at this point, i'm afraid to get diagnosed because so much of adhd content matches my experiences so well that if it turns out i don't have it, then it's like, what the hell is wrong with me? and that's terrifying
I was terrified before my assessment. Was I just making it all up? What if it wasn't ADHD? Was I just a fraud? etc. I've got a video on the ASRS screener and how to be honest with the questions...imagine answering them without the masking. How does your brain want to be in situations etc?
I remember this feeling, and I think it's instinctual. I think the process of diagnosing would be helpful regardless of the outcome as long as you're actually trying and applying the tools given along the way! At least in New Orleans (for someone on medicaid), getting diagnosed was a months long process, so know that you're getting help either way. Also, consider that a diagnosis isn't urgent, and maybe you can start applying some tips and tricks from YT that resonate to release some of that pressure.
I'm going through the diagnostic process and having these same feelings! It's a 6 month wait for me so I'll probably go back and forth a bit in that time. But the video mentioned here that Mr Wormhole did has been helpful. My sister in law went through this process and she has given very similar advice. She also went through exam questions with me in a similar manner to what Mr Wormhole did. These have been so super helpful in helping me think about what I do and how I have coping mechanisms that I never even noticed. So by the time I get to my diagnosis appointment I'm going to have a long list of behaviours for the psychiatrist. Super recommend the same :)
I have this exact feeling. I also have my first appointment tomorrow morning after waiting 5 months (actually got brought forward 2 months). Thanks Mr wormhole, your voice is calming and reminds me of a gentlemen I once worked with. His thoughts seemed collected, calm and well delivered which weirdly gave me a relaxing feel.
@@welcometothewormhole I actually got recommended that very video right after I watched this one, and it was very helpful! Thank you so much for your content, and to the other commenters as well, for the encouraging things you all shared. And yes that's what I thought of doing for now @Jodie, if it helps, it helps, right? :) Thank you, folks ♥
Or how much time a task will take, the question at what time would you like me to pick you up? I dont know mate XD you just asked me to do rocket sience on how long it would take to pick me up-go to the venue-park the car etc XD just say a time and i will be ready (probalby like 15min early but still XD)
Time timers work great for me. The trick is using them only when I need to, and setting the timer only for the amount of time I'm confident I can manage to focus for. I combine them with body doubling when I'm having trouble focusing. The productivity tools aren't necessarily the problem -- trying to use them without understanding why we need to, or how to use them in a way that's effective for our brains, is. Thank you for including the points about our difficulties with time, would love to see more content where you speak to the research on why we might struggle to stick to our systems while allowing room for different things to work for different brains ;)
And structure! No amount of methods touch the sides when our structure disappears 😂 Oh my days! the carnage that ensues when my wife is on holiday from teaching! And spot on! It was what I was wanting to really achieve in this vid - to gently show the 'whys' of our brains, and to help people see it's not their fault these things don't always work. I'm slowly making these as I delve further and further into the wormhole of the ADHD brain, and yes, the research and cross referencing is the more....how shall I put it....executive function heavy element 😂 But it MUST be done 💪 Thanks for the comment ❤️ P.S - I think I understand why you use jump cuts so often too....is it a short term memory thing like me?😂
I know i'm a bit late to the party, but still, oh my! A wild Jessica appeared! 😊❤ Hi Brain! 👋 On the topic of time timers: i have found they work best for me when i use them for my breaks. After i have done "the thing" for a while, i will need a break and a reward. Get my speedy brain settling back down, and refueling the dopamine tank for the next thing. That's when i use the time timer to keep track of how much time i can spend. Because otherwise an hour of superfocused Minecraft or knitting or watercolor feels like 5 minutes. If i have the timer right next to me, i will have a much better grasp of how time passes, and will be more present and mindful in what i'm doing, instead of turning on autopilot, and boom! There goes an hour, i have no idea what i did, it feels like five minutes, so now i feel cheated, i'm startled and angry, and want more time for the fun stuff. The timer actually sometimes helps me enjoy hobbies more than i otherwise would, because i am reminded by it to check in with myself if i am actually having a good time. (I have a tendency to get swept away by creative flow in a way where i am constantly looking forward, getting an idea, and another and another, and end up not paying attention to what i am doing right now, because i am thinking of four other cooler things i want to do instead.) I might also use it for chores like cleaning and tidying, but in that case it is more of a "i have to keep going until the alarm goes off" way, than actually using the visual aid of the time passing. That being said, it has its time and place. Sometimes i wont use it for a long while, and other times it is the most important tool i have.
To get out the door on time I recommend Brili kids. A flashcard set appears. Every flashcard makes a notification sound when you're halfway the task, when it's almost time to go to the next, and when you shoudl finish. An alarm sound. It adjusts the time so you always leave on time
So that's why I live like a hibernating animal. I ride the energy and focus waves when they come, and try to prepare for the burned out, out of focus, scattered brain waves, cause I know they'll come. And when they come, I feel comfortable not expecting so much of myself, and lowering my expectations, meeting only the most urgent and unegotiable tasks, cause I know I did my best when I could. It's hard, but it's the doable least painful way, in my experience. Just like an animal working all summer intensely preparing for the winter. They don't feel bad for hibernating... So that's that. Focusing on the "now", really summons it all. Well said.
Hehehehe - snap! I call it ‘riding the wave’. Now that I know myself better I sort of stack up the things I’d like to do during a wave….and then happily go back to waiting for the next one. And just the other day, I was talking with a friend about how the world feels almost strained from the unrelenting pressures of performing - we’ve lost those natural cycles and rhythms we evolved with. My friend spent her life chasing her tail, and then after a horrible tragedy, she was forced to sell up. She moved onto a canal boat and every time I see her she is lighter and lighter. Food and money and fuel are sometimes a struggle, but the lifestyle did a complete 180 ❤️
@@nuynobi no idea. I am completely "time blind". But I noticed that my menstrual cycle influences it sometimes. But it could be every other day maybe. I don't really know, I live one day at a time. All my focus is on getting through the day, and I try to notice my energy levels and the brain fog at each day as it comes. Deal with each obstacle as it comes you know
@@mariaeugenia578 Ok, sounds like on the scale of days, as opposed to minutes/hours or weeks/months. Interesting. My depression is very wave-like and ebbs and flows on the scale of months. I've never thought about my motivation (or lack thereof) as coming in waves. My moments of motivation seem more like isolated islands randomly scattered throughout a sea of apathy. Edit: actually, I do get waves. I get a big wave of motivation in the evening, often working into the night after everyone else is in bed.
@@nuynobi but it can be minutes, weeks, months too. What I mean is that I can't find a secure pattern, unfortunately. I just know it happens. Depends on the stressors of life also, wich varies from time to time.
I got a visual timer a couple weeks ago and like using it for two things, neither of which is: "here's 25 minutes, you have to work until it's done!" Instead, I set it when (1) I know I'm feeling distractible and kind of need a mental break, so that I don't completely lose track of time. I set it for 15 minutes or so and when it goes off I check in with what exactly I'm doing at that moment, but I'm not strict about having to go back to working/whatever I should be doing right then. I might reset it for 15 more minutes and then I can actually kind of relax in that time, instead of constantly worrying "oh no, what time is it, what did I forget to do?". Also, (2) if I'm getting hyperfocused at work, I set it for anywhere from 15-45 minutes to remind myself when I was planning to go home and eat. I have a tendency to get barely anything done at work for a couple weeks, and then when nearing a deadline or nearing completion of a project, stay three hours late for a day or two in a row because I keep thinking "I'm almost done!" Last night I reset it about twelve times for an additional 15 min, so I didn't go home until 8 but I DID get to make the choice to keep working, because I wanted to, rather than getting lost in the mental swamp of "I've just been doing this for a really long time and I'm not sure how much progress I'm making but maybe I can keep going...oh wait I am not thinking clearly...should I go home instead?" Every time the timer went off I encouraged myself to stop working if I felt ready to. When I chose to continue working anyway, I felt a little more of that "intrinsic motivation" that I find so elusive. I knew I wanted to be there and it wasn't just because I felt forced by anxiety/shame to do the thing. This works for me because the anxiety around my ADHD symptoms is often a bigger issue than the symptoms themselves. No idea in the world if it would help anyone else, but the whole process of giving myself permission to find my own solutions has been one of the most positive things about getting a diagnosis.
Also, I'm keen to try the exercise you describe! I couldn't quite wrap my head around it until you shared the example, but that was helpful. I struggle a lot with being late for things and have only in the last year or so started to convince myself I need to truly factor in "getting ready time." It kind of works, if for example I put a 10:30 appointment in my calendar at 10:15 to try to trick myself, but I do often still delay getting ready, forget about how long it will take me to walk to my car, etc. I like how concrete you make the consequences, even if they're "I'll feel flustered and sweaty" (sometimes I delay because I don't really believe being on time is important... but I get stressed anyway). Would be cool to use this to develop a more thorough sense of "action time" and what it requires. Thanks!
Wow - thanks for this Juneau - this makes a lot of sense! I have a feeling this would help lots of people with that anxiety drive. Task switching is a big problem for lots of people - do you find it hard to go back to the task sometimes after the timer?
My pleasure! I’m finding the challenge of making a video is my brain goes everywhere, so it’s a real task editing it down 😂 The thinking through bit is really the key, on paper, physically. I’ve tried tricking my brain like that, but I know I’ve tricked it, so I just listen to the now voice that says just 5 more minutes. Scheduling for thought out consequences and action time, even just once makes it so much more apparent how skewed our time/focus is 💪💪💪 thanks for sharing! Means a lot!
@@welcometothewormhole I do find it hard sometimes to go back to a more important task after my distraction-time timer goes off, but I think that it's at least helping me become more aware of how long I spend on things. Sometimes I do not switch tasks but I do feel glad for the information and I at least take the chance to look out the window or something. I also like the visual element because if I can see "ok three more minutes before I wanted to go back to work," it occurs to me to go up and get some water then, rather than being surprised by an alarm and saying "oh no I'm not ready to work yet!" and therefore not switching but shame spiraling about it :)
@@welcometothewormhole paper is the best! Thank you for responding, I really do want to try your strategy and this is encouraging. I can imagine it's a ton of work, but I like the tone and topics of your videos and hope you keep it up!
And the anxious thoughts are like painful little bouncy balls, boinging around your skull, distracting you further from the task(s) you need to get done? Same here
Love your videos! I appreciate you. I used small post it notes, one is red for "must do" and one is yellow for "nice to do". Each note represents an hour of a work task (or for admin, multiple tasks on the same note). I write down what needs to be done today and know that I can only have five post it notes. They're placed in order of importance horizontally below my keyboard and I go from left to right working through. Whenever I get distracted I look down and see what I need to do today.
I really like that John! I’m going to add your method to the list 🙂😂 Seeing time is the biggest help, and going further with it, just like you’ve found, making time finite with visible blocks is spot on! How long have you been using it? How did it develop? Had you tried lots of new fanggled apps and systems before the realisation set in that post it’s really are THE one true god?😂 And thank you for your kind words - they really mean an awful lot! Post it notes will be featured vvv soon 😈
This is a cool idea. If you have a task that will take three hours, does it get three post-its? (Or do you try to break it down into more specific tasks?)
@mrjohncrumpton You are a legend for sharing your system with us. I think your system of breaking down time blocks of an hour per post it note might just be the answer to how I can cope/manage to get stuff done! I live with a list of health challenges and suspect that I have ADHD. I'm only just starting out on my journey to diagnosis and want to try and experiment with different tips, tricks and hacks. Blessings from South Eastern Australia, Dot
Using the consequences as the label for the alarm may be the best ADHD tip of the month. For people who think this won't work, visualize in detail the shit storm your last f-up caused and re-feel those feelings you had. Now label that timer accordingly.
I am a 56 year old man who is getting an ADHD test (I am ADHD!) in September. Having searched a lot online for 'feet-on-the-ground' advice for some weeks now I am so glad to have found your channel - thank you so much!
I'm really grateful that I keep learning that my brain is different and my lack of followthrough after a few months isn't just faulty will power. I like "OHIO", which stands for Only Handle It Once, meaning we're not getting the mail and putting it on the counter to probably be forgotten; we're opening the mail asap and finishing the whole task at once. It's particularly helpful in avoiding/clearing catch-all places. I haven't mastered applying it to everything, (e.g. my kitchen or cleaning in general), but even "just" always doing it with mail, laundry, keys, and wallet has been SO useful. Seems like it could be useful to start asking these questions before I tackle the OHIO things.
