As someone who’s been dealing with ADHD my whole life, I know the struggle of maintaining routines. It’s like you’re constantly trying to build a sandcastle against the tide where everytime you’re building something and thinking you have it all together, something comes up to where it just ruins it. But there’s always comfort in knowing we can always start over, even if it feel like we’re starting from scratch.
Great analogy. I have a lot of friends who love planning, don't have ADHD and their habits break regularly too, they experiencing similar struggles. So it's normal, it's okay!
Sometimes we're at least facing the water so we have some warning, but usually it's a case of having our back to the water and wondering why am I sitting in water? 🤷♂️ Keep building anyways. *_Woosh_* 🌊 🏰
Oh man, you mentioned wanting to learn to bake, and that feels really familiar. I think baking is kinda an ADHD kryptonite, because it's really "easy" to do, but requires precisely following directions. I've made the same bread recipe a bunch of times, but occasionally I'll just forget a step and then the whole batch comes out wrong. My biggest advice for learning to bake with ADHD is getting really serious about mise en place: pre-measure every single ingredient on the ingredient list, and don't let yourself mix *anything* together until you've double-checked you've measured out everything.
Also, if you have the time for some pre-prep, you could try this to avoid missing steps: instead of having the recipe on a long list, write it out on numbered cue cards where each card is just one step. That way, you know exactly where you are in the process at a glance.
I've just had a huge life upheaval. I've gone from having a very structured routine to having no routine. It kills me. I agree about claiming the wins. I got dressed. I washed me face. I went up and down the stairs to do laundry (I have mobility issues). It doesn't matter how I've done these things, I have done them. Thank you for the reminder. I hope you and baby are well.
I love Brilli. I use it for a while, manage to learn the routines, stop using it because it’s faster to just do the routine, slowly stop using the routine because it gets boring, realize I need a routine to feel better again, and start the cycle over. But Brilli makes it easy to learn, and is a great tool to reach to!! Thanks for introducing it to me :)
Now I’m understanding why it felt like I was constantly “starting from scratch” bc each new semester brought a new routine. And now that I’ll be graduating at the end of the year, this will be good to come back to lol
This video is coming at such a crucial time in my life, thank you for making it. I moved a few months ago, and it was such a hectic move. My routines got thrown out the window, and now it feels like I'm rebuilding from scratch. My therapist is helping, but it's been so difficult going from what was a pretty stable and routine-filled life to back into what feels like the same chaos I was in before I started getting treated for ADHD. So thank you for bringing back this video! Some of the tips already have me inspired and feeling just a little less overwhelmed when I look at everything.
I love this concept for a video! More TH-camrs need to do this. Even if there was no updates or changes on this specific topic it's a great practice to implement. Information can change, new research comes out, and as we grow we learn more about ourselves our views can change. I love that this challenges the stigma of feeling like a hypocrite if you change your mind when you get new information, instead of forcing ourselves to stick to things that no longer serve us.
I'm feeling understood💛💛💛 Just wanted to write something very similar 💛💛💛💛💛 I watched this video many times since I've discovered the channel three years ago I adore it
This is incredible. I moved a few months back (moved back in with my parents to escape a toxic home environment) and even though my parents were encouraging me to do X, Y, and Z, I felt God was cautioning me against them. I eventually explained to them that it was like I had two irons in the fire, and although I had space for three or four more irons in the fire, I didn't know yet *what* those irons should be. Now all those free slots are taken up, but each "iron" is something important and useful, and I still have time for self-care! At this point I'm very glad it took me 4-5 months to fill in my schedule rather than like, two.
I'd really be interested in an episode about breaking bad habits. I've noticed in my life that I've been struggling going back to my bad habits instead of trying to improve my good habits.
I second this! My husband is a recovering alcoholic. The two best pieces of advice he shared with me during his treatment and therapy were 1) constantly check your cognitive distortions - you thinking a small mistake ruins the day, for example - is catastrophizing. In reality, you made a mistake. Correct it, or note it, and move on. One setback in kicking a bad habit doesn't mean you're not making progress. You may be doing really great. But, ADHD amplifies the negative of "failing" in a small thing. 2.)
I got obsessive over baking once. If you still wanna learn to bake here is a BIG TIP YOU MUST FOLLOW! Read the entire recipe before you make it so that you know if you can do it and so that you know what you are doing. This helps tremendously for me. Also WOW this video was well timed and needed for me. I can't say how much I struggle with sticking to a routine. Also I will definitely talk my parents into buying your book so I can rebuild my whole life and work with my brain. Thanks so so so much for the video! ❤
I struggle with getting places on time in the morning, like work. So my cognitive therapist suggested I do as much as possible at night, so last night I was up until 2am by the time I finished my list and got to bed. So I think I have to make a new rule to get ready for bed at 11:30pm and in bed by midnight. Because, most things aren't critical. After all, fast food places do serve food that is on my diet... also, I'm thinking to do more cooking on Sunday and freeze 1/2 of it, so I don't need to cook mid week. I'm 45 now, so I just can't keep running day after day on 5.5 hrs of sleep. I'm getting wrinkles because of it.
I needed this. My oldest dog who was a big source of my daily routines recently passed away, I'm moving in a month, and I'm starting a new career a month after that. I feel very overwhelmed and lost right now and this really helps.
