence”. I can turn around and immediately forget the stove is on, but that’s incredibly different from sitting next to a loved one and having them be surprised to see you every time they turn around.

[barberchopin]

“Set it for as long as you will allow yourself to soak in the inertia”

I have recently (over the last few years) described myself as having a very strong sense of inertia. If I’m moving, it’s very hard to stop, and if I’m not moving, it’s very hard to start

[adinacooper]

The best advice I've ever heard with my AHDH is "once begun is half done" meaning getting started is the hardest part. it pops into my mind when I'm having trouble with my executive function.

[IaMaBaNaNa]

If "don't put it down, put it away" works for folks, that's great for them. Personally I hate it, it reminds me of growing up and having my ADHD-denying father tell me things like "you just have to focus more". I've told myself things similar to this, but I'm really good at making excuses to myself. I like Jessica's basket idea, collect a bunch of stuff, take it to the proper place when you're on your way there.

[TheMikefarny]

'Don't put it down. Put it away' bothers me too. It feels like someone saying 'just be better'. The reason I struggle with staying organized, is because I lack the executive functioning to stay on top of my systems. Advising me to interrupt myself before I put something down where it doesn't belong misses the mark. I become disorganized because I lack the executive function required to take a pause and implement the organizational tactics & skills that would obviously work. Knowing how to do something, why it's important, and when to do it doesn't change the fact that it'll get neglected when I lose focus and begin doing something else.

[MewsView]

I think "don't put it down put it away" is more useful if you are already in the same space. Example putting dishes in the dishwasher instead of by the sink. It only takes a couple extra seconds but I will often skip it lately because baby "needs" me. But rarely is she actually desperately in need of me that second and I have time to do it properly.

[baristurkmen]

Also the adhd tax thing 100% - we're often shamed into buying less convenient things because convenience seems to read to others as laziness or privilege but I don't think paying more or aiming for convenience applies to us in the same way, it's better to just look at it as 'accessible'. Meal kit subscription, Huel (helps me), pre-chopped veggies, whatever it may be, don't feel bad for having skipped some steps or paying more, it's just an adaptation we make to help us deal with a disorder that has nothing to do with our own work ethic or laziness. Pay the ADHD tax, do what you can within your means

[jazy]

Well, having cupboard doors has several good reasons: 1) keeps visual clutter away - less stimuli, 2) keeps dust and oily-dust (this horrible thing that slowly builds up when you're cooking) and 3) saves food and spices from exposure to the sun/light.
so, for the things that we think we need to remember they exists we could have a dedicated shelf opened to the eyesight - everything else can be hidden away.

[mggbgmi]

“Don’t put it down, put it away” is a really frustrating thing I’ve been told my whole life. I’ve always struggled with it, especially now because of physical disabilities. It’s often literally impossible for me to put something away. Which is why I tend to use the next hack of just moving stuff to the correct room and the organize it hack (that one is a life saver). Stairs are still the bane of my existence though. Our staircase is usually a death trap of paperwork that needs to be filed and stuff that needs to be put in storage lol

[arimckellin]

As a Psych student with ADHD, thank you for explaining object permanence and the difference SO WELL

[morevidsplease]

Your physical and verbal reaction to the "put it away" at 4:45 makes me feel so seen. The reaction is so real!

[fanime]

God, the "don't put stuff down, put them away, " gave me such "If you have depression, just feel happy" vibes. Wow! What a concept! I'll be sure to let my brain know, mom! It doesn't help that I have a thyroid condition that gives me extreme fatigue. And you know what really takes a lot of energy? Going outside and buying things. First thing I want to do after any trip outside my house is rest.