If youâre like me and have ADHD (or struggle with any of this) then getting out the door in the morning is a pain and a half. No matter how well you know what you need to do to get places on time, itâs hard. Things get forgotten, things just donât feel important enough to do, time isnât real. I get it, so hereâs a list of things Iâve learned that keep me getting out the door at least somewhat on time and with the things I need.
Have a single (small) bag for your essentials. You do not leave the house without this bag. Ever.
I recommend a crossbody bag thatâs about the size of your hand spread out. The right size to hold the basic things you need without weighing you down. My dad uses a vest with a million pockets instead of a bag, which is also an option.
Things that go in this bag:
Debit/credit cards and cash. Always have some cash on you for emergencies if you can. Checkbook if you have one.
Driverâs license, health card card, student/work ID if you need that, etc.
Medication for the day (I like to pull out a week of my meds on Sundays)
Extra charging cable + battery pack for phone/headphones
Keys!! Car keys/house keys go in one pocket. That is the key pocket. The keys always go back in the key pocket. Attach a small charm thatâs physically distinctive to each key so you can grab the right one without looking.
Multi-tool/knife if you carry one.
If you are sexually activity, I recommend having a pocket with a few condoms/dental dams/lube/etc. Make sure that they wonât get rubbed around. Putting them in a plastic bag for extra protection is a good idea.
Anything else you need every day regardless of where youâre going; lotion/hand sanitizer/protein bar/etc.
Everything goes in the bag. If you take something out of the bag, it goes right back in the bag the moment you are done using it.
If you are at home the bag goes by the door. You shouldnât be able to exit your home without seeing the bag. If you can literally hang it on doorknob, I recommend that.
If you are outside of your home, your bag does not leave your body. It is a part of you now.Â
This is why I recommend having a bag vs a clutch you hold or keeping your cards in your phone. Phones are sometimes put places or handed to people. The Bag is Not. The bag lives on your body. Thatâs also why I recommend keeping it small/crossbody style, to reduce the temptation to remove it.
If youâre in school, you may have a backpack in addition to your bag. Same rules apply. Everything you need goes in the backpack, and if you arenât using it, then it goes right back in the backpack. Finished your homework? It goes in the backpack. Done with your calculator for the evening? In the backpack. There are no other surfaces, only backpack and bag. Same thing for if you use a backpack/messenger bag for work.
I recommend keeping your essentialâs bag separate from your backpack/messenger bag. You will want to leave the house for things other than work/school at some point, and will not want to lug around your big bag. Thatâs what the small bag is for.
Do things the night before.Â
I dunno about anyone else, but things are a million times easier to do late at night than at like 6 am when Iâm struggling to walk in a straight line let alone be a functional human being.
Do you need to bring lunch? Make it the night before. Put as much of it in your backpack ahead of time as possible. Or at least in line of sight of the door.
Fill up your water bottle, make sure youâve got meds for tomorrow in your bag, make sure youâve put everything back in your bag.
Can you prep breakfast the night before? Do it. Remember, any food is a valid breakfast food as long as you eat it.
Need to remember something in the morning? Can you put it in your bag/backpack the night before? If so, do!
Set out your clothes for the morning, shower at night, set all your electronics to charge, etc.Â
When you wake up, listen to music first thing.
Okay, so this is a few things rolled into one. You need to make sure your headphones and phone are charging within reach of your bed. When you wake up in the morning, the very first thing you do is grab your headphones and start listening to a high energy playlist.
Itâs hard to go back to sleep when thereâs Exciting Moving Music in your ears. This will help convince your body to get up.
Keep listening to the high energy music as you do the things you need to do.
You have your âyou need to get up alarmâ, but consider a second alarm for âhey, you need to get out the door nowâ.
Also, consider using a physical alarm clock thatâs across your room, so you have to get up to turn it off. The more annoying, the more motivating for you to actually get up.
Donât start your morning by beating yourself, donât start off insulting yourself for having forgotten something or yelling at yourself to get up.
Patience, and steady attempts will build up habits that make this easier and easier. Youâll still make mistakes sometimes, and thatâs okay. Be kind to yourself and keep trying. Try to find ways to make things easier for yourself. Youâll figure it out with time.
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