Why DIY Works Well With My ADHD
As you know by now, I have ADHD. I was diagnosed with it when I was 16 and I have had treatment for it since then, including taking medication. I also love to DIY. It's actually something that has been really therapeutic for me and has turned into my full-time job. It's something I've always been open about, but I'm noticing more and more that a lot more DIYers on the internet are talking about having ADHD as well. So I thought I would talk about why DIY is such a good fit for me personally and my ADHD.
Why DIY Works Well With My ADHD | Project Based
So for me, there are a couple of things that about DIY that work really well with my ADHD brain. First, is that DIY is project-based, so I'm not doing the same exact thing every single day. I'm doing different things every single day, and for the most part, I'm doing different things with every project. This really helps my ADHD brain to stay focused and interested in what I'm doing. No two days are the same, and so I can count on things always staying interesting.
Why DIY Works Well With My ADHD | External Deadlines
The second thing is that I have external deadlines, which I THRIVE with. Either a project needs to be done by a certain time for things that I am working on in my own home, I'm working on a project for somebody else, or I have deadlines with companies that I'm working with. These deadlines keep me on track and focused. I have reasons outside of myself to keep working.
Why DIY Works Well With My ADHD | Mental Health
The third reason is, as I mentioned before, DIY is very therapeutic for me. I really like puzzles and figuring out how to make something work. So by giving myself a different project every couple months weeks that I need to figure out, it keeps my brain constantly engaged which is really, really great for my mental health and anxiety. It's really been awesome over the last few years. For me personally, there's something really fulfilling and a real dopamine hit, to finish a project and see it completely finished and then be able to use that space in a new and more functional way than just asking someone else to do it.
Why DIY Works Well With My ADHD | Flexibility
The final perk is flexibility. While I did say that it's helpful to have deadlines, it's also really nice that I don't have someone breathing down my neck. I don't necessarily have to work every single day on projects. I can kind of ebb and flow on what I do. If I need to focus on kids stuff one day, I can do that. If I need to focus on a project one day, I can do that. If I need to focus on admin content creation one day, I can do that. So I have a lot of flexibility on what I can do and when I have to do it.
Like I said, this is just my personal experience with my ADHD and DIY. Hopefully this gives you some insight into why more and more DIYers are talking about having ADHD. They either are getting diagnosed later in life or they've had ADHD for a while and are just now getting comfortable sharing it either way.
