ADHD, Creativity and Structure

[@yvonnes7412]

Wish I had understood this about myself at a younger age… I started college as an art major but switched to Spanish when I was in Art History… the professor was explaining how we would sit and analyze every little aspect of some paintings. I just about DIED from boredom listening to him describe it! 😂 Now I see that there was no creativity involved, just analysis. I could probably take that class and appreciate it now but not back then. I love languages because there’s such structure but endless creativity in understanding the meanings and stringing together the best words. I like seeing the patterns and almost have a sixth sense for understanding patterns. That said, I still do art constantly, crafts, drawing, painting, sewing, decorating… I NEED a creative outlet 😂 … and it’s a good observation that art has limitations-every medium and every purpose imposes limitations on the output When there’s no deadlines… well it took me a year to realize I never finished painting a couple places in my kitchen 😂😂😂

[@legiontheatregroup]

'Art consists of limitation. To me, the most beautiful part of any picture is the frame.' - GK Chesterton

[@Typhon436]

I’ve consumed a lot of info and videos on ADHD, but this little video is the most helpful perspective and advice I have ever come across. I can cope and manage and make peace with it all day long, but what has confounded me the most is the creative output, completing the projects. Your video was very clarifying and encouraging for me, especially the parts about structure and limitations. Thanks so much for making this video!!

[@jamesforsythe3566]

Long ago I adopted a strategy where if I had an assignment, I started working on it immediately and got it done well before the deadline, because I was well-aware that if I waited, I'd never get it done - something that also kinda played into my impulsiveness.

[@RickHasADHD]

Yes, that's a great strategy. I know a very successful businessman who responds to every message or request or project immediately. He gets more done in a week than I do in a month.

[@kimstrickland2761]

Sounds like you're far from ADHD grossly affecting your life functioning.

[@jessicasnyman2373]

Yes, I used to do this in school, and I will start doing it again. (there is a down side to this) I would hand in my assignments the next day, and that would take the pressure off of me, and then I knew I would not need to stress about it. Then the teacher would remind everyone the next week that the assignment was due the next day, and I would freak out cos how did I forget to do my assignment, my parents were going to kill me, and now I have so much homework to do... ( I am sure we all know this stress and panic) because I forgot that I had done it. Luckly, I had a friend who would remind me that I had done the thing and I would calm down again to drift off into some place in my mind....

[@yvonnes7412]

Oh yes the-“if I’m not early, then I’m late” problem 😂. Good for you for starting them right away… I always thought I would do it later at some time and then would freeze or get distracted until it was an emergency 😂 procrastination at its finest…

[@kaikm1050]

​@@jessicasnyman2373 something that might ease the second part of forgetting, is maybe keeping a list or journal of projects and such , that way you can remind yourself

[@tanyacondo7034]

Very good video. Glad you are doing ADHD content again

[@RickHasADHD]

Me too! Onward and upward! Or downward. Or left-ward and then right-ward, then put your left foot in, take your left foot out, do the hokey pokey and shake it all about... Oh year. I'm back.

[@RachelRiner]

@@RickHasADHD😂 👍🏼

[@margaretjohnson1401]

Recently subscribe....and l don’t need diagnosing now. It seems after struggling for 68 years l have found kindred spirits. How nice, at last to have understanding that some other people are like me!

[@RickHasADHD]

It is rather reassuring to find your 'tribe.' It's a very diverse group. I have Patrons all over the world. Which is also reassuring that this isn't just some North American issue. I read that when you grow up with undiagnosed ADHD you'll be subjected to 20,000 more negative messages than other kids. "Stop it! Don't touch! Wait your turn! Pay attention! What's wrong with you? What were you you thinking?!" In the all the years I've been hosting the chatrooms I don't think I've ever heard any one say anything discouraging or negative to another Patron. We may beat ourselves up, but the compassion and humour that people share is just heartwarming. I'm not good at the shameless plugs, but if you want to become a Patron you can connect directly with people who are sharing their challenges, solutions, and encouragement. And the benefit is that more financial support allows me to make more videos! Then those videos are shared and they impact people who haven't been diagnosed, and are struggling to understand, "What's wrong with me? What was I thinking?!" Someone said it's about paying it forward. Someone else said, half-joking, that, "The more of us who are diagnosed, the more the world will accommodate us."

[@grahamr56]

I love deadlines - the whooshing noise they make as they fly past me. Jokes aside, I have found structure in a Personal Knowledge Management system, and I use that for everything, from remembering ideas to task management (no, not To Do lists!) and content creation. Instead of spending hours trying to pick up where I left off yesterday, I now have a "breadcrumb" trail that tells me where I need to start work today.

