Any other Littles with ADD/ADHD out there?

[Sweet Lil Buttercup]

Hey there!

I’m sure I’m not the only neurodivergent Little out there, but I’m really curious about how other Littles manage the adult side of things with their ADD/ADHD, especially if they are unable to rely on a Caregiver for support. I’ve started meds again, which is somewhat helpful, but it’s also not always enough. I use lists and try my best to prioritize. However, I’m still trying to battle daytime fatigue and those moments where I sit down at my computer, and I’m like, “Wait, what was I trying to do again?” Especially because I have a lot of unstructured time at work now, and I really struggle with maintaining good sleeping habits. 

Does anyone have tips, tricks, and/or strategies that work really well? 
 
On a side note though, does it impact anyone’s Little side? I feel like it just helps because I don’t have to worry about anything. I just get to sit with one activity until I get bored and try a new one, lol. If anything being Little is a huge stress reliever because I can just fumble around without worrying about having forgot something important.

Thank you in advance for your support 😊 Hope you have a great rest of your day ❤️

[Holdontight]

Not a little, but an ADHD veteran.

Unstructured time is the devil. Sounds like you're already using lists and tools, but the Eisenhower matrix can be good for prioritising.

Remember neurotypical people have habits, but ADHD people only have routines. It takes a long time for a behaviour to become automatic for us, so set alarms to do things like stand up and have a stretch, drink water, or eat.

Chore charms have been very helpful for me - as explained here by the incredibly cute Matilda Boseley. The house has never been cleaner.

Colour noise generators can modulate some of the distractability. I use MyNoise, but there's hundreds out there, plus a bunch of youtube channels.

Notion has been very useful for keeping all my writing tasks in one place. The less I have to switch tabs or apps, the more likely I am to stay focused.

If your email is tabbed (like gmail) consider removing the categories and having everything in a single inbox. That makes clearing emails a lot simpler for me.

If social media is your downfall, try sticking to one platform or account per day. Also follow accounts about ADHD and self-care. This is one I like on IG, and twitter has a bunch of self-care bots. That way you get reminders to do the things your brain is trying not to do.

Keep track of when the medication is most effective. If it peaks after an hour and lasts for three, be aware that's the prime time for getting tasks done, and don't convince yourself you'll have energy later.

For a good sleep schedule you need a daddy setting a firm bedtime...or set one yourself. Aim to be in bed by 9 or 10 pm no matter what, and up before 8am. It's basic advice, but sleep hygiene really does work.

There's more, but that's already a lot.

[Sweet Lil Buttercup]

Thank you so much @Holdontightfor this incredible response. I can’t wait to dive deep and try out some of these strategies. Again, thank you so much. Your response is very much appreciated ❤️

[LongTimeMe]

Hi Buttercup.

I'm not trying to belittle your condition or symptoms (I know it is real), but I think the thing to remember is that an ADD/ADHD diagnosis isn't a binary yes/no. There are many traits to neurodivergence (ND) and each has a "digital" scale of level and therefore the fingerprint of ND for one person will be different to someone else.

I work with ND people in the IT industry. Once they find out what they are good at then it is usually self evident and then they can focus on that skill set which enables them to work effectively, efficiently and calmly through whatever tasks they are assigned. They are usually much better than other "Normal" (*) people as they don't let distractions interrupt them.

I use the term (*) "Normal" sparingly as if you take the human condition as a whole across everyone, then there really is no such thing as average and normal - we are all on the ND spectrum to some extent.

[Stine]

Hi @Sweet Lil Buttercup

I am not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but I am neuro divergent(autism spectrum and other hard to explain stuff about my age)
Right off the bat, there is stuff I can't advice on, but I'll try to give you my tactics for staying on point.

I am chairperson of a human rights organization and I run a personal business. What I have learned works best for me is a system that was developed by a guy named Ryder Carroll, called the bullet journal. (a quick youtube search for "bullet journal ryder carroll", will show you what it is about), without it I am not able to keep up with anything, with it I can keep up with yearly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks. Birthdays is easy to remember and I am sure to reach at least three daily goals every day and I never forget a thought, that i need to remember. I make sure that it is the first thing I look at, as soon as I get out of bed. if I don't the day will most likely be lost to procrastination. (bullet journaling is a handwritten system)

The second tactic I use, is to keep track of specific tasks. I use a system that was developed by Toyota to keep track of their production lines, called a "kanban board". I use it primarily to keep track of social media management and media editing processes. I have a task in my bullet journal to check my kanban boards, from time to time. (my kanbans are on the computer and I use a simple app, called "kanban tasker")

To make up my general daily schedule, I use an app for my phone called "time tune". It has my daily chores written, with how long each take and also how long my breaks will be and I can set it to give an alarm, when I need to do something.

