The Best Back to School ADHD Things to Buy! (Staples Haul)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
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It's that time of year again... back to school shopping season! Sometimes it can be overwhelming, and others extremely impulsive. So to help out, let's look at some of the ADHD friendly things you could buy!
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I always loved back to school supply shopping growing up. Now I'm in my fifth year of teaching and was just diagnosed with ADHD. Things that work for me in an elementary classroom: keep limited things in student desks (two books, two pencils, eraser, folder are what we use), flexible seating, have highly organized community classroom supplies (I provide these), purge the classroom of old curriculum and clutter, organize books by color (this is a unique one but it helps students put books back and find new books that interest them), a clear routine in the morning (this year I'm doing morning activity bins including sensory items, open-ended building items, coloring stuff, etc). The daily schedule posted with both words and pictures. I use a digital planner just off of Google Slides so it's easy to share and access. I don't have a teacher desk - I have a group table that gets cleared off at the end of the day. Half the lights off and use of natural lighting if students are okay with it. I'm starting to understand more about myself in the classroom now that I have a diagnosis. I could go on - any other tips teachers have?
I taught High School Science and strongly focused on hands on, manipulatives. To associate a feeling, or a movement with a concept can hep students in SO many ways and direct activity for those who NEED to move. Simple things like "the wave" or "slinkies" or " counting with blocks" even if they seem TOO simple at first can lead to much deeper discussions and keep their brains more on task than you might think. Their hands are busy with something that is connected with the lesson. Do not discount coloring or drawing at any age. I was doing it in college as an assignment for anatomy class after all. AND blocks can be grouped algebraically pretty quickly making something baffling on paper suddenly make sense.
Disclaimer: I'm not a qualified teacher, as I dropped out of uni in the last year (how typical).
Anyways, I was on a Montessori class as a kid and looked much deeper into that in my studies, and that whole philosophy is very adhd friendly. Lots of tactile equipment to work with, things are visible and reachable in a classroom, much less work with books and more hands on, freedom to sit on the floor or whatever works. No heavily restricted curriculum, but timing lessons based on interest and inner motivation instead, so each pupil may be doing something different at any given time. Hence also less competition or comparing between kids. It is an old method, and some parts of the original system have been adapted to modern times, but it's still surprisingly relevant these days and has explained why I didn't struggle at school until I moved on to the "normal" system.
Your classroom sounds really good too, both for the kids and also for you as a teacher 👍 Flexibility combined with good basic structure just works.
I’m on my twelfth year teaching and I can say that to-do lists are the best way to keep myself and my students on track. I also will write things wherever I need them. For example, I have the schedule on the board for if I’m in the classroom, but also on my phone for if I’m at home or in the teacher lounge, etc. My urgent to-do list is on a post-it with me, but an ongoing to-do list is in my phone in case I put my post-it somewhere and forget it.
I teach adults but I LOVE using Chaulk/Planboard for my plans, Classroom Screen for in-session agendas, timers and more, and the Google for Education suite!
I'm a first year highschool art teacher with adhd! Any suggestions for me?
The catch-22 of ADHD: organizing is so satisfying, but staying organized is so difficult
Yep. Either that, or you're so worried about creating a mess, that you don't even use the well-organized desk you spent so hard working on, because you don't want to cause more work.
@@Lemonsanidiot yeah.
@@Lemonsanidiot I feel this in my very soul
@@Lemonsanidiot this 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
ONG
✔️Recently diagnosed ADHD
✔️Self-employed and work from home
✔️Stationery-obsessed
This video is either the best or worst thing I could possibly watch 😅
It really sucks when you have parents that buy you a laptop for "college" 😰
Saaaaaame
i would love to see how you would set up an adhd friendly study station at home. I’m an online college student and would love some ideas.
seconded!
Wherever you place your study station, make sure it’s separated from other activities. I set up a fold-out table in a separate room from my own bedroom because I knew I’d get distracted more easily in my bedroom. Make sure to bring a comfy chair! I’d say these are less ADHD-centric recommendations and more just general recommendations, so something I also did to the fold-out table was taped down a big sheet of foam core board on top of the table. It helped make the surface smoother and more functional for me and my sensories, I found.
I work on the couch so I have a little cart I keep everything in that I can move out of the way when i’m not working.
I keep a bin of my fidgets on top of my desk so I don't open drawers. I keep a non-digital clock on my wall so I can see time passing more easily. I also keep my snacks next to my desk so I don't go to the kitchen and get distracted in there. I am honestly looking for suggestions as well because even thinking I have adhd is still really new to me.
Another thing that is not necessarily an adhd tip, but there are foam pencil grips of different sizes (I normally get the ones about 5 inches long and use wooden pencils) saved me so much while taking notes!
I have to say, these videos are a godsend for my neurodivergent brain. They make me feel like less of an outsider, they prove that we can still do everything neurotypicals do, we just gotta go around it in a different way.
Yup! Just gotta work with our brains which definitely can look very different from the neurotypical way of doing things! Glad the videos are helping with this. 🧡
I feel the same way, it’s also a pretty nice space for me to go and find someone with similar struggles as me… it makes me feel less alone. This channel is amazing :)
Yes!!!
Yeah I agree. This channel is such a freaking lifesaver! When I feel down and when I beat up on myself for having ADHD, I go to this channel and I don't feel so alone anymore, I'm no longer the only person in the room with ADHD. It also helps to imagine that people I know who are a bit neurodivergent and quirky have ADHD, even when they don't fit into the actual classification of ADHD. It makes me feel less alone. Sometimes people with ADHD can do some things better than people without ADHD.
DONT LEAVE YOUR ROCKETBOOK IN YOUR HOT CAR!!
Same with Frixion pens. Heat/friction is what erases everything 😬.
Bonus tip: if you accidentally heat-off your Frixion pen notes, you can put it in the freezer and it sorta comes back.
