I have mentioned ADHD in past blogs and how I am certain that I have it. But, some things that I have been learning lately have me challenging that theory. What if I don’t have ADHD, but I’ve just trained my brain to think that way? Today, I want to tackle why I think that and what I plan to do about it. I invite you to join me in combating ADHD!
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
First let’s cover why I think I have ADHD. No, I have never gone to a doctor to get properly diagnosed, so it’s not because of that. Nope, I went to the good ol’ internet and looked up ADHD symptoms in adult women. I found that forgetfulness, trouble focusing, constant daydreaming and procrastination were among the symptoms. However, I also found that women with ADHD can also hyper focus on tasks that they’re passionate about. I looked at that and was like yup, that’s me. I also have a friend who has been diagnosed and she said that as soon as she met me she knew I had ADHD.
Combating ADHD Theory
Now you’re probably wondering why I went from being so certain that I have ADHD to now questioning it. Honestly, it all started with a YouTube video. The woman in this video is a doctor and she had some interesting things to say. Now, the video was on hobbies and how they’re good for the brain, but it’s what she said at beginning of the video that sat with me. We consume so much short form entertainment that we have trained our brains to be constantly over stimulated. Now, I am paraphrasing that quote, but it covers the gist of it. And it made me think, how many hours do I spend doom scrolling?
The Truth About Me
The answer is I have no idea. There are many evenings spent watching reels and sending them to friends and family. If I’m not watching Instagram reels, I’m watching YouTube shorts. I can tell in a few seconds if I want to watch the video or move on. Now, I do watch some of the longer videos as well, especially my favourite BookTuber. However, I have realised lately that I’m putting her on and she becomes background noise for me. There are times where I suddenly look at the screen and realise that I missed a bunch of what she just said about the book she is discussing. When did this happen? I honestly don’t know.
Things I Notice With My Brain
I can’t seem to get my brain to want to focus on one thing at a time. If I’m watching YouTube videos, like my favourite BookTuber, I will find myself doing something else at the same time. I’ll be texting, or looking through Instagram, or even reading. And what I’ve noticed with reading is that I am not satisfied reading one book at a time. I want to put one book down and pick up another. And that is just with the hope that the next book will be more exciting. Here’s the kicker though – I will be enjoying the current book I am reading! But my brain wants to be excited. Someone from work hit the nail on the head. We have forgotten how to be bored and be okay doing nothing.
Combating ADHD – The Plan
Now you’re probably wondering how I plan on combating ADHD. What if I actually have it? Let’s not get ahead just yet. I’ll get to that. First, let’s go over the plan. Step 1: Read 1 book at a time. This might seem silly, but I need to do this. I used to love reading. In fact, I had trouble putting a book down. And if I did, as soon as I was able I was picking it back up. Not so much any more. So, I am curious to see what will happen if I stick to this strategy for a month.
Step 2: Limit solo screen time
What does this look like? My husband and I love spending the evening playing Mario Kart, or watching television. This is something we do together. However, we do also spend this time on our phones, sending each other reels, or watching reels. So, I am going to limit myself. He can obviously do what he wants. But if we are watching something together I will put my phone to the side. Obviously if there are work messages I will need to respond to those, but no videos. No reels or shorts. And when I’m alone I’m going to challenge myself to do non-screen related things instead. The only exception here is if I’m working on my writing.
Step 3: Let’s take this further
What is the number 1 thing most people do together? Media consumption. We watch movies or play video games, or sit on our phones. So this month I’m giving myself a challenge. Find something else. The other day my friend and I were hanging out and she was taking a break from movies and other forms of media. So, what did we do? We played card games and we talked. And you know what? It was a great evening spent together. We had a lot of fun. And I’m going to challenge myself to continue that. As the weather gets nicer I want to go for walks, go on hikes, and play more games. I want to find other forms of entertainment like the Destination Dinner Stage. Go out and explore.
Combating ADHD – The What ifs
Now, there are some what ifs that we need to address. What if I have ADHD? When I was researching it the main thing I kept saying was I don’t want to be medicated. Please note that this is my personal preference and choice. I am not against people being on medication if that’s what they need. For the most part I like the way my brain works and I don’t want to change it that drastically. And I did find that there are therapies that help you train your brain. But, I am poor and can’t afford therapy, so let’s try it on my own.
What if you fail?
This is fair. I have failed many other challenges in the past. But, one thing I do notice is that I get up and try again. Maybe it’s a new challenge, but I always try again. It may take a week, a few days, or longer, but I always get to a point where I think, I can do this again. I can try again. And so that’s what I’ll do.
Will You Join Me
You don’t even need to be combating ADHD. Maybe you are reading this and are like yeah, I spend a lot of time on my phone. Perhaps you want to see what happens if you put a focus on other things. The thing that really got me in that video is she asked, “What is your hobby?” So many of us hum about it, but we can’t answer it. What if, in 2026, we changed that statistic? What if we started hobbies again? They can be creative, like art or music, or even just colouring or painting. Gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking. Create. Or maybe intellectual, like learning a new skill, reading, or brain teasers. What about wellness like going for walks, or doing yoga, Pilates, or other forms of movement. And then there are community style hobbies like workout classes, or clubs. Let’s do things again. Anything can happen, if we put down our phones.
