ADHD Friendly To Do Lists | Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed and Get Things Done!

Hi guys!

So seeing as most of my projects are either on hold or not yet finished/uploadable, I thought I'd make a video about something that has been really helping me lately. I have always LOVED lists......but I also find they can get me feeling SUPER overwhelmed, which, with ADHD is the perfect recipe for quitting/burning out/paralysis and generally accomplishing none of the things on said list....SO I have a formula for the perfect not-everhwelming-dopamine-creating to do list!

Hope you find this helpful!

[victoriaryan]

I've always put "make a list" as the first item on a task list so that can cross something off straight away, and it gives me a positive feeling. Last year I got diagnosed with ADHD and it's just a tiny but obvious coping mechanism I've been using that really helps. 🙂

[LaDeeDah]

For my ADHD peeps here also, I keep a dry erase marker in my shower to write things there too when they pop up because the shower for me is the most clear my mind is. And I'm not near my notebook and pen. Sometimes I use it to write myself motivational messages like STOP FREAKING T.F OUT haha ❤️ I've had a few friends adopt the dry erase marker in the shower hack and they love it. Hope that helps. Comment if you've done this before

[dx]

So very helpful!! I'll add this to my list of todo items (master), YouTube watch later list, adhd videos Playlist, things to discuss with my wife list, and I'll get around to it tomorrow.

Oh wait

[Jamnj]

I searched "adhd getting started when overwhelmed" and scrolling through the thumbnails, I saw your earnest expression and had a feeling you might be someone I could relate to.
I watched this video several times and saved it to my playlists.
I especially liked feeling seen when you described exactly why my to-do lists haven't been helping me accomplish things.
You sound like you're just casually mentioning cheat codes to life without being grandiose, self-deprecating, or remotely condescending and I appreciate it so much!
I'm going to try to remediate my brain dumping ways, starting by identifying 3-5 must-do tasks each day. I'm also intrigued by doing an audit of my to-do list. Even knowing I do it, I'm still prone to unrealistic optimism regarding how long things will take and I still assume it'll take about "a half-hour" to get to any appointment.

Also, liked and subscribed! Keep the tips and cheat codes coming!

[LaDeeDah]

Oh wow!! I love calling it my brain dump list! That's so helpful!! I'm 'braindumping' in my notebook of to do lists and it's so long now that I am so overwhelmed right now. I didn't think to just consider it a Brain dump and then make two different lists.

[kristenwilkinson]

I didn't other people had to make brain dump lists like me! Watching ADHD videos is like looking in a mirror, but then finding people have solved things I struggle with. Thank you!

[ladydonna]

This is so helpful! Could you show some examples of your lists? Really great video!

[buffplums]

Hi just found your channel after searching for pointless to do lists… but in true ADHD fashion… distraction kicks in and I’m looking at your workroom as I am just creating my own shed with a pent roof similar to yours… anyway back to to do lists. Lol 😂 x

[DebraHunter-dt]

I like this advice :) I also believe in the power of many lists… because seeing it all on one page can be overwhelming for my brain. So I’ll have a task, and then in another note on my phone I’ll have a checklist of things so I don’t forget anything for that task. For example, pack freezer bag for cottage (in another note I’ll have a checklist of all the things I need to pack), this could also be used as a breakdown for bigger tasks that have multiple steps. I think including a very simple start task (like plug in string lights) is a great way to get the momentum going and give you a check/dopamine hit :) Thank you for a great video! 🙃 I’m going to try your tips!

[GuillaumeRx]

Awesome advice for the ADHD brain! Thank you so much!!

[kkassam]

Great video. I’d love to see an example of what your lists actually look like.

[clau]

Thid was really really helpful, thank you!!!!

[bkind]

Watching 100 videos and this one is perfect for my work. Some tasks are small and some and big and when I break them down then I have 1000 things! So make a smaller list. Great! (just don't forget about the big list..)

[souvikkundu]

This makes sense and I have recently started following this system, tasks that fall under different "dump" lists and only one task list which is the "task execution" list or "current task" list.

[ebayposhman]

This is good action list are a Game changer

[mantisesq]

Helpful video that gave me some ideas to break through being overwhelmed because I objectively have too much to do, particularly writing out the steps initially.

[Chloe-hqrs]

It's a warm and useful advice for anxiety too, thanks :)

[kathleenstetler]

Absolutely effective!!
Yes. This works.

[mw]

Thank you, I will try this. I've tried so many structured planners and they don't work for me. I just need to use a notebook and get the thoughts and tasks out of my head and in front of me so I can organize my brain.

[LegionOfWeirdos]

I'm hit or miss with lists... my older daughter does well with them as long as she's made the list herself. When I've tried making one for her or helping her to make one, some switch goes off in her brain and she goes into brain paralysis mode.