I missed this the first time around, but it's great seeing it now. I moved in November. My cousin just left after staying with me off and on from December until a couple of days ago, and now I finally have my space to myself again. Time to rebuild.!lol😊
I am so thankful that you posted this today. 1). Congratulations Mama! I’ve just moved, downsized almost 2000 sq.feet. I have a garage full of stuff that needs a home, not necessarily mine. And I can’t get motivated to start. Think I just learned a heck of a lot today. ❤😊. Thank you.
I so needed to see this today, thanks. My ADHD got so much worse in the last few years thanks to hormones. No doctor had ever told me that my hormones helped keep my ADHD under control.
Okay. So... I paused the video and went on Amazon to look at clipboards and then wondered what was in my cart, so I looked and saw it was a birdhouse. I looked at the birdhouse and wondered if I could paint my uncolored ones at home. Then looked on Google about it. Then about what colors are safe for birdhouses. Then if birds liked tin roofs. Then about the history of tin roofs. Then about the boarding house in Pennsylvania I stay at with tin roofs and old pictures of the place back in the 1800s. In 10 minutes. I almost forgot abot your video. I might have ADHD. 😄
Ohhhhh! Wow too dark really? I never would have considered that for birds!! Tho I guess it does make sense! They do tend to wake up in the morning... for some reason I had it in my head that there was no such thing as too dark for birds.... now I know better!!! 🤣🧡 Thanks for sharing!
@@HowtoADHD , you're welcome! I have nine trees in my backyard and lots of squirrels so I go all out to give them the love and care they need. They calm my brain and I feed and protect them. It's a beautiful balance!
I just ordered a clipboard on Amazon….. Now thinking about decorating the bird house that I purchased a couple of months ago that I’ve yet to hang up. 🙄
Love the rewind series. This one brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for how you did the originals, and I love watching them with you. Right now, everything is hard for me. I cannot get anything done. (Many reasons.) But at least I have some sort of routine that works for me. Routines are so important.
I think this came in the right time Im currently starting a new job in a gift shop, which requires a high level of concentration in details such as quickly calculating customer purchases for a large number of customers in a short time due to the crowded work environment in this sensitive season of the year due to the approaching occasion of Ramadan in my country, in which customers flock to gift shops So these days I am under pressure because as someone with ADHD I lack simple skills such as calculating and concentration with customer requests. Sorry for my rough English I'm not a native speaker 😅
Oh man, I needed this video too. I got laid off about a month ago, and it has *obliterated* my good habits. I’ve had to lock down my phone and pc to stop staying up until sunrise, and now that I’m in bed on time, its impossible to fall asleep 🙃.
Literally same! I got laid off a month ago and have been totally neglecting my old routine cos it doesn't work anymore. This video is deffo what I needed. Good luck on the job search! I hope you find something soon. Hopefully something you're passionate about!
That was class thanks - have found the rewind idea a really good way to help me watch important old videos in a way that makes them feel new and even more interesting. Very meta. Wonder if you’ll rewind your rewind videos in ten years’ time 🙂
guys, you posted this at an spectacular time for me since I am going back to college after years of not studying and the first couple of days have been a little, let's say disruptive to what I'd usually do. Quick suggestion: I would love having the timestamps for the advice so I can go back and forth when I realize I accidentally got distracted (or to just find something quicker if I come back to the video)
I didn’t realize how much I needed this today 😭😭 Soo much change happening in my life at this very moment and this video hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Thank you for these Jessica!! Shoutout from a native Seattlite! I hope you love it here as much as this transplant does! 💜
I was recommended this specific channel to help manage my ADHD symptoms by my therapist and I am very happy that I am now here feeling the extra encouragement and extra support I always needed. I just love how you add a twist of humor into it. I love the channel. Keep up the good work!
This rewind is a genius idea. There’s so much good content here and it’s worth rewatching but my adhd brain feels overwhelmed by the choices. I like just watching the latest. Brilliant! This is Work smarter not harder in action.
Thanks for returning to this video! Your channel changed my perspective in the isolation of COVID and really opened my eyes to the fact that I wasn't alone and had been struggling with masking my whole life when I finally broke down and couldn't keep it up anymore. Your channel helped me to pursue a diagnosis after a melanoma diagnosis and stressful and lonely move during the pandemic completely destroyed all semblance I had of "being a capable adult". Recently I changed teams within my company, went through wedding planning and moving at the same time, as well as ultimately getting married and just returning from our honeymoon (much happier confluences this time around!), but I've been feeling many of the same overwhelmed feelings about everything changing at once and needing to start from scratch. Thank you for providing relatable content that helps us feel seen and gives us the strength to rebuild! Hope you and the family are thriving!
this speaks to me... but not about routines... I sometimes write down notes (never read them) and sometimes I clean my desk. When I do clean my desk, it's like I'm a paleontologist and I can track the timeline of the past year according to the what layer I find things (Oh, I remember eating this candy in the summer!) But sometimes I find little doodles, notes, or jokes I wrote down on some envelope and I'm always thinking, "wow, past me is one funny dude... I wish I followed through with that idea..." But I know when I write things down, I'm thinking "I should write this down or else I'll forget this amazing thing i just thought up" and then I forget that I wrote that note and lose that paper... Oh, i just bought your book... haven't opened it yet... It's been a week...