I really like this! I suppose I'm doing similar with the catch it bin - where I dump everything that's out of place in the visible open box, then, when I remember/it overflows/can be arsed, I pick it up, walk round the house and put things away, so it amalgamates lots of little tasks into one. Love this OHIO! It's more a way of shifting our thinking than a “technique” which in finding is so much more beneficial ❤️ thanks for sharing!
@@welcometothewormhole I appreciate that! I still love the catch it bin, though! I think they're useful in larger spaces or for really specific things, like I typically have some kind of goodwill/donation catch it vessel in my closet. Or if daily mail is really too much, a mail catch it stacked with some other weekly habit could do the trick.
Oh jeez I need this. My desk typically looks like a landfill. Sometimes when I get motivated to organize my desk I'll sort all the bills, tasks, mail, papers to file, etc into categorized piles. The idea is that I'll then go back and actually deal with them category by category and it'll be more efficient that way. BUT, can you guess what happens? I lose motivation and no actual work is accomplished, no task completed, no progress achieved. The piles often end up on the floor to clear space for the next generation of crap on my desk. They can get scattered, mixed up, and dog-eared over time, and eventually I forget what's in the piles and what the piles even mean. Now they need to be reorganized, along with the new crop that has accumulated in the meantime, and the cycle repeats. And before I know it I'm drowning: I haven't filed my taxes for 3 years, I'm gradually bleeding out financially from all the interest and late fees I end up paying on bills, prescriptions expire, opportunities are missed, and I can't find that thing I need. Then the shame, oh the shame.😣 So yeah, OHIO. It reminds me a little of the 2 minute rule in Getting Things Done. If a task will take you less than 2 minutes, just do it right then and there, rather than processing it for doing it later. It's selective OHIO.
Now that you asked: Something that I've found deply useful to get things done (the kind of things that need to focus and concentration) is to play certain types of music in the background. Specifically, these "productivity music" "hiperfocus music", etc. There's a channel with binaural sounds on the back of some chillout or electronic music, that helps me A LOT to design, to code. And the best part is that it helps to set the "focus" mood, even with things that I definetly don't want to do (like, i.e., writting documentation). Some friends have also tried it, and they've told me that it works very well. My husband, who doesn't like electronic music very much (because he finds it too repetitive), told me "I hate the music, but it works! Look at all the work I was able to do!". The big flaw, you ask? I ALWAYS FORGOT TO PLAY IT! hahahahahahahahahaha Also, you don't have to worry about a "bad song" intruding the playlist, and distracting you to skip it, since these kind of channels have videos of 3 hours long, or are "radio live" kind. Hope it helps :)
Thank you for putting this out there... I have coincidently been doing this process for a few months now, particularly when i have an appointment (etc)... and it does work!!. It. is all about 'reframing'.... I still struggle with sitting down to do 'paper work' .... However, I approach this by ramdomly starting with 10 mins.. just to 'break the ice' with what i feel i can't face ... This seems to work a lot of time and the more i practice these methods, the 'easier' it gets... I'm in my mid 50's and was diagnosed late last year...a lifetime of struggle but lucky to be now living in a time when there are forums like this.. thanks for your content🎉
Your video made me realise that i already use this technique. I count backwards from when i need to leave home and add wiggle room. I also think about what i need to bring so i dont forget anything. The thing i didnt realise was that it is an ADHD technique. I got diagnosed 1 month ago but it was years ago that i started thinking like this. I guess you can call it ADHD Evolution :)
Action time! You definitely get it. So excited to get some information that is so relevant and relatable. I am so low right now and your words are like warm rays of sunshine letting me feel the courage to try again. Thank you so very much!
Thanks for your videos. I haven’t been diagnosed (yet) and had the thought that I was able to get projects started on time in university and in my work life, but then I realized that I did this by setting sub-deadlines for myself, breaking a thing down into small parts. down to a really granular level. ‘I must finish the rough draft by Tuesday. … oh sh*8 it’s Tuesday!!!” Also, since it’s dawned on me that i might have adhd like my teenaged daughter, a few days ago, I’ve added 200 adhd videos to my watch later list, I have at least a dozen adhd browser tabs open, and have added many notes about it to my phone. (Where I have dozens of todo lists and hundreds of notes to self)
I break down tasks into a system I call plan, ready, set, go. Plan is the time I use to breakdown the other steps and decide what needs doing, when and how. It's the longest step and the one where I make the most decisions. It's writing each task down and dividing what I need to do into 3 lists. Each task is no longer than 15 minutes. Ready is a list of steps that focuses on preparing things and myself for starting: from picking what to wear, what I need to use, take or have with me, do I need paperwork or tools, when to have a shower and get dressed, do I need to eat, drink, take tablets, go to the toilet, etc before I start. Set is the next list of things I need to do. The action steps before I start a time block or leave the house. It includes tasks like tidy up, set up food for my pets, make my bed, collect what I need to complete the task/project/time block. if I'm going out it also means packing the bag I will take with me, setting up clothes to change into when I get home, picking out the distractions to take with me (phone, headphones, book, notebook, puzzle book, etc). As I imagine each day in my head, I write an action plan of what I need to do that day. Then the last list I write is my go list. It is where I write down and work backwards from when I need to start doing something or when I need to be at a certain location, travel time, when I need to leave/or be ready to do the task/project/time block, the time for each task in the three lists: set, ready and plan. Because I keep repeating this process, I have master lists for the different types of tasks/projects/time blocks and update as needed. I have one for when I have a doctors appointment, one for when I'm doing errands, one for house reset when I do weekly tasks, get up, go to bed, etc. I try to make alot of the decisions ahead of time and give myself timelines rather than deadlines.
I like your system but can you explain one example in the context of a work related one from plan to go stage. Having examples from both personal and work is confusing me, sorry 😢
I'm not sure what work you do but I'm going to suggest you look at some videos on "kanban boards" or project management (there are some really good videos on TH-cam) maybe look at the channel "Thomas Frank" ... I'm going to pick an essay or report as an example. The steps at your desk would be: Plan: write down somewhere you can look at as you work: when is it due? What form will it take (written/oral)? What information do you need to include (mark what don't you know)? How do you need to structure what you write (paragraphs with headings/ story form/ experiment report/ slides for PowerPoint, etc)? Write a list of the steps you need to take (research or gather info, write a first draft: write a quick intro and conclusion, write the body of the report/essay, check if you included everything, 2nd draft: rewrite intro, body and conclusion to fit together write final draft, read aloud to check for punctuation and pacing (I have a habit of writing long sentences). Estimate how long it will take to do each step and add buffer time for just in case it takes longer. Plan when to do each step by setting aside time on your calender/diary, working backwards. If it's due in a week and you only have 5 hours work then I'd set aside an hour a day to work on it with the extra hour on the last 2 days for "just in case". Prep: this would include getting together pens, paper, etc or device/pc, whatever you need,
I think at nearly 50 with currently untreated ADHD, and a lot of trial and error I've started putting coping strategies like this in place. I wake up 3 hours before I start work, and leave my house 45 minutes to an hour before I start my shift, even though I only live 15 minutes walk away. Before, I was constantly late for work, even if it was only by 3-5 minutes. Non-routine journeys and appointments still cause me issues though, especially if I'm looking for something I need to take with me that I "knew" where it was, so didn't bother getting out before hand, only to find it not there!
Open lidded "dump box" by the front door and lots of super sticky post-it notes too. But yes, non-routine events can really throw us out of whack! I look like a clucking chicken, scrabbling for everything, and rushing and flustering 😂
Looks like you are getting some love from the youtube algorithm. I hope your subscriptions explode in the next couple of days. I have shared, commented, and subscribed.
I set reminders on my phone that notify me every hour on the hour, making me aware what time it is. I call it “time awarenagement”. By being aware of the time, I’m able to manage my time better. :)
UHHHH I LOVE THIS ONE. Ok. I don't have a diagnosis, but I relate a lot to ADHD and it's difficulties. First hack that comes to my mind is the way I make my bed. See, I hate living in a messy place. It drives me crazy, makes me anxious and stressed, but it's very difficult to keep things clean and organized. When I was extremely depressed, and due to many factors in my life at the time, I ended up developing a method to make my bed every single day, as soon as I wake up, and it doesn't stress me out. I don't know if it would make sense to anyone but me, though. My mom taught me how to make the bed, and it's very nice, but it takes very long, it's a lot of effort, it envolves 2 bed covers and one sheet, along with two pillows. I didn't want to give up the comfort all these things gave me, but it was too much work to assemble it everyday and again every night. So I found a way (my mom thinks it's lazy, but she accepted it), that I never take the sheet and the night bed cover out. It's ALWAYS there, I just smooth it in the morning and throw the daytime cover on top of everything. The only thing I put away is my nigh pillows. This way it's so much easier that it made possible for me to actually make the bed every morning, cause when I tried the "not lazy" way, for years what happened was that I couldn't do it and most days I would leave it messy and cry of anxiety every night that I came back home from school to find the mess waiting for me after a stressful day already. Doing the "lazy" way it actually gets done, it's waaaay better than not doing it at all. And this summons my whole philosophy to be able to do things day to day: badly done is better than not done at all. So I have a BUNCH of systems to do absolutely everything, otherwise I get too overwhelmed and freak out. It consumes energy, of course, but every single thing about being alive consumes energy. So I choose the way that consumes less energy and that's doable. I still get overwhelmed a lot, but much less nowadays. Some of the things I try don't work always, but the bed thing is absolutely a keeper, along with some other stuff. And this is the kind of thing NO ONE can teach me unless they know my routine very well and they think like me. You are absolutely right in the video, ordinary "tips and tricks" mostly don't work, especially if they are thought to work well for the largest group of people... It never fits me! They are just not realistic to my life. The only way I ever found was trial and error... And now, other ADHD friend's tips 😂😂 I've gathered a few that ended up working fine.
It's funny, I heavily relate. The "work" involved in making the bed was always agony. Now it's just always mostly tucked and when I get out of bed I throw it into place in one swing. Looks good enough to me! 🫠
The lazy way to make the bed for me is to lay in it, pull up the sheet and any blankets or covers, do a "snow angel like manoeuvre to flatten them out on top of you, fold one top corner back so you can slide out from underneath then check its all flat. Arrange pillows as needed. I wriggle too much to have my top sheet tucked in and eventually I decided to go without a top sheet and put the doona/Comforter underneath any blankets. I wash the doona cover or Comforter every week and have no regrets about not having a top sheet as it usually ended up twisted around my feet anyway. It's OK to make your bed however it suits you... Just wash the stuff that sits against your body regularly to get rid of any nasty. Blessings, Dot
I'm finding that when I have a distraction like looking at the glasses I'm actually focused more on what's being said. Maybe because I'm not being distracted by other things in the room around me.
...and planning for action time, not the time given. As I said, I only use it once every few days, but it really helps retrain how I perceive (not perceive) time
@@welcometothewormhole my only thing is that it seems so negative. I would probably get tasks done quicker/better by focusing on that, but it also seems dreadful to just focus on that.
When I have an appointment, or have to go to work, I don't schedule for when I have to be there, but for when I have to start preparing for going out... Writing it down on paper doesn't help me much, even if it's a sticky note directly in front of me. Or even worse, trying to organize things in an app.. What good are Apps and paper, if you forget they are there?^^ What tends to help me the most is that tiny blue ball from that big evil internet company. I can simply say "Alexa, remind me at 7:30 to get out to work" and it does, it even sends reminders to my phone. I tell it in the moment I think about it and than I can forget it again. The other day I used Alexa to set a lot of reminders for everything that needed to be done that day. It worked, I've got a lot done - unfortunately I forgot to set a reminder for going out to work as well and arrived two hours to late for the late shift... But I got a lot of to dos done!
One of my strategies is: I allow 1 hour for everything, even if I think it will only take 10 minutes. This allows me 50 mins of procrastination if I need it. I also tie everything to coffee. (Plan the day with a coffee, pay the phone bill with a coffee, write 1000 words on my book with a coffee) Yes, I drink a lot of coffee, but sometimes I actually forget to drink it until it's cold, but I do get the main task done.
It's a bit overwhelming...but shows there's a need for open discussion and shared experiences. Now comes the crushing imposter syndrome and feeling of responsibility to make sure whatever I say is correct and not damaging 😱
Setting the reminder labeled as the consequence and not the actual thing seems like a really subtle change but I think it will actually make a huge difference! I’m going to try this out. I just stumbled on this video today, I sincerely hope your other videos are just as helpful and you are continuing to create content like this.