If I fail in these, I'm not able to pick it up again until the day after. The good thing about these systems are that they are custom made, by yourself, to fit the person you are. It took me along time to figure out, how I wanted my bullet journal... a month I think, because I procrastinated a lot.. but it was well worth it in the end.

This may seem quite excessive and by no means do you have to pick up all of it or any of it, if it isn't for you. I am unfortunately not able to help out with how to combat fatigue, I haven't figured it out yet and my sleep is... well... I'm writing this at a quarter to 4 at night and I should have been to bed at 10 in the evening. Setting boundaries for myself is really hard. I have a Daddy, but he is a gentle type, so even though in relation to many things where the guidance of a caregiver would be good for me, he is not able to.

@Holdontight Thank you for the eisenhower matrix and chore charms, sooo copying that.

[Skye_Severheart]

i have ADHD!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skye_Severheart]

also i am Autistic, Bi-polar, and have severe anxiety and depression.

[thelasteiko]

I have ADHD. Trying to start a journal system has never worked for me because I could never get it into my routine so it would stick. I've always liked the idea though because you can make them super pretty ❤️

I agree that the Eisenhower matrix is great for prioritizing and also good for anxiety. Somehow all the things you have to do is not as daunting when you organize based on importance.

I'm definitely going to have to try the chore charms. That sound genius.

[Sweet Lil Buttercup]

Y’all cleaning today was so ridiculous. I just stood in the middle of the living room looking at all of my piles not knowing where to start. Then I kept bouncing from task to task until I finally created a list and started checking some of them off. I didn’t make the matrix, but I did number them to prioritize by section and then task. That was so helpful. I didn’t even look at the list again, just the act of writing things down was helpful. 

Really like the chore charms as well! Might try it with everyday work stuff first … Wondering if there is a different way to do it though. Those bracelets are going to be distracting for me and those I work with … especially distracting for those I work with

[Holdontight]

5 hours ago, Sweet Lil Buttercup said:

I didn’t even look at the list again, just the act of writing things down was helpful. 

It's a thing

 

3 hours ago, Sweet Lil Buttercup said:

Really like the chore charms as well! Might try it with everyday work stuff first … Wondering if there is a different way to do it though. Those bracelets are going to be distracting for me and those I work with … especially distracting for those I work with

Wristbands might work. Necklace. String or rubber band on the finger to go really old school.

[Stine]

On 12/20/2022 at 5:07 AM, Sweet Lil Buttercup said:

Y’all cleaning today was so ridiculous. I just stood in the middle of the living room looking at all of my piles not knowing where to start. Then I kept bouncing from task to task until I finally created a list and started checking some of them off. I didn’t make the matrix, but I did number them to prioritize by section and then task. That was so helpful. I didn’t even look at the list again, just the act of writing things down was helpful. 

Really like the chore charms as well! Might try it with everyday work stuff first … Wondering if there is a different way to do it though. Those bracelets are going to be distracting for me and those I work with … especially distracting for those I work with

I definitely going to do the charm system, but for going outside and still be reminded, I am thinking about making a parallel system,with either colourcoded velcro armbands, with text on. Maybe you can use something like that. 

[lilpincess]

I struggle a lot with adult stuff, but I didn’t really understand how much or why until recently. It’s part what makes ddlg so appealing for me, aside from being a little on its own. Having someone who will hold me accountable and help guide me and checking in with me would be a relief. Finally figuring out who you are and why you are the way you are in your 30s is such a relief and also very stressful. Having ADHD definitely doesn’t help with big stuff, but I think it’s part of why I feel so little and am always a little bit in little space

[MsMaddie]

I have autism & adhd and it’s a struggle. I don’t have any advice but you’re not alone ❤️

[LilTommy]

I adhd and journal helps me when I do it