NEEDED this!!! I moved in with my boyfriend in October of 2023 and completely lost my entire routine I had for myself. Then the holidays came and his parents stayed a bit longer than we expected to help with their grandson and so I’ve just been feeling scattered in every area. Now that we are back to ourselves, we’ve definitely let the laundry sit unfolded and put away for weeks, ordered out more than cooked in, and have slid on some other chores around that house that I was pretty set in my routine I started building before we needed to share our space. It’s been a struggle to get myself motivated again, but this was so helpful!
I really needed this today! Wondering why I went over the edge and took a half day off. There has been so many changes lately, I felt like I was drowning in flood water! This explains why! Thanks for doing these videos!❤
Thank you for these videos. Building routines is difficult especially with major life changes. Having a child, or graduating from school. Transitions are difficult. These little reminders are so helpful. Thank you
For a quick recap: 1. Keep what works 2. Design your routine with current you in mind 3. Leave "whitespace" in your schedule (or walk through transitions in your head) 4. Write down the new routines 5. Get comfortable in your routine before adding more (especially if there are other changes) 6. Manage your stress levels (changes can cause stress) 7. Acknowledge your achievements (brains already remember the bad ;) ) 8. Tweak as necessary (Failure is normal) Hope this helps you
Wow! I wish I had known about this neuro diversity when I was young. I was finally diagnosed at age 70. I’m still working full time and your vids are a great help. I’m passing these along to my youngest who is also struggling. And yes I’m still working full time because well, I forgot to save for the future because well, I’ll get that done tomorrow, I will, I really, really will.
These tips are so helpful! Especially writing down your wins the way she talks about them. I've seen it in a program used to build confidence and change neural pathways...❤👍💪😇
The second you released this, i wanted to comment it was right on time! Thank you so much! I found a new way to do routines and fulfill them. I decided to make the routine in the early morning of the day or the day before, rather than planning the whole week.
Thank you! I needed this. I'm late diagnosed and struggle a lot at the moment! I feel so much better... but it's a lot to meet and understand myself for the first time!
Grad school has been bringing new routines for sure. I am just struggle to make time for the things that help me relax in my routines because I feel stressed about all the important things I have to do when I'm not working, sleeping etc.
I'll probably watch this video again in 2 months - I'll be done with studying then and start a completely new phase in my life. I'm already a bit scared about this change, even though it's not really here yet😅 thank you so much, for making this video❤
Today would have been my grandmother's 82nd birthday, but she passed away 2 weeks ago. Things are incredibly difficult in the aftermath, and I was already in the midst of midlife turbulence: work, personal, everything in between. This has definitely resonated, and I count it as a small victory that I hit play!
I'm anticipating a move and my current living situation is not a good environment. Work AND Life really knocked me down for months 😵 I *am* feeling hopeful with the warmer weather and longer daylight, just gotta get through Eclipse season! Mecury Rx ain't fun either, but I tend to allow myself more grace when I know it's happening.
Really needed this. My life has been thrown off since I lost my little brother a month ago. Trying to get back into a routine as a SAHM has been rough.
Love this, I've been trying to create a routine doing anything for a long time. It's been wild to see how inconsistent my days are. Brush my teeth at 7 am? 10 am? 4 am? Totally varies. I really like the idea of mentally going through the routines in my head at times when actually doing the routines won't make sense. Like right now while cooking dinner from frozen at midnight because my bedtime alarm went off and I realized I forgot to eat haha
Great idea for videos! Episodes you could do next: How to self-care, ADHD and motivation, How to Prioritize When You Have ADHD, and How Exercise Can Help with ADHD.
These rewind videos are a great idea! I'm binge watching your channel right now because I had surgery on my hand and elbow the day before your child was born. Also looking for a new therapist, because mine was forced to retire due to medical issues. At least I have time to look right now!
I needed this video today, too! I felt very seen when the ‘Practice Ukele’ domino appeared. I remember absolutely randomly picking up guitar and struggling on when to practice it and my family being caught off guard as to why I would do guitar when I’ve never spoken about it to them in the past. Little did they know I had been speaking to myself about it for an entire week before buying one. 😂
Whoa. At 1:34, when Jessica pauses, the little pause symbol was right on top of the finger puppet, and I thought it was suddenly wearing leg warmers! 😮😂
I can't believe tbat I'm coming back for at least 5 years or more. Would you consider rewatching the video about sleep or that one about gamifying my life? All the best from Germany ❤
My life was already a mess just before i got diagnosed with ADHD. Afterwards it became more of a mess while I learned to accomodate myself doing tasks and stuff... I feel like i'm only now finally STARTING to pick things back up... 6 months later...
I don’t think Neurotypicals will ever Understand the acceptance and calmness neurodivergents feel finally finding a community where you feel comfortable and understood
Do you have any episodes specifically on working from home/remote work? I imagine all of the general content about routines and focus would apply, but just curious!