Love this! I struggle so hard with time with my job, since it's sorta self motivated. But I still have strict deadlines. That deadline a month from now barely seems real and I know I'll get it done eventually, so things pile up. Then the last week before a deadline I'm up 24 hours several different days trying to squeeze an unrealistic amount of work into those few remaining days. I've done some work to reframe my mindset, but I'm learning how I need to work with myself more instead of constantly fighting my own mind and my own schedule. I put stuff off without thinking of the consequence. Even if I just want to go to the gym, I have to remind myself that i'm absolutely not going to do it between 4-8pm, and by 8pm its too late to go out, so realistically I need to do it earlier in the day if I plan on doing it at all. And with work...its really just about knowing my limits and knowing that if I don't get 3 projects done a day...I'll have to do 9 in a day the last week of the deadline and..that's really not possible.
Since really drilling into the science of how our brains are physically different, it's really helping with shedding a lot of really unhelpful strategies I used to adopt, which never worked out long term. Thinking of ADHD as about time has really started helping
I spent years trying various to do list apps, none worked at all. anything computer based generally fails, which sucks cos I love computers. In the end the only to do list that has worked is a paper one. The only way I seem to be able to stay anywhere close to staying on track with finances is by writing out my various balances every morning! and yes, I'm bingeing you vids
I have found a couple "tricks" that do work for me, somewhat. That Mel Robbins "5 second rule" helps as well as limiting the "organization" tools and strategies I use and not changing them when the next "shiny object" comes along. I also use white or brown noise to drown out the runaway mind when I read and need to retain. However, the important stuff still eludes me and when it comes time to do that and all of a sudden putting the dishes in the dishwasher is now tops on the list, or other productive procrastinations things. The only thing I can focus on is playing musical instruments...
As someone with Autism, i think this is a great step forward for helping neurodivergent people reframe what theyve been told for many years. Personally, i feel this is a great approach and ive sort of done this for method for a lot of my life to reprioritize tasks. But since i dont have ADHD, i used this method for an entirely different purpose which is specifically to outline tasks and plan things out for the future. Wish there was so much more research done on this
I honestly don't even look at organizers, planners, planning apps, timers, calendars, ect., because I learned a LOOOOOONG time ago that they are completely useless for me. I won't even try them. I keep two notebooks: one for work, one for personal things. I write down anything I want in whatever order I want, non of that bullet journal organizing stuff. This includes to-do lists, brain storming tasks, journaling, anything. I really enjoy physically writing things down and I use fancy fountain pens that are really fun to use, so this method of keeping track of my thoughts not only helps me visualize what needs to get done, it gives me dopamine as well. Using action time and consequences can be good for quick motivation, but I find that pairing tasks with something I enjoy is better for things that require extended attention. And I don't mean just using something enjoyable as a reward. I mean literally making something enjoyable PART of the task. For me writing is a very necessary step in getting things done at work and makes task completion more tolerable.
Likewise! I've tried apps, and some are okay for certain things, but nothing beats paper. I try and keep a little moleskine and mechanical pencil (so I dont have to bother sharpening) with me, and at my desk, I use SUPER STICKY post-it notes. I can the have them staring me in the face and jiggle them around when needed :-)
Never realized how much I need help with this type of time management until I listened to this. Thank you! I believe this will help me be early to things this eliminating so much stress!!
Hi there! I've learned that I'm ADHD a little while ago and maybe you will tell this in the video now but, counters with batteries or digital counters are simply not working for me. But counters all mechanical, all analog, just great. I have a 60 minutes counter, you are rotating it first with your hand and it simply goes to zero, with the energy you've loaded on it. It'j just a analog watch. I can do ANY task, any boring task, any terrible task, any job piece with it easily. Because I'm sure that, that'll do it's job. I trust it. There are no batteries, no software updates, it's a thing on it's own, right in front of me, and it has tick tacks which keeps me under a good stress, and a happy ringbell when it completes. I can turn it as much as I want, like maybe 5 minutes, or 15, or 1 hour. I really cannot think a work session without it. I'm also working 10 km a day (I will try to make it 20). Yes. 10 kilometer. Because I bought a standing desk and a walking pad, and that's a great combination. I'm walking slowly, and that makes me able to also focus on the tasks I need to do. I use Photoshop, After Effects, browsers, communication softwares and so on. This way, I work 1 kilometer in 0.5 hour. I use my analog counter for it and it's always so close to 1 kilometer, because since it's a walking pad, I can also adjust the speed, which is great. No surprises, never. Anyway, work 1 kilometer, hear that ringbell, GREAT DOPAMINE, and then turn that analog counter for 5 minutes, take a walk and get some breath, and then loop it. In the end, I get really swet and energetic and I think that's a great combination for me. I hope it can help to someone. Anyone wants more detail, please let me know, I'd love to help. PS: I also have ipads to monitor apps like whatsapp, telegram and so on, so I never switch my working screen. All of my screens have one goal. Like, my main 24" monitor is for professional usage. My ipad mini is for professional communication. Ipad 12" is for my friends (whatsapp, telegram) and I'm also watching (actually listening) some series online while working on my macbooks screen.
I really appreciate what you're doing with your channel. Just found you! That said, I am un-Dx yet so seriously believe I have ADHD that I've been listening to podcasts and watching videos with people talking about their own experiences with ADHD. I am so glad to come across this particular video of yours just as I have been wondering about what type of "system" I might try to help me with organizing my time/life. I will definitely try your "brain hack." Poor time management has plagued me forever, despite trying planners, post-it notes, Alexa reminders, reminders on my phone's calendar... Ugh. I like your idea here. Thanks so much!
I set multiple reminders on n my phone that notify me every hour on the hour. It helps keep me aware of the time and it has helped eliminate my time blindness issues. I made a video about it a while back… I think. :)
And the realistic part is, for ADHD, is that these issues will always be with us...but even just knowing how we differ on a physiological level and how our brains work can have a huge impact on how we approach things. Thank ever so much for your comment Karen! ❤️
I love this! Thanks for sharing! I think I had already been trying to do this sometimes, but I never thought to write it down and I think that is probably a good step to take. Really appreciate the videos! I'm sending myself a slack reminder tomorrow at 10 am about this video so that I can remember to do this at the point in my work day I usually hit a lull.
I’ve never been diagnosed but this is my exact experience. It feels like time blindness most times and even when I’m fully aware of the time it’s like I get stuck sometimes and the actual amount of time I have just doesn’t process. Thank you for this video. I’m definitely going to give this method a try.
Instant subscribe! Excellently helpful video and your voice is very satisfying to listen to. Would be great next time if you could link the research you looked at, fascinating stuff.
Thanks so much Anastasia - I'm slowly chipping away at it all, and trying to make a resource website where I can add all the tools, studies and resources I find :-) Little steps ❤️
I literally purchased an "ADHD" planner for Google sheets an hour ago. It was so complicated that I realized I just added more crap on my to do list on how to learn this damn thing! I chucked it!
That's fantastic content. I really fight with many ups and downs during my weeks. Sometimes, I'm very motivated and organized, but most of the time, it is right after finding a new strategy or a new tool, and everything seems to be in place; I feel powerful and able to accomplish anything. But, next week, I cannot do anything, I miss all the deadlines, and I got in trouble at my job; it is so frustrating. And we think that only medicines could solve the problem, and that's not the reality. Anyways, thanks for this video. I'll try it.
and this is why if i have an appointment, i set aside the whole day to just wait for it... i dont trust myself enough to put several things on the same day
Yeah.... I've never even tried. My wife loves the idea of planners and journals and such, and I look at these things and am like... That just seems like one more thing to fail at lol. At work I work from my email. I can flag an email as a to do item, email notes to myself in that flagged email chain, and when it is done I can delete or file the chain to a folder. Anything more than that and I'm fighting logins, different systems, and trying to remember what was last put where. There is a point to putting some things in a spreadsheet or other system for common reference with other people, but outside of that it is just fighting futility. For scheduling actual appointments... I still don't have a good system for that. The main problem is I don't know what time it is "now" so I'm at the mercy of my calendar and notifications not being on mute. Dr appointments and other things need to be at the beginning or end of the day so that I don't need to transition out and back into work mode, because realistically the rest of the day will be wasted. I can work a 12 hour work day no problem. But I can't work a 4 hour work day, take a break to do a Dr appt, and then go back to work... It's just not going to work. When I can I just stack appointments on a day and then take the day off work... But that never happens.
Tools that help me, I do like my analog fox shaped timer, I find the ticking sound soothing. I ONLY use this for housework, my biggest nemesis. It assures me it's only 30 minutes and I can get stuff done, but ALSO reminds me to stop. If I go over I always end up binge cleaning until my body physically aches, which is a snake's tail of not wanting or being able to start cleaning again. I tried a whole mess of digital productivity tools, none made it past hyper focus set up mode. If I managed 3 days it was shocking. I've been a very committed bullet journal cultist for 7 or so years. I stick with the basic original layout, it's easy and uncomplicated. If I have the urge there is always a playful, fun and creative space to do so. It just works for me. Great video 😊✌️😊 Subscribed. I like your wormhole. 😊 Thing is, I was born in 1970. ADHD wasn't a thing. I grew from childhood through teens, young adult, wife, mother, non-profit affordable housing counselor to be officially diagnosed 3 times with 3 different doctors. (Let's just say, I was a bit like, WHA???) I spent a lifetime creating coping strategies before I had a clue what they were, masking? Of course. I'm not willing to try to deprogram myself from myself. I don't want to put in that effort. Honest, I always really liked me, just went with the quirky girl thing. It's been a great life so far. 😊❤😊 I do use a few strategies to help even out the roadblocks, but I don't dwell. I'm an alcoholic in recovery for 3 year, 2 months and 13 days. My ADHD brain is like my alcoholic brain, just keep on keeping on, one day at a time. I was kind of comforted in knowing we have a lot more alcoholics and users in our ranks. ❤
Wow! This is so cool. I must have watched it before, though, because I already liked it. I just zoned out for a minute and thought of an interesting story idea, so thanks for the inspiration! I should rewind and listen to the part I missed, but writing a comment is much more engaging. It’s worth noting that pomodiro timers can run on clockwork, so no need for batteries. I have one and it works great when I remember to use it and can find it. Now I'd better go watch the rest of the video, though I bet the suggestions are going to hurt, so maybe I'll watch this other video TH-cam is suggesting?
I've been struggling with productivity systems too, and someone mentioned a new tab extension that helps organize tasks. It might be worth checking out if you're looking for alternatives.
i fell down a rabbit hole with a smart water bottle because i didnt want to pay the money for it so i found a diy way with an nfc sticker, well now i have programmed an nfc sticker to open my google calendar when its touched. I put the nfc sticker on the front of my phone case because i need to flip it open and then the front touches the back of my phone. so everytime i open my phone case it will pop up my google calendar and i can see my whole day of things i have scheduled. Also helps when i go to my doctors because when i book my next appointment i again just flip open my case and my schedule is already open then i can just create a new event and bam my next appointment is in my calendar. Works with what my brain already wants to do instead of against it and no planners that wont get used after a week. I also set a routine on my phone so after 9pm my partner needs to stick his fingerprint on my phone in order for me to unlock it so i cant scroll on my phone after 9pm.
While it is true that following a complete organizational system won’t last, simply being organized is still helpful, and however you end up doing that, that is your organizational system. For me, I just put appointments (anything that has to happen at a specific time) into Google Calender. I always have it with me on my phone, so any time I agree to something or consider agreeing to something, I can check my calendar to see what if I already have something booked at that time, or too many things booked that day or around that day. I also try to remember to check my calendar every week, and set additional alarms on my phone for really important things I definitely don’t want to be late to. I also try to look at my calendar every day so I know if there is anything I planned in advance for that day. That’s it. I’m not always consistent with this, but every time I forget to do something scheduled or forget to get ready on time or to prepare in advance, I can usually trace it back to not following this, and that gives me a nice kick in the pants to get back to doing it more seriously and consistently. It is important for me not to try to just remember when everything is scheduled or just keep track of everything I have to do in my head, as that is definitely not going to work, so scheduling it somewhere on paper or digitally is really the only other option. This frees up my mind to not have to stress about keeping track of things like that.
ABSOLUTELY me! Timers don't work, because they're artificial. REAL, HARD deadlines work, but self-imposed deadlines, no. They DO work for my kids, but that's 'cause they really sort of have a hard deadline... get it done before the timer goes off or dad's gonna chase you around the house like an angry gander. Also, notes... planning apps... calendars... planners... all fail.
