With my ADHD, I love my hyper-focusing and pattern recognition, but my executive functioning sometimes needs guidance. I’ve found some helpful tools and wanted to share. All these things were bought over a year ago either by me or as gifts and still going strong. Sadly, these are Amazon [affiliate] links, so as always look at your local stores for options before ordering from a billionaire-owned corporation.
Executive Functioning Tools
USB Rechargeable LED Toast Light
I love my Toastie light. This was originally a purchase inspired by the Focus Toast trend on social media. It has been very helpful. Keep in mind this light does dim if left on as a nightlight.
Reading Light
Though I bought this for knitting and reading while watching TV, I’ve found this to be very useful when I’m looking for something and need a flashlight. It also has helped me when I am removing a splinter or painting my toenails and want a bit more task lighting without “the big light”.
60 Minute Visual Timer
For homework or timed cleaning bursts, I needed a timer that was silent, visual, and cheerful. I can’t stand the tik-tik-tik noise as timers count down. It reminds me of that game with plastic shape pieces and a timer. Nope, I can’t concentrate with that noisy timer counting down the seconds. This one is silent (I thought it was broken it was so quiet) then with a loud beeping alarm when the time has run out. The cheerful rainbow is so cute.
Checklist Board
This is just another piece of plastic, I know. But I was writing fresh To Do lists and cleaning bingo charts often on fresh paper so I opted to upgrade to this. I bought four and two are set with regular cleaning chores (change beds, vacuum,…) while the other two are daily self-care tasks (brush teeth, put clothes in hamper,…). The set came with blank tabs to insert, so my kids could review their own priorities and write them in. I loved this because it helps them take on the mental load of seeing what needs to be done routinely and by writing it themselves they’re telling their future selves what to do instead of me being the one.
Reusable Monthly Whiteboard Calendar Magnet
This is a large flat magnet with a blank month calendar printed on it. It functions as a white board so you can fill in the month’s name and dates then keep your schedule visible on the fridge. I have to have a visual calendar and a digital one going. This is also helpful for the kids who aren’t check devices every day seeing the calendar.
Remote Case
Apple TV (1st gen) glow-in-the-dark remote case with AirTag holder. It is fab to be able to track the remote but also see it in the dark. Losing things like this can really throw off my relaxing time, so I love being able to not delay those rare moments when I make time for them.
Wireless Charging Station
All in one Apple magnetic charging station. Great bedside or desktop helper. Never again go to sleep and wake to a dead phone battery. Very helpful. The AirPod Pro case can charge on the base or the vertical phone charging battery pad. This does nothing to help you charge an iPad or laptop.
Round Bathroom Mirror with Shelf
Having a place where you always keep your keys and check yourself before you walk out the door is essential. I got the one we use at Sostrene Grene, so this isn’t what we have, but gives you an idea. It’s great to have a mirror, a shelf or two, and a hook for keys. Leave your backpack or purse just below it or on an adjacent table for consistency.
Organising Tools
These help me so things are stored properly and in good condition and findable when needed.
2-pack Turntable Cupboard Organiser
I refused to call this a Lazy Susan, but you know it better by that name perhaps. I have these in my kitchen for oils/vinegars/spices and sugars/honey. Very useful. I also have a double decker version by my kettle for jars of tea.
Jewellery Organiser Stand
I often forget what accessories I have to wear if I can’t see them when I’m getting ready. This helps me see my everyday options at a glance and it also keeps them from getting tangled in a box. My version (shown above) is white and slightly different layout, but the key is that the necklaces and earrings don’t overlap. Otherwise, when you get a necklace it gets caught on an earring. Don’t worry, it’s easy to assemble.
Acrylic Drawer Set
Similar to the one I have (shown above), this is useful for jewellery not necessarily worn every day, but often enough in the rotation to keep handy. I bought mine from Sostrene Grene in town a few years ago. I also have this one from JYSK which is nice for things too, but with the flip-open top you can’t put anything on top of it.
Plastic Storage Baskets
I use these in my bathroom. They fit perfectly on the hidden shelves of this Lindbyn IKEA mirror. One for each category: face washing, face moisturizing, teeth, hand care, washcloths.
Wall-hanging Sunglasses Storage Organizer
We keep this hanging by the door and everyone’s sunglasses are on it. Very handy and keeps them from getting scratched sitting on surfaces. It is sturdy felt material.
1-week Pill Box Organiser
I actually find if you only take pills once a day, this can also be used for 2 weeks of doses. Each day can come out so if you need to go out for the day it can come, but I tend to not separate them for fear they’ll never be reunited.