I think this has hekped me realise that maybe I need to stop thinking that only when "easy" things like my morning routine actually feel easy, can I move onto other projects like figuring out what career I want.... Hmmmm ... PS my book came in the post today and I think it may be the first book in years that I read cover to cover very quickly, even though it's designed so that you don't HAVE to do that 😂 Thank you Jessica and everyone on the How to ADHD team 😍😍😍
What are some specific suggestions/routines/sites for anxiety that takes over when one needs to get ready, i.e. do makeup and hair, to go to an event or even just to work or to dinner with a friend?
i dont know why but whenever i watch your videos I wanna cry, I just feel like everything is soo hard and I will never be able to be good enough as NT brains.... it sucks
Yeah... I'm trying to do that with bedtime. I have a reminder on my phone of when to take my Dayvigo meds to sleep, but it's always ignored. So I still end up getting to bed past 0100 on nights I don't have to go to college the next day.
Yeahhhhh reminders are great... wheeeeen we don't ignore them... or turn them off and just flat out forget it JUST went off. When I had a sleep med I had to make sure it was super easy to take. Meds near me. Drink to take them. So if my alarm went off all I had to do was reach for the meds already near me and the drink buuuuut..... sometimes I STILL took them late (or couldn't take them at all because it was TOO late!). Hope you're able to find a way to builld the routine in a way that works better for you
@@HowtoADHD Thank you 💜. Honestly, having you comment was a boost I needed today. I do have them near me in my neatly organized repurposed metal pencil case, and I always have a drink nearby, but sometimes homework, or trying to work out some bugs in my game get the better of things. That and my phone is usually on vibrate because I don't want it to go off in class. Wonder if I can find an app that'll schedule vibration so I don't have to worry about it...
Oooo yeah the having to keep your phone silent but then like... remembering to put the sound back on struggle is real. If you find an app feel free to drop a comment!! Might be helpful for others too :) If you remember of course. If you don't... tooootally get it and understandable!!
@@HowtoADHD I have an android (Samsung) phone, so I was able to set it up with the "modes and routines" natively built-in! I'll let you know if it works when I get to college tomorrow!
For the checklist: Get a mechanic's job ticket holder. They're plastic pockets that you can slide a page into and use a marker to check off, and they have magnets or a hanger so they can follow you around while you do the routine. This is ideal for me, because if I pick up my phone to check off a task, I will forget what I'm doing and start fiddling on my phone instead. Analog ftw.
My current routine is get up, walk dog, go back to bed until noon, get up walk the dog and sort of try to to housework, study and ending up of getting distracted and then beating myself up because I failed to do what I set up to accomplish.
2:04 Do I understand it correctly that this is for rebuilding routine? Because "designing for current you" sounds like one is not trying to improve, but of course, these things should be handled separately - first reschedule the current routine, then add more.
Current you means what current you is capable of/has resources for. It doesn't mean it can't improve but...maaaaaybe don't build a lengthy routine for the you in the future when current you can only do steps 1-3 at the moment. :)
As someone who’s been dealing with ADHD my whole life, I know the struggle of maintaining routines. It’s like you’re constantly trying to build a sandcastle against the tide where everytime you’re building something and thinking you have it all together, something comes up to where it just ruins it. But there’s always comfort in knowing we can always start over, even if it feel like we’re starting from scratch.
Ooooo that's a good analogy... a very relatable one!
❤
Great analogy. I have a lot of friends who love planning, don't have ADHD and their habits break regularly too, they experiencing similar struggles.
So it's normal, it's okay!
Wow, I agree - that IS a great analogy.
Sometimes we're at least facing the water so we have some warning, but usually it's a case of having our back to the water and wondering why am I sitting in water? 🤷♂️ Keep building anyways. *_Woosh_* 🌊 🏰
I loved how one of the dominos didn't go down, but it didn't mean that nothing else would work.
Ahhhhh! I didn't even notice that but you're right!!
Me too! It's always been one of my favourite parts of the og video ... Dunno if it was deliberate but I find it really resonates with me
Oh man, you mentioned wanting to learn to bake, and that feels really familiar.
I think baking is kinda an ADHD kryptonite, because it's really "easy" to do, but requires precisely following directions. I've made the same bread recipe a bunch of times, but occasionally I'll just forget a step and then the whole batch comes out wrong. My biggest advice for learning to bake with ADHD is getting really serious about mise en place: pre-measure every single ingredient on the ingredient list, and don't let yourself mix *anything* together until you've double-checked you've measured out everything.
Also, if you have the time for some pre-prep, you could try this to avoid missing steps: instead of having the recipe on a long list, write it out on numbered cue cards where each card is just one step. That way, you know exactly where you are in the process at a glance.
That's what works for me too
I just cannot get over how adorable these props are 🥰🥹
Right?! Who knew finger puppets could be so precious!
Me too. They're adorable!
Present Jessica looking at past Jessica with so much pride joy and love is everything ❤
Just lost my job, got a new home twice within a month and now finding new work with an extremely fluid schedule.... I needed to hear these, thank you.
I've just had a huge life upheaval. I've gone from having a very structured routine to having no routine. It kills me. I agree about claiming the wins. I got dressed. I washed me face. I went up and down the stairs to do laundry (I have mobility issues). It doesn't matter how I've done these things, I have done them. Thank you for the reminder. I hope you and baby are well.
Yesssss. The wins are important.
Love the image of small changes actually being peaks on a mountain of giant changes, that might push us over the meltdown line.
