3 Tips For Completing DIY Projects With ADHD
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For most of my life, I found myself struggling with classic symptoms of ADHD, although I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time. They included things like:
hyper focusing and getting obsessed on things or tasks
working like crazy or doing absolutely nothing
feeling really overwhelmed in social situations or arguments
struggling to finish a task
being messy until I got the urge to do an intense deep clean
forgetfulness
being loud, insensitive, and interruptive
couldn’t focus on anything if I know I have somewhere to be later in the day
always early to events (as I had been ready for hours beforehand)
struggling with overeating
misdiagnosed anxiety for a more than decade
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I began consulting my therapist and primary care doctor and finally received a diagnosis. I was shocked. I had no idea had ADHD. Honestly, I rolled my eyes until I researched the symptoms. Under their guidance, we decided a few paths might be best for me to manage my symptoms including therapy and medication. I saw and felt changes almost immediately.
Fast forward to fall of last year and I found myself with the surprise of a lifetime - I was pregnant. This was very unexpected, and my doctor informed me that it was his recommendation that I stop taking my medication for ADHD. While it was extremely challenging to stop a life-changing medication cold turkey, I knew it was for the best for my baby.
Just as quickly as I saw results with the medicine, I felt the effects of going off the medicine. I’ve been struggling to find any kind of motivation, focus, or consistent will to be productive when it comes to flipping furniture. If you find yourself in my position and seem to struggle with getting things done, I’ve made a list of my three favorite methods to completing a project (even when you really, really don’t want to!).
1. The Reward Method. Pick something, anything, that you want. It has to really be a treat for this to work. That item you’ve had saved in your Amazon cart but can’t justify buying it? That trip to Target you’ve been putting off? That fancy candy or $11 Cheesecake Factory cheesecake slice? Use those as your reward. As soon as you finish your project, reward yourself with a purchase (or special food item!).
2. The Pomodoro Method. The Pomodoro Method is a scientifically proven time management system for productivity. You work for 25-minutes, then take a 5-minute break. You can do this for as many rounds as you can stand. There are tons of timers and fun videos on YouTube specifically designed around the Pomodoro Method that you can put on the background, so timing yourself is a breeze! Or if you prefer, use a traditional timer to do this method!
3. The Step-By-Step Method. There’s a popular phrase “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” It’s now become a motto for the under-motivated. Instead of thinking about the entire DIY project you have on your list, break it into steps - and I mean small steps. Instead of “sand the dresser,” try “sand two drawers.” When you’re ready, move onto the next small step. Before you know it, the entire piece will be finished.
Dealing with ADHD is one of the most challenging struggles I’ve had to deal with. Besides finding methods that help me complete tasks, the most important skill I’ve learned is patience. Having patience with myself and giving myself grace is just as important as finishing painting the nightstands I flipped, or installing the new hardware on the dresser that’s been ready to sell for weeks.
If you’re dealing with ADHD, I hope you know there’s a huge community of people out there who support you and are rooting for you - like me!
For more ADHD tips and life hacks, follow me on social media.
