Non-Traditional ADHD Hacks That Actually Work
Let’s be honest: If one more article tells me to “just use a planner” or “set a timer” as if it’s the golden key to ADHD success, I might scream into a void.
Look — those things can help, and I use both in different ways quite often, but sometimes we need a different kind of support system. One that doesn’t rely on our executive functioning being at 100% all the time.
Enter: the non-traditional ADHD hacks. These aren’t the usual “apps and sticky notes” suggestions. These are real-life workarounds that support your nervous system, your energy levels, and your capacity as you are right now.
Here are a few ideas that I actually use as an ADHD person trying to exist in this overly complicated world.
1. Food Boxes & Meal Kits
Why it works:
Decision fatigue is a real struggle with ADHD. Figuring out what to eat, when to cook it, and whether you remembered to defrost the chicken — it’s a lot.
Hack it:
A weekly meal kit like Marley Spoon, EveryPlate, or HelloFreshcan save your future self so much executive energy. The ingredients are pre-portioned, and the recipes are already chosen. Bonus: There’s fewer steps to mess up or abandon mid-way.
We alternate boxes each week to add variety. This is one that saves us so much headache and stress about trying to plan ahead. We just factor it into our grocery budget each month. It’s actually saving us money at the end of the day.
If cooking still feels like too much? Try prepared meal services like Factor, Territory Foods, or your local grocery store’s ready-to-eat section. It’s not “lazy.” It’s executive function-friendly.
2. Pre-Chopped Fruits & Veggies
Why it works:
You want to eat healthier. But when the spinach rots in your fridge untouched because the idea of washing and chopping it felt insurmountable? That’s not a moral failure — that’s ADHD.
Hack it:
Give yourself full permission to buy the baby carrots, pre-washed salad bags, sliced mushrooms, and the pre-chopped onions. You don’t owe anyone “chef-level effort” every night. Your time and capacity matter more than proving something to the produce aisle.
This has helped me so much with eating more veggies and salads on a regular basis. This felt so overwhelming in the past which is why I often avoided it. Once I gave myself permission to make it easier on myself, it reduced my stress around eating and prepping.
3. Autoship & Autorefill Everything
Why it works:
Running out of toothpaste or realizing you forgot to refill your meds? Not ideal. Remembering to reorder before you run out? A gamble.
Hack it:
Set up autoship for things you use regularly — supplements, pet food, tampons, protein bars, skin care, laundry detergent. Set it andforget it.
For prescriptions, use your pharmacy’s automatic refill and delivery options if available. You can also link your pharmacy to apps like PillPack, Care/of, or GoodRx Care to manage it all in one place.
Executive function tip: Set reminders not just for refills, but for delivery days so you don’t leave that box outside for a week. (Ask me how I know…)
4. Duplicate Your Essentials
Why it works:
You keep forgetting your meds when you go out. Or you never have a hair tie when you need one. The solution isn’t “be better.” It’s “have a backup.”
Hack it:
Buy duplicates of anything you use daily and stash them in the places you need them.
An extra deodorant in your bag, car, and desk.
A toothbrush + meds in a travel kit.
Lip balm in every coat pocket.
Headphones in your purse AND your work bag.
Redundancy is not wasteful — it’s a kindness to your future self.
5. “One-Touch” Cleaning
Why it works:
Cleaning is hard when your brain can’t decide where to start or how to stay on task. One-Touch cleaning means putting things away the first time you touch them.
Hack it:
Leave a basket by the door for stuff that travels back and forth.
Put a small trash bin in your car and desk.
Keep a bottle of cleaner and a cloth in every bathroom.
Use a robot vacuum if you can swing it — or schedule a biweekly TaskRabbit clean-up if that’s in your budget.
Reduce the steps. Reduce the friction. Reduce the mental load.
6. Pre-Decide with a “Default Day” System
Why it works:
Starting from scratch every day is exhausting. The ADHD brain thrives with structure that feels flexible.
Hack it:
Assign themes to your days. For example:
Monday = Admin + Emails
Tuesday = Groceries + Appointments
Wednesday = Laundry + Deep Work
Friday = Creative Time + Catch-Up
You don’t have to follow it perfectly. But it gives your brain a starting point — and reduces that “what the hell am I supposed to do today?” feeling.
7. Use Visual Anchors
Why it works:
Out of sight = out of mind. Literally. Object permanence is a challenge for many ADHD brains.
Hack it:
Leave visual reminders in smart places:
Put your meds next to your toothbrush.
Place a sticky note on your coffee maker that says “Pack your bag.”
Use a dry-erase board for your weekly goals — and make it prettyso you’ll actually look at it.
Hang a “Did you grab your lunch?” sign near the front door.
This isn’t clutter — this is external memory. This was a conversation I had with my doctor recently. We both discovered that we do this. It helps both of us to ACTUALLY take meds and supplements each day!
LET’S WRAP IT UP…
You don’t have to force yourself to function like a neurotypical person to be “successful.” The more you build your life around how your brain actually works, the easier everything gets. These hacks aren’t about cutting corners — they’re about cutting down barriers.
Give yourself permission to work with your brain, not against it.
And if anyone tells you you’re “cheating” by making life easier? Just smile and say, “Yep — I’m cheating burnout, thank you very much.”
Until next time. Take good care of you.
Blair
