Neurodivergent Folks Are Revealing Their Chaotic Life Hacks That Actually Work, And I’m Taking Notes

Living life as a neurodivergent person can be exhausting. If you’re dealing with ADHD, autism, depression, or other conditions that affect how your brain functions, even tasks that *should* be simple can be daunting instead.

So when TikTok user CreatrixTiara asked people for their “most unhinged neurodivergent hacks,” people in the comments chimed in with so many creative — and actually super helpful! — ideas for staying on track and getting stuff done if you’re a little ~neurospicy~.

This list contains suggestions from folks in this X thread based on the TikTok as well!

1.

“Get directions to the place I’m going on my phone when I START getting ready so the ETA updates in real time and I’m forced to reckon with how on time or late I actually am.”

—meredithhoagie

2.

“[Mine] is set multiple alarms but with an unhinged twist: They’re different songs for every hour so I know that time is passing. Has REALLY helped my time blindness.”

—Niche

3.

“In order to keep a clean room, I imagine, ‘How quick would Spencer Reid find out I’m depressed if he had to investigate my room if I was murdered or missing?'”

—Rey G

4.

“Role play. I’m not doing dishes, I’m cleaning my tavern before meeting the dangerous but handsome highwayman.”

—JamestownMuse

5.

“My brother threw away all his socks and bought three 10-packs of simple black socks. Now he doesn’t have to sort and fold them; he just throws them in a drawer, and any two socks he picks will be a match.”

—Anika

6.

“Cleaning buddy. I have a plush duck named George I set in the room I need to clean. I cannot leave until George is pleased with the cleanliness. He is watching.”

—mnm_kitty

7.

“‘Big Light Torture.’ Leave all the big lights on until the tasks are finished.”

—claimthelight

8.

“I imagine that the people I hate are doing better than me. I clean, do self-care, and function out of spite.”

—heyhederarose

9.

“I saw someone say they have a ‘might as well’ thought process, and it works.

Sweeping the stairs? Might as well sweep the kitchen. Putting a fork in the dishwasher? Might as well put all the dirty dishes in there. Putting clothes in the dryer? Might as well fold the others.”

—SavageRoll

10.

“I think of future me and past me as different people. So if something needs doing for Future Me, I’m doing it for someone else, and it’s FAR easier to get it done. If I didn’t do something in the past to support Current Me, that’s okay because I’m sure Past Me would’ve if she could.”

—jessicasnape

11.

“The things I have to remember must be IN THE WAY. Have to take with me? Hang it to the door. To do at home? On the PC keyboard. To do before sleep? On the bed. A note? Write it on my arm.

When going places, my stuff must be in contact with my body.”

—Vale_Giovanardi

12.

“I present Sad Bath.

I had trouble with setting a pan to soak and never remembering it.

I set the ducky in for a bubble bath, and when the bubbles all pop, it’s a Sad Bath.

I see it, and I have to finish the pan because the Sad Bath immediately bugs me, and I gotta take care of it.”

—Candi_Wise

13.

“If you’re someone who commonly freaks about whether you’ve locked your door or turned your oven off: When doing those things, announce it. For example, as you lock the door, say out loud, ‘I am locking the door.’ After it’s locked, say out loud, ‘I’ve locked the door.’ Foolproof.”

—drilltimebarbie

14.

“ADHD here — Whenever I have any food cooking, especially in the microwave, I have to do something productive in the kitchen. Wash up food prep stuff? Unload the dishwasher? It’s a race against the clock and I just do what I can before the time runs out.”

—LVCoasters

15.

“In high school when trying to study and remember a topic I wasn’t interested in, I was forcing myself to drink coffee each time I felt sleepy or felt my focus slip away.

I absolutely despise coffee, and each sip woke me up because I wanted to throw up.”

—SillyMizu

16.

“I pretend my ex can hack into my eyes and see exactly what I see/am doing like a live video feed and I need him to see I’m doing better without him. Excellent motivation. ✨”

—heyitsmekeeoz

17.

“If I really need to get something done, I will make one of my socks wet. I can only change them when the task is completed.”

—bigfatmammy

18.

“I imagine myself as a Sim and try to visualize my different needs as the mood meters. ‘Oh my social bar is low, I should talk to someone.'”

—rowanberry666

Do you have any hacks like this to share? Let us know in the comments!