I love Brilli. I use it for a while, manage to learn the routines, stop using it because it’s faster to just do the routine, slowly stop using the routine because it gets boring, realize I need a routine to feel better again, and start the cycle over. But Brilli makes it easy to learn, and is a great tool to reach to!! Thanks for introducing it to me :)
AAHHHHH I'm so happy to hear that it's helpful and there when you need it!!
Brili is the only app that worked for me. I'm autistic, but it is really helpful!
I loved brilli too till it became a rich man's tool.
Now I’m understanding why it felt like I was constantly “starting from scratch” bc each new semester brought a new routine. And now that I’ll be graduating at the end of the year, this will be good to come back to lol
This video is coming at such a crucial time in my life, thank you for making it. I moved a few months ago, and it was such a hectic move. My routines got thrown out the window, and now it feels like I'm rebuilding from scratch. My therapist is helping, but it's been so difficult going from what was a pretty stable and routine-filled life to back into what feels like the same chaos I was in before I started getting treated for ADHD. So thank you for bringing back this video! Some of the tips already have me inspired and feeling just a little less overwhelmed when I look at everything.
Moving can be so so so so much! Especially when you had such a stable routine before. I'm glad the video could help. We will rebuild!
I love this concept for a video! More TH-camrs need to do this. Even if there was no updates or changes on this specific topic it's a great practice to implement.
Information can change, new research comes out, and as we grow we learn more about ourselves our views can change.
I love that this challenges the stigma of feeling like a hypocrite if you change your mind when you get new information, instead of forcing ourselves to stick to things that no longer serve us.
Hi! Since I'm early on the video I wanted to let you know: your channel and book have changed my life
Oh hello!! Quite new indeed, welcome!! Thank you so much for sharing such kind words.
I'm feeling understood💛💛💛
Just wanted to write something very similar
💛💛💛💛💛
I watched this video many times since I've discovered the channel three years ago
I adore it
This is incredible. I moved a few months back (moved back in with my parents to escape a toxic home environment) and even though my parents were encouraging me to do X, Y, and Z, I felt God was cautioning me against them. I eventually explained to them that it was like I had two irons in the fire, and although I had space for three or four more irons in the fire, I didn't know yet *what* those irons should be. Now all those free slots are taken up, but each "iron" is something important and useful, and I still have time for self-care! At this point I'm very glad it took me 4-5 months to fill in my schedule rather than like, two.
I'd really be interested in an episode about breaking bad habits. I've noticed in my life that I've been struggling going back to my bad habits instead of trying to improve my good habits.
I second this! My husband is a recovering alcoholic. The two best pieces of advice he shared with me during his treatment and therapy were
1) constantly check your cognitive distortions - you thinking a small mistake ruins the day, for example - is catastrophizing. In reality, you made a mistake. Correct it, or note it, and move on. One setback in kicking a bad habit doesn't mean you're not making progress. You may be doing really great. But, ADHD amplifies the negative of "failing" in a small thing.
2.)
I got obsessive over baking once. If you still wanna learn to bake here is a BIG TIP YOU MUST FOLLOW! Read the entire recipe before you make it so that you know if you can do it and so that you know what you are doing. This helps tremendously for me.
Also WOW this video was well timed and needed for me. I can't say how much I struggle with sticking to a routine. Also I will definitely talk my parents into buying your book so I can rebuild my whole life and work with my brain. Thanks so so so much for the video! ❤
I struggle with getting places on time in the morning, like work. So my cognitive therapist suggested I do as much as possible at night, so last night I was up until 2am by the time I finished my list and got to bed. So I think I have to make a new rule to get ready for bed at 11:30pm and in bed by midnight. Because, most things aren't critical. After all, fast food places do serve food that is on my diet... also, I'm thinking to do more cooking on Sunday and freeze 1/2 of it, so I don't need to cook mid week.
I'm 45 now, so I just can't keep running day after day on 5.5 hrs of sleep. I'm getting wrinkles because of it.
I needed this. My oldest dog who was a big source of my daily routines recently passed away, I'm moving in a month, and I'm starting a new career a month after that. I feel very overwhelmed and lost right now and this really helps.
I missed this the first time around, but it's great seeing it now. I moved in November. My cousin just left after staying with me off and on from December until a couple of days ago, and now I finally have my space to myself again. Time to rebuild.!lol😊
I am so thankful that you posted this today. 1). Congratulations Mama!
I’ve just moved, downsized almost 2000 sq.feet. I have a garage full of stuff that needs a home, not necessarily mine. And I can’t get motivated to start.
Think I just learned a heck of a lot today. ❤😊. Thank you.
Glad this video is well timed for so many!! Best of luck with your garage!!!
I so needed to see this today, thanks. My ADHD got so much worse in the last few years thanks to hormones. No doctor had ever told me that my hormones helped keep my ADHD under control.
Okay. So... I paused the video and went on Amazon to look at clipboards and then wondered what was in my cart, so I looked and saw it was a birdhouse.
I looked at the birdhouse and wondered if I could paint my uncolored ones at home. Then looked on Google about it. Then about what colors are safe for birdhouses.
Then if birds liked tin roofs. Then about the history of tin roofs. Then about the boarding house in Pennsylvania I stay at with tin roofs and old pictures of the place back in the 1800s.