4-pack Travel Pill Organizer Box
Years and years ago, a friend was using this box for her stitch markers and knitting bits. It was so cool and portable. She bought me a set and I was hooked. They’re useful for crafty bits, over the counter meds (label the compartments!), and prescription medications. For prescription meds on a weekly basis, I put the set dosage across the seven smaller compartments then any other time of day’s dose (like morning vitamin) jumbled in the larger fold-out compartment at the top. Four of these holds a month’s worth of meds. I fill a month’s worth of medicine boxes in one go.
Car Boot Organiser
This is fabulous to tame the 291 carrier bags in the boot of the car as well as spare umbrellas, battery pack, air pump, and compost bin bags.
2-pack Car Backseat Organiser for Kids
This is great for your passenger princes or princesses to have what they need within reach. Before a road trip, I can stock it up with water bottle, snacks, colouring, loaded up iPad, etc. One of them ripped after a couple years so I took it off the seat, sewed it, and put it back on. Easy peasy. They look like I have kids, but they get the job done. I also have noticed my kids use one of the pouches for trash which means it doesn’t end up on the floor of the car. This is actually pretty useful if you plan to take a long vacation road trip in a rental car. It protects the seats of the car, prevents you from leaving things in those back pockets, and gives the kid plenty of things at-hand so you can navigate.
Toy Storage Bag and Kids Play Mat Toys Organizer
A drawstring circle that spreads out for a play area and pulls together as a stow-all bag you can put in your car or buggy. Very useful for visiting friends or grandparents.
Clear Rainbow ‘Tuff’ Bag
I love using these for activities for the kids. The smallest one fits in my purse, the bigger ones are good for plane trips as it fits in their own carry-on backpack. The zipper is sturdy and the bags are strong, but sometimes the glue connecting them fails so I stitched them on to keep them going. The set we bought a few years ago is still going strong. I buy these and fill them with colouring books and pencils as gifts for friends’ little kids (makes a good big sibling gift when you go meet a new baby in the family). Even better if you get a gold sharpie or paint pen and write the kid’s name on it so they feel special.
Christmas Ornament Storage Box
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but my mother often misplaced things. It was a whole thing throughout my childhood and meant that if the Christmas ornaments were not put away carefully in a specific place (usually by me), they we not found the next year. We lost all our Christmas decorations at least three times and had to replace them. After my dad passed away, we found all the various boxes of ornaments everywhere and reunited them. I learned from this and broke that particular generational trauma with this simple box. All our tree ornaments go in here and the cardboard inserts allow adjustments for longer ornaments or to skip a couple levels and stow stockings instead. It’s very useful and bright.
3 Pack Christmas Wreath Garland Storage Bag
Really useful to preserve wreaths in the right shape as well as chunky faux evergreen garlands. I also like this to store summer straw hats which would otherwise get quite dusty.
Wrapping Paper Storage Bag
This is a game changer for storing wrapping paper and gift bags (plus cards). My mom had a big dresser in the front hall and one drawer was devoted to wrapping paper and supplies. That was great for her house, but I don’t have that space to allocate so this is my preferred way to keep all the wrapping paper in one place. Very useful.
Purse Organizer Insert for Longchamp Handbags
This is a niche handbag insert, but essential if you have one of the iconic folding Le Pilage Longchamp bags. They’re the ones you always see on racks at the airport duty-free. Dunnes has a dupe at the moment too.
Pegboard Combination Kit
Fab for above a desk or sewing table. If you need to see things to know they’re there, this kind of system is helpful. It sticks on the walls like Command Strips kinda. This is a pricy one, but IKEA has a similar version that requires drilling into your walls.
Teddy Hammock
This works for sports balls or stuffed toys. Keeps things off the ground.
Random Everyday Tools
Portable Car Jump Starter
Keep this in your car boot and you’re set if your car battery dies on a quiet stretch of motorway. Look for a model with a power port to charge your phone if that is an issue while stranded. I also recommend an air pump.
Tide to go Instant Stain Remover Pen
Sometimes when we are paying attention to everything else, we spill. This is helpful in those moments.
30 HB Pencils with Eraser
The most misplaced the lost item in my kids’ backpacks is the noble pencil. I buy them in large packs. Amazon has not cornered the market on pencils so this is just showing you the idea, definitely buy local (check Write Away on Oliver Plunkett) for this item.
Duct tape, gorilla tape, and WD40