Commenting so hopefully this ends up closer to the top, because this is the stuff that people need to know about! Technology is awesome, but we've got enough issues holding onto information without having it get erased by a hot car! 🔥
Do you think this would be a problem walking it across campus in my backpack during the hot months? (I’ve never used one and I still don’t know exactly how they work, but I want to look into them).
is that a... hot tip? 👀
Then those devices are def not for me lol
BOOST! This is important info 👌
I can’t go into office stores without buying at least $50 worth of organizational stuff that I’ll never use and will transform into house or office clutter.
when you need organizers for the organizers...
Omgosh SAME!
Late reply here, but check out Dana K White on TH-cam. Her decluttering method teaches you to ask yourself where something will go in your house, and has really helped me not keep buying the awesome thing I'm "totally going to use" that inevitably will not work with my space or that I just set aside for another day.
When it comes to budgeting and tracking prices as you shop, I have a tip for everyone. I always round it up to the next dollar, then when I go to check out, all the amounts I rounded up usually come out to about the same price as everything after sales tax. I've done this for years and it's always within a few dollars of the post-sales tax price
++ I also do this and it's a huge help. Round up to the next whole dollar and your estimates will be closer to accurate *and* It can help get around the psychological trick that so many stores do of charging 0.99--If something is 4.99, it's not four dollars, it's five!
Yes!! As soon as she put $13 or whatever it was in her budget, I said "nooooooooo...you HAVE to round up!!!!"
No sales tax here, but I still like this idea.
Office supply stores are like toy stores for me as an adult. Pens and notebooks are unreasonably exciting to me. Index cards are irresistible. Having been into playing and running tabletop roleplaying games all my life, my natural affinity for office supplies is doubled, because I can think of a possible purpose for nearly everything on the shelves. Thanks for pointing out a few things that I hadn't previously been aware of, like Rocket Books and the importance of tactile sensations when selecting a lap desk (I have one that I got for my laptop which, while functional, has a pseudo-leather surface that feels weirdly sticky. Good for holding a laptop in place, not good for writing in a notebook). And they have binders with laptop pockets and lap desks with smartphone slots now? Oh, man...
I've discovered some amazingness on Amazon too. They make binders whose sole purpose is to organize your pens/pencils/markers... I have 2! Pens in one... my sharpie collection in another. I keep a knitting journal that's manually kept and use sharpies for art as well as my desk calendar turned wall calendar. I however prefer to use a digital planner/journal.
@@Chaotic_Pixie I have one for my fineliners and one for my colored pencils. I keep my charcoal in plastic boxes though so they don't get everywhere.
I need to know what to use index cards for...I LOVE INDEX CARDS but I can't figure out what to use them for now. I used to have them stuck to my wall to help my study for exams.
@@piecesofstarlight I use index cards for recipes... cooking recipes, bath soak recipes, body scrub recipes... I color code the cards for cooking based on if its an appetizer, entree, or dessert and for the bath products, based on base ingredients. I also use them for stitch tutorials. I knit and crochet and its easier for me to just search those and keep the one I need handy in my project rather than having to always be connected to the internet. My mom uses them cut in half to organize her floss for embroidery.
For my fellow pen and stationary lovers... You should check out JetPens! They have a TH-cam channel too where they talk about different pens and papers and office supplies and they just make me happy
Pausing to say: I just heard you say that sensory sensitivities are a thing for neurodivergent brains -and so how things feel will determine if we use them or not - this made me almost tear up. I can't tell you the amount of things I've purchased over the years to get myself organised only to hate the way it feels or opens or whatever. Then I end up feeling so badly about myself for being too picky and wonder why can't I just use the thing the way I'm supposed to. Thank you so so much for your channel and these kinds of videos. Even just writing down the cost of things as you go while shopping is something I've never done (and why I prefer to online shop so I can see my total) so these tips are so so helpful!
I'm going to recommended you check out Cass from Clutterbug on TH-cam. She'a a professional organizer and has a variety of storage solutions for how your brain works. Visual vs hidden, macro vs micro organized. As for textures, that's highly personal.
I know exactly how you feel! I got a happy planner but I didn’t like the rings so I got new rings but then I didn’t like the way it opened so I got more new rings. The cold metal rings finally made me feel comfortable with my planner. Unfortunately I had no plans & I keep forgetting to use it when I do.
okay, seeing you feel stuff to decide if it was a good fit sensory wise made me feel soo much better about needing to do the same. thank you
Awwwwww, you're welcome! Yeah! It's such an important part of buying things that we feel good about personally. 🧡
I did this in the middle of a store to pick my backpack, because i always put it on my lap it had to also feel nice. I did get a few stares but my mom was like, “¿se te perdio algo?” (“Did you lose something?”) and they’d go away. 😂 She’s awesome.
It's one of the biggest problems with shopping online. :(
I've found that kneeling chairs are really helpful for me in terms of comfort and focus. I can kneel, sit upright, sit cross legged, or sit with my knees up to my chest like the gargoyle I am 😆
I have a 'ball cushion' (if that's what they're called?) on a normal wooden stationary chair (like a kitchen table chair). It's a good combination for me because I can alternate the way I sit (sit on the wobbly ball, use the ball as lumbar support behind my back, sit on the chair or turn the chair so that the back is in front of me. I like this super conventional chair vs. a desk chair because it allows me to sit cross-legged, plus I can use it to climb onto it to reach the high end of a shelf. And it provides a hanger for my sweater, or I can hang a tote bag on the back to put things out of sight but they'll still be in my arm's reach. :D
THANK YOU i had no idea you can sit gargoyle like in this kind of chair, is it more comfortable? i cant stop sitting like this help lmao
Your comment was such an ah ha moment. I've always thought kneeling chairs looked limiting in terms of how you can sit in them. Now I'm curios to give one a try. Thanks.
Ironically the thing I think I loved about school was the rigidity- the daily schedule, the files in my Trapper Keeper binder-calendars!!!