😂 That's interesting! I feel like today I keep bring things back to serious stuff, but in the ICD there's a phrase which has really stuck with me... "symptoms may not become fully manifest until later, when social demands exceed limited capacities". It's exactly that...as kids there were real deadlines and consequences...mainly from our parents. But as soon as I got to college and Uni, they were more self imposed and just didn't bloody work. Every test and project was "bare minimum" and by the time I went to Uni, after my second year my brain just switched off. Perhaps this is the birth of a new ADHD organisation method...The Gander of Anger Method™. Yes, you too could change you life with the new Gander of Anger. Available from all good farms. *Batteries not included*
Іnteresting approach to understanding time and consequences, I was enjoying the video when I realized that this is a super wormhole that could work in my case
Nobody will probably see this since it's a year old, but this was helpful. I already do this for appointments and getting to work on time. I'm going to try doing it for other things on my to do list.
This is good exercise. I've instinctively done something similar when really really overwhelmed with something important but "boring" to be done in (relatively) short time. It works.
There is this quote that I love referencing and saying out loud because its clears my head but is also stimulating to say and that is Edna mode saying “I never look back darling, it distracts me from the now”
i definitely do this with mainly appointments/meetups. Do you find if you give yourself that 10min wiggle room that there's a danger of removing that motivational stress we need, and there fore slip into that mode of "paralysis" or doom scrolling? especially if you zoom through the "before I leave" tasks, and feel like a superhero knowing you now have "spare time" to get some fun in before you need to set off for the trip? It's so annoying to want to have that stressor and yet if it teeters a little over, anxiety goes through the roof you freeze, and then bam.... you're late.
I end up feeling emotional pain just trying to pull myself away from doing something that is giving me that dopamine hit, I then can spend the whole day feeling guilty and bad and understanding the consequences of not doing the tasks needed that are important. Also feeling like they will take up the whole day. I end up feeling overwhelmed, emotional and frustrated because I also take way longer than normal to complete the task and zone out while doing the task and do it without focusing at all, like a zombie on auto pilot. If I had a more physical job, I would literally end up dead because of zoning out while working.
I was very involved in translating apps many years ago, (mainly Joomla and its extensions into Esperanto) but the programmers were so uninterested in understanding the non-programmer's perspective that I lost interest. New files to translate and old files with slight changes was constantly trickling in. We had to do the translation, and then pack the files into a zip folder. The instructions were "Zip the files into one folder". It might be obvious to a programmer what exactly to change in all ini files and xml files and in what order to zip the different sets of folder to get it to work. I didn't. Finally I wrote down the workflow. It had 43 critical steps. My little aspie brain (albeit educated as a telecom engineer) just couldn't be bothered.
if you really are ADHD and cant stand fluff - start watching at 6:13 X2 speed. Or let me save you time - the "exercise" will most likely take longer to do than the To Do thing on your list you've been avoiding or procrastinating so just go the F'n thing! You're welcome!
This is all great but I would say get someone to make you build a habit for certain critical tasks (exercise, work , meal time , sleep time , social time etc ) . Once the habit is set our life won't be at any danger of falling apart which then would give us the mental space so that we can employ the method you described here for daily and ordinary tasks.
Почему системы повышения производительности при СДВГ ТОКСИЧНЫ! + что-то, что могло бы помочь #СДВГ 00:00 Введение в "червоточину" • Приветствие и приглашение в "червоточину". • Обсуждение новых методов повышения производительности и организационных приемов. • Эти методы не работают для людей с СДВГ. 00:26 Проблемы с организационными стратегиями • Организационные стратегии разрабатываются нейротипичными людьми. • Повторное использование неудачных приемов приводит к негативному восприятию себя. • Аналоговые таймеры и батарейки не работают для людей с СДВГ. 01:20 Исследование опыта людей с СДВГ • 26 из 30 людей с СДВГ не могут использовать организационные приложения. • Проблемы связаны с физическим устройством мозга. • Активность префронтальной коры снижается при попытках сосредоточиться. 02:24 Борьба с СДВГ и порочный круг • Развитие и укрепление нейронных путей через стратегии преодоления. • Борьба с осознанными неудачами и неспособностью следовать новым методам. • Невозможность видеть последствия в будущем и чувствовать время. 03:26 Изменение точки зрения • Недооценка времени и пропуск сроков. • Необходимость изменить подход к работе с мозгом. • СДВГ связан с дисфункцией исполнительной системы. 04:25 Мотивация и давление • Зависимость от мотивации в последнюю минуту. • Крайние сроки и цели теряют значимость. • Необходимость видеть последствия в настоящем. 05:35 Упражнение "Добро пожаловать в червоточину" • Упражнение для изменения восприятия времени. • Вопросы для планирования действий и последствий. • Пример использования упражнения для встречи с врачом. 09:08 Заключение • Планирование времени действия помогает избежать "нет". • Цель упражнения - изменить восприятие времени. • Призыв к обратной связи и вопросам в комментариях.
here's your comment to serve you a little dopamine in your day, keep up the good work my friend, you're helping a lot of people lets fukcing GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Is it an ADHD symptom that I did NOT notice the glasses were different on each side after watching 15-20 minutes of videos and reading this comment, until considering the comment again two hours later? 😂
truly just, "yeah they were an unusual shape or something," * looks at video again, only notices left side of screen * "they are hexagon-ish," * two hours later * "they are funny squares with funny corners" * pause * "NO THE OTHER SIDE IS A CIRCLE"
@@juneau8457 I honestly only noticed them because I was on meds XD Watched the other videos the days before without meds and I probably didn't even recognize he had glasses. Also I love your name, the nature in Juneau is beautiful.
I love this technique! I sorta do this, but you brought up a few more details that"ll make it work even better! I'd love to print out the download, but it says it"s been deleted...
I learned to estimate how long a computer programming or similar task would take simply by making an estimate based on how it felt to me, then multiplying the result by 8.
first time seeing you and im fascinated about your glasses but at the same time it freaks me out. Edit: ok, I needed some time but now I love ur glasses. Nice video btw
When I run across something that needs to be done (reminder) and it’s time to do it, I immediately start counting in my head while moving towards starting the task, counting until I’m well into the task. It breaks the familiar train of thought that would usually give me an excuse to put it off. It works for me. Every time. I hope it works for others :)
@@christalyu635 hey. It also works in reverse. When you think about something you want to do but shouldn’t (snacking, impulse buying…) start counting and move towards doing something productive instead. :)
@@howardstory1391 ooo thanks for this! I’m glad you replied because in a classic ADHD moment I totally forgot about this tip. Going to use it now to start focusing on my internship again 😭 thanks again, best of luck & enjoy your day!!
Ironically, I was more productive before diagnosis and taking stimulants because I used to stay up most nights doing what I did. Definitely not healthy. Now I am a better person with better executive functions. Unfortunately I can no longer stay awake. I feel sleepy earlier and fall asleep easier. Good, but I became a slower book author.
That’s a tough one! And presumably writing is your jam? I’m finding similar - I used to just hyper focus through the days and nights until my body shut down for a few days, then I’d do it all over again. I think we have to be so much kinder to ourselves, and rather than trying to get everything done all at once, the slow plod of efforts on one thing really do add up ❤️
My doctor asked me, “Do you want a happy, productive life or a happy, healthy life?” I always remind myself of this every time I think I should be working and being “productive” instead of getting enough sleep or exercising.
@@GoADHDGo The good thing is hopefully, the 'or' is temporary and not too tyrannical to force us to choose between the two. Maybe at first, we became a bit less productive relative to the old unhealthy way of being productive. But by continuing to discover more and more strategies, we can find new way(s) to continue being productive without sacrificing our well-being. Hopefully 🤞
Thinking about the “consequences” goes against my brain, though I know not acknowledging them is a problem. It may be “executive dysfunction”, but doing things out of fear (or even awareness) of consequences sounds (oddly) like trying to think like a neurotypical, not the other was ‘round. If, for example (using the doctor’s appointment idea), I focused not on the (ICKY, negative) consequences, but, instead, a POSITIVE reward for doing “the dreaded thing-on time. . . I believe I would successfully achieve the thing more often. And, yes, it really DOES boil down to taking care of the things we have to DO-yes, and usually, in a timely way. For me, using a negative “consequences” approach isn’t going to cause me to experience time like a neurotypical person; it will make “time” (if it isn’t already) into yet another enemy, another barrier& another source of anxiety. The best scenario is that motivation & forward movement is the goal, and that the goal is achievable. I don’t know if “time awareness” is achievable, but being more often “on time” certainly is. Exchanging the consequences for “rewards” incentivizes the game. I’d be motivated to get to the appointment, for example, by reminding myself “I can read one of those interesting magazines in the waiting area.” Or: I’ll have time to find that GOOD parking space!” (And so on!)
Thanks! I do add 30 mins before/on top of each event/action's duration as my overall wiggle time...and sometimes it s not enough 😅 I recently thpught 5 mins flew when... I was browsing for 45 minutes ....
I noticed that when I had, for instance, a doctor appointment I would set up an alarm at the appointment hour, totally forgetting about travel time, after starting to remember to take travel time into account I realized that sometimes there is traffic, so I started taking travel time + possible traffic into account. For some reason (ADHD) this wasn't obvious at first glance LOL
Thank you for your video. Trying to download your exercise pdf, I have found that your page is broken. Any other way you can make the file downloadable please?
at this point, i'm afraid to get diagnosed because so much of adhd content matches my experiences so well that if it turns out i don't have it, then it's like, what the hell is wrong with me? and that's terrifying
I was terrified before my assessment. Was I just making it all up? What if it wasn't ADHD? Was I just a fraud? etc. I've got a video on the ASRS screener and how to be honest with the questions...imagine answering them without the masking. How does your brain want to be in situations etc?
I remember this feeling, and I think it's instinctual. I think the process of diagnosing would be helpful regardless of the outcome as long as you're actually trying and applying the tools given along the way! At least in New Orleans (for someone on medicaid), getting diagnosed was a months long process, so know that you're getting help either way. Also, consider that a diagnosis isn't urgent, and maybe you can start applying some tips and tricks from YT that resonate to release some of that pressure.
I'm going through the diagnostic process and having these same feelings! It's a 6 month wait for me so I'll probably go back and forth a bit in that time. But the video mentioned here that Mr Wormhole did has been helpful. My sister in law went through this process and she has given very similar advice. She also went through exam questions with me in a similar manner to what Mr Wormhole did. These have been so super helpful in helping me think about what I do and how I have coping mechanisms that I never even noticed. So by the time I get to my diagnosis appointment I'm going to have a long list of behaviours for the psychiatrist.
Super recommend the same :)
I have this exact feeling. I also have my first appointment tomorrow morning after waiting 5 months (actually got brought forward 2 months). Thanks Mr wormhole, your voice is calming and reminds me of a gentlemen I once worked with. His thoughts seemed collected, calm and well delivered which weirdly gave me a relaxing feel.
@@welcometothewormhole I actually got recommended that very video right after I watched this one, and it was very helpful! Thank you so much for your content, and to the other commenters as well, for the encouraging things you all shared. And yes that's what I thought of doing for now @Jodie, if it helps, it helps, right? :) Thank you, folks ♥
I don’t have a skewed sense of time. I have no sense of time. I can not even guesstimate how much time has passed.
this! i don‘t know what it‘s supposed to feel like at all.
I'm the same
Timeblind!
try using a chronometer! even though ive actually never used it, just seeing what time is it before and after you do something might help!
Or how much time a task will take, the question at what time would you like me to pick you up? I dont know mate XD you just asked me to do rocket sience on how long it would take to pick me up-go to the venue-park the car etc XD just say a time and i will be ready (probalby like 15min early but still XD)
Time timers work great for me. The trick is using them only when I need to, and setting the timer only for the amount of time I'm confident I can manage to focus for. I combine them with body doubling when I'm having trouble focusing. The productivity tools aren't necessarily the problem -- trying to use them without understanding why we need to, or how to use them in a way that's effective for our brains, is. Thank you for including the points about our difficulties with time, would love to see more content where you speak to the research on why we might struggle to stick to our systems while allowing room for different things to work for different brains ;)
And structure! No amount of methods touch the sides when our structure disappears 😂 Oh my days! the carnage that ensues when my wife is on holiday from teaching!