In 10 minutes. I almost forgot abot your video. I might have ADHD. 😄
Okay but like... I have a very important question........... do birds like tin roofs??? NOW I'M CURIOUS!! 😅🤣🧡
@@HowtoADHD , I forgot. Lemme check again! Okay. NO! Tin and metal roofs make it too dark for them, and the same goes for dark colors.
Ohhhhh! Wow too dark really? I never would have considered that for birds!! Tho I guess it does make sense! They do tend to wake up in the morning... for some reason I had it in my head that there was no such thing as too dark for birds.... now I know better!!! 🤣🧡 Thanks for sharing!
@@HowtoADHD , you're welcome! I have nine trees in my backyard and lots of squirrels so I go all out to give them the love and care they need. They calm my brain and I feed and protect them. It's a beautiful balance!
I just ordered a clipboard on Amazon…..
Now thinking about decorating the bird house that I purchased a couple of months ago that I’ve yet to hang up. 🙄
Love the rewind series. This one brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for how you did the originals, and I love watching them with you.
Right now, everything is hard for me. I cannot get anything done. (Many reasons.) But at least I have some sort of routine that works for me. Routines are so important.
Awwww I'm so glad this series is so enjoyable
6:06 omg this visual is so helpful!
I think this came in the right time
Im currently starting a new job in a gift shop, which requires a high level of concentration in details such as quickly calculating customer purchases for a large number of customers in a short time due to the crowded work environment in this sensitive season of the year due to the approaching occasion of Ramadan in my country, in which customers flock to gift shops So these days I am under pressure because as someone with ADHD I lack simple skills such as calculating and concentration with customer requests.
Sorry for my rough English I'm not a native speaker 😅
Your English is totally fine!! 😊 Definitely hope this video can help!!
Oh man, I needed this video too. I got laid off about a month ago, and it has *obliterated* my good habits. I’ve had to lock down my phone and pc to stop staying up until sunrise, and now that I’m in bed on time, its impossible to fall asleep 🙃.
Me too.
Literally same! I got laid off a month ago and have been totally neglecting my old routine cos it doesn't work anymore. This video is deffo what I needed. Good luck on the job search! I hope you find something soon. Hopefully something you're passionate about!
That was class thanks - have found the rewind idea a really good way to help me watch important old videos in a way that makes them feel new and even more interesting. Very meta. Wonder if you’ll rewind your rewind videos in ten years’ time 🙂
guys, you posted this at an spectacular time for me since I am going back to college after years of not studying and the first couple of days have been a little, let's say disruptive to what I'd usually do.
Quick suggestion: I would love having the timestamps for the advice so I can go back and forth when I realize I accidentally got distracted (or to just find something quicker if I come back to the video)
I didn’t realize how much I needed this today 😭😭
Soo much change happening in my life at this very moment and this video hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Thank you for these Jessica!! Shoutout from a native Seattlite! I hope you love it here as much as this transplant does! 💜
I was recommended this specific channel to help manage my ADHD symptoms by my therapist and I am very happy that I am now here feeling the extra encouragement and extra support I always needed. I just love how you add a twist of humor into it. I love the channel. Keep up the good work!
This rewind is a genius idea. There’s so much good content here and it’s worth rewatching but my adhd brain feels overwhelmed by the choices. I like just watching the latest. Brilliant! This is Work smarter not harder in action.
Thanks for returning to this video! Your channel changed my perspective in the isolation of COVID and really opened my eyes to the fact that I wasn't alone and had been struggling with masking my whole life when I finally broke down and couldn't keep it up anymore. Your channel helped me to pursue a diagnosis after a melanoma diagnosis and stressful and lonely move during the pandemic completely destroyed all semblance I had of "being a capable adult". Recently I changed teams within my company, went through wedding planning and moving at the same time, as well as ultimately getting married and just returning from our honeymoon (much happier confluences this time around!), but I've been feeling many of the same overwhelmed feelings about everything changing at once and needing to start from scratch. Thank you for providing relatable content that helps us feel seen and gives us the strength to rebuild! Hope you and the family are thriving!
Glad the video could hit at a helpful time
@@HowtoADHDSo glad to hear it!
I love how creative this video is! Especially the upside down naked finger puppet 😂❤
this speaks to me... but not about routines... I sometimes write down notes (never read them) and sometimes I clean my desk. When I do clean my desk, it's like I'm a paleontologist and I can track the timeline of the past year according to the what layer I find things (Oh, I remember eating this candy in the summer!) But sometimes I find little doodles, notes, or jokes I wrote down on some envelope and I'm always thinking, "wow, past me is one funny dude... I wish I followed through with that idea..." But I know when I write things down, I'm thinking "I should write this down or else I'll forget this amazing thing i just thought up" and then I forget that I wrote that note and lose that paper... Oh, i just bought your book... haven't opened it yet... It's been a week...
So crazy!! I just watched the old video again recently bc your girl needed routine advice from my fave TH-camr
NEEDED this!!! I moved in with my boyfriend in October of 2023 and completely lost my entire routine I had for myself. Then the holidays came and his parents stayed a bit longer than we expected to help with their grandson and so I’ve just been feeling scattered in every area. Now that we are back to ourselves, we’ve definitely let the laundry sit unfolded and put away for weeks, ordered out more than cooked in, and have slid on some other chores around that house that I was pretty set in my routine I started building before we needed to share our space. It’s been a struggle to get myself motivated again, but this was so helpful!
