Hii :)

So many neurodivergents out there (including myself) struggle to stay hydrated, so I’ve come up with a few ideas to help with that :)

1. Get a fun drinking bottle- Plastic water bottles are boring (and bad for the environment) so get a fun and reusable one instead! I personally have one with a handle because it makes it easier to carry, but get one that suits you the most!

2. Always have said bottle with you- It doesn’t make much good to have a water bottle if you don’t use it, plus if you always have it with you, you can always stay hydrated! Going to check the mail? Have it with you. Going to watch TV? Take it with you. Always. Have. It. With. You.

3. Flavor your water- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: sometimes normal water is boring, which is why I recommend flavoring it! I use little Kool-aid packets or the little Mio Flavor Drops, but natural flavoring is great too (and healthier!) 

4. Turn it into a game- I personally make a little game with myself to spice up the hydration thing: Try and drink more water than you did the day before. I also have made the rule that any time I sit down or stand up, I have to drink some water. Sometimes I forget, but the more I remember and do it, it becomes more of a habit. 

- Schedules suck, whenever you get the motivation to study, do it! for however long the motivation lasts, whether that’s 5 minutes or 5 hours, do it, you’ll remember better that way than if you force yourself to study

- Always keep a pen on you. Whenever you remember something you know you’ll forget again, write it down on your arm or your hand. When you go to reach for something, you’ll see the reminder each time and it makes it less likely to forget

- For those of you who subconsciously bite your nails, and then can’t stop because they’re uneven (sensory triggers) keep a small set of nail clippers in your bag or in your pocket or in your car, that way when you notice yourself biting your nails or picking at your skin, you can clip them and hopefully keep yourself from bleeding, etc.

- FLAVOR YOUR WATER!!!! It makes drinking so much more fun and easier to do. I personally use those little Kool-Aid pouches, but you can use fruit, etc to naturally flavor it too! 

mom: what do you want for christmas?

me: harry potter legos

mom: okay but seriously, what do you want for christmas, i’m going to look for gifts and need to know an idea of what you want

me: i’m being serious, i want harry potter legos

my sister: i want makeup

mom: why the hell does my 16 year old want legos and my 12 year old wants makeup

me: because i just want legos

mom: *leaves the room*

my sister: shoulda asked for something more 16 year old ish

me: ...legos are for anyone

1. write down the tasks you have to do

2. separate each task into smaller tasks (ex. Clean room- pick up clothes, fold clothes, put clothes away. Pick up shoes, put shoes away. Get trash bin, put trash in trash bin, put trash bin back.”

3. lie to yourself with the “might as well method” tell yourself you only have to do the very first task like “pick up clothes”, now you’re already in a position to fold (or just put away) the clothes, so “might as well do *insert next step to task here*”

4. Continue using the “might as well method” until all tasks are complete

5. Give yourself a reward (candy, watch a show, play a game)

6. Drink water you dehydrated neurodivergent :)

7. seriously, drink water, you’re gonna die

p.s.

i also use small timers on my phone to help with the process going faster, like a game. Ex: “how many shirts can i fold before this timer ends?” or “if i don’t put all my shoes away before this timer ends, i’m gonna die”