[@aarmenar2358]

Thank you for sharing. Now I’m researching PKM System. Will it give me a much needed structure, or will it become a distraction ? I had a belly laugh at the “whooshing sound.” 😂 I know that sound well.

[@RickHasADHD]

Great strategy. Thanks for mentioning it.

[@Y0usmelled]

Which PKM System do you use?

[@grahamr56]

@@Y0usmelled Obsidian

[@grahamr56]

@@aarmenar2358 It can become a distraction or time sink if you allow it.

[@shawnholbrook7278]

limitations sometimes help me increase creativity, like poetry. I am totally undisciplined this year, but I remember creating things with limits.

[@RickHasADHD]

Enjoy the undisciplined if you can.

[@LeraKasya]

I don't have a diagnosed ADHD, and maybe it's different from person to person, but everytime I see limitations, I come out with better ideas

[@LedgerAndLace]

I absolutely need a deadline. "Whenever you get to it" might as well be, "Never think about this again." There's NOW, and NOT NOW and no in-between. (That definition of "time blindness" comes via ADHD-er Peter Shankman). It's a useful reminder if I don't have an external deadline so I have something to aim for. 🙂

[@RickHasADHD]

Well put!

[@kimstrickland2761]

Absolutely!!!!

[@stacys.7094]

I love the color of your walls!! You made some great points on how structure and direction enables us to be creative. . . even though, like you said, I resist structure and direction with everything I've got!

[@RickHasADHD]

View structure as a support you're using so you can focus on being creative. Mozart didn't want to have to build a piano every time he wanted to compose. (As far as I know. 🤔)

[@tcgrady2000]

ADHD contradictions are wild, aren't they?

[@RickHasADHD]

Yes. And no. (See what I did there? Genius!)

[@avrilduck8326]

Yep! Rick - when I am directing large cast, inclusive, community theatre Shakespeare productions, collaborating with deaf interpreters, musicians, technicians, designers in a theatre, with a show deadline - I'm a freaking genius!!! When my triggers propell me to run away from the love of my life... 😢 not so genius.

[@RachelRiner]

Having places to be at certain times, things to show someone at a certain date, limited materials to use, etc all these boundaries reduce the amount of choices we have to make, and it frees us to act on what was chosen for us. Sometimes I wish grocery stores had 75% less options.

[@kimstrickland2761]

Oh yes!!!! We don't need all these choices to decide from!!!!!

[@user-dq2ym1nn9k]

try click and collect. just shop from the same repeat list of your own creation.

[@StarPlaty]

Yes, all that choice becomes a blur after a while and I very easily miss what I'm actually looking for. Hence, why I usually order online (delivery or click & collect).

[@bugsybrown1745]

I think the biggest challenge is seeing myself being.. somewhat tolerant of others setting deadlines and providing structure, but when I have to do it? Nope. Creative hobbies and projects I enjoy are almost all solo and self-driven, so it's maddening! I even kind of enjoy mucking up or changing limits set by others, but I can't do my own.

[@chairmanrexton956]

I’m a copywriter and certain I have adhd but not officially diagnosed. I love the creative process too and definitely need deadlines or I’ll never get anything finis

[@aarmenar2358]

LOL! And not finish a word or sentence. That’s brilliant!

[@goodrichdirt1]

Every poet knows the gift of limits. However, only real deadlines work. The ones I set for myself are wholly unconvincing. Making the structure or deadline a game works better for me, but I still have a hard time believing that what I do matters enough to bring into the world.

[@michellebyrom6551]

Who are you to not use your creativity and squander your talents? You want that coffee before you start doing anything? Stand next to the kettle and don't make the coffee until you've scrawled out some verse or other. Limerick? Haiku? Doesn't have to be easy. Lol I don't allow myself to buy fabric for a new outfit until my current projects in various subjects are almost all completed.

[@RickHasADHD]

You'll never know the impact you have until you put stuff out into the world and you get feedback. And even then you will keep adjusting and experimenting to find your voice. Enjoy the process. Don't worry about the results. You can control the results.

[@Schplook]

Thank you. I'm currently struggling to get started and stay on track with my music composition goals. I managed to scrape by and get a degree, but never put it to much use. I'm determined to change that... if I can get past the endless 'research' on KZbin.

