My ADHD Brain: Chaos, Creativity & Unexpected Superpowers

This is What it is Really Like to Have ADHD

Living with ADHD is a rollercoaster of unpredictability and excitement!  Each day brings a new adventure, with plans and thoughts shifting instantly.

ADHD Brains are Colorful

For example, today, I was going to work on my Real Talk T-shirts by Kelli shop, and my designs for the T-shirts, and then somebody mentioned on my YouTube channel that SEO would really help get my videos out there.
Of course, I went in an entirely new direction, looking at SEO for YouTube, which led me to create a blog about my experience and even a short video on ADHD.  The good thing is that I wrote the title using SEO keywords.

This is just one real-life ADHD experience.  Don't worry; I have a million more I can share.

The ADHD Time Management Struggle is Real (And How I Cope)

One of my most intense struggles is time management.  I often set alarms to keep track of time, especially when I'm engrossed in something that excites me, like working on my blog, creating designs, or working with my social media accounts (yes, I'm everywhere - that's the thought that just popped in my head).

I Don't Know You Tell Me

The rush of dopamine from these activities can lead me to spend hours designing, writing, or creating videos for social media.  This intense focus is why I often find myself late for events, lost in my own world of creativity.

Despite the inevitable distractions, I'm fortunate to have a circle of understanding friends and family.  Their patience and love serve as a constant reminder that I'm not alone in this journey.  I thought of my friend Nancy, which led to immense love and appreciation.

Managing my time is a constant struggle.  I've found that setting alarms and using a calendar to remind me of appointments can be helpful.  I also try to focus and plan to ensure I'm not late.  Even with these strategies and medication, I still find myself missing appointments at times.

ADHD & Habits: My Saving Grace

One thing that helps is getting my body into good habits, as I usually wake up daily and drink coffee.  I will feed my parakeets and give them fresh water, and during the work week, I work on my job, and in the evening, I work on my side business.  So, usually, I have somewhat of an idea of what I will do for the day, but thankfully, because bodies automatically make habits, they are not too chaotic.  Still, I can get easily distracted and start working on something else.

Speaking of habits, I have a lot of bad habits I need to work on (see how I jumped).  Okay, let's keep going.

My ADHD Brain: Task Switching & Accuracy NIGHTMARE   (Relatable?)

I am always jumping around from one thing to another. For example, suppose I'm working on something at work and start thinking about something else e. In that case, I'll switch to another assignment.  There's a lot of switching and back-and-forth, and it's challenging because my brain sometimes struggles with memory and focus. 

 So, I have to double-check my work and ensure its accuracy before I turn it in.  You have to check things because I often make careless mistakes, such as spelling and grammar errors.  This article may contain a ton, but luckily, I use tools like Grammarly to help me.  

Rather than plan how to start a business, I jump in and start a business.  I think this is how it is for most things in my life.  I don't have a set plan; I just jump in, start doing things, and learn the hard way.

"I really should plan more."

Uh-oh, another thought.  I should learn more about planning   See how I get distracted.

ADHD Hyperfocus: The Secret Weapon I Never Knew I Had

With ADHD, I tend to focus on the things I love, so it's always good to be reminded to do things like household chores, take care of my pets, groom them, and not neglect myself.  So, instead of just being immersed in the activities I enjoy and love, I also have to look at all the essential things that need to be done in everyday life.

I now have a calendar and tasks that I keep on Google, which helps me stay on track, but again, I can go in about 20 different directions in a given day.  The other challenge with ADHD is the concept of all due it later, so after cooking a meal, my dishes may sit and pile up, and I think I'll just do it later.  I'm working on identifying why I do what I do and changing who I am.

"Wait, What Was I Buying?" The ADHD Forgetfulness Struggle is REAL

I don't know if any of you have ever struggled with this, but sometimes, I'll go to the grocery store and try to take a list with me.  Sometimes, I don't think, "I wonder if I have ketchup," and I'll buy ketchup.  Then I go home and have three bottles of it in the pantry.  This is another example of how ADHD can work.

ADHD can be a little scary when you're driving because if you're not paying attention, you can go past the line you can even run a light.  There are all sorts of driving dangers, so I try to pay particular attention.  Otherwise, I get distracted so quickly when I drive and see something. 

One of my T-Shirt Designs

Speaking of distraction, I can be in one-on-one conversations with people and really try to listen intently, and then somebody else says something across the room.  Something will pop up on the screen, and I intentionally lose focus.  

Or when a person is talking, my brain just thinks of something they're talking about and recollects when I did that.   I'm never really on the topic in conversations and go everywhere.

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So yes, ADHD could be very challenging, but it could also be rewarding because we learn many different things, life never gets boring, and we have our hands in about 10 pots simultaneously.  That is the fun part of it.  We can also be very entertaining because many of our actions happen naturally and cause the whole room to laugh.

I think I will go make more ADHD designs! #LivingWithADHD #ADHD #ADHDAwareness