When DIY Tasks Meet ADHD Persistence & Hyperfocus

I love to do my very own fix-it chores round the home, however I make so many blunders alongside the best way that I typically marvel if I ought to have simply employed an expert.

Then I get enthused about one other DIY job round the home, and I downplay my earlier missteps, errors, and failed dwelling enchancment initiatives. “This time can be totally different,” I feel optimistically. However do I imagine it?

As a lot as individuals with ADHD hope one thing can be totally different, it not often is until we modify our habits — and that entails remembering what we have to change and eager to make the change occur. Poor working reminiscence and hyperfocus are features of my ADHD that makes this troublesome.

Living proof: Portray my rest room.

Earlier than: I used to complete a paint job with paint on the partitions — and my garments. I wouldn’t discover my error till the paint had dried and ruined no matter I used to be carrying. Are most individuals with ADHD as messy as I’m?

After: Irrespective of how small the paint job, I all the time turn into my designated portray garments earlier than I start.

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Earlier than: Instantly after sparking the concept, “Let’s redo the toilet,” I’d begin portray. I believed placing down masking tape and masking the ground was pointless and time-consuming. I’d inform myself, “I can be neat this time.”

After: Numerous mess-ups later, I spotted I’d by no means be neat sufficient not to want masking tape and a drop material. Now I do each. Doing this routine prep work has improved my paint jobs.

Earlier than: I didn’t take the time to rigorously take away {hardware} and screws from fixtures.

After: I take away all {hardware} and screws and correctly retailer them, so they don’t get misplaced. I realized that if I deal with the eliminated items, I received’t want to buy lacking elements later. Additionally, eradicating the fixtures ensures that I received’t get paint on them, inflicting extra work later as I attempt to take away the undesirable coloration.

Yipee! As I’ve realized to do issues otherwise, I’ve gotten smarter. I’ve develop into extra pleased with the progress I’ve made, and but….

[Self-Test: Do I have ADHD? Symptoms in Adults]

I not too long ago needed to caulk the seam between the partitions and baseboards — and I wore my on a regular basis garments. If I had the thought to “placed on my portray garments first,” I ignored it. In spite of everything, this was caulking, not portray. I’d be tremendous.

Later, I found dried caulk on my slacks. Do you know that dried caulk is as unattainable to take away from clothes as is dried paint? I do now!

In on the brink of paint the toilet, I set the paint tray on the drop material masking the ground. I may need thought, “That isn’t place for the paint tray.” However on account of my poor working reminiscence I rapidly forgot.

I additionally forgot concerning the paint tray, backed up, and put my left foot in it! I wiped the paint off my shoe’s backside and thought I used to be good to go. Then I left the toilet and went down two flights of stairs to complete cleansing my shoe within the basement sink.

Later, I observed each different stairstep had paint on its edge. I couldn’t perceive what had brought about this unusual sample, and I started working eradicating the paint. It was solely then that I spotted I had not cleaned the bottom of my shoe, the place a lot of the paint remained, and had tracked paint on every step once I lifted my left foot.

The lavatory was virtually completed. I simply wanted to reattach the fixtures. Okay, I admit I misplaced a number of the screws and made a visit to the house enchancment retailer to purchase replacements.

However all and all, I completed the paint job with fewer mishaps than earlier DIY initiatives and new learnings. My subsequent DIY job will go even higher.

DIY Tasks for ADHD Adults: Subsequent Steps

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