#audhd tips

its called unhook, and it completely removes the recommendations section on the main page of youtube. this is what it looks like on my phone but i have it on my desktop too

it has basically reduced my "completely forgot time exists and lost myself to the abyss of Endless Video" episodes to once or twice a month, when i accidentally end up on shorts through someone im subscribed to.

i can just go straight to the searchbar or the 'subscribed' page without being immediately distracted by whats taking up the rest of the screen.

and when there is no recommendations or trending page, there is no algoritm to fuck up by a specific search you did one time or a series of videos you watched earlier but have no interest in outside of that. no 'trending', no clickbait or ragebait, no breaking news, no doomscrolling.

it also blocks the recommendations that appear under any specific video you are watching, like this:

there are loads more options for what to filter! i also have ads, banners and notifications turned off to further simplify the UI and reduce distraction.

shorts can likewise be hidden, but this removes them from any type of search or page, so thats something i personally chose not to enable.

ive used this extension for well over 6 months now, and never experienced any bugs or issues as far as i can tell. just bliss.

i dont really do this normally cause thats not the type of following/mutuals i have but it deserves to get a small shoutout anyway.

Whiteboards: I have a whiteboard calendar, a days of the week whiteboard, and a regular mini whiteboard. All of them are mounted on the wall next to my door, so it’s the first thing I see when exiting my room, where I write my schedule, events, reminders, etc. If I don’t write it, I forget it!

Only open shelves: The furniture in my room is 99% open shelves and bookcases, because I have issues with object permanence. The only drawers I have are in my closet, for my pjs. Everything else is shelves.

Shelf instead of a vanity: Again, I have issues with object permanence. So my vanity is actually a repurposed kitchen spice rack that I upcycled! It has my hygiene products (like my skincare and deodorant), my hair brush, and I use the pan rod as a towel holder.

Sleeping on the floor: I am blessed to have low support needs, but working does leave me very disregulated often. I’ve found that being on the floor helps regulate me most; so a few years ago I ditched my mattress for a Japanese futon.

Bag organizer: There are little bag organizers one can buy to stick in their bag. I use it as my catch-all kit. I have my ear defenders (for Big Noises), a power bank, my Kindle, a mini fan, my fidget toys, ear plugs (for Lesser Noises), a compact umbrella (for both rain and it’s too bright), and my CD player + earbuds in it. I usually have sunglasses too but I lost them 😅. Since it’s a bag organizer, I can easily move it between bags.

Using kid’s products instead of adult products: Products made “for adults” tend to be heavily perfumed and irritating to my sensory issues, so I sometimes just opt for the “kid” version, which tend to be gentler and fragrance free or easier on my sensory issues.

Bandanas!!!: Traditional headbands and hair ties are just too much for my sensitive head. But with a bandana, I can control how tight or loose it is, and can wear it as a headband, bow, updo, or the regular way! I can even get prints in my special interest (pokemon)!

Gloves: Sometimes I have bad sensory moments and can’t stand touching certain textures, so I have a pair of rubber gloves for washing dishes with. Sometimes, if I’m having a really bad sensory day, I use the rubber gloves to help me wash my hair in the sink too.

Try to relate it to your special interest.

That might sound like, yeah duh, but it's very helpful to do it conciously.

Even if it's a stretch as long as from the earth to the sun, it might help. Even just a little is helpful in school, when motivation is a finite resource you need to manage throughout the day.