And spot on! It was what I was wanting to really achieve in this vid - to gently show the 'whys' of our brains, and to help people see it's not their fault these things don't always work. I'm slowly making these as I delve further and further into the wormhole of the ADHD brain, and yes, the research and cross referencing is the more....how shall I put it....executive function heavy element 😂 But it MUST be done 💪
Thanks for the comment ❤️ P.S - I think I understand why you use jump cuts so often too....is it a short term memory thing like me?😂
Wait a minute… I know you…
@@GoADHDGo Wait a minute.... I know you... ;)
I know i'm a bit late to the party, but still, oh my! A wild Jessica appeared! 😊❤ Hi Brain! 👋
On the topic of time timers:
i have found they work best for me when i use them for my breaks. After i have done "the thing" for a while, i will need a break and a reward. Get my speedy brain settling back down, and refueling the dopamine tank for the next thing. That's when i use the time timer to keep track of how much time i can spend. Because otherwise an hour of superfocused Minecraft or knitting or watercolor feels like 5 minutes. If i have the timer right next to me, i will have a much better grasp of how time passes, and will be more present and mindful in what i'm doing, instead of turning on autopilot, and boom! There goes an hour, i have no idea what i did, it feels like five minutes, so now i feel cheated, i'm startled and angry, and want more time for the fun stuff.
The timer actually sometimes helps me enjoy hobbies more than i otherwise would, because i am reminded by it to check in with myself if i am actually having a good time.
(I have a tendency to get swept away by creative flow in a way where i am constantly looking forward, getting an idea, and another and another, and end up not paying attention to what i am doing right now, because i am thinking of four other cooler things i want to do instead.)
I might also use it for chores like cleaning and tidying, but in that case it is more of a "i have to keep going until the alarm goes off" way, than actually using the visual aid of the time passing.
That being said, it has its time and place. Sometimes i wont use it for a long while, and other times it is the most important tool i have.
To get out the door on time I recommend Brili kids. A flashcard set appears. Every flashcard makes a notification sound when you're halfway the task, when it's almost time to go to the next, and when you shoudl finish. An alarm sound.
It adjusts the time so you always leave on time
So that's why I live like a hibernating animal. I ride the energy and focus waves when they come, and try to prepare for the burned out, out of focus, scattered brain waves, cause I know they'll come. And when they come, I feel comfortable not expecting so much of myself, and lowering my expectations, meeting only the most urgent and unegotiable tasks, cause I know I did my best when I could. It's hard, but it's the doable least painful way, in my experience. Just like an animal working all summer intensely preparing for the winter. They don't feel bad for hibernating... So that's that. Focusing on the "now", really summons it all. Well said.
Hehehehe - snap! I call it ‘riding the wave’. Now that I know myself better I sort of stack up the things I’d like to do during a wave….and then happily go back to waiting for the next one. And just the other day, I was talking with a friend about how the world feels almost strained from the unrelenting pressures of performing - we’ve lost those natural cycles and rhythms we evolved with. My friend spent her life chasing her tail, and then after a horrible tragedy, she was forced to sell up. She moved onto a canal boat and every time I see her she is lighter and lighter. Food and money and fuel are sometimes a struggle, but the lifestyle did a complete 180 ❤️
What's the time scale of these waves?
@@nuynobi no idea. I am completely "time blind". But I noticed that my menstrual cycle influences it sometimes. But it could be every other day maybe. I don't really know, I live one day at a time. All my focus is on getting through the day, and I try to notice my energy levels and the brain fog at each day as it comes. Deal with each obstacle as it comes you know
@@mariaeugenia578 Ok, sounds like on the scale of days, as opposed to minutes/hours or weeks/months. Interesting. My depression is very wave-like and ebbs and flows on the scale of months. I've never thought about my motivation (or lack thereof) as coming in waves. My moments of motivation seem more like isolated islands randomly scattered throughout a sea of apathy. Edit: actually, I do get waves. I get a big wave of motivation in the evening, often working into the night after everyone else is in bed.
@@nuynobi but it can be minutes, weeks, months too. What I mean is that I can't find a secure pattern, unfortunately. I just know it happens. Depends on the stressors of life also, wich varies from time to time.
I got a visual timer a couple weeks ago and like using it for two things, neither of which is: "here's 25 minutes, you have to work until it's done!" Instead, I set it when (1) I know I'm feeling distractible and kind of need a mental break, so that I don't completely lose track of time. I set it for 15 minutes or so and when it goes off I check in with what exactly I'm doing at that moment, but I'm not strict about having to go back to working/whatever I should be doing right then. I might reset it for 15 more minutes and then I can actually kind of relax in that time, instead of constantly worrying "oh no, what time is it, what did I forget to do?".
Also, (2) if I'm getting hyperfocused at work, I set it for anywhere from 15-45 minutes to remind myself when I was planning to go home and eat. I have a tendency to get barely anything done at work for a couple weeks, and then when nearing a deadline or nearing completion of a project, stay three hours late for a day or two in a row because I keep thinking "I'm almost done!" Last night I reset it about twelve times for an additional 15 min, so I didn't go home until 8 but I DID get to make the choice to keep working, because I wanted to, rather than getting lost in the mental swamp of "I've just been doing this for a really long time and I'm not sure how much progress I'm making but maybe I can keep going...oh wait I am not thinking clearly...should I go home instead?" Every time the timer went off I encouraged myself to stop working if I felt ready to. When I chose to continue working anyway, I felt a little more of that "intrinsic motivation" that I find so elusive. I knew I wanted to be there and it wasn't just because I felt forced by anxiety/shame to do the thing.
This works for me because the anxiety around my ADHD symptoms is often a bigger issue than the symptoms themselves. No idea in the world if it would help anyone else, but the whole process of giving myself permission to find my own solutions has been one of the most positive things about getting a diagnosis.
Also, I'm keen to try the exercise you describe! I couldn't quite wrap my head around it until you shared the example, but that was helpful. I struggle a lot with being late for things and have only in the last year or so started to convince myself I need to truly factor in "getting ready time." It kind of works, if for example I put a 10:30 appointment in my calendar at 10:15 to try to trick myself, but I do often still delay getting ready, forget about how long it will take me to walk to my car, etc. I like how concrete you make the consequences, even if they're "I'll feel flustered and sweaty" (sometimes I delay because I don't really believe being on time is important... but I get stressed anyway). Would be cool to use this to develop a more thorough sense of "action time" and what it requires. Thanks!
Wow - thanks for this Juneau - this makes a lot of sense! I have a feeling this would help lots of people with that anxiety drive. Task switching is a big problem for lots of people - do you find it hard to go back to the task sometimes after the timer?
My pleasure! I’m finding the challenge of making a video is my brain goes everywhere, so it’s a real task editing it down 😂 The thinking through bit is really the key, on paper, physically. I’ve tried tricking my brain like that, but I know I’ve tricked it, so I just listen to the now voice that says just 5 more minutes. Scheduling for thought out consequences and action time, even just once makes it so much more apparent how skewed our time/focus is 💪💪💪 thanks for sharing! Means a lot!
@@welcometothewormhole I do find it hard sometimes to go back to a more important task after my distraction-time timer goes off, but I think that it's at least helping me become more aware of how long I spend on things. Sometimes I do not switch tasks but I do feel glad for the information and I at least take the chance to look out the window or something. I also like the visual element because if I can see "ok three more minutes before I wanted to go back to work," it occurs to me to go up and get some water then, rather than being surprised by an alarm and saying "oh no I'm not ready to work yet!" and therefore not switching but shame spiraling about it :)
@@welcometothewormhole paper is the best! Thank you for responding, I really do want to try your strategy and this is encouraging. I can imagine it's a ton of work, but I like the tone and topics of your videos and hope you keep it up!
Just realised your glasses are asymmetrical. Love them
i didn’t notice and now i can’t unsee it
I did too, all I could focus on was the shape of the lenses I had to play video again LOL
It's a distraction for me.
It’s all I see helllllp me lol
That would help if my problem were not being aware of the negative consequences of procrastination. But I'm perfectly aware of it.
And the anxious thoughts are like painful little bouncy balls, boinging around your skull, distracting you further from the task(s) you need to get done? Same here
@@audreydoyle5268same.. i know about the consequences but my body is like it's in a frozen state.
Love your videos! I appreciate you.
I used small post it notes, one is red for "must do" and one is yellow for "nice to do". Each note represents an hour of a work task (or for admin, multiple tasks on the same note). I write down what needs to be done today and know that I can only have five post it notes.
They're placed in order of importance horizontally below my keyboard and I go from left to right working through. Whenever I get distracted I look down and see what I need to do today.
I really like that John! I’m going to add your method to the list 🙂😂 Seeing time is the biggest help, and going further with it, just like you’ve found, making time finite with visible blocks is spot on!
How long have you been using it? How did it develop? Had you tried lots of new fanggled apps and systems before the realisation set in that post it’s really are THE one true god?😂
And thank you for your kind words - they really mean an awful lot!
Post it notes will be featured vvv soon 😈
This is a cool idea. If you have a task that will take three hours, does it get three post-its? (Or do you try to break it down into more specific tasks?)
@@juneau8457 1 hour per note, so three post it notes for a three hour task. I would break the task down to reduce the overwhealm!
@mrjohncrumpton
You are a legend for sharing your system with us. I think your system of breaking down time blocks of an hour per post it note might just be the answer to how I can cope/manage to get stuff done! I live with a list of health challenges and suspect that I have ADHD. I'm only just starting out on my journey to diagnosis and want to try and experiment with different tips, tricks and hacks.
Blessings from South Eastern Australia, Dot
@@dotcassilles1488 thank you! I should try this again. It worked for a couple of weeks then I lost interest.
Using the consequences as the label for the alarm may be the best ADHD tip of the month. For people who think this won't work, visualize in detail the shit storm your last f-up caused and re-feel those feelings you had. Now label that timer accordingly.
I am a 56 year old man who is getting an ADHD test (I am ADHD!) in September. Having searched a lot online for 'feet-on-the-ground' advice for some weeks now I am so glad to have found your channel - thank you so much!
I'm really grateful that I keep learning that my brain is different and my lack of followthrough after a few months isn't just faulty will power. I like "OHIO", which stands for Only Handle It Once, meaning we're not getting the mail and putting it on the counter to probably be forgotten; we're opening the mail asap and finishing the whole task at once. It's particularly helpful in avoiding/clearing catch-all places. I haven't mastered applying it to everything, (e.g. my kitchen or cleaning in general), but even "just" always doing it with mail, laundry, keys, and wallet has been SO useful. Seems like it could be useful to start asking these questions before I tackle the OHIO things.
I really like this! I suppose I'm doing similar with the catch it bin - where I dump everything that's out of place in the visible open box, then, when I remember/it overflows/can be arsed, I pick it up, walk round the house and put things away, so it amalgamates lots of little tasks into one.
Love this OHIO! It's more a way of shifting our thinking than a “technique” which in finding is so much more beneficial ❤️ thanks for sharing!
@@welcometothewormhole I appreciate that! I still love the catch it bin, though! I think they're useful in larger spaces or for really specific things, like I typically have some kind of goodwill/donation catch it vessel in my closet. Or if daily mail is really too much, a mail catch it stacked with some other weekly habit could do the trick.
This is so cool Jodie! OHIO is memorable I will try it
@@christalyu635 I hope it works for you!
Oh jeez I need this. My desk typically looks like a landfill. Sometimes when I get motivated to organize my desk I'll sort all the bills, tasks, mail, papers to file, etc into categorized piles. The idea is that I'll then go back and actually deal with them category by category and it'll be more efficient that way.
BUT, can you guess what happens? I lose motivation and no actual work is accomplished, no task completed, no progress achieved. The piles often end up on the floor to clear space for the next generation of crap on my desk. They can get scattered, mixed up, and dog-eared over time, and eventually I forget what's in the piles and what the piles even mean. Now they need to be reorganized, along with the new crop that has accumulated in the meantime, and the cycle repeats. And before I know it I'm drowning: I haven't filed my taxes for 3 years, I'm gradually bleeding out financially from all the interest and late fees I end up paying on bills, prescriptions expire, opportunities are missed, and I can't find that thing I need. Then the shame, oh the shame.😣
So yeah, OHIO. It reminds me a little of the 2 minute rule in Getting Things Done. If a task will take you less than 2 minutes, just do it right then and there, rather than processing it for doing it later. It's selective OHIO.
