A Story Of My Things

A she/her with ADHD. Embracing minimalism.

[storyofthings-blog]

--Day 10-- Socks and leggings galore. Many purchased during a break-up oddly enough in 2009. On pair I definitely wore in middle school, so somewhere between 1998 and 2000. Yikes. #theminsgame #day10 #socks #getridofit https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRf64pnUCR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lttno58exscz

[storyofthings-blog]

--Day 11-- I never though of myself as a person with a makeup problem...but I am a 31 year old woman throwing away eyeliner bought when I was, like, 16. 19 for the newest one. Also a random bracelet I was obsessed with in middle school. Seriously, how is this shit even in my house?? Also pictures the eyeshadow pallets I was obsessed with when I was 15 (2002) #theminsgame #day11 #makeupissues #middleschool #eyeinfections for everyone https://www.instagram.com/p/BrO000tnna7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ysc5701se6l1

[storyofthings-blog]

--Day 9-- I assume all writers have #bookproblems. This can't be unique to me. But not all books are equal. This collection in shedding includes textbooks from required classes, bullshit books on teaching, and the behemoth that is Anna Karenina. As a woman engaged to be married to a Russian, this may be sacrilege. However, I read Russiab classics on my Kindle these days, and intend to read them in the original someday. Fuck bulky translations. #theminsgame #day9 #books #writerproblems #russianlit https://www.instagram.com/p/BrMTdboHS3Q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hmyd16z3e86o

[storyofthings-blog]

—Day 8— It’s expired food from the pantry day! Oldest expiration date is from 2012. It’s a small miracle we haven’t killed ourselves with botulism yet! #theminsgame #minimalism #day8 #foodwaste #iamagrossperson #expired #offbrandcereal https://www.instagram.com/p/BrJuDZ0nhyl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j0rzfixkp72s

[storyofthings-blog]

--Day 7-- Literally just underwear from the bottom of the drawer. Haven't worn any of these in over a year. Estimate the oldest pair are from 2010. #theminsgame #day7 #underpants #yesimpostingmyunderwearontheinternet #getridofit #surelyimnottheonlyone https://www.instagram.com/p/BrHME6AnB3S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15s8pyk4v318j

[storyofthings-blog]

--DAY 6-- . A poncho (2012) I never wore. Gifted to me by a student. Ancient snickerdoodles never eaten, probably 2015. An absurd number of single-USB plugs. Ain't nobody got time for those. #theminsgame #day6 #somanyplugs #getridofit #ancientcookies https://www.instagram.com/p/BrEgj50H1j9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m6cm18perdqn

[storyofthings-blog]

--Day 4-- A penny from a #pennyboard that must have travelled home with me during the 2015-2016 school year because the velcro is all wrong. . #Soak handcream in Fig from around 2015. Usually a love Soak things, but I just didn't like the smell of this one. Should have given it away then. . Two "fashion" binder clips I have always hated, gifted to me in August 2011 by a co-worker who had never met these. They've always made me unusually angry for office supplies. No clue why I even brought them home in the first place . #theminsgame #day4 #getridofit #minimalist #whydoidothistomyself https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq_elf-HOLo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6xxsm55vhaw8

[storyofthings-blog]

—Day 3— I give you a broken pointer (from 2014), my old KnitPicks umbrella swift (maybe 2009?) and my beloved #society6 phone case for my last iPhone (2013-14). Actually a little sad to let go of the case. It did me right and made me so happy. But alas, the phone was traded in last month. #theminsgame #day3 #minimalism #getridofit https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq8uatXHSfO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12mnx3isk9b8k

[storyofthings-blog]

—Day 2— - What it is: Apple 12-pin cable - When did I get it: unknown, probably with my 2nd gen iPod shuffle so maybe 2006? I literally own nothing that plugs into this cable anymore. - What it is: ELF lip color in Maleficent - When did I get it: 2014, apparently. Impulse buy from Walgreens probably I don’t wear lipstick hardly ever. Why did I even keep this in the first place?? #theminsgame #day2 #getridofit #minimalist https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5JaEwHFnT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ikighaq09r4i

[storyofthings-blog]

Today I start a Mins Game with myself, getting rid of the absurd amount of things I don’t need.