Yes, the built-in routine, organised by someone else, giving the structure and such that a lot of us work best with, but struggle oh so much to be able to implement consistently as independent adults. One of the things I miss the most about grade school as well
fr, once i went online school (which i did before covid, realized i hated, and couldn’t stop because at that point the whole world was online)
because of that, i didn’t end up graduating. yay. and i actually need to go to college for the career i want so my only option is spend a bunch of money on GED tests and hope i pass lol
@@willowtabby4926 Honestly this how I finally made the connection that I had more than a "Learning Disability" which to be fair...I did...it just happened to look a lot like ADHD. Anyways, I finished uni and graduated with flying colours...and then sort of collapsed without the rigidity of school because I didn't have the external pressure to Do Things
Very realatable on the "rigidity" aspect ! We were able to get so much done in so little time .
Yes!! Same with my 8-5. I only got diagnosed once the pandemic started and I had to work from home & structure my day myself, and everything fell apart
Seeing how you shop, and more importantly how you stay in on budget has really helped me. I never thought of actually stopping and taking inventory of what I really want/need ( and what I impulsively grabbed) before checking out as when I check out, I’m too anxious to say no. It has really helped.
I have started to take a calculator and notepad/pen on a big shop... well i plan to anyway.
@@zeromotivation1817 Ooh! A calculator is such a great idea! Smart phones are such a curse, because even though they have so many functions, like being a calculator, it does not present as any of those one functions. Whereas a physical calculator is clearly a calculator that I would bring to a store with *intention*.
@@Rohmash -"with intent" exactly
My way for staying in budget is
[1.] bring cash (physical/visual reminder of how much I can spend)
[2.] Rounding up the price to easier numbers to count/track the amount (ex: $1.38->$1.50 or the next whole #)
[3.] trying to only go in a store w a Goal/stick to the items in mind (if it’s not stocked, cut ur losses & go use ur time else where it’s needed)
[4.] use phone to take pics if you need to compare prices/things across the store, set an alarm to avoid time blindness & the calculator to do the math
🌟
@@nileslopez7385 I like it.
I have begun looking at daily tasks like chemical reactions. Anything that increases the effort required to do sometime will make it less likely to happen. The reverse is true, anything that lowers the required effort or energy to do something makes it more likely to happen.
So moving items to point of use for desired tasks helps keep me on task, anything that makes me stop and think about the undesired activity will hopefully reduce it..
Color coding was my jam back in school. That way I didn't have to think about what notebook I needed, just look for the color! It wasn't full proof, but it helped so much.
I still color code!
I always tried to make sure my folder and notebook for a subject were the same color as the textbook. The only problem was when multiple subjects had books that were the same color, but I could sometimes adjust to that by having, for example, a light blue set and a dark blue set.
I started using colored pencils
@@kane2742 Even if you're not required to cover your text books, doing so allows you customize with color or any other method that feits you.
@@edschaller3727 I don't think I ever added covers to my textbooks. I just used them as they came. Good idea, though.
When I was in school, my stuff was organized like the earth: the oldest stuff was on the bottom, most likely falling apart. The newer stuff was on top where I could jam it in and remember it later. I think I had a folder with cool art but I don't remember using it for anything.
My current favorite pen is Pilot P-700 fine because it's purple and I can take them from work for free. Purple is my color
Purple is such a good colour and honestly you just described my backpack while I was at school too!! 😅
- Harley, Community Manager
Sounds like how my desk was ☠️
Yes exactly, my family would call it the archeological dig.
I used that at work back when I worked in an office, called it the 'stratum-based filing system'. It was actually remarkably effective as I only had to remember how long ago I last used something, but offices tend to get weird about you keeping an entire recycle bin's worth of paper on your desk.
Last year we figured out that having my son time his assignments in class himself was (instead of the teacher keeping time for him) was very difficult. When I saw the productivity time, I had to rewind the video and figure out what it was called to look it up on Amazon because that is EXACTLY what he needs! We tried a little sand timer.... nope. Kitchen timer... wrong. Even got him an expensive kids smart watch which he promptly lost. This will be so much better for him. 5th grade, here we come!
I loved that idea also. We use the visual timer but like Jessica said, he has to then set it for the correct time.
Please don't buy from amazon. They're sold at different stores, too.
I have shelves similar to the one in the background at 11:37 in my wardrobe. Most of my clothes are folded on them. Makes them visible, makes them neat. You can add baskets for socks and underwears. And foremost, a basket that you fill before bed that contains your clothes for the next morning - aka wake up, clean up, pick basket, dress up, eventually put basket back.
So, I work at Staples and have ADHD, it's very hard to walk out after my shift without buying a load of supplies. But it's my favorite place to shop! I tend to hoard notebooks.
Same but I work at a craft store. I've taken to leaving my debit card at home.
I seriously have a love hate relationship with Back to School time of the year. I love school and office supplies and the idea of education but it's also caused me so much distress and shame. I've failed classes, dropped out grad school, switched careers, etc.
Really good observation...I have a similar experience. Now I am homeschooling....I'm excited and scared. 😬😬😬
Binders seemed magical to me because we had TrapperKeepers and Lisa Frank! "Adult" supplies are more geared towards uniformity/coordination and neutrality in my opinion. If they still sold Trapper Keepers today I'd buy one!
Right?! I ALWAYS had a Lisa Frank binder in school.. eeeeeven when I didn't use it... like I was supposed to.... BUT HEY IT WAS COOL. 🤣
- Harley, Community Manager
Yesssssss!!! I still have one or 2 of mine. I would repurpose them over the years because they make me so happy.
Hey! I work at Staples and we have trapperkeepers again!!
Trapper keepers are making a comeback! I've seen them at walmart and target. I never had one as a kid so I'm not sure how they compare to the ones from the 90s and 00s but, it's the trapper keeper brand so, if you're interested, check there (or order online if you're like me and stores just have too many people and avoiding that is preferable).