Your videos are so helpful! I was recently diagnosed with mild ADHD and was previously diagnosed with autism. And thank you for writing a book!
I really needed this today! Wondering why I went over the edge and took a half day off. There has been so many changes lately, I felt like I was drowning in flood water! This explains why! Thanks for doing these videos!❤
Thank you for these videos. Building routines is difficult especially with major life changes. Having a child, or graduating from school. Transitions are difficult. These little reminders are so helpful. Thank you
Love the intro.
BTW, hope you and your family are all good
Updates shall abound in the coming days! :D But what I can say is that they're so incredibly happy
For a quick recap:
1. Keep what works
2. Design your routine with current you in mind
3. Leave "whitespace" in your schedule (or walk through transitions in your head)
4. Write down the new routines
5. Get comfortable in your routine before adding more (especially if there are other changes)
6. Manage your stress levels (changes can cause stress)
7. Acknowledge your achievements (brains already remember the bad ;) )
8. Tweak as necessary (Failure is normal)
Hope this helps you
It does, thank you! ☺
Hi, Jess, Dr. B, baby and all the brains!
Hi on their behalf :D
I started a new job and have been struggling with my new routine - this was super helpful. Thank you, Jessica!!
I needed this today too. This kind of perspective is EXACTLY what I needed mid semester, year one in college....as a 34yr old adult. Routine chaos.
Wow! I wish I had known about this neuro diversity when I was young. I was finally diagnosed at age 70. I’m still working full time and your vids are a great help. I’m passing these along to my youngest who is also struggling. And yes I’m still working full time because well, I forgot to save for the future because well, I’ll get that done tomorrow, I will, I really, really will.
These tips are so helpful!
Especially writing down your wins the way she talks about them. I've seen it in a program used to build confidence and change neural pathways...❤👍💪😇
I just found these… and then your new rewinds… it’s awesome: the whole thing! Thank you!!❤
The second you released this, i wanted to comment it was right on time! Thank you so much! I found a new way to do routines and fulfill them. I decided to make the routine in the early morning of the day or the day before, rather than planning the whole week.
you have the glow I wish I had !! congratulations on the baby ❤
Thank you! I needed this. I'm late diagnosed and struggle a lot at the moment! I feel so much better... but it's a lot to meet and understand myself for the first time!
Funny this was posted and I literally am having to do this...
Oh that's good timing - hope it helps!
Grad school has been bringing new routines for sure. I am just struggle to make time for the things that help me relax in my routines because I feel stressed about all the important things I have to do when I'm not working, sleeping etc.
I'll probably watch this video again in 2 months - I'll be done with studying then and start a completely new phase in my life. I'm already a bit scared about this change, even though it's not really here yet😅 thank you so much, for making this video❤
I needed this today too! Thank you Jess 💛
Today would have been my grandmother's 82nd birthday, but she passed away 2 weeks ago. Things are incredibly difficult in the aftermath, and I was already in the midst of midlife turbulence: work, personal, everything in between. This has definitely resonated, and I count it as a small victory that I hit play!
I'm anticipating a move and my current living situation is not a good environment. Work AND Life really knocked me down for months 😵 I *am* feeling hopeful with the warmer weather and longer daylight, just gotta get through Eclipse season! Mecury Rx ain't fun either, but I tend to allow myself more grace when I know it's happening.
I am fan of you , the efforts you had put in making videos.
Lots of love from India❤
I loved that video the first time, still love it in rewind. All the best to you and your little family.
Just got a new job I start Monday after being at a job for 4 years and moved at the same time 🤣 needed this!!
so excited your book has arrived in UK and getting it tomorrow cant wait
My husband and I are buying a home next week! This is coming at the perfect time for one of the biggest changes in life!
Congratulations!! Glad the video could come at such a good time!
Really needed this. My life has been thrown off since I lost my little brother a month ago. Trying to get back into a routine as a SAHM has been rough.
Love this, I've been trying to create a routine doing anything for a long time. It's been wild to see how inconsistent my days are. Brush my teeth at 7 am? 10 am? 4 am? Totally varies. I really like the idea of mentally going through the routines in my head at times when actually doing the routines won't make sense. Like right now while cooking dinner from frozen at midnight because my bedtime alarm went off and I realized I forgot to eat haha
Always good value :D
Your videos have helped me soooooo much :) so grateful!
Great idea for videos! Episodes you could do next: How to self-care, ADHD and motivation, How to Prioritize When You Have ADHD, and How Exercise Can Help with ADHD.
i just got diagnosed with ADHD and now ive been watching you to figure out how to deal with it 👍
I adore miniature versions of things ❤❤❤😊 Good vid
Love your playful spirit! It’s kindling mine on a really rough day.
These rewind videos are a great idea! I'm binge watching your channel right now because I had surgery on my hand and elbow the day before your child was born. Also looking for a new therapist, because mine was forced to retire due to medical issues. At least I have time to look right now!
Ohhh hope you have a swift recovery!!
Friend recommended me this channel since my Fiancée has ADHD. Big help.
REALLY needed these videos right now. Thanks Jess and hope you are doing okay!
Congratulations, Jessica.
