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If you have ADHD how do you organise your life without losing your mind?

6 replies

lozengeoflove · 29/03/2026 21:37

Just as the title says really. The older I get the more impossible it is to manage life - myself, kids, work, general life admin. I have been waiting for an ADHD diagnosis for ages. They’ve dismissed me because I’ve forgotten to send in my forms despite reminders. I have to be referred again.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Please give me your best magic solutions and tips on how to be more organised. I’ve never felt more incompetent!

OP posts:
Echobelly · 29/03/2026 21:39

My husband has ADHD (only recently diagnosed). Shared Google calendar with everything we are doing together or individually was a game changer for us- before that DH was constantly complaining that he had no idea a thing I knew I had told him about 3 times in the last week was happening at the weekend and so on.

Ritaskitchen · 29/03/2026 22:08

I used my phone calender a lot - for appointments but also to remind myself to take medicine/phone a friend/do a chore.
A declutter spree every so often - I wish I did this more.
Walking really helps to clear my mind.
Having set places for things - keys etc.
And being kind to myself when I mess up. Which I do and it’s ok.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 29/03/2026 22:10

I suspect I'm AuDHD so if the following doesn't apply then just scroll on by.

The organised mum method really helped me to get over the all or nothing approach. I don't necessarily use it for the housework, but doing a little here and there is infinitely better than doing nothing. I try and break the tasks down into smaller steps, write down the steps and get a dopamine kick when I cross them off.

Bullet Journal works well for me, particularly putting stuff in it for the months ahead. So in January I book my haircuts for the rest of the year. It's on my year wheel of admin jobs. A daily to do list is too much but weekly hits my sweetspot.

Everything goes in the Google calendar. Anything from school goes in the calendar the moment I see it on the app.

Batch lady takes a lot of strain out of planning and executing a meal plan. I didn't go out and buy loads of gear - I got the foil take away trays like from the Chinese takeaway. I even borrowed the books from the library before I bought them.

I also had to be referred twice because I didn't book an appointment. Another colleague and I were talking and she needed to book too. So I booked her for a meeting at work, we flexed our for an hour, and nailed it. We found a third colleague and every 3 weeks we have a meeting where we can support each other.

Housework is more bearable with a podcast that has 2 or more hosts, because it feels like I'm hanging out with friends.

I find getting a buddy of some sort holds me to account. So I like outdoor cooking, but I just can't seem to do it by myself. So one of my fellow guide leaders and I are taking a badge - so we have to make international food on a fire once a month for a year. Next month it's moules frites.

Continual checking in on myself - how am I doing? What do I need right now? Because some days I can do everything and others I can barely move.

LayaM · 29/03/2026 22:14

Digital solutions have worked best for me.
Routinery app has been a godsend in mornings and evenings.
I use Alexa for calendars, to do lists and reminders because I can speak them in the moment it arises and then get reminders.
When I was researching I saw lots of recommendations for Finch but I haven't got round to that one yet.

fellupthestairs · 29/03/2026 22:20

The organised method helped me for a while but then I fell off the wagon.

I got back on it using the Finch app and I’ve now been using it for over 200 days consistently so I’m counting that as a win. I put everything on there that has to be done each day, and can set up repeats.

Also use my iPhone calendar app with a big widget on my Home Screen for it. I just use that for work shifts, medical appointments, bin days and holidays/annual leave.

Im ok at work as I tend to have to do certain jobs at certain times of the day, but at home I get distracted so easily and so frequently, I find it incredibly hard to stay on track.

lozengeoflove · 30/03/2026 21:11

Thanks so much everyone. Some really good suggestions. I’ll check these out!

I have task paralysis most days. It’s hard not only to remember what needs doing sometimes but then I find it hard to muster the energy to do it. I try not to berate myself and think of myself as lazy. It’s like a force field stopping me from getting going. It’s awful!

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