--Day 1-- -What is it: Cose lipgloss in Rum -When I got it: 2000 or 2001

My mother took me to a salon in an attempt to break my goth eyeliner aesthetic. Joke was on her: the lady sold me on an electric blue punk vibe. This made it into my goodie bag. I don't think I've used it since 2006 at the latest. Honestly don't know how I haven't lost it. Goodbye lipgloss, you are old enough to be an adult...

[bluerats]

“I’ll remember” is the ADHD demon talking. You won’t remember. Write it down.

[septemberbells]

bold of you to assume i’ll remember where i wrote it, or even that i wrote it

[finnglas]

Visual exhaustion is another symptom of ADHD, which means that if we see something enough times (or we see enough instances of something), it fades into background noise and we fail to notice it. This is why a lot of ADHD people can stand living surrounded by mess/clutter, because it’s just visual background noise to us. We don’t even notice it anymore. So if we write something down and see the note stuck up somewhere a lot – or if we write a LOT of somethings down and have a lot of notes hanging around – then we’re even less likely to think of/remember the thing because it’s just part of the scenery now. ADHD is the Catch-22 of brains.

[spoonie-living]

A very good thing to know about ADHD. Don’t fall into the trap.

A lot of folks in the comments are talking about writing on themselves or setting phone/calendar reminders. Your mileage may vary on those. You may also want to consider ways to set a habit of referring back to a planner or similar every day/hour.

To get those brain juices flowing, check out this Buzzfeed article on different ways folks with ADHD stay on top of things.

Readers, let us know if you have specific advice for this situation!

[allthingshyper]

This is why sticky note reminders don’t work??

[hesaidsidhesaid]

SKLJDGBKJEDSBBV

VISUAL BACKGROUND NOISE?!

THERE’S A WORD FOR IT?

[mixingpumpkins]

Always reblog “THAT’S WHAT THAT IS???” posts. Chances are someone hasn’t seen it that needs to.

[luna-and-mars]

Executive dysfunction gothic

- You have to shower. You cannot shower. You are standing right in front of the shower. You want to shower. You cannot shower.

- The meeting begins. “Did everyone see the email?” There is a chorus of nodding heads. You nod, too. You think you may possibly have checked an email account before, on one single occasion, at some unknown time, probably in a past life.

- You are hungry. You have been hungry for three days now. The hunger has not spontaneously resolved itself. How inconvenient, you think. How rude.

- You depend on your planner/calendar. You loathe your planner/calendar. You can’t function without it. You live in constant fear of it. It’s an unhealthy relationship. You think you both should start seeing other people.

- There is a pile on your floor. It is a treasure trove, the Room of Requirement. It has everything. You look for something specific. It has nothing. There was never any pile.

- There’s been a change of plans, they say. You don’t understand. They repeat: “there’s been a change of plans.” You don’t understand. The mere suggestion causes a buzzing in your head that drowns out everything else. You don’t understand.

- You’re in class and you don’t understand the lecture. You look back at your past notes. You look at a calendar. You have not been to class in two weeks. You have no memory of this supposed time. Where did it go? Why did it leave?

- “Organizational tips for success: Keep a planner! Write it down! Stick to a schedule! Make a list!” You are torn between deranged laughter and ugly crying. You choose both.

[abcsofadhd]

For someone with a bad memory, I sure do have a good memory. 

Earliest truly embarrassing memory I remember: 3rd grade, 8 years old.

original comic source: http://nellucnhoj.com

[storyofthings-blog]

I still feel great embarrassment/shame about a dream I had when I was probably 4. Can’t even

[ramdaughter]

your bare minimum isn’t actually that bare or minimum. my dad once told me that there’s nothing in this world that’s easy and that’s true tbh. everything we do takes energy, time, and effort. even the little things. if you feel like you’re not doing enough please try to think about your circumstances and what’s currently available to you: chances are, there’s something that’s diverting or otherwise draining you. and to pull away from that and get something done regardless? well, i think that’s really admirable! please try to take pride in the things you do accomplish in a day, no matter how small or trifling you perceive them to be. you can’t be proud of your growth if you don’t notice where you already are!