@@SpicedPunkin Whaaaa? I'm about to check my stores to see if they have them! Thanks for letting me know, I'm genuinely kinda giddy rn, lol!
The portable 3 hole punch was a MAJOR game changer when I was in college, it made it so much easier to organize papers into a binder. I highly recommend that and your other amazing tips!
Same for half sheet size binders. For whatever reason that works better for me. Spend the extra for a whole punch. Then you can print stuff in "booklet" layout, punch them and keep them with you.
It’s super interesting to see how differently you choose supplies from me ! (ie i cannot STAND binders, pencil cases with too many compartments tend to overwhelm me with Indecision, etc) really just goes to show how varied adhd brains can be lol
I do a “cart check” when I go shopping all the time because I’m like - ok - now what do I actually need vs what I spontaneously placed in the cart in impulse lol. Love your videos ❤️
Same!
I do that too! Saves me a lot of money and helps me eat less sugar
My aha moment in this video came at the beginning when you pointed out don’t buy something with a lot of pockets because you’ll never remember where you put stuff. You would think a 69-year-old guy would’ve figured this out by now but I have not. A suggestion. Please make a video about how hard it is for an ADHD person to pack for a trip. Thank you for everything!
She already did a video about that! Well, it's more about how to pack when having ADHD. It should be still on her channel.
@@kathahahn20 Thanks, I'll check it out
To keep track of what I'm spending while I'm in a store, I use the store's app and scan my items in like I was buying them online and it gives the running total of what I have in my cart. I love this video - great tips!
That is such a good idea! Thanks!!
Yes! Love store scan apps when it's an option. Most of the checkout scan work is done by the time you reach it if the app is tied to the store point-of-sale system.
I went to a certain grocery store in my local area for years specifically because they had scan guns you could check out at the front which helped you keep track of your purchases. The scan guns were the precursor to the smart device app, and they have largely disappeared afaik. They were nice because you didn't leave them at home, and they wouldn't run out of charge mid-shopping trip.
I absolutely love your videos. For the longest time I never really understood what ADHD was, and why I had so many issues with things that seemed so simple to others. I appreciate this channel so much, please never stop making videos.
We definitely don't plan to stop anytime soon!
I feel the same way !
Hey Jason,
I feel the exact same way!
Jessica,
I love the work you do. It has changed my life. You make me feel like it's ok to.be me and to not be perfect or be like everyone else!
Yes! This was my go to channel when I was diagnosed at 45.
@@HowtoADHD 😇
I'm nearing 40 and still get excited when I see the back to school signs at Target. Finally understanding my ADHD has made it pure joy instead of tinged-with-pre-guilt like it used to be. And thank you for talking about how it's important for ND brains to LIKE the tools we use. Function isn't always enough for us!
Recently I wanted to have some nicer pens and bought Pilot G2s. I immediately realized I didn't like the feel of writing with the gel ink. I then got a couple types of ballpoint pens with bold points and like them very much. The point about finding out what is right for you is spot on.
If you like bold ballpoint pens, check out the Bic Cristal Xtra BOLD ones! They come in a bunch of different colors, are super inexpensive (I picked up an assorted color pack of 10 for under $3 a couple weeks ago), and are very smooth writing without the gel ink feel.
@@incendiadesigns782 I like retractable. I have the Papermate Profile which also comes in a decent color assortment. One of the colors is brown. Is that a useful color for an ink pen?
The minute she said "I'm particular about my pens" I knew she was going with a Pilot G2. They're the best pens.
They are nice, but I prefer Ink Joy for some reason. I'm a lefty, so that might have something to do with it. I did recently get a Twsby for my birthday and I'm kind of converting to fountain pens!
I know this may seem really common sense but I’d love to see a follow up video on how you use these items you purchased and how they’re working for you. Sometimes I get stuck and don’t use the things I purchased. Thanks for the video!
I would also really love to see a follow-up video!
I LOVE that organizer that you got for all your wires and odds and ends! I’ll have to get one of those. I also like how you wrote down prices to stay in budget. I usually do it by feel. I pick up everything that i want and then head to a quiet part of the store where i go through and see whether or not the feeling of novelty has faded. 9/10 is get rid of most of the items and only purchase the things that i truly want and/or need. Giving myself the space to think through each item has really helped my impulsivity.
Thank you, now I understand why I do it this way, too. Never thought of it as impulsivity. I always thought I'm just really bad at making decitions.
Do you know what it’s called/ we’re to get one because I’m going back to school and I know it will help a lot
@@brea4749 i don’t but I’m going to do a bit of search. If i find out the name, I’ll update!
@@brea4749 One brand name for them is Grid-It.
I bought one of the grid things a couple of years ago, thinking it was going to be wonderful. I'm sure it's fantastic for some people, but I am not one of them. Figuring out how to arrange various stuff was entertaining until it got frustrating (because I drag way too much stuff around, totally my fault, not the grid thingy). Using it slowed me down, because of the time/focus needed to separate the item I needed from the grid and then put it back on the grid, as opposed to grabbing it out of my bag and tossing it back into my bag. My stuff was absolutely better organized, but I ended up not enjoying the grid like I thought I would. Again, totally my fault, but maybe my experience might help someone else, so I'm sharing. I would absolutely use the grid for cords and things while traveling, though, and I think it would work better for me in that capacity than it did with items I use more frequently throughout my day.
I have been obsessed with school supply shopping ever since I started school (an obsession prolonged by my career as a professor, so I never left school). My kids can't understand it. 🤣
Thank you for assisting me, cause I have ADHD and I'm going back to school, so thank you for helping me
You're welcome -- hope the video helped
I never found the binder system to work for me. What I finally did in high school is I had one color coded notebook and folder for each class. Handouts went in the folder. It was my most organized I’ve been
Absolutely same. i started to rlly rlly hate binders, especially since they were so heavy and exacerbated my chronic pain when i had to pull them out. So i used folders and had a “main” folder where one side was for homework and “new” stuff and the other side was for “finished”.