Now that you asked:
Something that I've found deply useful to get things done (the kind of things that need to focus and concentration) is to play certain types of music in the background. Specifically, these "productivity music" "hiperfocus music", etc. There's a channel with binaural sounds on the back of some chillout or electronic music, that helps me A LOT to design, to code. And the best part is that it helps to set the "focus" mood, even with things that I definetly don't want to do (like, i.e., writting documentation).
Some friends have also tried it, and they've told me that it works very well. My husband, who doesn't like electronic music very much (because he finds it too repetitive), told me "I hate the music, but it works! Look at all the work I was able to do!". The big flaw, you ask? I ALWAYS FORGOT TO PLAY IT! hahahahahahahahahaha
Also, you don't have to worry about a "bad song" intruding the playlist, and distracting you to skip it, since these kind of channels have videos of 3 hours long, or are "radio live" kind.
Hope it helps :)
Pause to read something. Forget to hit play for 2 hours.
@@kingsleyabrokwah3930 hahahahahahahaha been there, done that, too many times 🤣
I run the 6 hrs ones 😂, sometimes I find the 12 hrs binaural videos and I know it will be a very productive day 😅
Thank you for putting this out there... I have coincidently been doing this process for a few months now, particularly when i have an appointment (etc)... and it does work!!. It. is all about 'reframing'.... I still struggle with sitting down to do 'paper work' .... However, I approach this by ramdomly starting with 10 mins.. just to 'break the ice' with what i feel i can't face ... This seems to work a lot of time and the more i practice these methods, the 'easier' it gets...
I'm in my mid 50's and was diagnosed late last year...a lifetime of struggle but lucky to be now living in a time when there are forums like this.. thanks for your content🎉
I really love this method thank you! I will try it for those tasks that I usually delay for far too long for no good reason.
Thanks for your videos and your confirmation of a lifetime of difficulty.
Your video made me realise that i already use this technique. I count backwards from when i need to leave home and add wiggle room. I also think about what i need to bring so i dont forget anything. The thing i didnt realise was that it is an ADHD technique. I got diagnosed 1 month ago but it was years ago that i started thinking like this. I guess you can call it ADHD Evolution :)
I do reverse planning this way too.
How do you convince yourself that wiggle room isn't there to "just finish this first"? That's where all my wiggle room go...
My problem is that I can't figure out how long anything takes, I'm always 1 or 2 hours too early to everything. It's super embarrassing.
Hello from Toowoomba Queensland.
Yes that is me. I’m always early and it does my wife’s head in..
@@andybrown1465 I had visited Toowoomba for its spectacular spring prior to the pandemic! Such a quaint town! Best, from Chicago
Action time! You definitely get it. So excited to get some information that is so relevant and relatable. I am so low right now and your words are like warm rays of sunshine letting me feel the courage to try again. Thank you so very much!
Thanks for your videos. I haven’t been diagnosed (yet) and had the thought that I was able to get projects started on time in university and in my work life, but then I realized that I did this by setting sub-deadlines for myself, breaking a thing down into small parts. down to a really granular level. ‘I must finish the rough draft by Tuesday. … oh sh*8 it’s Tuesday!!!”
Also, since it’s dawned on me that i might have adhd like my teenaged daughter, a few days ago, I’ve added 200 adhd videos to my watch later list, I have at least a dozen adhd browser tabs open, and have added many notes about it to my phone. (Where I have dozens of todo lists and hundreds of notes to self)
I break down tasks into a system I call plan, ready, set, go.
Plan is the time I use to breakdown the other steps and decide what needs doing, when and how. It's the longest step and the one where I make the most decisions. It's writing each task down and dividing what I need to do into 3 lists. Each task is no longer than 15 minutes.
Ready is a list of steps that focuses on preparing things and myself for starting: from picking what to wear, what I need to use, take or have with me, do I need paperwork or tools, when to have a shower and get dressed, do I need to eat, drink, take tablets, go to the toilet, etc before I start.
Set is the next list of things I need to do. The action steps before I start a time block or leave the house. It includes tasks like tidy up, set up food for my pets, make my bed, collect what I need to complete the task/project/time block. if I'm going out it also means packing the bag I will take with me, setting up clothes to change into when I get home, picking out the distractions to take with me (phone, headphones, book, notebook, puzzle book, etc).
As I imagine each day in my head, I write an action plan of what I need to do that day.
Then the last list I write is my go list. It is where I write down and work backwards from when I need to start doing something or when I need to be at a certain location, travel time, when I need to leave/or be ready to do the task/project/time block, the time for each task in the three lists: set, ready and plan. Because I keep repeating this process, I have master lists for the different types of tasks/projects/time blocks and update as needed. I have one for when I have a doctors appointment, one for when I'm doing errands, one for house reset when I do weekly tasks, get up, go to bed, etc.
I try to make alot of the decisions ahead of time and give myself timelines rather than deadlines.
🥹genius
I like your system. It's progressive and incremental and gives you verified steps to the end result. 😊
So if I had to study you're saying break it down, get ready, set up and start?
I like your system but can you explain one example in the context of a work related one from plan to go stage. Having examples from both personal and work is confusing me, sorry 😢
I'm not sure what work you do but I'm going to suggest you look at some videos on "kanban boards" or project management (there are some really good videos on TH-cam) maybe look at the channel "Thomas Frank" ... I'm going to pick an essay or report as an example.
The steps at your desk would be:
Plan: write down somewhere you can look at as you work: when is it due? What form will it take (written/oral)? What information do you need to include (mark what don't you know)? How do you need to structure what you write (paragraphs with headings/ story form/ experiment report/ slides for PowerPoint, etc)? Write a list of the steps you need to take (research or gather info, write a first draft: write a quick intro and conclusion, write the body of the report/essay, check if you included everything, 2nd draft: rewrite intro, body and conclusion to fit together write final draft, read aloud to check for punctuation and pacing (I have a habit of writing long sentences). Estimate how long it will take to do each step and add buffer time for just in case it takes longer. Plan when to do each step by setting aside time on your calender/diary, working backwards. If it's due in a week and you only have 5 hours work then I'd set aside an hour a day to work on it with the extra hour on the last 2 days for "just in case".
Prep: this would include getting together pens, paper, etc or device/pc, whatever you need,
I think at nearly 50 with currently untreated ADHD, and a lot of trial and error I've started putting coping strategies like this in place. I wake up 3 hours before I start work, and leave my house 45 minutes to an hour before I start my shift, even though I only live 15 minutes walk away. Before, I was constantly late for work, even if it was only by 3-5 minutes. Non-routine journeys and appointments still cause me issues though, especially if I'm looking for something I need to take with me that I "knew" where it was, so didn't bother getting out before hand, only to find it not there!
Open lidded "dump box" by the front door and lots of super sticky post-it notes too. But yes, non-routine events can really throw us out of whack! I look like a clucking chicken, scrabbling for everything, and rushing and flustering 😂
Looks like you are getting some love from the youtube algorithm. I hope your subscriptions explode in the next couple of days. I have shared, commented, and subscribed.
This is brilliant. Time is just so NOT real for me!
I set reminders on my phone that notify me every hour on the hour, making me aware what time it is.
I call it “time awarenagement”. By being aware of the time, I’m able to manage my time better. :)
@@GoADHDGo This sounds like a plan! I think I might give that a try! Thanks :-) 👍
UHHHH I LOVE THIS ONE. Ok. I don't have a diagnosis, but I relate a lot to ADHD and it's difficulties. First hack that comes to my mind is the way I make my bed. See, I hate living in a messy place. It drives me crazy, makes me anxious and stressed, but it's very difficult to keep things clean and organized. When I was extremely depressed, and due to many factors in my life at the time, I ended up developing a method to make my bed every single day, as soon as I wake up, and it doesn't stress me out. I don't know if it would make sense to anyone but me, though. My mom taught me how to make the bed, and it's very nice, but it takes very long, it's a lot of effort, it envolves 2 bed covers and one sheet, along with two pillows. I didn't want to give up the comfort all these things gave me, but it was too much work to assemble it everyday and again every night. So I found a way (my mom thinks it's lazy, but she accepted it), that I never take the sheet and the night bed cover out. It's ALWAYS there, I just smooth it in the morning and throw the daytime cover on top of everything. The only thing I put away is my nigh pillows. This way it's so much easier that it made possible for me to actually make the bed every morning, cause when I tried the "not lazy" way, for years what happened was that I couldn't do it and most days I would leave it messy and cry of anxiety every night that I came back home from school to find the mess waiting for me after a stressful day already. Doing the "lazy" way it actually gets done, it's waaaay better than not doing it at all. And this summons my whole philosophy to be able to do things day to day: badly done is better than not done at all. So I have a BUNCH of systems to do absolutely everything, otherwise I get too overwhelmed and freak out. It consumes energy, of course, but every single thing about being alive consumes energy. So I choose the way that consumes less energy and that's doable. I still get overwhelmed a lot, but much less nowadays. Some of the things I try don't work always, but the bed thing is absolutely a keeper, along with some other stuff. And this is the kind of thing NO ONE can teach me unless they know my routine very well and they think like me. You are absolutely right in the video, ordinary "tips and tricks" mostly don't work, especially if they are thought to work well for the largest group of people... It never fits me! They are just not realistic to my life. The only way I ever found was trial and error... And now, other ADHD friend's tips 😂😂 I've gathered a few that ended up working fine.
It's funny, I heavily relate. The "work" involved in making the bed was always agony. Now it's just always mostly tucked and when I get out of bed I throw it into place in one swing. Looks good enough to me! 🫠
The lazy way to make the bed for me is to lay in it, pull up the sheet and any blankets or covers, do a "snow angel like manoeuvre to flatten them out on top of you, fold one top corner back so you can slide out from underneath then check its all flat. Arrange pillows as needed.
I wriggle too much to have my top sheet tucked in and eventually I decided to go without a top sheet and put the doona/Comforter underneath any blankets. I wash the doona cover or Comforter every week and have no regrets about not having a top sheet as it usually ended up twisted around my feet anyway.
It's OK to make your bed however it suits you... Just wash the stuff that sits against your body regularly to get rid of any nasty.
Blessings, Dot
Had to rewind a few times cos I kept getting distracted by the round and square glasses
Okay, I had to listen without looking at the visuals
😂 yeah - I get that a lot 😂
I have to say, I love your frames.
I'm finding that when I have a distraction like looking at the glasses I'm actually focused more on what's being said.
Maybe because I'm not being distracted by other things in the room around me.
This whole, focusing on the consequence thing, makes a lot of sense!
...and planning for action time, not the time given. As I said, I only use it once every few days, but it really helps retrain how I perceive (not perceive) time
@@welcometothewormhole my only thing is that it seems so negative. I would probably get tasks done quicker/better by focusing on that, but it also seems dreadful to just focus on that.
@@jonathangoldsmith7832Yeah, it seems too stressful to me. I would end up paralysed and overwhelmed
When I have an appointment, or have to go to work, I don't schedule for when I have to be there, but for when I have to start preparing for going out... Writing it down on paper doesn't help me much, even if it's a sticky note directly in front of me. Or even worse, trying to organize things in an app.. What good are Apps and paper, if you forget they are there?^^ What tends to help me the most is that tiny blue ball from that big evil internet company. I can simply say "Alexa, remind me at 7:30 to get out to work" and it does, it even sends reminders to my phone. I tell it in the moment I think about it and than I can forget it again. The other day I used Alexa to set a lot of reminders for everything that needed to be done that day. It worked, I've got a lot done - unfortunately I forgot to set a reminder for going out to work as well and arrived two hours to late for the late shift... But I got a lot of to dos done!
One of my strategies is: I allow 1 hour for everything, even if I think it will only take 10 minutes. This allows me 50 mins of procrastination if I need it. I also tie everything to coffee. (Plan the day with a coffee, pay the phone bill with a coffee, write 1000 words on my book with a coffee) Yes, I drink a lot of coffee, but sometimes I actually forget to drink it until it's cold, but I do get the main task done.
I say it like it is: This was the first "productivity" trick that has ever made an impact on me because it's really practical and easy to follow.
Your channel is blowing up! Well done! 71 comments after 4 days -- amazing!
It's a bit overwhelming...but shows there's a need for open discussion and shared experiences. Now comes the crushing imposter syndrome and feeling of responsibility to make sure whatever I say is correct and not damaging 😱
This is great. Can't count how many new ways I've come up with to get organised and none of them last long. You've got a new subscriber.
Setting the reminder labeled as the consequence and not the actual thing seems like a really subtle change but I think it will actually make a huge difference! I’m going to try this out.
I just stumbled on this video today, I sincerely hope your other videos are just as helpful and you are continuing to create content like this.
