What is a Brain Hack? And why do we need them?
The reason we need Brain Hacks is because ADHD is a Neurobiological Disorder. Because our Brains are wired differently the Neuro-chemicals that drive certain traits, like Motivation, Focus, Initiation, Planning, Memory etc, are depleted, making it tough to access those traits at will.
To treat this condition, or lessen it’s negative impact we need to Stimulate those depleted chemicals or Emulate the traits. We Stimulate the Brain to boost our ability, or Emulate the Missing traits, much like a prosthesis would- To use a famous ADHD analogy. We use Glasses to Emulate 20/20 vision, for ADHD we’d use Google Calendar to Emulate Planning/Memory skills…
There are many, many ways to Stimulate the Brain for this purpose, and that’s what’s sometimes referred to as a ‘Brain Hack‘. Some of us take Stimulant Medication to treat our ADHD, and this helps a great deal. But knowing how to Hack your own Brain in specific ways when you need to, is an essential asset when you’re ADHD.
A Brain Hack sound a bit weird, I know… But I’ll bet you unknowingly Hacked your own Brain at least once today already!! If you’ve had Coffee/tea, or taken a shower, or listened to music while performing a task today. Then you have been Brain Hacking…
As an Example I used 3 of my favourites to help me write this blog. I’ve played white-noise music while sipping on a cup of Green tea and I used a Timer. These 3 specifically chosen Brain Hacks are helping me to stay focussed, stop distractions, and organize my thinking.
Another example of how to use a Brain Hack would be in a meeting or a class that’s long or boring. To Hack your brain and boost those chemicals you could doodle, use a Fidget toy, or even chew some gum! These simple but effective Brain Hacks allow you to stay focussed and alert, and help you to tolerate Boredom more comfortably.
So if you’d like to be able to manage your ADHD more effectively by having a wide array of Brain Hacks to turn to for any situation, then please read on….
As an Adult with ADHD myself and an ADHD Coach, I’ve amassed quite the collection of interesting and sometimes surprising Brain Hacks over the years, I’ve noticed that most of my clients need unique solutions, so I’m always discovering new and unusual hacks. I encourage you to create your own and give yourself permission to do things your own way! I’d love to hear from you about your own favourite Brain Hacks. Being ADHD means many things, not least of which is we have some of the most Creative Brains on the planet!! And many of the Brain Hacks that I now use and teach to others, I’ve learned from you..
So please take a minute to comment below, and share your thoughts, questions or creative ideas with us all!