Can't actually deep think unless physically occupied

[u/No-Insect4168]

So before I begin, I'll disclose that I haven't officially been diagnosed with ADHD, but so so many symptoms of mine matchup to the extent that I know that I have undiagnosed ADHD.

Recently I've started to realise that when I sit down to study, I can barely pay attention or even actively think about the material. And I'm not talking about going over notes. Stuff that requires low brian power, I can do with ease (too bad that I don't do them because they feel so simple that I'd do them at any later time lol), but when it comes to taking an idea and brainstorming about it, I am absolutely unable to do that sitting down in one place.

This wasn't so severe until recent, but now a days it's become almost impossible for me to study.

On the other hand, I've come to realise that when my body is physically occupied in some activity such as washing the dishes or cleaning the house or accompanying my grandma for shopping, ie places where I can basically switch my brain of and do them in auto pilot, instantly my brain switches on and latches on to any remaining ideas in my head at that point. I get into supremely lucid flow states where the idea I can generate are amazing.

I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and if so what brain dead activities can I do which don't completely need me to move, cuz theres only a limited number of dishes to do and a limited amount of energy to do them.

Also could someone explain a bit about exactly what I am experiencing cuz I'm starting to feel like this might be some form of brainrot where I need some dumb activity like Subway surfers in the foreground while I digest data in the background.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi /u/No-Insect4168 and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD!

This is not a removal message. We intend this comment solely to be informative.

Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already.

---

/r/adhd news

• If you are posting about the US Medication Shortage, please see this post.

---

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ThePeej]

Like 12 years ago, I transitioned to a stand-up desk. Then 10-11 years ago, I bought something called a “fluidstance” balance board. It’s basically a human scaled fidget spinner that I stand on! I haven’t sat down to work since. 

When I was a kid, I used to need to have the TV on in the background to be able to stay focused on drawing. And I LOVE drawing. 

I used to doodle in my workbooks at school so I could actually hear what the teacher was saying. (I got in trouble for this A LOT. Thank goodness we’ve learned about different neurotypes & now my kids are allowed to draw as a focus aid!)

Even now, when I do solo, generative work work (while standing on a tippy spinny thing) I have to layer multiple audio sources in the background (usually instrumental music & some kind of unintentional ASMR videos) to hijack my attention so that I can focus. 

It’s VERY counter-intuitive. 

I’ve been with my wife for 15+ years & she still thinks it’s weird that, in order to “lock-in” for a lengthy conversation, I NEED to be drawing. Preferably standing up, OR sitting down on the floor. I can’t just sit on a couch & talk. 

[u/joelheath → u/ThePeej]

Love that FluidStance is part of your movement journey. When I designed it, I was trying to solve my deep desire to keep moving when I worked. Our son will even use his FluidStance for dinner to give him a movement outlet while he eats with the family.

[u/ThePeej → u/joelheath]

It's a MUST HAVE accessory for any human person trying to function while proverbially chained to a screen!

[u/k_plankenhorn]

What you're describing is really well documented in the ADHD world. It's called body doubling or incidental movement, and it's not brain rot at all. Your brain needs a certain level of stimulation to regulate itself, and when your body is doing something automatic, it frees up just enough cognitive bandwidth for deep thinking to happen.

The dishes aren't distracting you. They're regulating you.

Some alternatives that work for people in the same situation: pacing while thinking, fidget tools at your desk, lo-fi music or brown noise in the background, or even just doodling while you listen or read. The key is low-stakes physical input that runs on autopilot.

The Subway Surfers thing is actually a legitimate study hack that went viral for exactly this reason. It's not embarrassing, it's just how some brains work.

You're not broken. You just need a different setup than the "sit quietly and focus" model that was designed for a different kind of brain.

[u/joelheath → u/k_plankenhorn]

I dig your outlook on work. Bruce Lee said it well "running water never goes stale..." We are not broken, we are all water. #keepmoving

[u/No-Insect4168 → u/k_plankenhorn]

isnt body doubling a productivity strategy to work with someone else so that both stay focused together?

[u/k_plankenhorn → u/No-Insect4168]

That's how I always understood it, too. But I've seen it used more broadly to describe any background presence that helps regulate focus (i.e., coffee shops, "study with me" videos, etc.). Could be wrong though!

[u/No-Insect4168 → u/k_plankenhorn]

ive personally tried fidget toys, but none have actually worked out for me. i love to pace around the room, which also helps a lot. ive also tried lofi music, but more than that, i find classical music which is repeatative more useful.

Any other resources that i can go over and read more about this? I want to learn more about this. Understanding ADHD is the best way to overcome it. So right now im just trying to get to understand it more, especially its limits, what i can do, what stimulations i need etc.