Verywell / Dennis Madamba

People withADHDface unique challenges as they go about their days.

you’re able to try out different strategies and see what works best for you.

If something works for you, use it!

Planner, alarm clock, pomodoro timer and calendar on top of a desk

Verywell / Dennis Madamba

Self-compassion leads to self-kindness, which boosts self-esteem.

Give yourself permission to do something only part-way.

For example, does the pile of dishes in the sink seem impossible to conquer?

Tweet from @DrAmyPsyd: Ok, I need to finish this article. This is an accountability post. If you see me tweeting, please ask me if the article is done. If it’s not, you have permission to badger me into doing it.

If you cannot muster the executive functioning to complete your entire hygiene routine, just brush your teeth.

Doing part of a task, or doing a task poorly, is better than leaving it undone.

It Goes Where You Put It

One of the ways myexecutive dysfunctionmanifests is in misplacing important items.

If I had a dollar for every time I asked, Where did I put that?

I would have a lot of dollars, all of which I would probably misplace.

Notice where you tend to find items that you lose a lot.

Your brain may already have a pattern that you are not aware of.

For example, I used to frequently find my lost keys on my kitchen table.

Why did I put my keys on the kitchen table?

It makes so much more sense to keep them on the hook by the door.

For whatever reason, my brain would have me put them on the table instead.

As soon as I simply decided that my keys go on the kitchen table, I stopped losing them.

This works fororganizationas well.

It even worked as I was writing this article!

Additionally, companies likeFocusmatepair you with another individual while you both complete tasks.

That way, it is impossible for me to leave my house without encountering it.

This concept references ADHD difficulty withobject permanence.

I keep a folder in my Google Drive and create a file with each piece of information.

Some files include step-by-step instructions for a task, and others contain maybe a one-sentence reminder.

When I need information, I search my drive for keywords.

The appropriate file comes up with what I need.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

2016;20(4):295-305.

Published online May 4, 2023.