I like those accordion binders with the slot to put the subject label above each section.
This was great. Always loved back to school supplies and I'm 60. Diagnosed as an adult and it now makes sense. Organization and interest in one trip. Loved this episode.
I'm going to ask a personal question, so feel free to ignore it if you aren't comfortable answering. I'm in my early thirties and have suspected recently that I might have ADHD. **Did the doctor actually *do* anything for you when you were diagnosed?**
I want to talk to my doctor but I have this weird hesitancy, like "what is the point". I don't want meds, but I would sure like some sort of support. If I'm right it would explain a lot, but I'd be really embarrassed to bring it up and have them disagree and tell me I'm just "creative".
its crazy thinking about how i started watching your videos in middle school and now im about to begin my senior year of high school! This is my first time ever seeing a productivity cube or a rocketbook, they seem super useful and neat! ill have to check em out :) thanks for the spectacular video!!
Good luck in your senior year!!
Pilot G2 !! Yes the color pack is amazing. I haven't touched another pen since I got those! I love the ultrafine but I wish their orange (my favorite) came in fine or ultra fine too
UUUGGGGHHHH yesssssss, I hate when they restrict certain colours to thicker tipped pens. I wonder if it has something to do with the thickness of the ick when it's coloured? 👀 I should noooot get distracted away by this but I'm going to park it and look it up later cause now I'm curious as to why orange isn't in fine or ultra fine!! LOL
@@HowtoADHD brighter colors are less noticable or effective when not in a thick line..
Like a soft yellow eyeshadow is barely noticable unless it's placed with other contrasting colors etc lmao if that makes sense - to me it does - makeup is my art and my meditation and my self care so I geek out about it too
@@HowtoADHD also the orange is usually for me to make marks or make stars or lines for important parts of my notes - so if it is thicker it looks more noticable and also since it's not as dark as a blue, black or red it naturally doesn't look as "thick" as it would with same thickness as a blue/black/red pen
Also like glasses frames that are thicker and in darker colors look really harsh on my face but it's a clear or see through frame or lighter color doesn't look as harsh or as thick on my face
If any of that made any sense...... hhh
@Amber Rogers I am going to US to pick up some packages (from canada) - I will order it - sometimes businesses shipping to canada is insane and if it's not the duty fees are gross and only find out about those when it gets to you. LoL
I will get it- thank youu
enabler comment: y'all should get on the pilot frixion train. I got 30 colors of ultra fine .38mm pens ! they are stick thin which was a must to go with my pencil grip trainer cushions
I don't know if I have ADHD, but I have a severe burnout, and your videos really helpful (and fun!). Thank you 💜 (and now I really want that cube 😢)
Rocketbooks have been a gamechanger for me, especially when I was taking classes online that required scanning in work that we had done. It was much simpler to do it in my Rocketbook, snap a photo, and have it uploaded much quicker than having to fuss with a printer, which rarely ends well for me. I also appreciate the sustainability factor, I would otherwise go through a LOT of paper, and I feel better about using Rocketbooks!
My wife bought one for this reason. She takes her notes with her iPad normally. Once that class was done she passed it to me. I love it for making thumbnails I have to turn in. Just scan, attach to email or upload, and go!
That costs $60 lol I'm out
@@justspittingsomefacts6425 They've got less expensive ones for sure.
Extreme example of the sensory thing: spending $76 on 2 sets of the perfect silverware (1 set has 1 knife, 2 spoons and 2 forks). I've never regretted it.
Oh man I feel that
sometimes that happens when you pay more for something better suited for you. Like considering the cost for ur mind at ease makes it usually worth it.
Cuz If you buy something you’re not comfortable with & hurts you to use,
then it might make you feel guilty about how ur not using it/how much you spent on it.
So saving/INVESTING in a product you genuinely like & enjoy using is okay too🌱
Jessica is me shopping every time she says "Ooh!" I feel seen
Dear Jess,
I always use a calculator when i'm shopping, i start of with the total amount, and then subtracts from there :-D We all have smartphones, and those comes with a calculator pre-installed 😀
I have always wondered why you don't use a calculator when shopping :-D That is my tip to you :-D
Like always, awesome video :-D
Spud, I too always use the calculator on my phone when shopping to help track my spending. It makes to do it as then you can decide whether you want or need or can afford to spend that much money.
I would do this too but sometimes you need to see a list of prices and the names of the items they belong to, especially when it's a long list.
@@angela_flute52689 That is right, but that is here the smartphone becomes smart, it can multi task, between apps, calculator and noteblock apps :-D And then you can write those things down and use the calculator :-D
@@spud76 but that involves bouncing between multiple apps, which increases the chance that something (or somethingS) might get missed. That could mean a surprise/awkward moment at the register.
@@Yngvolkayno I can see your point, but that chance is always there, even if you write it down on paper :-D. Use what ever works. For me i make a list at home and print out and scratch out every time i take a item and subtracts from the total on the calculator :-D
Tried rocketbook, then found I can use generic erasable with Evernote, then landed on bullet journal with fountain pen, and pocket notebook with gel pen. Erasable highlighters are also very useful.
That timer cube is really cool. I might need to visit Staples now and grab myself one for work. Might also be a good tool at D&D nights so I don't forget to take breaks as the DM!
I've switched to a mostly digital system ( some professors are still holding on to old-school pen and paper bs) for my college courses, so my notebooks, textbooks, and assignments are digital, which makes it harder for me to misplace notebooks or assignments. I don't have to deal with binder bulk.
I have double copies of my textbooks. One is a digital copy that I acquire...and the other one is one that I buy because I still use a regular textbook at home.
@@coffeeconfessor4747 oh that’s smart I just can’t do physical textbook. The font is always to small and using public transport makes it a nightmare to travel with them. I get an iPad so most days I just have a small device and smart pen.