[@RickHasADHD]

Oh man, that is such a trap. I've wasted so much time watching short videos that have zero impact because I can't remember them 30 seconds later. Deadly.

[@barborahrabalova7945]

Sounds about right - I used to write poetry and would thrive most when I was writing for a creative writing class (had to be done before the class, as I would be expected to read) or communal poetry readings when I would put the pieces together right there on the spot. Always thought that this means that I am not really a creative person, that a real creative person just experiences surges of inspiration and creation without such a prompt.

[@StarPlaty]

I've been a writer for 30 years - started during high school. I had several ideas that went nowhere before I began my first completed novel... in my final year of school. Study went by the wayside to focus on that instead. Wrote & completed two more novels during tertiary education. Then I entered the workforce... and began my journey into fantasy writing. On top of Inattentive ADHD (which wasn't diagnosed till Aug 2023), I acquired a vestibular disability in 2008 (Mal de Debarquement Syndrome aka MdDS) which further impacted my concentration & memory issues. Still, I kept writing. Any other creative outlet I'd attempted before - craft, art, music, etc - was something I suddenly couldn't do because the physical actions triggered harsher MdDS symptoms including headaches and nausea. And you don't want to feel sick doing something you love... like reading books, because that was impacted too. Thankfully staring at a screen while my fingers fly all over the keyboard doesn't cause me any pain. With all that burdening me (along with work & family obligations) I realised I had to have a set time each day just to write. And I also needed an outline (of some description) in order to keep to the story I wanted to write. This allowed me to write my 5th novel, which will be the 1st in a series should I ever manage to get to the 2nd book. 🙃MdDS has only gotten worse in the last 4 years and my ability to brainstorm is just... not really happening at the moment. I run out of mental energy too quickly. I am writing a very long fanfic, however, which has a very-involved outline; and it's getting good feedback, and I'm heading towards the end, and the words just keep flowing, and I'm just going to keep going until it's done because I cannot give up on this. No matter how much I want to get back to my original fantasy stories, I know from experience that I have trouble working on more than WIP at a time. So I will not do that to myself again. There's too much riding on this... No deadlines, thankfully; just my own self-esteem.

[@maray5432]

Deadlines are the only thing that works. If you give me anything without a deadline, it's going to the back of the pile and 9 times out of 10, I'll forget it. Same thing if the deadline is too far out. Don't give me something that's going to take me 10 minutes to do and tell me it's due in 2 months. Tell me it's due within the hour and I'll have it done in 5 minutes.

[@RickHasADHD]

Yes. When I was writing for television and radio there were deadlines. I always made them with time to spare. Making videos like this is much harder because there's no hard deadline.

[@kimstrickland2761]

Such truth!!! I can so relate with my ADHD all that you're saying. Im self medicating bc i don't have the right script again. And so much worse now with inability to have structure with my living situations. Im older now and really struggling with this mostly. I do have meds again for OCD and anxiety, but looking forward to being able to get back to a truly 'heslthy' lifestyle again. A pure diet is so helpful. My life has had to be so scattered for unpredictable reasons last few years and really thrown me way off kilter. Your videos and others like these help us not to feel so alone and misunderstood in this disfunction. I have a friend and a family member that knows and cares, but admits they don't fully understand. Thank you!

[@elizabethsullivan7176]

I started writing stories (outside of school) when I was 12 (in 1983) ADHD is probably a big reason why I have yet to get anything published. What you said about deadlines and not getting anything done without them. Totally me.

[@aronyro]

comes at the right time! appreciated a lot!

[@RickHasADHD]

Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know!

[@roxanne_george]

This is excellent, thank you very much. The three most important home truths 💖

[@RickHasADHD]

Thanks. It's amazing how creativity is a skill set one can home and nurture.

[@Interconnector-podcast]

I cannot believe this penny hasn't dropped before, but I've only been on this journey for 3 years. If someone gives me something to write, I am so much faster than when I write for myself. It's all about the structure I've been handed. I'm currently working on a sitcom and dammit if I'm not going to change up the workflow to see if I can't get faster results. Time to play.

[@RickHasADHD]

You would think structure would be anathema to folks with ADHD but it can actually help us to thrive. Which is why there are so many of us in the military and athletics.

[@RachelRiner]

Tell someone you hope to impress that you will show them this thing you’re working on at a date that you set.

