“What Is Your Most Reliable, Helpful Daily Routine?”
Daily routines are not one-size-fits-all, especially for adults living with ADHD. Read about the most satisfying and unbreakable daily practices from ADDitude readers.
The ADHD brain thrives with structure, but it can be tricky to find the routines and practices that work best for you. Here, ADDitude readers shared their answers to the question, “What is your most satisfying or unbreakable daily routine?” Subscribing to a meal kit service, setting eight alarms, or practicing yoga every morning are just several of the daily routine examples cited by adults with ADHD — share yours in the Comments section below.
Daily Routine Examples (That Actually Work!)
I’m slow to wake, so my morning routine is designed to get me fully alert. I take my meds and, as I sip my coffee, I do a mental ‘check-in’ on every part of my body. In the shower, I walk through my day ahead.” — Sandy, Pennsylvania
“Getting my clothes ready the night before and not looking at social media in the morning help me get to work on time.” — Lynea, Michigan
[Read This Next: 6 Easy Ways to Juggle All Those Balls]
“I subscribe to a meal kit service. I cook on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; the meals between are leftovers. This is expensive, but I’m paying the ADHD tax up front instead of grocery shopping and forgetting key ingredients or impulse-buying things I don’t need.” — Taylor, Canada
“Dinner as a family.” —A., California
“As soon as I get home from work, I walk my dog. Then I rest for about 20 minutes before doing any housework.” — Crystal, Tennessee
“I always have breakfast, preferably with plenty of protein, with a strong cup of tea.” — Daniel
“Yoga first thing every morning. It helps me connect body and brain to get focused for the day.” — Angela, Indiana
[Get This Free Resource: Sample Schedules for Reliable Family Routines]
“Setting eight alarms keeps my morning running smoothly and gets the kids out the door.” — Catherine, Washington
“I make my bed every morning. Whenever I look at my neatly made bed, it makes me feel like an organized person who could actually knock out her to-do list.” — Gaby, Texas
“I tidy the kitchen while brewing my coffee; I don’t try to finish anything, just as much as I can get done in those few minutes. At the end of the workday, I get everything ready for when I log in the next morning.” — An ADDitude Reader
“I put my keys in the same spot by the door, so I never lose them.” — An ADDitude Reader
“Reading for pleasure for at least 30 minutes every day. It doesn’t matter what—just something that is not work-related.” — Jo, Australia
“Reviewing my calendar in the evening to plan my sense of urgency for the next day, then reviewing it again in the morning.” — Amanda, South Carolina
“Taking a daily walk, no matter the weather. Also, I take an hour each day to do something that calms me and is unrelated to work or family — like drawing while listening to music.” — Teresa, Virginia
Daily Routine Examples: Next Steps
- Download: Get Control of Your Life and Schedule
- Learn: How I Became Liberated (and Organized) in 15-Minute Increments
- Understand: How I Fixed My ADHD Family’s Morning Routine
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