Hey everyone, it’s your Neurodivergent Millennial here, checking in from my little corner of Old Toronto.
Today I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately — food, drinking, and consistency — and how they all tie into living with ADHD.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know that I often struggle with emotional regulation. For me, it’s one of the hardest ADHD symptoms to manage. The slightest inconvenience can send me spiraling. Like, for example — this past summer when my internet was out for three days (yes, three full days). You would have thought I was the only person in the city without Wi-Fi. I was furious, pacing around like some tragic main character in a dystopian film, ready to take my frustration out on the poor customer service rep who had zero control over when things would be fixed.
But lately, I’ve noticed something shift. Since I’ve been working out consistently, I’ve had way more control over my emotions. Getting out that extra energy through movement helps me release the anger that builds up instead of letting it explode. The posts you see on my IG about working out for my mental health? They’re 100% true.
One thing I was chatting about with a gym friend today was how often we use “time” as an excuse. You know — “I’d love to work out, but I just don’t have the time.” Here’s the thing: when you start to make something a priority, you magically find time for it. That’s exactly what happened with the gym. I don’t even know how I made it work at first, but now? I can’t imagine my week without it.
So, I wanted to share a few quick pointers about creating habits when you have ADHD, especially if consistency feels impossible:
1. Think about the amount of work
We humans are wired to take the path of least resistance. If something feels too hard or not “worth it,” we’ll naturally avoid it. Sometimes it helps to actually sit down and map out what the effort looks like — and whether it aligns with your goals. (Pro tip: a behaviour coach — uugggmm, such as myself — can help you unpack that.)
2. Make the change realistic
ADHD brains love extremes. We’re often all-or-nothing thinkers, which means if we can’t go 100%, we label it as failure. But here’s the truth: no one is 100%. Real growth happens when we aim for progress, not perfection.
A behaviour coach can help you break your goals into smaller, meaningful steps — and check in to adjust when things don’t go as planned.
3. Stop listening to that voice that says, “don’t start”
If you’ve got ADHD, you know task initiation can feel like climbing a mountain. But getting started is a skill — a muscle that gets stronger every time you use it. The more you push past that initial resistance, the easier it becomes to begin.
If any of this sounds familiar, or if you think behaviour coaching might help you build the consistency you’ve been craving, I’d love to chat.
💬 Click the link below to book a discovery call — no pressure, just a conversation to see what might work for you.
Until next time,
@neurodivergentmillennial
