brain dumps are like to-do lists but for the adhd-er who’s always got ten million things on their mind.
so i get a piece of paper, sticky note, or open up a new page in my notebook and spill out all the tasks that are weighing down my mind in that moment. everything from the tiny, mundane tasks to the big, twenty step projects.
this allows me to just get it out on paper and not have it torment me any longer, and you’ll feel this weight off your shoulders once you see all your scary tasks written out. now that’s the big brain dump part where you throw up everything in your mind without caring about priorities or importance.
now, get out a new sheet of paper, and start sorting out those tasks from most important/most urgent and least important/least urgent. you can number the tasks or sort them into boxes, whatever works with you visually.
your big scary projects will be at the top of the list, such as “update my resume” or “write essay due next week,” and your smaller tasks like “take out the trash” and “organize bookshelf” will be at the bottom. my adhd self would still be a bit intimidated by this, however, let’s do the small tasks first to get the momentum rolling! so i’ll go to my kitchen and wrap up the jenga tower of trash, then neaten up a few books on my bookshelf. the aim is to *get it out of the way* and make progress over perfection!
ok i realize how LONG this is, but hopefully this method builds up momentum to get started on larger tasks and make you feel accomplished that you did something small, and that counts! :)
May 30, 2024
Related Recs
🔒
if a task feels overwhelming, try turning it into 5-10 smaller tasks. Trying to write an essay? maybe think about it in terms of: Write outline, write opening paragraph, write details of main argument… etc.
Trying to clean your house? What exactly are you trying to do? Make the bed, fold the laundry, clean the toilet.
I get mental satisfaction from checking tasks off a to-do list and maybe you will too
Feb 25, 2024
🙇
This one is mostly to myself. I really struggle with focus and getting things that feel hard done and on track. I have ADHD (diagnosed by a clinical doctor and not TikTok) and so I know that in order to do work, I have to trick myself. So what I’m doing right now is trying to create a space for myself in which I can get the task done. First thing I did was finish another, small task I had on my mind. Next I’m going to take care of my base level needs. Get food, get a fun snack and drink and then already sign into squarespace and Dropbox and create a situation where all I have to do is sit down. I have to remember to tell msyelf it doesn’t all have to get done tonight. I’m just re-familiarizing myself with the project, doing an hour of work so that tomorrow, I can tackle it in a more meaningful and focused way. I hope it works lol?
May 28, 2024
🩹
Its cliched but it's true. I've got a bad case of scatter brain at all times. But I've found peace and progress in dedicating small, increasing increments of time to the things I am interested in. Take it one day at a time and don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. But try to be consistent. 10 minutes of this, 15 minutes of that. Before you know it you develop a habit that is actually good for you. It also helps me to put my phone on airplane mode and disconnect while I do these things. Just me and the interest. It's not a science and it won't happen overnight. But before you know it you'll just be sucked into rhythms of the things you want to do rather than the things that rot your brain.
May 20, 2024
Top Recs from @noisefervor
🌙
have the itch to go outside even though it’s 11pm at night? here’s some things you can do without spending much and having to interact with anybody…
(mostly based in lower manhattan)
1. play street fighter for $1 at the waypoint cafe (65 ludlow st between grand & broome st)
skip all the clubs and bars on ludlow street and head straight to the late-night video game cafe outfitted with cheap arcade cabinets and PCs. there’s plenty of table top games, board games, and card games to play if you ask. open until midnight everyday.
2. read a book at book club bar (197 e 3rd st / ave b)
finally a non-overstimulating bar for the bookworms! take a book off the shelf or bring your own and chill out on the comfy couches. this place is the perfect sanctuary—quiet chatter, a pleasant coffee aroma, and relaxing music. open until 12am sunday–wednesday, and until 1am thursday–saturday.
3. grab cheap coffee and eats at caffe reggio (119 macdougal st / w 3rd st)
walk past washington square park into the dimly lit green cafe, an iconic spot known for its classic italian eats since 1927. order some hot pasta, sandwiches, or soup to warm you up on a cold night. this place is next to lots of comedy clubs, so beware of the rowdy crowds, but if you grab a seat in the corner you’ll be a-ok. open until 3am sunday–thursday, and until 4am friday–saturday.
4. contemplate at the water and brood
go to the east river or hudson river and sit at the pier to sink into deep thought and zone out. watch the boats and birds and trains pass by. highly recommend waiting until sunrise to watch the sun wash all the buildings with a beautiful pink-orange glow. i personally love hanging out at the skate park under the manhattan bridge and sitting on the swinging benches at pier 35. open 24/7.
honorable mentions:
- manousheh (403 grand st) — lebanese cafe that serves delicious dishes and coffee. open until 11pm.
- black cat les (172 rivington st) — comfy cafe with a living room vibe that hosts weekly comedy nights. open until 10pm.
let me know if you try out any of these places! feel free to use this as a map to guide your night and crawl from the lower east side to the west vilage, or check out each spot individually whenever you see fit.
hope my introverted night owls find their new late-night sanctuary. 🌙
Jun 2, 2024
🧷
i love collecting cool screenprinted patches or embroidered badges from art markets or online shops and sprucing up any item i own with them! or you can use scraps from clothes you’ve cut up previously if you wanna upcycle and not throw waste away.
it’s like a sticker in cloth form, and i can customize my belongings and give it my personality :D just take a needle and thread, and learn some basic backstitches or zigzag stitches, and handsew on some cool looking squares! you can take this project wherever you go, and it’s good to put on music or a movie and zone out ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
May 30, 2024
💿
i’ll mostly list small or medium-capacity venues that host relatively cheap shows!
mostly 18+ or all ages:
- trans pecos
- mercury lounge
- bowery ballroom
- tompkins square park or maria hernandez park sometimes hosts free shows
occasionally has 18+ shows, but is 21+ most of the time:
- baby’s all right
- market hotel (usually earlier shows that start at 7pm aren’t 21+)
- elsewhere
- le poisson rouge
- gold sounds
highly recommend going through each of the venue’s websites and sifting through the show listings to double check! also the oh my rockness website and bandsintown are great places to check for shows happening tonight in your area and stay on top of shows!
Jun 4, 2024