If you have ADHD* what techniques helped you sort your life out?

[theduchessofspork]

I really want 2024 to be the year I sort my self out in health, finances and career (and daily life chaos). But, I have a track record of starting out with good intentions... and then a couple of months later all plans have collapsed in a puddle.

So if you have ADHD (*or just chronic disorganisation - I am awaiting diagnosis so I dunno which it is yet), all nuggets of wisdom would be gratefully received..

Meant to say, the tracking thing with migraines. Last sunday I didnt have as many purple house boxes of stuff achieved. But I don't feel guilty as I can also see that I had a migraine. So it helps with perceived failure guilt too.

This made me properly lol! Duly saved as an alarm and will set for tomorrow morning.

Some great tips on this thread - can I join you all please? I’m diagnosed with ASD/Aspergers and am as sure as I can be without a diagnosis that I have Inattentive ADHD.

Sorry for being a multi poster , I keep remembering things. I also have reminders set up in moonpig for birthdays for family. Allows me to be reminded, click order and send a card without leaving my bed!

Also sorry again, I also prep my meds and vitamins on a su day as otherwise I dont take them.

I have one of those boxes for the week. Am and PM. I still forget to take them sometimes, but at least I know if I do and also I don't double dose anymore because I did take them, but forget I did.

FWIW if you take ADHD stimulant medication, you need to be careful with vitamins - high dose vitamin C can prevent absorption of the stimulant, so they recommend if you take this, take it in the evening instead to stop it interfering with the ADHD medication.

Has anyone found a decent 7 day pillbox with lids that don't get lost? Just needs am ans pm?

I have this one.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0818FSVKX?psc=1&ref=ppxpoppmobbbasin_title&th=1

Only issue is that the writing has started to come off.

Thanks I impulse ordered one that has individual boxes in a bigger box so I will report back!

Does anyone find that regular phone notifications just aren't enough? Not loud enough, get too easily lost among other notifications? Or, I just forget to check.
I found an (Android) app called Event Reminder that works with Google Calendar. It can monitor any of your calendars, so basically I've set up an Urgent calendar that contains all my unmissable stuff like doctor, dentist, hospital appointment, bin night, birthdays, coffee with Sam (urgent bc I've stood her up too often bc of distractibility so I must NOT do that again).
Regular stuff like work shifts stay on my main calendar. It's easy to copy events so they're on both main (cos shared with DP) and urgent calendars. I set Event Reminder to monitor only the Urgent calendar; it looks for Notifications added to Events, so when an event with a notification comes around, it pops up a full-screen reminder with an unignorable sound. It's very reliable; without it, I was in a mess of missed appointments.

@JumperForMyCoffee thanks for that information - I keep hearing about trello being “brilliant” but the breakdown is helpful. I’m inspired now to take a proper look. And I like your high maintenance to be low maintenance concept.

@SequentialAnalyst perfectly put!

I take back my CRINGE remark about Body Doubling.

About a month after I posted on this thread I joined a group (not free, but I was in desperate rut and was willing to try anything that could get me out).

It’s not just live ADHD coach led Body Doubling, but that’s a significant part of the package.

OH MY GOD

The idea made me turn inside out with cringe. The reality has been entirely different. And having an ADHD coach on hand 24/7 to help you through shit you really don’t want to do is a game changer. I still have ups and downs (see image), but my trajectory is objectively upwards. Gradual, not a “Fails At Life to Gold Medal Winner In Life” feel good movie ending kind to onwards and upwards. Which is what I find most comforting. It’s not my usual sprint followed by extended crash. I’ve finally joined the marathon (with plenty of rest stops).

If there is any support, tool or concept that makes your lip curl, it’s worth giving it a shot as an experiment. Because it turned out for me that the thing I thought would be the least useful and most cringy has been the biggest, most consistent aid.

Oh god this thread popped up and I'm grateful because I forgot I had a pillbox and have been forgetting to take my tablets 🤦‍♀️

Tell us more @AlienatedChildGrown ...

Interested in learning more about your coach led body doubling @AlienatedChildGrown

About vit c and taking tablets. It’s the citric acid that stops the tablets breaking down or being absorbed. So it is vit c and also a lot of soft drinks too that you shouldn’t take alongside your medication. I’m not sure if citric acid is in other things.