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

by Jessica McCabe

Do what you can ahead of time. Sleep in your gym clothes, book classes in advance, or make yourself a checklist. Doing what you can ahead of time means there is less to do—or get stuck on—when you need to get going. Remove physical obstacles and other barriers. If something is in the way of the piano, it’s going to make it harder for you to play the piano. If a task is overwhelming for sensory reasons—for example, there’s something about it that is too bright, too noisy, or too icky—find a tool that helps you avoid the unpleasant experience. Use gloves while washing dishes, earplugs for noisy trips, or sunglasses for running errands outside.[*4] Invest in tools you enjoy using. Many of us have negative associations with tasks partly due to the tools we associate with the task. Choosing ones that feel good and look nice is a great way to “grease the wheels” toward doing The Thing. Plus, it can make or save us money in the long run. For example, how much have we spent on takeout because the “nice pans” or tools that might make cooking easier are “too expensive”? Tap into your “why.” There’s a reason you’re doing The Thing. What’s the reason? It might not be about the task itself. There’s a sweet example of this in an episode of The Simpsons. When Homer went back to work after Maggie was born, he papered pictures of her over a foreboding sign from his boss that read “Don’t forget. You’re here forever.” The baby pictures covered enough letters so the sign now read “Do it for h...