Mornings and I have a complicated relationship. No matter how early I wake up or how well I plan, ADHD has a funny way of turning “plenty of time” into “oh no, I’m late again!”
Let’s take a walk through a typical morning adventure — maybe it’ll sound familiar!
The Plan
I go to bed determined: Tomorrow, I’m going to be on time. I’ll wake up early, have a calm breakfast, maybe even exercise.
I set three alarms. I lay out my clothes. I feel confident.
The Reality
⏰ Alarm #1: I snooze it. I deserve 5 more minutes.
⏰ Alarm #2: I snooze it. I’ll definitely get up at the next one.
⏰ Alarm #3: Oh no. I’ve overslept.
I rush out of bed, and suddenly:
- Where did I put my shoes?
- Why can’t I find my phone?
- Why am I brushing my teeth and trying to pack my bag at the same time?
And somehow, I’ve also decided now is a great time to reorganize a drawer.
The ADHD Morning Spiral
ADHD mornings aren’t about just being late — they’re about the journey of getting distracted by 100 little things:
🌟 The coffee mug I forgot to wash last night.
🌟 The email I absolutely must reply to before leaving.
🌟 The random thought that I should finally start that new hobby.
It’s chaos. It’s exhausting. And it happens all the time.
How I’m Trying to Fix It
Every day is a new chance to figure it out. Here are a few strategies that help (sometimes):
✅ Visual timers — so I can actually see time passing.
✅ Sticky notes on the door — “Do you have your keys? Your bag? Your phone?”
✅ Leave buffer time — I try to plan to leave 15 minutes earlier than I need to. (Spoiler: I usually use up that buffer!)
The Silver Lining
Sure, ADHD mornings can be messy. But they’re also full of energy, creativity, and sometimes funny surprises. Like the day I accidentally wore mismatched shoes to a meeting — and it turned into a conversation starter.
👉 Tip: If mornings are hard for you too, check out my digital ADHD planners. They’re colorful, flexible, and made for brains like ours.
