It frequently bothers me that people with ADHD and Autism are expected to mask their symptoms—things that feel like part of our personality—just because they’re uncommon.
Like I’m sorry Karen but I can’t stop fiddling AND focus on what you’re saying. I don’t demand that you get to the point when you’re boring me.
I’m different. I know. But that doesn’t make me rude.
Adulthood is like I have to go buy more shampoo. I have to go buy more coffee grounds. I have to go buy more eggs. I have to go buy more toilet paper. I have to go buy more paper towels. I have to go buy more cumin. I have to clean the dishes so they can get dirty again. I have to do my laundry so it can get dirty again. I have to clean the bathroom so it can get dirty again. I have to buy more cleaner to clean the bathroom. I have to go buy more rice. I have to cook dinner. I have to cook dinner. I have to go buy more shampoo again.
“Shit I have to feed myself, guess it’s redbull and Skittles because I’m a literal child and my executive functioning is dead after work so I’m not making dinner”.
I’m going to post this is short sections, cause you know, ADHD and long paragraphs lmao
DISCLAIMER I know nothing about diesel vehicles or manual transmissions at the moment. I shall learn, it’s just taking awhile because attention span.
If you don’t know if you have a manual or automatic transmission, you probably have an automatic.
By doing basic maintenance on your vehicle yourself, you will save money, as well as be able to keep your vehicle running for longer. However, if you can’t or don’t want to do some of this, don’t sweat it. It’s okay to take it into a shop, just be prepared.
We’ll do the basics of how to find information about your vehicle first. You should always know the year, make, model, and engine size of your vehicle. This will make looking for parts a lot easier. For this example we’ll use my mom’s vehicle. She has a 2014 Ford Edge Sport 3.7 L V6. (When you purchase a vehicle, the previous owner or dealership should be able to give you this information and it should also be on your purchase slip). Owner manuals will have most of this information in it as well, you can purchase your owner manual online and you might even be able to find it free on some sites.
You should also know where and how to find your VIN (vehicle identification number) . This is usually on the drivers side above the dash in the left hand lower corner on the windshield. If it’s not there, check the car frame on the drivers side door.
If you have any questions, or specific things you want to know about basic maintenance, let me know!
So when you factor in windchill, it’s -32°C where I am. I just had to take my garbage bin to the alley, and I legit had a pair of socks, combat boots, two pairs of paints, 2 shirts, a massive sweater, a jacket, a toque (a beanie but Canadian?), and heavy duty work gloves. My ears are frozen and my fingers are cold.
Anyone else prefer this to sweltering summers though? I have a hard time cooling down, but easier time warming up.
something funny about running a blog about symptoms of adhd is seeing people in the tags go ‘THAT WAS AN ADHD THING?’ and ‘people with adhd need to stop being so relatable or i need to see a doctor’ every. day. and i know the more they read into it they just spiral deeper and deeper and realise. what the fuck. why didn’t i know i’ve apparently had this condition that literally affects my whole life. and that’s exactly what happened to me.
Friend: “hey my son can’t concentrate on his homework. He chooses to do literally anything else everytime. He said his head doesn’t feel like it.”
Me: “Did you give him music?”
Friend: “No! No tech until he’s done! He doesn’t need more distracted.”
Me:
“k, bring me the child”
*Go to her house*
*points to the obviously ADHD boy struggling with his homework*
Me: “so your head doesn’t feel like doing homework?”
Son: “yeah. It would rather do ANYTHING else.”
Me: *unwrapping earbuds* here, listen to this for an hour while you do it.
French voice: 1hr later
Son: “k I’m done! :-)”
Friend: “wow, what’d you give him? Concentra, Adderall, Ritalin‽”
Me: “Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics” and some lo-fi.
I-I’m gonna try this for myself
Go for it! From what I’ve seen, everyone has a different genre but instrumental (no words) seems to be key. I guess Sweet Dreams words are so ethereal, ADHD just rolls with it????
For me, orchestral covers of songs I know work best since my ADHD is using the extra hyperfocus to remember and keep up with words. Have fun experimenting!!
I have some arrangements of songs I did that I just loop. Mind you, these are, like, 1-3 minutes long, but the drone really helps with focus
Y'all I just listen to Lana Del Rey. Would recommend because with instrumentals I tend to focus on where actual words would be but with Lana’s stuff her vocals sound like music but it’s words
really wish I could’ve done this when I was spending 4 hours on every page of math homework in the 90′s. Fast forward to my last year of college when I finally figured out I could just listen to Blackmill and blaze through an entire semester of college math like it was nothing.
Find the study methods that work for you!!! Help kids find the study methods that work for them!
It takes me all day to do simple chores because i keep getting distracted. If i put in earbuds with upbeat music I’m done with everything in a couple hours AND i feel really good and probably danced a little i.e. exercised.
Try songs in another language - one you don’t speak. The idea is that since you don’t understand the words, your brain doesn’t go “Oh hey, someone is talking to me” and thus you can maintain your focus. Although, this is something probably best suited to writing. But on the other hand, if it works, it works.
Personally, I like Opera. BUT, I advise against using Pandora’s Opera Station. At least in the free version, it either cycles through the same ten Singers/Albums or drifts off into instrumental covers.
On the other hand, it’s great for background noise when gaming. Just be sure you have an ad blocker running. You will also have to confirm that you are listening every hour or so.
I use orchestra covers of video game music and the LOTR soundtrack
I also find jazz, city pop, and vaporwave work well for this purpose too. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons also got me through many a college paper back in the day.
I use Pokemon music or Youtube readings of reddit stories to do my work.
Pokemon works great for me too, i also have a couple other songs from video games i like to listen to
Headphones are essential for this, I’ve found. Don’t play the music through your speakers.
I don’t have ADHD but listening to music while doing honework or chores makes it so much easier and more fun to do.
Very good tip for kids ❄️✨
Every single sound I could hear distracts me when I’m doing something involving cognitive focus. I usually have to pause whatever I have on youtube while I type a post or comment on here because my brain automatically prioritizes sound. Because of this, I had a ton of trouble reading and writing in high school and college. I would hear the littlest thing or subtlest change in my surroundings and my brain would completely shut off from doing its task and I would end up doing something else. I’m not a reader or a writer by any means, so I can never keep my attention on that. I eventually resort to something audio or physical every time. I also tend to fall asleep if I have nothing to keep my attention.
Audiobooks are a savior to me, but when I can’t use one, I put acoustic guitar on my headphones. Any acoustic guitar playlist will do, so long as it is consistent and has nothing resembling a human voice. That got me through every single college essay I ever wrote and every single reading assignment for 4 years.
My other favorite thing to do when doing mindless tasks is to put on an EDM playlist because it keeps me moving and upbeat while giving me something for my brain to stay occupied. These tasks like cleaning don’t require my brain to focus, so I can have more fun and include vocals into it.
I have ADD/ADHD and I teach SPED. I really like this playlist, and my students seem to really get some good focusing out of it.
I love making playlists. Songs that work best for me are songs that I’ve heard quite a bit (that way I don’t start daydreaming music videos) or instrumental if I’m doing math.
