More ADHD Life Hacks for ADHD Moms
When people ask me about navigating life after an ADHD diagnosis, I tell them about what I call the 3 phases of embracing ADHD.
The first step after your diagnosis is to create an awareness around where you struggle.
For instance, my diagnosis helped me to understand that my forgetfulness wasn’t because I wasn’t paying close enough attention or I wasn’t trying hard enough, it was because those of us with ADHD often struggle with working memory. Where a neurotypical person takes in information and holds it in the their working memory until they are ready to process or categorize it, some of us ADHDers have the information come in and then, I don’t know, I guess it falls through a trap door in the bottom of the working memory room and sometimes its never heard from again.
Once you create an awareness around how ADHD impacts you, you can accept that your needs are different from the rest of the population and start to take action to support your unique brain.
And an ADHD hack is one type of action you can use.
So if you’re aware of how your version of ADHD impacts your life, you’ve accepted that you need support, and you’re ready to take action, keep reading for 6 more ADHD Life Hacks for ADHD moms that I use on a regular basis to help me manage my ADHD mom life.
Looking for more ADHD mom hacks? Check out my first ADHD Life Hacks for ADHD Moms by clicking here!
How to Make ADHD Hacks Work for You
Think of these tips or “hacks” as suggestions to start your own exploration. Many of the hacks I currently use are the 2nd, 3rd, or 7th version of something I saw or read somewhere else.
I mention this because I know many of us ADHDers, and that means me, try something as is a couple of times and if it doesn’t work for us right away in it’s original form, we drop it like a lead balloon.
And while it is true that it may not be the right solution for your particular problem, there is also a chance that it just needs a little tweak here or there to work for you.
So use these hacks I’m giving you as a springboard to help make your life easier as an ADHD mom trying to juggle all the thing.
With that said, let’s dive into 6 more ADHD hacks for ADHD moms that I use all the time…
6 More ADHD Life Hacks for ADHD Moms
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Keep a Box of Birthday Cards
I am the queen of stopping at the store for a present on the way to a birthday party for my kids.
Usually the grocery store because I just want to run in a grab a movie gift card. And then I end up spending a quarter of what I spend on the gift card on a birthday card.
So at the beginning of last year, I went on Amazon and bought a big ol box of birthday cards and another box of random greeting cards.
Now when we’re rushing out the door for a birthday party or when I want to send someone a thank you or congratulations card, I can do it more easily, economically, and when I am thinking about it. Rather than waiting and ultimately, many times, forgetting.
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Put All Empty Hangers Together
I hate laundry almost as much as I hate dishes. Almost.
I think it’s because there are just so many steps involved that it’s often hard for me to motivate myself unless I notice my 10 year old has worn the same pants for 3 days in a row.
But I have discovered a trick that helps me get over the hurdle of putting my laundry away. And that is to keep all the empty hangers at one end of the hang bar so I can more easily find them when I need to use them.
For some reason, hunting for empty hangers between all the clothes was a step too many for me when it came to putting my laundry away.
With all the empty hangers together, I can more quickly grab them when I need them, meaning there is one less energy sapping step on my way to actually putting my laundry away.
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Keep Your Key Fob in Your Purse
I once lost the key fob for our Honda Pilot for close to 2 years. And just when we were about ready to order a new one, it magically appeared in my work bag.
Magically appeared meaning I found it in a pocket of a bag I could have sworn I check 20 times 2 years prior.
Now I keep the key fobs to both of our cars in the front pockets of my purse and I don’t touch them unless I need too.
If I need to grab something from the trunk, I take my purse out and hold it next to the car.
Because I always have my purse when I leave the house. And even though it’s not exactly huge, I am much less likely to put my purse into a pocket or other random bag where I can’t find it. I am also less likely to misplace an entire purse versus a tiny key fob.
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Use a Password Manager
I fully admit that I used to be the girl who used the same passwords for many of my accounts because frankly, it was just easier to remember that way as someone who has trouble remembering things.
But that changed when one summer day I opened my email to discover a message from Walmart, a place I rarely shop, saying my order was delayer.
I thought “hmm, I haven’t placed any Walmart orders in years”. Upon opening the email, it said a pair of $400 Air Pods had been ordered on my Walmart account for a city nowhere near where I lived.
I immediately started to panic. Luckily, the folks at Walmart were great. They quickly cancelled the order and refunded my credit card.
But I definitely learned a lesson.
That’s when I started using a password manager to create complex passwords for every account. It remembers them and fills them in for me on both my computer and my phone. It reminds me to change them if they’ve been the same for too long. And it lets me know if any of those accounts that used the same passwords over and over are still hanging around in need of changing.
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Use Your Kids’ Activities as Body Doubling
Body doubling is the productivity strategy where you work along side someone else to help complete a task you might otherwise find challenging. Having someone nearby may help you stay focused, engaged, or motivated to finish the job.
Click here to learn more about ADHD Body Doubling.
But here is the thing, the “work” that is going on along side you doesn’t have to be business related. Or even related to you specifically. If you’ve ever noticed you can focus better and get more done in a coffee shop or co-working space versus in your home, you may have been experiencing the benefits of body doubling.
When my oldest started swim team this past fall, I figured I would see if his work in the pool would inspire my work on the deck.
And I have to say, I have written many a podcast episode, scheduled many a check in with my clients, and watched many hours of ADHD webinars while my son is swimming.
So if you find yourself sitting on the sidelines or in the car during practices or lessons, maybe use the time to get a little work done that you may normally struggle to motivate yourself to do.
ADHD Hacks for ADHD Moms: Schedule Text Messages
This is seriously one of my favorite hacks…especially if you are like me and think that you need to respond to someone at times when it is wholly inappropriate to text them. 😬
For me, it’s usually when I’m up at 430 or 5 in the morning. And I’m pretty sure nobody wants to hear from me at that hour.
But rather than add “text Sara back” to my to do list with the other 50,000 things I have on there, I can simply write the text and schedule it to go out at a more reasonable hour.
It’s also great if I know someone has a birthday coming up and I don’t want to forget to say “Happy Birthday”. Or when a friend was going through cancer treatment and I wanted to message her on each of her chemo days.
And if you’re currently working with me or start working with me in the future, those text message reminders and follow ups you receive…those are scheduled too. 😉
Because ain’t nobody got time to send 300+ text messages all day, everyday.
Now…I am an Android girl, specifically a Samsung girl and scheduling messages is an easy process in the basic text message app. For you iPhone users, as of the recording of this video, there isn’t a streamlined way to do this within the iPhone itself. You will need to either use a multi-step process through your Shortcuts or download a third-party app. (Update 3-28-2025: I heard a rumor that the newest update does have text message scheduling capabilities…but don’t hold me to it.)
If you feel like you need more that ADHD hacks to help you juggle your busy life as an ADHD mom entrepreneur, I would love to help! I meet with my ADHD coaching clients each week to determine their priority task for both their home and business. Then we discuss when they will will work on those tasks. And finally, I follow up to see how they’re progressing and make sure they’re staying on track to meet their goals.
If you’re interested in seeing how my accountability support can help you, click the button below to book your free, no-obligation call today.
