My Brain VS Me: Writing with ADHD
Hello Fellow Shifters!
This week I’d like to shed some light on the challenges of being an author with ADHD, and some of the hacks I use to trick my brain into working.
Writing is hard enough when your brain is on your side. ADHD can feel like both a blessing and a curse to the creative mind: hyperfocus is a superpower that we have no control over, so creativity comes and goes in frustrating spurts. New ideas take hold, adding to my works in progress because I can’t focus on other tasks until I’ve written it down. Perfectionism cripples me constantly, making me agonize over scenes, continuity, and realism. I swear I spend more time researching than actually writing.
The most important thing to remember is fighting against your own brain is almost always futile. Subterfuge is much more effective. The following hacks are the ones that work for me; I can’t guarantee success because my brain is not yours.
1. Leave the house. Your brain will most likely not associate your house with productivity. I personally go to the library, since it’s a public building with wifi and it’s free to sit there for hours on end.
2. I have to listen to music to work. Without it I can hear the voices in my head and I cannot focus with them nattering at me constantly. Music can also help me to feel the atmosphere of the scene I’m trying to write (sad songs for sad scenes, etc.)
3. My phone has a handy feature called “focus mode” (android phone. I’m sure iphones have a similar feature). I set it up so that only the apps I need for writing — dictionary, spotify, web browser, etc — are able to work. Social media and games are off limits while I’m working. You can’t doom scroll if tiktok and facebook won’t open.
4. Do not push the brain to work when it’s sending the signals that it’s done for the day. Remember, fighting the brain is futile, and it will only lead to frustration and a couple of days of spiteful idleness. ADHD brains are spite fueled creatures. Use that to your advantage.
5. Reward productive days. ADHD brains crave positive reinforcement. It doesn’t have to be big — get yourself that bag of chips or the pastry you’ve been craving. Your brain is like a toddler. Teach it like a toddler.
Living and writing with ADHD isn’t easy, but I’ve found that learning to work with my brain instead of against it makes all the difference. Some days are chaotic, some days are brilliant, and most days are a little bit of both—and that’s okay.
Do you have any tricks or rituals that help you focus, whether you’re writing, studying, or just trying to get through a busy day? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments!
Stay Wild!
Allie