3:40 YES! How something feels, it's texture, smell, etc., is essential for me. I just read a well-meaning book on life balance that was actually upsetting and not helpful, and it's comforting to watch you walk through fun supplies figuring out the budget, loving yourself and honoring and respecting your ADHD needs. ❤️💕
9:00 I LOVE how you walked through not needing something you thought you wanted, then found underwhelming, (the binder) and putting the peripherals back. So happy to see you light up about the organizer, pens, and parking lot notebook. ❤️💕
So I actually work at staples and when we were doing the interview process one of the questions was why do you wanna work here and I told me boss because it’s one of my favorite stores
He didn’t believe me…
Until I ended up on the top 5 most loyal rewards customers list 😭😂
Perfect timing on this! And its so fun watching someone else with ADHD shop. When I go with my ADHD friends we do the "basket check" together in the end. ;)
Random but as someone who works retail thank you for not just leaving your unwanted items on the isle! I get worried whenever I see my celebrity heroes shopping because I think "oh no! Will they do that thing that when my customers do that it makes me so mad?!" And you didn't!! Which yeah because you are a super good person! (which I already knew)
Shop at goodwill, salvation army for desk organizers...sometimes brand new items donated by target or other stores. As a way to stay on budget!
I always round up when guessing price. I hate being caught off guard by the price at the register when it feels too late to change my mind
Your SDIT is doing such a good job with her training, even with the few wandering sniffs. She wasn't raised to be an SD so its understandable, its going to take her longer!
Once I was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade, my mom bought me a trapper keepers (a binder and expandable folder in one convenient zip up form) it was helpful and gave me a place to stash every paper I was given and then get help at home organizing it. While my parents didn't do neatly enough to help me when I was younger and I learned coping strategies by stumbling my way along, that trapper keeper kept me afloat for a long time
That was really helpful. I've been doing back-to-school shopping most of my life. First as a student, then as a parent, then as a teacher, and now because there are cool deals at this time of year. Chairs are important to sit in and get a feel for. I sat in a chair in an overpriced store, but I loved it. Then I saw it on sale online, and I bought it. After building it, I realized the chair I bought online was not the same. The model number was slightly off. I didn't like that chair as much as the other, but my cat Dusty loves it, so I'm keeping it because he usually has no use for chairs.
These haul videos are awesome. Would you consider doing one about useful stuff at ikea if there’s one near you? I love that store because it’s laid out like a linear adventure but every time I go, I completely forget everything I actually need and impulse buy whatever looks interesting that day
Ooh an Ikea video would be cool!
As an undiagnosed kid in the 60s - 70s. I loved going shopping for new stuff for school. My daughter and i now are both medicated love shopping. At the grocery store we walk every aisle :-)
I’m 13 diagnosed with adhd and autism I really struggle to do shopping cuz like I would just scream and run down the isles I’ve now realised ppl with adhd can be different
I was wondering how you handle shopping. I get so overwhelmed when shopping, the people, the music that's always too loud and all the options, that I dread going. For example I'm in need of clothes, but just can't get myself to go. And when I do go, I maybe get one or two pieces before being absolutely drained
YESSSSS
@Sara ohhhh! I find online shopping even harder to figure out. I think mostly I need to keep track of which stores are too much. Like five below? Waaaay too loud.
I use headphones to listen to my own music, especially when doing a grocery run. Helps me to focus, limiting the effect of the noise and crowd around me, but also let's me (usually) remain alert enough to the environment that I don't often end up blocking and/or bumping into people. Has made shopping much more tolerable.
I also use similar when attempting to study, although usually different headphone types - big, over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones for study, and small, much more portable, in-ear, earbuds (wired or wireless) for shopping (or often any other time I'm out in public)
Also, some shops - especially grocery shops - here (Australia) do "quiet hours" for an hour or so at specific points of the week. They'll dim the lights, lower (or even turn off) the music, lower the volume of any unavoidable announcements, and maybe even some other stuff. Not sure exactly what else though, as I haven't been shopping in any of those time slots - they're typically in the morning, and mornings and I don't get along
@@willowtabby4926 wow that sounds awesome! Wish they had that over in the US.
I've been budgeting a little of this for every month now.
Desk chairs: check out Sealy executive chairs. Same price as a 'gaming chair' but much better cushions and more adult styling.
Uni Kuru Toga - mechanical pencil and HB lead.
It's the pencil version of the G2.
Just spent $100 on new laundry baskets/hampers.
I realized that I didn't have a problem sorting as I threw clothes off, I just hated those organizing hampers because it wasn't that easy to get the clothes out or the bags off the frame. I got some soft rope baskets that fit under the dryer door and it's literally made laundry more tolerable!
OOOOO that's awesome thank you so much for sharing!
@@HowtoADHD your content gave me the idea! Adult dx this summer. I started thinking about how my choices about the ADHD tax shouldn't be outright avoided.
Like you mentioned, if it lasts and makes your life a little easier/better than it's worth the little extra.
I always go to the dollar store before I hit a bigger box store for office supplies. Stretch that budget.
One of my favourite things i recently got was a bed desk with adjustible height and adjustible angled top. I like sitting with cross legs and sometimes i move to the floor or bed to keep myself focused, and that desk really helps my posture lol
I highly recommend buying a gaming chair when you get one! I was looking at office chairs when I moved for school, and most of them were uncomfortable and didn’t have room for me to cross my legs. I tried sitting in a gaming chair and immediately fell in love with it. They’re comfortable, bigger, have a head rest, move a lot, are super adjustable, and mine was WAY cheaper
Plus lots of them have cup holders.
ADHD new years indeed! It was always a favourite time of year for me. Great video idea and video! I haven't been back-to-school shopping since my diagnosis so it might be a fun and interesting exercise for me to try! P.S. Rocketbook fan here too! I prefer the 0.7mm pens to use with them (rather than the 0.5) because they flow better instead of feeling a bit bare-inked (is that a word?) like in the video. Thanks for the great video!
