This is so wrong, though. Because “Don’t sit down, never sit down,” is absolutely what some of the most productive adhders I know are living by, and it’s killing them. They burn out, their health breaks down, they lose the capacity to sleep a full night because their nervous systems have forgotten how to relax, they live with chronic systemic pain that doctors can’t find a source for.
If you want to live a productive life with adhd, forget about your productivity looking like a neurotypical’s. What you need are the brain engine primers, a habit of trusting yourself, and a phone timer. What I mean is, believe that you are capable of finding a way to do what you need to do. Let go of what neurotypical people tell you about life goals and five year plans and figure out what is important to you.
And then figure out what starts your engine. Not just one thing, ten or twenty things. Does a cup of coffee in the morning help your brain get in gear? Do you process better if you go on a walk? Do you feel more present in your body with a regular yoga class? Is there music you can play that gets you hyped?
And then ride the waves of your brain. Take ten or twenty minutes to do whatever is the next thing you need — a phone call or the vacuuming or a report — and then stop. (Unless you’re on a roll you want to ride; keep going then while it still feels good, unless it’s been an hour or two and you need to eat and pee and take a breather.) Put the task down. Set the damn phone timer for ten minutes or twenty. Get one of the calm-down things that puts you back in your body — a cup of tea, or a moment standing outside breathing deep, or a look at tumblr, or a snack.
Then when the timer goes off, pick a brain starter. Put the playlist on or pull your hair back or start pacing, and start the next damn thing. Or the same damn thing. And be proud of yourself. You are gorgeous and you’ve got this.