By Clarissa Enos Plagmann
Something I really struggle with is finishing projects. I have no problem coming up with awesome projects to do, shopping for the supplies/doing the research, and starting the project… but the second it gets hard and I hit something, whether a small bump or brick wall, I lose interest and move on to the next cool idea.
Because of this, I have so many half done projects. As a writer this means I have a lot of partially written manuscripts but only one finished draft for a manuscript, and the only reason I finished that draft is because I was writing with a friend.
One of the best ways of getting stuff done if you have ADHD is by body doubling. I had never heard of this before I joined a community of ADHD-ers, but I’ve been doing it for years not knowing what it’s called. In college this looked like going to the library where lots of other students were studying and choosing a quiet but noisy (I know, oxymoron) area of the library to study and do homework. It helped being around other students doing the same thing I was doing. As a writer, as I mentioned above, I enjoy writing with a friend. And, as a mom with lots of projects I’ve found that when I do them with my husband or with a friend, I get a lot more done.
I’ve found, the key for me, is to make things fun and different. If it’s something new and fun I’m more likely to get stuff done. Like listening and dancing to music while I do chores, or chatting with my friends while we craft, or watching a show or video while I workout.
So, the next time you plan a girls’ night and choose to do crafts, you could be body doubling without even realizing it! Just remember to have fun!
The Neurodivergent Homemaker 