Been thinking about you and hoping for the very best on and since February 29!
Loving this series! Thank you! Congratulations btw! xxx
I needed this video today, too! I felt very seen when the ‘Practice Ukele’ domino appeared. I remember absolutely randomly picking up guitar and struggling on when to practice it and my family being caught off guard as to why I would do guitar when I’ve never spoken about it to them in the past. Little did they know I had been speaking to myself about it for an entire week before buying one. 😂
Whoa. At 1:34, when Jessica pauses, the little pause symbol was right on top of the finger puppet, and I thought it was suddenly wearing leg warmers! 😮😂
❤ thank you, I needed this 🙂
Praying for you and baby! 😭🩷
I can't believe tbat I'm coming back for at least 5 years or more. Would you consider rewatching the video about sleep or that one about gamifying my life?
All the best from Germany ❤
I'll definitely add these to the list of videos to consider rewinding!!
I adore this video series so far!! I hope to see more someday!! Best of luck to you and the baby!! ❤
We're loving the Rewinds too! So hopefully we'll do more once Jessica has returned from maternity leave
Congratulations for becoming a mommy! ❤️ 👶 🎉 😊 🎊
My life was already a mess just before i got diagnosed with ADHD. Afterwards it became more of a mess while I learned to accomodate myself doing tasks and stuff... I feel like i'm only now finally STARTING to pick things back up... 6 months later...
love these videos
Awwww yay!
I remember bingeing the channel a few years ago and I think the puppet ended up being named Fidget 😊
I don’t think Neurotypicals will ever Understand the acceptance and calmness neurodivergents feel finally finding a community where you feel comfortable and understood
Please do the one about sorting your paperwork!
I am supposed to be watching a science video for school but I just had to watch this first 😂, great video!
Do you have any episodes specifically on working from home/remote work? I imagine all of the general content about routines and focus would apply, but just curious!
We have one, but if you have suggestions for more specific things to cover, let us know! th-cam.com/video/61wdjr6gWpw/w-d-xo.html
I think this has hekped me realise that maybe I need to stop thinking that only when "easy" things like my morning routine actually feel easy, can I move onto other projects like figuring out what career I want.... Hmmmm ...
PS my book came in the post today and I think it may be the first book in years that I read cover to cover very quickly, even though it's designed so that you don't HAVE to do that 😂 Thank you Jessica and everyone on the How to ADHD team 😍😍😍
What are some specific suggestions/routines/sites for anxiety that takes over when one needs to get ready, i.e. do makeup and hair, to go to an event or even just to work or to dinner with a friend?
Love the animation
I love the props!!!
What what what has changed!! The video is so different! cool
i dont know why but whenever i watch your videos I wanna cry, I just feel like everything is soo hard and I will never be able to be good enough as NT brains.... it sucks
Yeah... I'm trying to do that with bedtime. I have a reminder on my phone of when to take my Dayvigo meds to sleep, but it's always ignored. So I still end up getting to bed past 0100 on nights I don't have to go to college the next day.
Yeahhhhh reminders are great... wheeeeen we don't ignore them... or turn them off and just flat out forget it JUST went off. When I had a sleep med I had to make sure it was super easy to take. Meds near me. Drink to take them. So if my alarm went off all I had to do was reach for the meds already near me and the drink buuuuut..... sometimes I STILL took them late (or couldn't take them at all because it was TOO late!). Hope you're able to find a way to builld the routine in a way that works better for you
@@HowtoADHD Thank you 💜. Honestly, having you comment was a boost I needed today. I do have them near me in my neatly organized repurposed metal pencil case, and I always have a drink nearby, but sometimes homework, or trying to work out some bugs in my game get the better of things. That and my phone is usually on vibrate because I don't want it to go off in class. Wonder if I can find an app that'll schedule vibration so I don't have to worry about it...
Oooo yeah the having to keep your phone silent but then like... remembering to put the sound back on struggle is real. If you find an app feel free to drop a comment!! Might be helpful for others too :) If you remember of course. If you don't... tooootally get it and understandable!!
@@HowtoADHD I have an android (Samsung) phone, so I was able to set it up with the "modes and routines" natively built-in! I'll let you know if it works when I get to college tomorrow!
For the checklist: Get a mechanic's job ticket holder. They're plastic pockets that you can slide a page into and use a marker to check off, and they have magnets or a hanger so they can follow you around while you do the routine. This is ideal for me, because if I pick up my phone to check off a task, I will forget what I'm doing and start fiddling on my phone instead. Analog ftw.
My current routine is get up, walk dog, go back to bed until noon, get up walk the dog and sort of try to to housework, study and ending up of getting distracted and then beating myself up because I failed to do what I set up to accomplish.
Hi! What medicine did you take to treat ADD? Is Methylphenidate and Strattera the right medicine to treat?
2:04 Do I understand it correctly that this is for rebuilding routine? Because "designing for current you" sounds like one is not trying to improve, but of course, these things should be handled separately - first reschedule the current routine, then add more.
Current you means what current you is capable of/has resources for. It doesn't mean it can't improve but...maaaaaybe don't build a lengthy routine for the you in the future when current you can only do steps 1-3 at the moment. :)
This one hit at an absolute perfect moment
Oh! Definitely hope it helps!!
so good!