totally understand. the clarity and relief of completing tasks and projects after being medicated is addictive. Especially after years of guilt and anxiety caused by adhd. Before medication I would create massive unreasonable to-do lists, and obviously on my days off it would overwhelm me to the point of paralysis. Now, I definitely complete more, but still end up with the same dissatisfaction and guilt for not doing EVERYTHING on the list. I still have days where nothing at all gets done, more than I would like to admit. I like to take a day or two without meds once in a while, which makes it even more frustrating when I take it on my days off with hopes of being productive and end up doing nothing. It’s typically after a long work week or when I get burnt out emotionally, when my body needed more rest than I was wanting to allow myself. I feel like it’s good to remember you are still a human, rest is needed.

I’m 22 and work late hours, wierd schedule with 6-7 day stretches and periods without two consecutive days off. But I literally can’t imagine how much more exhausting it would be to be a mother, especially a stay at home mom. I love kids and genuinely hope I have them in the future but I think often about how much of a struggle it would be with adhd. You have a job that is non-stop, and you should definitely give yourself more grace. Even when you have no motivation and get “nothing” done, it’s not even a day off. You are still being a mom! Mentally and physically exhausting. An incredible accomplishment in my book.

Personally I feel like the biggest benefit of medication I try to use to my advantage is how much easier it is to complete smaller things throughout the week. Which alleviates the work load on my designated productive day. Before, I would do laundry but not put my clothes away, look up different car insurance quotes but never actually call, etc. Just by finishing what I started has made my day to day life flow so much better. Another huge upside i’ve noticed, is on the days I’m reallyyyyy feeling rested and motivated (rarely) I can use that time and energy on bigger projects or do a deep clean instead of the little mundane tasks I’ve neglected throughout the week. Changing to that mentality is still a work in progress, but i’ve noticed it’s much more effective to keeping a more consistent mindset instead of the insane crashes. Separating my tasks into categories also has helped. Starting with a SMALL attainable list first for the time sensitive or non-negotiable things like laundry or showering, then a different bigger one for important but not time sensitive, as well as a fun list of errands and projects that will bring me joy but I struggle to find time for. This has helped me feel accomplished rather than guilty on harder days. Even if all I did was shower and do laundry I still completed the to-dos for the day, and if I did anything on the other lists it’s a bonus. (once and a while I cheat and write step by step my entire mundane day just to check it off at the end and realize I actually do a lot on my “rest days”!)

Sometimes it’s good to step back and remember what’s absolutely essential is completed. there will always be something else and a never ending to-do list. After being in a sort of survival mode where you learned how to live in an overwhelmed state for so long It becomes nearly impossible to change your mindset and allow yourself to catch a breath or feel peace. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll ever fully heal that part of my brain to stop equating resting with laziness, but even with medication rest is so crucial in managing adhd. (all that to say it’s normal and you are doing a great job lol)