How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It)

by Jessica McCabe

“I can easily get into hyperfocus with the right sort of music (upbeat but no outrageous tempo or lyrics, video game music works great) and environment (low light, no distracting noises from other people, no notification noises).”

Take a break from self-reg. Many people with ADHD feel like they’re “bad at relaxing” because while they’re TRYING to relax, they end up doing something else. What I have learned is that, for us, taking a break from self-regulating IS a break. Sometimes, letting your brain do what it wants—even if that’s starting a new project—is more restful than asking it to focus on a relaxing activity.

“This might seem counterintuitive, but I rest my brain by doing something physically challenging and repetitive enough that my brain stops partying because my body is so tied up in the movement. Rowing, and sometimes just a circuit or intervals of something, works. Afterward, there’s this tiny window of relative quiet.”