Love this! I struggle so hard with time with my job, since it's sorta self motivated. But I still have strict deadlines. That deadline a month from now barely seems real and I know I'll get it done eventually, so things pile up. Then the last week before a deadline I'm up 24 hours several different days trying to squeeze an unrealistic amount of work into those few remaining days. I've done some work to reframe my mindset, but I'm learning how I need to work with myself more instead of constantly fighting my own mind and my own schedule. I put stuff off without thinking of the consequence. Even if I just want to go to the gym, I have to remind myself that i'm absolutely not going to do it between 4-8pm, and by 8pm its too late to go out, so realistically I need to do it earlier in the day if I plan on doing it at all.
And with work...its really just about knowing my limits and knowing that if I don't get 3 projects done a day...I'll have to do 9 in a day the last week of the deadline and..that's really not possible.
Since really drilling into the science of how our brains are physically different, it's really helping with shedding a lot of really unhelpful strategies I used to adopt, which never worked out long term. Thinking of ADHD as about time has really started helping
Meds can make a huge difference if you have been diagnosed and have not tried them yet
I spent years trying various to do list apps, none worked at all. anything computer based generally fails, which sucks cos I love computers. In the end the only to do list that has worked is a paper one. The only way I seem to be able to stay anywhere close to staying on track with finances is by writing out my various balances every morning! and yes, I'm bingeing you vids
I have found a couple "tricks" that do work for me, somewhat. That Mel Robbins "5 second rule" helps as well as limiting the "organization" tools and strategies I use and not changing them when the next "shiny object" comes along. I also use white or brown noise to drown out the runaway mind when I read and need to retain. However, the important stuff still eludes me and when it comes time to do that and all of a sudden putting the dishes in the dishwasher is now tops on the list, or other productive procrastinations things. The only thing I can focus on is playing musical instruments...
As someone with Autism, i think this is a great step forward for helping neurodivergent people reframe what theyve been told for many years. Personally, i feel this is a great approach and ive sort of done this for method for a lot of my life to reprioritize tasks. But since i dont have ADHD, i used this method for an entirely different purpose which is specifically to outline tasks and plan things out for the future. Wish there was so much more research done on this
I honestly don't even look at organizers, planners, planning apps, timers, calendars, ect., because I learned a LOOOOOONG time ago that they are completely useless for me. I won't even try them. I keep two notebooks: one for work, one for personal things. I write down anything I want in whatever order I want, non of that bullet journal organizing stuff. This includes to-do lists, brain storming tasks, journaling, anything. I really enjoy physically writing things down and I use fancy fountain pens that are really fun to use, so this method of keeping track of my thoughts not only helps me visualize what needs to get done, it gives me dopamine as well.
Using action time and consequences can be good for quick motivation, but I find that pairing tasks with something I enjoy is better for things that require extended attention. And I don't mean just using something enjoyable as a reward. I mean literally making something enjoyable PART of the task. For me writing is a very necessary step in getting things done at work and makes task completion more tolerable.
Likewise! I've tried apps, and some are okay for certain things, but nothing beats paper. I try and keep a little moleskine and mechanical pencil (so I dont have to bother sharpening) with me, and at my desk, I use SUPER STICKY post-it notes. I can the have them staring me in the face and jiggle them around when needed :-)
@@welcometothewormhole It's like the act of writing helps encode things in my brain or something!
I do this too: make something of interest part of the task. That way the consequence aspect is not dominant in motivating me.
Never realized how much I need help with this type of time management until I listened to this. Thank you! I believe this will help me be early to things this eliminating so much stress!!
Hi there! I've learned that I'm ADHD a little while ago and maybe you will tell this in the video now but, counters with batteries or digital counters are simply not working for me. But counters all mechanical, all analog, just great. I have a 60 minutes counter, you are rotating it first with your hand and it simply goes to zero, with the energy you've loaded on it. It'j just a analog watch. I can do ANY task, any boring task, any terrible task, any job piece with it easily. Because I'm sure that, that'll do it's job. I trust it. There are no batteries, no software updates, it's a thing on it's own, right in front of me, and it has tick tacks which keeps me under a good stress, and a happy ringbell when it completes. I can turn it as much as I want, like maybe 5 minutes, or 15, or 1 hour. I really cannot think a work session without it.
I'm also working 10 km a day (I will try to make it 20). Yes. 10 kilometer. Because I bought a standing desk and a walking pad, and that's a great combination. I'm walking slowly, and that makes me able to also focus on the tasks I need to do. I use Photoshop, After Effects, browsers, communication softwares and so on.
This way, I work 1 kilometer in 0.5 hour. I use my analog counter for it and it's always so close to 1 kilometer, because since it's a walking pad, I can also adjust the speed, which is great. No surprises, never. Anyway, work 1 kilometer, hear that ringbell, GREAT DOPAMINE, and then turn that analog counter for 5 minutes, take a walk and get some breath, and then loop it.
In the end, I get really swet and energetic and I think that's a great combination for me. I hope it can help to someone. Anyone wants more detail, please let me know, I'd love to help.
PS: I also have ipads to monitor apps like whatsapp, telegram and so on, so I never switch my working screen. All of my screens have one goal. Like, my main 24" monitor is for professional usage. My ipad mini is for professional communication. Ipad 12" is for my friends (whatsapp, telegram) and I'm also watching (actually listening) some series online while working on my macbooks screen.
I really appreciate what you're doing with your channel. Just found you! That said, I am un-Dx yet so seriously believe I have ADHD that I've been listening to podcasts and watching videos with people talking about their own experiences with ADHD. I am so glad to come across this particular video of yours just as I have been wondering about what type of "system" I might try to help me with organizing my time/life. I will definitely try your "brain hack." Poor time management has plagued me forever, despite trying planners, post-it notes, Alexa reminders, reminders on my phone's calendar... Ugh. I like your idea here. Thanks so much!
I set multiple reminders on n my phone that notify me every hour on the hour. It helps keep me aware of the time and it has helped eliminate my time blindness issues. I made a video about it a while back… I think. :)
And the realistic part is, for ADHD, is that these issues will always be with us...but even just knowing how we differ on a physiological level and how our brains work can have a huge impact on how we approach things. Thank ever so much for your comment Karen! ❤️
I love this! Thanks for sharing! I think I had already been trying to do this sometimes, but I never thought to write it down and I think that is probably a good step to take. Really appreciate the videos! I'm sending myself a slack reminder tomorrow at 10 am about this video so that I can remember to do this at the point in my work day I usually hit a lull.
This was eye-opening. I found a new feature for my browser that helps with task management. It's nice to have something that fits my rhythm better.
This video basically spoke my language. Those questions and approaching it with a "now" brain and not the "not now" brain it's like a game changer.
I’ve never been diagnosed but this is my exact experience. It feels like time blindness most times and even when I’m fully aware of the time it’s like I get stuck sometimes and the actual amount of time I have just doesn’t process. Thank you for this video. I’m definitely going to give this method a try.
Instant subscribe! Excellently helpful video and your voice is very satisfying to listen to. Would be great next time if you could link the research you looked at, fascinating stuff.
Thanks so much Anastasia - I'm slowly chipping away at it all, and trying to make a resource website where I can add all the tools, studies and resources I find :-) Little steps ❤️
I literally purchased an "ADHD" planner for Google sheets an hour ago. It was so complicated that I realized I just added more crap on my to do list on how to learn this damn thing! I chucked it!
Lost you after wormhole at make a list...
With questions...
Appreciate your channel.
Will check in more often❤
Your glasses, having different shapes I love it! Your video are so relatable too. Thank you.
you are so thorough. thank you, your explanations are very clear and helpful.
That's fantastic content. I really fight with many ups and downs during my weeks. Sometimes, I'm very motivated and organized, but most of the time, it is right after finding a new strategy or a new tool, and everything seems to be in place; I feel powerful and able to accomplish anything. But, next week, I cannot do anything, I miss all the deadlines, and I got in trouble at my job; it is so frustrating. And we think that only medicines could solve the problem, and that's not the reality. Anyways, thanks for this video. I'll try it.
This looks like a great technique. Also, love the square round shape of your glasses! So cool.
and this is why if i have an appointment, i set aside the whole day to just wait for it... i dont trust myself enough to put several things on the same day
Also, I missed pretty much everything you said the first time i watched, because of your glasses....
Why am I the way I am lol.
Hehehehehe
Yeah.... I've never even tried. My wife loves the idea of planners and journals and such, and I look at these things and am like... That just seems like one more thing to fail at lol.
At work I work from my email. I can flag an email as a to do item, email notes to myself in that flagged email chain, and when it is done I can delete or file the chain to a folder. Anything more than that and I'm fighting logins, different systems, and trying to remember what was last put where. There is a point to putting some things in a spreadsheet or other system for common reference with other people, but outside of that it is just fighting futility.
For scheduling actual appointments... I still don't have a good system for that. The main problem is I don't know what time it is "now" so I'm at the mercy of my calendar and notifications not being on mute. Dr appointments and other things need to be at the beginning or end of the day so that I don't need to transition out and back into work mode, because realistically the rest of the day will be wasted. I can work a 12 hour work day no problem. But I can't work a 4 hour work day, take a break to do a Dr appt, and then go back to work... It's just not going to work. When I can I just stack appointments on a day and then take the day off work... But that never happens.
Tools that help me, I do like my analog fox shaped timer, I find the ticking sound soothing. I ONLY use this for housework, my biggest nemesis. It assures me it's only 30 minutes and I can get stuff done, but ALSO reminds me to stop. If I go over I always end up binge cleaning until my body physically aches, which is a snake's tail of not wanting or being able to start cleaning again.
I tried a whole mess of digital productivity tools, none made it past hyper focus set up mode. If I managed 3 days it was shocking.
I've been a very committed bullet journal cultist for 7 or so years. I stick with the basic original layout, it's easy and uncomplicated. If I have the urge there is always a playful, fun and creative space to do so. It just works for me.
Great video 😊✌️😊
Subscribed. I like your wormhole. 😊
Thing is, I was born in 1970. ADHD wasn't a thing. I grew from childhood through teens, young adult, wife, mother, non-profit affordable housing counselor to be officially diagnosed 3 times with 3 different doctors. (Let's just say, I was a bit like, WHA???) I spent a lifetime creating coping strategies before I had a clue what they were, masking? Of course. I'm not willing to try to deprogram myself from myself. I don't want to put in that effort. Honest, I always really liked me, just went with the quirky girl thing. It's been a great life so far. 😊❤😊
I do use a few strategies to help even out the roadblocks, but I don't dwell.
I'm an alcoholic in recovery for 3 year, 2 months and 13 days. My ADHD brain is like my alcoholic brain, just keep on keeping on, one day at a time.
I was kind of comforted in knowing we have a lot more alcoholics and users in our ranks. ❤
Wow! This is so cool. I must have watched it before, though, because I already liked it. I just zoned out for a minute and thought of an interesting story idea, so thanks for the inspiration! I should rewind and listen to the part I missed, but writing a comment is much more engaging. It’s worth noting that pomodiro timers can run on clockwork, so no need for batteries. I have one and it works great when I remember to use it and can find it. Now I'd better go watch the rest of the video, though I bet the suggestions are going to hurt, so maybe I'll watch this other video TH-cam is suggesting?
I've been struggling with productivity systems too, and someone mentioned a new tab extension that helps organize tasks. It might be worth checking out if you're looking for alternatives.
i fell down a rabbit hole with a smart water bottle because i didnt want to pay the money for it so i found a diy way with an nfc sticker, well now i have programmed an nfc sticker to open my google calendar when its touched. I put the nfc sticker on the front of my phone case because i need to flip it open and then the front touches the back of my phone. so everytime i open my phone case it will pop up my google calendar and i can see my whole day of things i have scheduled. Also helps when i go to my doctors because when i book my next appointment i again just flip open my case and my schedule is already open then i can just create a new event and bam my next appointment is in my calendar. Works with what my brain already wants to do instead of against it and no planners that wont get used after a week. I also set a routine on my phone so after 9pm my partner needs to stick his fingerprint on my phone in order for me to unlock it so i cant scroll on my phone after 9pm.
