The Chili Pepper (ADHD) Brain

[tuesday_morning]

Hello friends,

A huge shock I know, but I've been having thoughts again recently and I wanted to share them here with you. Recently, I've been doing a lot of thinking, figuring, and planning of activities for myself. It's been educational for me to see what things I am interested in and explore how I want to tackle these things in different ways and from different vantage points. It really is something else to see for yourself who you really are, mapped out onto several sheets of paper and index cards and notepad papers. I don't think I've been able to see these things quite so clearly in the past before, so I'm thankful for this.

Anyways, I've been doing all this thinking, but not so much doing. I believe that's because I have overactive thoughts that can't sit still. If I had to envision what my brain looks like in this state, it looks like a little red chili pepper with stick-figure arms and legs that is constantly fidgeting in its seat and wanting to get up to pace and run around everywhere and talk for hours about what is on its mind. It's not the pepper's fault, but it has trouble settling down when it's important to do so. For this reason, I think it would be a good idea for me to sit down and explore with the metaphorical pepper brain about what to do when I have too many thoughts and can't do everything all at once.

What I can do with Chili Pepper (ADHD) Brain

• Take more breaks (Go outside, walk around, drink water, talk to someone)
• Practice 5 minute meditations periodically during the day
• Practice the "box breathing" technique
• Use a modified pomodoro method to study or do tasks
• Keep workspace clean, tidy, and organized
• Use headphones and maybe play white noise while doing tasks (River water, TV static, etc)
• Use a "Habit tracking" app to remind you to get tasks done daily or weekly
• Continue making daily lists on tasks to complete
• Keep doing and developing your daily routines consistently
• Use the 5 senses to ground yourself
• Use room sprays or essential oils or perfumes
• DURING BREAKS: Reward yourself with short bursts of a reinforcement (doing a preferred activity or having a snack)

And once my attention is back at baseline, I can return to trying to do whatever task at hand instead of just staying stuck in the planning stages.

I'm getting tired all of a sudden so that's it for now, but thank you for listening.

Comments

[shadowbliss]

I hope you're able to get your brain working for you

[tuesday_morning]

I'm about to write a follow up to this, so hang onto your seat! :D

Just writing my replies to comments before I do so.

[shadowbliss]

I look forward to reading it

[brisus]

I think it is great you have a plan to manage your ADHD. Not everyone is proactive like this!

[tuesday_morning]

Thank you! I think it's awesome too! I'm just glad I got to a place in my life where now whenever I have a problem, I do my best to find solutions instead of staying still right where I am and pouting about it. I used to do that all the time, but it really makes such a difference when you take back your power and do your best to make something work when you can. And if you can't, then learning to make peace with it and move on in the most effective way you can.