Living simply, with ADHD.

[u/Impermanentlyhere]

How does one shift towards a more simple life with dopamine seeking behaviours/habits caused by ADHD? Can anyone relate? I hyperfixate on the next expensive skin product or gym class or influencer or kitchen appliance that I think will make my life better and it all adds up to mental and physical clutter. I have too many possessions and it never feels like enough- I really want to minimise but then I’ll go through a low season and impulse buy more. My brain feels like it wasn’t built in way that’s conducive to a slow, grateful life. It’s always, “what’s next” can anyone relate?

[u/hungaryforchile]

I get this. I’m suspected AuDHD, personally, so I’m caught in that classic tango of absolutely thriving in routine, minimal, “simple” everyday life, while also feeling like my brain is dealing with gut-twisting STARVATION if I’m not getting a dopamine shot from something novel.

Getting rid of social media (except Reddit, though this has its downsides for me, too) on my phone has been especially important. It sounds cliche to complain about glossy advertising, but for people whose brains go into “magical daydreaming” overdrive mode at the slightest hint of something that appeals to us and promises the excitement of novelty, we’re just no match for the glitz and glamor of targeted marketing algorithms.

We’ll end up over-stimulated and under-satiated at the end of every social media binge, every time. 

It sounds small, but try it for 4 days and see how you feel. Try deleting ALL of those apps from your phone.

And for me, the simple life isn’t necessarily about practicing gratitude and finding joy in dishwashing, 24/7. For me, the simple life just looks more like the “unplugged and engaged” life.

For me, this means that the more activities I find to do that I enjoy that are IRL is me practicing the simple life, because instead of racing around to partake in consumption or irrelevant social media content (again, bit of a hypocrite here and I know it, because Reddit), I’m going to community events, or taking classes, or volunteering on something I love and care about, or giving back to my community, etc.

Also, the library has been so helpful on scratching that “novelty” itch while still also giving me those community/IRL engagement aspects. Might be worth checking in to see what your local library is up to, too?

[u/Few_Oil_726 → u/hungaryforchile]

media content (again, bit of a hypocrite here and I know it, because Reddit), I’m going to community events, or taking classes, or volunteering on something I love and care about, or giving back

The only thing about real life that I found a few years ago when I tried was that everybody seemed so disengaged and disconnected, like they were somewhere else & not present.

Hence why I turned to social media.

I want to find new interests and hobbies and engage in real life, be part of the solution so to speak.

Hopefully people get it now, get that social media (apart from Reddit, haha!) is an illusion and that real life is better.

Agree with you on libraries, love them.

[u/hungaryforchile → u/Few_Oil_726]

The only thing about real life that I found a few years ago when I tried was that everybody seemed so disengaged and disconnected, like they were somewhere else & not present.

Oh, totally, I know what you mean on this! It’s so common for people to flake these days, for one, that it can make “connecting” really hard.

My only “workaround” for this has been to focus on groups that are inherently “proudly community-strong,” (so like, I dunno, a food co-op, or a volunteer-based thing) or require your presence in order to do the thing (like, it can’t be done online with the group—rock climbing, martial arts, etc.). FWIW, I’ve noticed the people who are attracted to these kinds of groups tend to not be the flaky kind, by and large, so it’s a bit easier to make relationships.

But yeah, personal friend groups? Sad to say, but it’s easy to just not organize something to see them, or flake out at the last minute, I’ve found. It’s why I’m trying to make all of my friends in my new city home at these “communal” things, as I’ll at least be able to likely see them at this regularly-scheduled thing we both share in common!

[u/Few_Oil_726 → u/hungaryforchile]

I’m trying to make all of my friends in my new city home at these “communal” things, as I’ll at least be able to likely see them at this regularly-scheduled thing we both share in common!

Sounds like a good idea!

I'd like to find a re-greening, planting group, and a community garden.