While it is true that following a complete organizational system won’t last, simply being organized is still helpful, and however you end up doing that, that is your organizational system. For me, I just put appointments (anything that has to happen at a specific time) into Google Calender. I always have it with me on my phone, so any time I agree to something or consider agreeing to something, I can check my calendar to see what if I already have something booked at that time, or too many things booked that day or around that day. I also try to remember to check my calendar every week, and set additional alarms on my phone for really important things I definitely don’t want to be late to. I also try to look at my calendar every day so I know if there is anything I planned in advance for that day. That’s it. I’m not always consistent with this, but every time I forget to do something scheduled or forget to get ready on time or to prepare in advance, I can usually trace it back to not following this, and that gives me a nice kick in the pants to get back to doing it more seriously and consistently. It is important for me not to try to just remember when everything is scheduled or just keep track of everything I have to do in my head, as that is definitely not going to work, so scheduling it somewhere on paper or digitally is really the only other option. This frees up my mind to not have to stress about keeping track of things like that.
ABSOLUTELY me! Timers don't work, because they're artificial. REAL, HARD deadlines work, but self-imposed deadlines, no. They DO work for my kids, but that's 'cause they really sort of have a hard deadline... get it done before the timer goes off or dad's gonna chase you around the house like an angry gander.
Also, notes... planning apps... calendars... planners... all fail.
😂 That's interesting! I feel like today I keep bring things back to serious stuff, but in the ICD there's a phrase which has really stuck with me... "symptoms may not become fully manifest until later, when social demands exceed limited capacities". It's exactly that...as kids there were real deadlines and consequences...mainly from our parents. But as soon as I got to college and Uni, they were more self imposed and just didn't bloody work. Every test and project was "bare minimum" and by the time I went to Uni, after my second year my brain just switched off.
Perhaps this is the birth of a new ADHD organisation method...The Gander of Anger Method™. Yes, you too could change you life with the new Gander of Anger. Available from all good farms. *Batteries not included*
Іnteresting approach to understanding time and consequences, I was enjoying the video when I realized that this is a super wormhole that could work in my case
The consequence is always shame and disappointing people and myself. Why would I want to remind myself of that before answering any email?
Really appreciate this which corresponds with my experience and solutions I am developing.. Thank you
Nobody will probably see this since it's a year old, but this was helpful. I already do this for appointments and getting to work on time. I'm going to try doing it for other things on my to do list.
This is good exercise. I've instinctively done something similar when really really overwhelmed with something important but "boring" to be done in (relatively) short time. It works.
That was extremely logical & probably powerful/effective. I'm definitely going to try ot on some selected tasks. Thanks & regards. Subscibed.
There is this quote that I love referencing and saying out loud because its clears my head but is also stimulating to say and that is Edna mode saying “I never look back darling, it distracts me from the now”
i definitely do this with mainly appointments/meetups. Do you find if you give yourself that 10min wiggle room that there's a danger of removing that motivational stress we need, and there fore slip into that mode of "paralysis" or doom scrolling? especially if you zoom through the "before I leave" tasks, and feel like a superhero knowing you now have "spare time" to get some fun in before you need to set off for the trip? It's so annoying to want to have that stressor and yet if it teeters a little over, anxiety goes through the roof you freeze, and then bam.... you're late.
I end up feeling emotional pain just trying to pull myself away from doing something that is giving me that dopamine hit, I then can spend the whole day feeling guilty and bad and understanding the consequences of not doing the tasks needed that are important. Also feeling like they will take up the whole day. I end up feeling overwhelmed, emotional and frustrated because I also take way longer than normal to complete the task and zone out while doing the task and do it without focusing at all, like a zombie on auto pilot. If I had a more physical job, I would literally end up dead because of zoning out while working.
I was very involved in translating apps many years ago, (mainly Joomla and its extensions into Esperanto) but the programmers were so uninterested in understanding the non-programmer's perspective that I lost interest. New files to translate and old files with slight changes was constantly trickling in. We had to do the translation, and then pack the files into a zip folder. The instructions were "Zip the files into one folder". It might be obvious to a programmer what exactly to change in all ini files and xml files and in what order to zip the different sets of folder to get it to work. I didn't. Finally I wrote down the workflow. It had 43 critical steps. My little aspie brain (albeit educated as a telecom engineer) just couldn't be bothered.
if you really are ADHD and cant stand fluff - start watching at 6:13 X2 speed. Or let me save you time - the "exercise" will most likely take longer to do than the To Do thing on your list you've been avoiding or procrastinating so just go the F'n thing! You're welcome!
This is all great but I would say get someone to make you build a habit for certain critical tasks (exercise, work , meal time , sleep time , social time etc ) . Once the habit is set our life won't be at any danger of falling apart which then would give us the mental space so that we can employ the method you described here for daily and ordinary tasks.
Почему системы повышения производительности при СДВГ ТОКСИЧНЫ! + что-то, что могло бы помочь #СДВГ
00:00 Введение в "червоточину"
• Приветствие и приглашение в "червоточину".
• Обсуждение новых методов повышения производительности и организационных приемов.
• Эти методы не работают для людей с СДВГ.
00:26 Проблемы с организационными стратегиями
• Организационные стратегии разрабатываются нейротипичными людьми.
• Повторное использование неудачных приемов приводит к негативному восприятию себя.
• Аналоговые таймеры и батарейки не работают для людей с СДВГ.
01:20 Исследование опыта людей с СДВГ
• 26 из 30 людей с СДВГ не могут использовать организационные приложения.
• Проблемы связаны с физическим устройством мозга.
• Активность префронтальной коры снижается при попытках сосредоточиться.
02:24 Борьба с СДВГ и порочный круг
• Развитие и укрепление нейронных путей через стратегии преодоления.
• Борьба с осознанными неудачами и неспособностью следовать новым методам.
• Невозможность видеть последствия в будущем и чувствовать время.
03:26 Изменение точки зрения
• Недооценка времени и пропуск сроков.
• Необходимость изменить подход к работе с мозгом.
• СДВГ связан с дисфункцией исполнительной системы.
04:25 Мотивация и давление
• Зависимость от мотивации в последнюю минуту.
• Крайние сроки и цели теряют значимость.
• Необходимость видеть последствия в настоящем.
05:35 Упражнение "Добро пожаловать в червоточину"
• Упражнение для изменения восприятия времени.
• Вопросы для планирования действий и последствий.
• Пример использования упражнения для встречи с врачом.
09:08 Заключение
• Планирование времени действия помогает избежать "нет".
• Цель упражнения - изменить восприятие времени.
• Призыв к обратной связи и вопросам в комментариях.
here's your comment to serve you a little dopamine in your day, keep up the good work my friend, you're helping a lot of people lets fukcing GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Cheers Denielton - reading this has given me the little dopamine kick to finish the boring task of cross referencing the sources for the next vid. ❤️
Your glasses are really wonky, love it 😂👍
😂 Cheers Octopi 😂
Is it an ADHD symptom that I did NOT notice the glasses were different on each side after watching 15-20 minutes of videos and reading this comment, until considering the comment again two hours later? 😂
truly just, "yeah they were an unusual shape or something," * looks at video again, only notices left side of screen * "they are hexagon-ish,"
* two hours later * "they are funny squares with funny corners"
* pause * "NO THE OTHER SIDE IS A CIRCLE"
@@juneau8457 I honestly only noticed them because I was on meds XD Watched the other videos the days before without meds and I probably didn't even recognize he had glasses. Also I love your name, the nature in Juneau is beautiful.
First time watcher -- love your funky different frames!!! 👓
Thank you for validating me. I don’t like to complain to neurotypical brains because I feel worse after they tell me “why don’t you just….?”
I don't know how to apply this to my soul sucking call center job, but I can definitely use it for many other things.
This is extremely helpful !!
I love this technique! I sorta do this, but you brought up a few more details that"ll make it work even better! I'd love to print out the download, but it says it"s been deleted...
I learned to estimate how long a computer programming or similar task would take simply by making an estimate based on how it felt to me, then multiplying the result by 8.
This is genius, I am so excited to try the action timer! 😄
Most helpful + GDT
Thank you 😭
first time seeing you and im fascinated about your glasses but at the same time it freaks me out.
Edit: ok, I needed some time but now I love ur glasses.
Nice video btw
When I run across something that needs to be done (reminder) and it’s time to do it, I immediately start counting in my head while moving towards starting the task, counting until I’m well into the task. It breaks the familiar train of thought that would usually give me an excuse to put it off. It works for me. Every time. I hope it works for others :)
This is excellent! Like a meditation, keeping the mind actively on track until it's 'safe' to let it go. Thanks for this!
This is so interesting! Will totally try it thanks Howard
@@christalyu635 hey. It also works in reverse. When you think about something you want to do but shouldn’t (snacking, impulse buying…) start counting and move towards doing something productive instead. :)
@@howardstory1391 ooo thanks for this! I’m glad you replied because in a classic ADHD moment I totally forgot about this tip. Going to use it now to start focusing on my internship again 😭 thanks again, best of luck & enjoy your day!!
Great advice. I'll never get around to doing it.
watched this video thrice, and just noticed his glasses - too awesome
It's been 23 years since the question was posed, and now, finally, I know who let the dogs out (08:45)
This is technique is almost identical to the one I’ve been using since I turned 26. It’s very powerful
It's cool isn't it! And it fascinating to know the physiological elements that make our brains differ in their functioning.
Ironically, I was more productive before diagnosis and taking stimulants because I used to stay up most nights doing what I did. Definitely not healthy.
Now I am a better person with better executive functions. Unfortunately I can no longer stay awake. I feel sleepy earlier and fall asleep easier. Good, but I became a slower book author.
That’s a tough one! And presumably writing is your jam? I’m finding similar - I used to just hyper focus through the days and nights until my body shut down for a few days, then I’d do it all over again.
I think we have to be so much kinder to ourselves, and rather than trying to get everything done all at once, the slow plod of efforts on one thing really do add up ❤️
My doctor asked me, “Do you want a happy, productive life or a happy, healthy life?”
I always remind myself of this every time I think I should be working and being “productive” instead of getting enough sleep or exercising.
@@GoADHDGo The good thing is hopefully, the 'or' is temporary and not too tyrannical to force us to choose between the two. Maybe at first, we became a bit less productive relative to the old unhealthy way of being productive. But by continuing to discover more and more strategies, we can find new way(s) to continue being productive without sacrificing our well-being. Hopefully 🤞
@@welcometothewormhole I agree. Finding balance and straightening up our priorities.
The Wormhole exercise is very intriguing, but how do I proceed when the consequences don't mean anything to me.
Thinking about the “consequences” goes against my brain, though I know not acknowledging them is a problem.
It may be “executive dysfunction”, but doing things out of fear (or even awareness) of consequences sounds (oddly) like trying to think like a neurotypical, not the other was ‘round.
If, for example (using the doctor’s appointment idea), I focused not on the (ICKY, negative) consequences, but, instead, a POSITIVE reward for doing “the dreaded thing-on time. . . I believe I would successfully achieve the thing more often.
And, yes, it really DOES boil down to taking care of the things we have to DO-yes, and usually, in a timely way.
For me, using a negative “consequences” approach isn’t going to cause me to experience time like a neurotypical person; it will make “time” (if it isn’t already) into yet another enemy, another barrier& another source of anxiety.
The best scenario is that motivation & forward movement is the goal, and that the goal is achievable. I don’t know if “time awareness” is achievable, but being more often “on time” certainly is.
Exchanging the consequences for “rewards” incentivizes the game. I’d be motivated to get to the appointment, for example, by reminding myself “I can read one of those interesting magazines in the waiting area.” Or: I’ll have time to find that GOOD parking space!” (And so on!)
Or "use fear to scare yourself into getting stuff done"
Thank you, must give this a go. Downloaded the sheet, that's a start 🙂
Go for it! It just helps bring time into some sort of context. Whenever I get round to doing it I'm always surprised how far off I would have been 😂
You are awesome.
You are too Lizzie ❤️ I am gobsmacked by the impact people’s comments are making to others on these videos #deflectedcomplimentduetoimpostersyndrome 😂
Thanks!
I do add 30 mins before/on top of each event/action's duration as my overall wiggle time...and sometimes it s not enough 😅
I recently thpught 5 mins flew when... I was browsing for 45 minutes ....
I noticed that when I had, for instance, a doctor appointment I would set up an alarm at the appointment hour, totally forgetting about travel time, after starting to remember to take travel time into account I realized that sometimes there is traffic, so I started taking travel time + possible traffic into account. For some reason (ADHD) this wasn't obvious at first glance LOL
Love, love, LOVEEE your videos!!
Thank you!
Thank you for your video. Trying to download your exercise pdf, I have found that your page is broken. Any other way you can make the file downloadable please?
6:08 for the actual answer