I just love the random dog walking in the background! But I totally missed the next 3 minutes thinking about the dog 🤣🤦🏼♀️
two words: pocket. dividers. they're like regular tab dividers but with a pocket that can act like a folder for you to put papers in. Whenever I use a binder I make sure I use pocket dividers because they make everything so much simpler for me to find and they're usually fairly tough. I've had some for years and they haven't torn or ripped like the cardboard ones. Also now I know how organization pads work which is fairly exciting for me.
These videos are honestly the best. Thank you so much for all your advice and honesty. I love them and you are one of the main reasons I got diagnosed. Thank you for always being you. You are amazing. ❤️
ADHD New Years! HAhahahahahahahah! I've always loved school supply season but I never thought about it that way!!
Eehehehehehe right?! It feels like new years! 😂
Pilot g-2s are the best pens!! I swear it's a thing to be nerodivergent and love g-2 pens
This made me realize the way I track costs as shop is by keeping a single running total in my head, rounding up to the nearest $5 as I go. The problem is I never remember what thing cost how much, so if I need to reconsider before checkout...I'm stuck.
Your videos have been so helpful as I have been trying to explain and educate my son about his ADHD (he's 10). Thank you!!!
awwwww you're welcome!!
Personally not a fan of Rocket Books... I switched to a digital tablet and it works way better. That extra scan step really sucks for my ADHD. I also take pictures of weird templates of different planners and notebooks for ideas... I also love Staples--it's like being a kid in a candy store for me!
Yesssss, Staples is such a magical land of wonder and waaaaaay more organisational and stationary tools than I need and yet I WANT THEM ALL. LOL Do you use a specific program for the tablet to take your notes or do you just use an app that comes with the tablet? What brand of tablet is it? If you don't mind me asking, that is!
gotta say yea rocketbooks didn't work for me unfortunately. the texture of the paper is weird, like a magazine almost? which I'm sure is helpful in mind of the reusability you wouldn't want it to tear when you erase. but for my left handedness it just added extra smears, even with testing a bunch of different pens. what kind of digital tablet did you get? I want an ipad but the price tag is a bit much but I'm afraid buying something cheaper will be a regret in the end and I'll end up not using it/wanting an ipad anyway
@@HowtoADHD not OP but I’ve been working with a Remarkable tablet and I’ve been really liking it!
A little pricey, esp. because you need a Connect subscription to integrate with Google Drive, etc. But the sensory experience is GREAT.
It’s also super lightweight, and you don’t need to remember to charge the pen! It has a super minimal UI and doesn’t have a lot of integrations, which I actually like because I can’t get distracted on it the way I do some tablets.
It’s been helpful for me as a person who’s constantly writing random work and home stuff down in like 9,000 notebooks. It’s super easy to just copy a part of a scribble you wrote down and move it to a different file/notebook.
The one thing I miss is being able to have bigger paper, like is often the case with planners.
@@taylorulch9871 if you accidentally leave them somewhere warm, the text disappears... always great when you are studying for an exam...
@@katiez1442 I have a surface, so I get pricey. Mine is worth every penny. Oh, as for minimal UI, I have a flash with Ubuntu on it so I can just load it up from the flash drive on any computer/tablet I need when I need limited distractions.
When you took that rubber band organizing board thingie I immediately thought "ew, no, I couldn't deal with that in my room" - and then, at the end, I saw you stuff it into your backpack and I was mindblown.
I always have such a mess in my backpacks, and it's super annoying to find things and hard to switch bags because everything's loose - but then you show me this thing which would make switching bags SO MUCH easier! 🤯
I got my child a laptop binder. Laptops were his school’s one Covid mitigation (not passing assignments around) and they can’t have backpacks in the classroom. The binder is a work around for that.
Love the content, not sure the sponsor is very ND friendly: They completely lack a public pricing page before sign up. I don't sign up for anything without knowing the cost because if the cost would be higher than I'm willing to pay, then I get to enjoy it for the trial, then deal with the disappointment that it's not actually realistic for me.
There's a link to the pricing page at the bottom of their homepage: sunsama.com/pricing
Would you consider not including a sponsorship endorsement in every single new video? It implies the idea that the solution to the struggles of neurodivergence is accumulating merchandise and subscriptions into a commercial lifestyle format. Besides, one of the central areas of struggle within AD(H)D is impulse control, making us extra vulnerable to unneeded spending.
i second this!!!!
The beginning of September will always remind me of the excitement and anxiety of going back to school. Shopping for school supplies was a major comfort and treat. In my day we had Trapper Keeper binders. They had so many 80's-style motifs on the cover. So fun!
I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for these tips. My 11 year old has ADHD and I want to support the start of his school year as much as I can. I truly appreciate your content. Thank you again 💙
I love this, that you stop half way through to put back stuff when you're budget changes, this can cause a simple Walmart/target/publix trip that would take 20mins a 4-8hr trip for me.
i love the lapdesk idea!! i cant even begin to count the amount of people that tell me to go sit at my desk and do my work (mostly my mom and teachers) but honesty i cant focus there, for me i find im most productive sitting on my floor, or my stairs, or even under my desk. I fine it help with longer and repetitive tasks like essay writing, just a quick change of location can stimulate me enough to keep productive and when i notice that slipping i change my location. (and yes i have even sat and done work in my bathtub and closet) I think this is why i work better at night because i can sit in my closet or other weird places without having yo justify myself to others which adds to distractions lol.
The thing you said about adhd-brains having hard enough time getting productive and we can and should get the things we *want* to get productive with, and the thing earlier about how the things feel, really resonate with me. I mean
I could not justify why I needed a quite expensive fountain pen, but since I got it, I've been writing soooooo much more (it CAN be a novelty thing too), because the ink just glides trhough the paper and looks so much better. I mean I know people like gel pens and pallpoints but fountain pens are the best feel for me.
So, I got more productive towards the goals I had about being more mindful and journaling, and now that I'm starting a new semester, I've been taking notes by hand and not with computer, which helps me process the topics more.
