7 Housekeeping 'Lies' People With ADHD Tell Themselves Daily

Running a house and home when you have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be tough due to executive dysfunction especially. While some things you can put off (making the bed, for example), other things you feel bad if you do (dishes, cleaning in general, bills, etc.).

• What is ADHD?

I don’t know about you, but I go through these periods where I firmly believe that I’m going to change my life around. I’m going to start waking up early and taking out the trash and doing all the things that I typically struggle to do. The funny part is that I genuinely believe it every single time. As well intentioned as these ideas may be, actually executing and committing to them is so much harder and that’s why I call them ADHD “lies.” Are we actually lying? No, of course not. However I do find that no matter how many times I say these things and feel them in my soul, I genuinely cannot follow through with them no matter how much I want to. This can create feelings of shame and frustration, which are hard to deal with.

While there are ways to work with your executive dysfunction versus against it, I found humor is simply the easiest way to cope for the time being. One day I’ll maybe get my life together, but until then I choose to laugh! Through my personal experience, here are some of the number one “lies” I tell myself, trying to take care of myself and my apartment with ADHD.

1. OK, I’m going to do the dishes right after I’m done eating.

2. I’m going to remember this one item! I don’t need to write it down.

3. I’ll create a new organization system and actually follow it religiously.

4. I’m going to go through all that unopened mail today.

5. I’m going to use this new planner to get my life in order.

6. I’m definitely going to start texting people back immediately.

7. I’m going to create a routine and stick to it.

Don’t get me wrong, these are all things that we want to stick to, and a lot of people are able to through coaching and/or medication. However for a lot of people it’s very hard to do that. What we have to remember when we “lie” to ourselves is that we need to still be gentle and kind through and through, because fighting your brain is hard and it’s not fair to us. 

Take it easy. Love on yourself today. Stay Mighty.