ADHD is a modern neurological problem that is often overlooked yet overexposed. There are many reasons to this but the symptoms of people who suffer from ADHD are seemingly common. We are capable of being disorganized, spaced out, messy, tardy, cluttered. However, what really separates between non ADHD and ADHD is the continuance of this traits. Intriguingly, many of modern people suffer from this disorder yet they are often told exaggerating their bad behaviors or making excuses. Whilst in fact, for someone who really suffers from ADHD, life can get extremely overwhelming. This neurological disorder impacts life in all aspect from school, relationship, management, finance to daily life. Many psychologist have tried to write coping strategies for ADHD but only a few that speaks about the relation between minimalism and ADHD. As someone who has seen the benefits of minimalism, I would like to explain what is minimalism, the problem that most ADHD face with organization and also how minimalism can help someone with ADHD from my lenses.
Minimalism by dictionary definition has something to do with avant-grande art however, in recent time it is redefined as a form of a lifestyle. Many have tried to define minimalism but in a nutshell, people seem to agree on living with less but with more intention. The followers of this lifestyle believe that experience is more valuable than possession. That is to say, often the first step to become a minimalist is involving de-cluttering our space. Moreover, the minimalists, prominent figures on this lifestyle popularized the idea of love people use things, the opposite never works. It is true that by having intentional living we can be more content about our life and allowing more experience to come.
On the other hand, people with ADHD suffers from poor organization, impulsive actions including the financial aspect, low frustration tolerance even disorganization. These habits can be argued as a result of acting based on immediate creativity. Someone with ADHD may splurge on things they don't need, they may forget keys and other mundane things in a daily basis, they may also over-focused on things that result in neglecting basic human needs such as eating. I have personally written several article on my minimalism journey here and here. From those two articles you can see how ADHD may manifest in a person.
This lifestyle can enter into ADHD life by introducing the idea of having less. Someone with ADHD may be instantly compelled to implement it because minimalism offers more room to continually satisfy their needs of experience. More, it will aid with their impulsive buys. It can alter their life as they dive into the lifestyle since they will buy long lasting product with more thoughtful consideration. Another perks of following minimalism is that it helps them to have more time and cleaner room. Since they tend to be over-focused on a task, by having minimal items, it translates as minimal maintenance.As result, it allows ADHD to thrive with the idea of having more experience since they tend to get bored. This simplistic lifestyle also helps them to enjoy the present instead being spaced out.
Minimalism may be one of the answers for ADHD coping strategy. It is in a form of lifestyle instead of check list consisting of the do's and don'ts. Similarly, the idea of having less and more experience resonates with ADHD who craves to know more and constantly on the lookout for experience. The benefits from implementing minimalism may even alter the life of ADHD and minimize half of their problem.
Works consulted and further readings :
[1] Adhd Mayo Clinic
[2] The Minimalist
[3] Zen habits
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