My way for staying in budget is
[1.] bring cash (physical/visual reminder of how much I can spend)
[2.] Rounding up the price to easier numbers to count/track the amount (ex: $1.38->$1.50 or the next whole #)
[3.] trying to only go in a store w a Goal/stick to the items in mind (if it’s not stocked, cut ur losses & go use ur time else where it’s needed)
[4.] use phone to take pics if you need to compare prices/things across the store, set an alarm to avoid time blindness & the calculator to do the math🌟
My favorite way to organize for school is folders! I have rainbow folders in my bag for each subject, and then I don’t have to worry about stuff going in my binder, because I don’t use one! Then I know the color that goes to the class, and I just pull out a folder at the start of class and put stuff in as I need to!
One of the things I found helpful when I finally found something I wanted to go to college for and got the gut/courage to enroll in and get accepted to college was getting school materials that I actually really loved and enjoyed looking at and the feel of it invested I got them because it makes me want to use them and reach for them all the time so it keeps me motivated to do my schoolwork because I actually like pulling my stuff out and I like the feel of using them. That and also the college I attended is so wonderful and has so many resources available to me included in my tuition even though it is all online. I’m also finding that I like dot grid notebooks too for some reason.😅
Goodwill or other thrift stores usually have decent school supplies and even office chairs as well.
I keep a running list of items that I may not need immediately, but want to keep an eye out for as I stop in to thrift stores.
And when I find something, sometimes unexpectedly, it feels like a more personal purchase like it found me (even though I may have been looking for it lol). That provides me more intention in my purchase, making it feel worth while and special.
While also preserving my priorities on buying used and my own ecological practices.
I hit Dollar Tree first for school and office supplies nowadays. They always have a nice selection, often with really cute patterns (this year I saw dinosaurs, sharks, and unicorns on binders, folders, and notebooks, for example). Then I follow up with other stores to get the rest (usually in order of cheapest to least cheap - ex. Dollar stores, then five below, then Walmart, and only then office stores). My favorite desk chair is one of those bouncy ball chairs - mine was from Amazon, about $60, and majorly worth it. It’s similar to the bouncy bands for children’s desks; I tend to bounce or rock on it while working, which helps both as a fidget and as a way to help avoid pain from sitting still for too long.
Edit: Another item I think is a must-have for neurodivergent people is the physical Time Timer. There’s a free app as well, but it isn’t the same for me.
I had one of those big overwhelming file-folder binders in high school! It did not make me more organized. I never used the file folders. I had trouble using the binder. I didn't realize that what I felt was overwhelm, I just knew I found it really hard to use and I didn't know why. I eventually moved to an assortment of folders and smaller 1inch binders, it honestly made organizing much easier because it ended up working in a way that made more sense (each class had a binder, with sections for notes, homework, projects, and whatever else made sense for that class). Shoutout to my high school French teacher for introducing me to this system and changing my life!
Something I do, for keeping track of spending while in a store : is either use the app to scan as I'm going so it'll give me a running total, or type it in my phone since I rarely remember to bring pen an paper with me to the store. The notes feature on my phone gets a lot of use. :)
I tried rocket book, the issue is that you don’t have a hard copy of your notes, and when you want to erase things you have to find water and wait for it to dry. So if I would go into class and I forgot that I was out of pages it was a solid five minute process to find a water fountain clear page and wait for it to dry, so I just gave up and got a regular notebook. It’s probably great if you prefer having virtual copies, but I don’t know if I would necessarily call it ADHD friendly- The novelties is fun but overall it’s more steps.
You can have your calculator open on your phone and add and subtract as you go
I actually have a thrift shop bought desk organizer... on my kitchen counter. It's right by the front door, so all my stuff gets dropped on that part of the counter when I come in (so I know where the hell it is the next day). Instead of driving my wife nuts with piles and sprawling stuff, we got me the organizer so I can sort everything that I want/need at hand when cooking or coming/going.
the spot for your phone on the lap desk blew my mind!!!!!
Tip for Bills!!!! Dollar general has a finance notebook organizer thingy in their office stuff aisle near the note books. It is $3! It has a pocket for each month that you can place the bills as they come in and down below it has placed for due dates and what you are paying and amounts. I use the second expense column for confirmation numbers. It is great. I just keep it open to the month we are in if something comes in for the next month I can shove it there and have it when I go to pay the bills. I even write the ones I pay online there too.
Some of the items I bought (from Amazon/Hobby Lobby) were the cube timer, a cute unicorn lamp, a cup to put my pens and pencils in, noise canceling headphones, and tabs for marking my textbook and planner. I tend to use it more when it has a lot of colored tabs.
Binder fun fact from a former Office Depot employee: the D ring binders are best for wherehouse type of use where you need to store a lot of papers but won’t need to access them very often.
The circle rings are better for frequent use.
Hi! I just wanted to say thank you for making these videos. I’m 13 and got diagnosed with ADHD recently. School is really really difficult, but you’ve been helping me a lot recently. So thank you!
TIP from a staples employee to save money: Besides the rewards account actually being worth it now, if you check online your items might be cheaper. Staples price matches! The online store is seperate from their retail stores so they naturally have different prices and sales. A lot of stores price match now a days, so see if you can add that to your shopping routine! I've tried to get into more rewards accounts so I can make shopping list and load coupons before the register. Worse case scenario: Buy online Pick Up in store is ACTUALLY your friend. (If you don't want to wander)
Those rocket books are actually SO worth the money. I would prefer a blank one (not the meeting template) but the real appeal of it is the fact that you can erase the notebook pages and reuse them infinitely. Theoretically you never need to buy another notebook again. And they have an app to scan and upload your notes so you don't really lose it when you erase it. They're so much better for the environment than filling up a million regular notebooks
Kids are so lucky today. The school supplies I have to purchase for my 5 year old are cool!
I can buy school supplies for my children now. That's so satisfying. Also I'm in school myself again and love shopping for that too. Living my best life!