Howdy folks! I'm new to ADHD spaces, still in the process of getting a diagnosis, but I've been doing some thinking about how I handle energy for tasks, and I was wondering if it would resonate with anyone else.
My partner and I have cats, which means we have to clean their litter box regularly. I struggle a lot with executive dysfunction, and so does she, so sometimes that's challenging. Recently though, we cat sat for a friend that had a Litter Genie. I have to say, I love this thing. We bought one immediately. It's basically just a little trashcan, but it automatically bags and stores dirty litter to be disposed of later.
For me, this was a game changer. I don't know why, but not having to deal with throwing out the litter at the same time makes it so much easier. Individually, cleaning the litter boxes, and taking out the trash, are easy, one spoon tasks. But only with the Litter Genie. If I have to worry about taking out the trash too, it becomes so much more than just one spoon more expensive. That's what made me think of sporks.
Because throwing away the cat litter after cleaning the litter box is really nothing. It's just the fact that I have to think about it that makes it harder. It's the complexity, not the amount, so it's not more spoons really, it's a different spoon, a spork. I think I'm going to start using this terminology with my partner. When discussing chores, we'll be able to mention spork tasks, for things we might need a little help with, or that we could use some brainstorming on how to tackle.
Do you have any simple things that feel like sporks to you? If so, do you have ways you break them down to make them easier? I'd especially love something for dishes lol
For kitchen stuff - If it’s not dishwasher safe I don’t get it or don’t keep it (if it was given to me).
We have a robot vacuum and litter box. I am grateful for them every day.
Getting myself and my kid out the door in the morning feels like climbing Everest every day. One thing she almost always forgot was to put socks on when she got dressed, so she’d have to go back upstairs. Since she’s also neurodivergent there was a good chance she’d get distracted upstairs and 1. forget to get her socks, 2. lose track of time or 3. both. I put a bin by our shoes and now her clean socks go in there.
I am exactly the same! Our dishwasher is my most precious possession. Got a great deal on a little half size portable one for our tiny apartment kitchen. And we love our robot vacuum too. His name is Chumley. He doesn't run often though, because it's so hard keeping the floors clear enough that he doesn't get stuck lol
Socks by the door is a great idea, because I'm constantly losing mine
Dishwasher was also my first thought. I "tried" to get one for over 20 years, but finally did it less than 2 years ago.
The complexity of getting one threw me off for 2 decades. Which model? How to deliver? How to install? How to get an extra water-in and water-out installed? Make appointments with technicians? Same company that sells & delivers the dishwasher or a different one?
For singles, a simple small one that requires nothing and can be filled with water manually is a good hack to get started. These can often be installed properly later for less hassle.
Btw, it actually was kind of complex: