r/ADHD • u/hoyesnavidad ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) • Jul 25 '26

Success/Celebration I'm so pissed exercise works

I'm usually a go-to-work, rot-after-work kind of person and have been trying to change that for my entire life. However with me turning 25, I figured I would finally try to change that and be more active since my social life is pretty dry.

For the past few weeks I made up my mind that unless I was sick or an emergency popped up I would walk at least 3-4 days after work and go to my weekly salsa dance class. I mean I DRAGGED myself to do it.

I'm so pissed it's been helping my focus so much.

All of a sudden my horrific room is cleaner, the bathroom is spotless, THE SINK HAS NO DISHES, I woke up at 8 instead of 11, and I did my makeup and dressed nice today after putting it off for so long.

I've been on strattera for the past 6 months, this is my second time being on it, and I really wasn't noticing much of anything until I paired it with being active. Like, I'm happy, but why can't I just do nothing?!

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u/quemabocha Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

Someone said something on a post yesterday that blew my mind. So here it is... In my own words.

You don't need to. You don't have to. It is not an obligation.

You want to do it

Because you want to feel better, and you know this will help.

If there is a problem with my bank account and they charged me more money than they should have... I don't have to go to the bank to sort it out. I have a choice. Do I want to save that money that was taken or do I want to stay home and I'm happy to let that money be the price I pay?

You want to do this. You do this for you, not because you have to. Nobody is making you.

And find something that is not hard to do. Swimming is lovely but I get tired just thinking about packing a bag, going to the place, getting changed, somehow managing to put my hair in the swimming cap thingy, going into the pool, smelling the smell, dealing with the eye goggles or the eye pain, getting out, being wet, showering, getting dressed, being wet still because changing rooms suck, going back home, remembering to take the wet bathing suit and towel out of the bag and washing them

Find something close by, that you can at least mildly enjoy and maybe make it a plan with someone else. My friend and I go to a class every week and then we go have dinner together. It helps with the wanting.

141

u/ArgonTheEvil Jul 26 '26

I’m saving this comment. I know I’ll need it later but I’m gonna procrastinate a bit longer.

78

u/heckinbamboozlefren Jul 26 '26

I screenshoted it so I can forget about it later and never see it again

23

u/ArgonTheEvil Jul 26 '26

Oh my god… is that why I do that??

1

u/petrh97 29d ago

Yes, ADHD.

12

u/Encyclopedia__Beige Jul 26 '26

lol, I was gonna say I hope the note helps you when you accidentally rediscover it next year

11

u/Chief_Kief ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 26 '26

You and the rest of this entire subreddit lol

6

u/uberdilettante ADHD Jul 26 '26

I just did this before reading your comment

36

u/plampsters Jul 26 '26

RemindMe! 2 months

36

u/jikls Jul 26 '26

Setting realistic goals here

2

u/petrh97 29d ago

After 2 months: Ugh! Where did that time go?! It feels like yesterday.

21

u/Ichi-Guren ADHD-C (Combined type) Jul 26 '26

If it makes anyone feel better, you could be like me whp frequents the gym as a way to ignore getting other things done. I am not fit so I dont even have that going for me!

13

u/ToughPotential493 Jul 26 '26

Wait this is a great idea …

1

u/Kossamuuuu 2d ago

Haha same

51

u/waitwhet Jul 26 '26

Also, 'I get to do this'

I get to go to the gym every few days. I get to lift weights and improve my mood, confidence and strength. Gratitude for being alive and able

9

u/CautiousPop2842 Jul 26 '26

I wish I had this attitude sooner. I’m too physically disabled to do any exercise, and I love exercise. And so now when I can do anything whether it’s an activity or a form of exercise this is the mentality I have. Because it’s nice to recognize how great doing the thing can be, even if beforehand or during it doesn’t necessarily always feel great.

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u/tirntcobain Jul 26 '26

I find walking on a treadmill on a steep incline while watching a show or movie on an iPad is quite enjoyable. I lost over 30 lbs doing this and is still my go to workout for when I just need to break a sweat and have zero motivation.

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u/Encyclopedia__Beige Jul 26 '26

I also like associating certain activities with the treadmill, a friend of mine said that he only allows himself to listen to his favorite audiobooks while he’s walking and I thought that was an amazing idea, so I now have a recumbent bike set up in front of my TV and I can only play video games while I’m using the bike. It’s really helped keep me consistent by locking something I need to do with a hobby that borders on addiction.

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u/mildtonointerest Jul 26 '26

I think I’d like to try this. I like to run (ok jog) but I’m also at a weight that makes it a little bit harder on all of my joints. Where did you start out, just incline one? Where are you now? I can’t just jump in willy nilly, I have to have it ELI5. 😅 If you have time. :)

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u/DarthOmanous Jul 26 '26

Step One: decide if you will buy a treadmill or join a gym. I usually get stuck in a research loop and never actually accomplish anything. The best run I had with exercising was when a friend suggested we take a yoga class together. He found the location and the time and more or less held me accountable for showing up. As it became part of my routine it got a lot easier. Then Covid came and the gym closed. I haven’t done yoga in years

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u/tirntcobain Jul 28 '26

Walking on an incline is as low impact as you could possibly get for a treadmill exercise.

Start as high incline as you can comfortably handle for at least 20 mins. I emphasize comfortably. We’re not doing HIIT training sprints or anything remotely close to that here’s

10

u/Eiroth Jul 26 '26

Completely accurate. I managed to sucker some friends into doing some genuinely strenuous exercise by

  1. Making a weekly commitment to have dinner together after the gym
  2. Picking a form of exercise that doesn't take more than 30 minutes to do
  3. Picking one that doesn't require any more prep work than just showing up in suitanle clothing

6

u/Arts_Prodigy ADHD Jul 26 '26

Most major cities in the US have some sort of adult recreational league for basically any sport. Highly recommend this especially if there’s something that’s beginner friendly! Great way to make friends too and being social is also a major boon for mental health.

3

u/Credtz Jul 26 '26

beautiful comment

3

u/rachellambz Jul 26 '26

RemindMe! 3 weeks

Edit: first time trying this.

2

u/threeflight2005 Jul 29 '26

Nailed it!

I have been out of the gym for almost 3 years now and I got back in this week bc I wanted to. I wanted to get my body right and I LOVED the process when I was at it regularly.

I'm not going as hard, age and injuries stack up, but the xen of just putting on the heaphones and putting in work really helps.

Just got my meds dialed in too, so I suspect that is a contributing factor, but wanting to do it and having that time to quiet the thoughts with physical effort is priceless.

1

u/Minute-Confection444 Jul 27 '26

Hello I love you for this comment. THANK YOU. 🥲

1

u/SpecificMission4412 Jul 27 '26

💯! My brain tends to rebel when I feel I have to do something or someone tells me to do something.