[@ephemera...]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@RickHasADHD]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jigglysaint]

I find it difficult to be creative. I guess it's the executive dysfunction and fear of embarrassment that tends to stop me. However I found an online tool that has been able to help me turn my thoughts and ideas into song. A while back I had an emotional setback and I've been using this program to write prompts, and it would turn it into song lyrics, then add proper music to it to create a complete song. Yes, it's AI, and we all know how we feel about AI. However for me personally, it's helped a lot. The biggest benefit is that I am getting instant feedback. I write a prompt, generate a song. Maybe the lyrics aren't right, or maybe the music isn't to my liking. I can redo. I can change the prompt to be either more specific or write it in a way to avoid misunderstanding. And if the music isn't to my liking, I can also regenerate. However, there was one small project in which I challenged myself. Instead of writing prompts, I had to write the lyrics myself. Some of them turned out fine, passable. But some of them actually turned out really well despite having a weak structure by normal standards. My point is that I do have trouble with creativity, but this tool has allowed me to get past some of those barriers. I will certainly not advocate for AI, and really I should be ashamed for using it. But I bet there are other tools out there that can help a person become more creative and make their ideas into more than just an idea. Of course the next difficulty is having the courage to share your work with others.

[@RickHasADHD]

If that works for you,, and I'm sure it will work for others, then go for it! One way I spark ideas is to figure out the theme I want to address in a video and then I go to Thesaurus.com and type in the words and see what comes up. And there's no rush to show your work to other people. Start with someone you know will be kind and supportive and tell them what kind of feedback you want from them. "I need you to listen and see if the tune matches the words." Or, "See if you're clear about what I'm trying to say in this song."

[@anagsom376]

I think you should not be ashamed to use IA in this manner. And I'm glad that it's working for you, to the point of even writing something you like!

[@alh-xj6gt]

For me it is the lack of follow through. It got better with getting things done from david allen and using the most bare and core low friction way of capture, which for me is a notepad with a pen. No batteries or no app version update that screws with UI. The two TED talks and the coaching of Linda video are great as introduction. The book is indexed good so no need to read the whole thing. I read the book primarily from topic of interest a few paragraphs at a time over the years. The "weekly" review process is arbitrary and its frequency depends on how the mind trusts the system. I review two to three times a week and if my brain really struggles I'll do it every day. Over the years I gamified it a bit so within the review process I see it like updating a quest log in a game.

[@RickHasADHD]

Yeah, I have a journal/planner that is awesome. But I'm sporadic about using it. There's a little bit of "You're not the boss of me going on sometimes."

[@alh-xj6gt]

@@RickHasADHD Yeah. Again it is a trust thing. I have seen myself not doing things so many times and it was a whole process to build that trust and it took baby steps. A good start for me was expanding the groceries list to all topics "kitchen" as I already do and trust the concept of groceries lists and it was a not too big and not too small part in my life to test GTD and fine tune it. It took a while for me to understand that it all has to do with trust. From that moment tried to be as supportive with myself as possible because I wouldn't trust any of it when I'm adversarial with myself.

[@CreativeGeniusCoaching]

Thank you so much for this very insightful video. I was explaining thing to a client who is trying to write, but who resists structure.

[@RickHasADHD]

Structure and limitations are what force one to be creative.

[@mamishin3199]

Hi dear, you had a funny old video about ADHD test. I can't find it any more

[@RickHasADHD]

Make sure you're subscribed to my channel and then do a search for "The Unofficial ADHD Quiz."

[@ollezimmerman]

Love your vids! Can you tell me why no one ever talks about ADD. I would love to watch you talk about the positives about ADD, if there are any

[@barborahrabalova7945]

You mean ADD as opposed to ADHD? The term ADD is not used much anymore, I think what used to be talked about as ADD is now considered the inattentive type of ADHD but might be wrong.

[@ollezimmerman]

@@barborahrabalova7945 I know, however, I think the separation of ADHD and ADD was better, so what are the possible positives for the inattentive type?

[@barborahrabalova7945]

@@ollezimmerman Just trying to get diagnosis as one myself and it's a fairly recent realisation, so will be equally curious if we get a response from someone to this :)

[@RickHasADHD]

I have an original Mac and a Mac Plus. Antiques!

[@marenhumblebee2736]

This is so true and I also hate that its true 😅

[@jessbruck6756]

Ahahaha😂 great video tho, thank you so much

[@RickHasADHD]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@anitarose7915]

Seriously, if you can help me find a doctor who knows what they are doing, please let me know!!! Ohio

[@trancemuter]

lol, imposing limitations is exactly the problem with ADHD, easier said than done… my biggest issue is executive function and I am realizing more and more that I need help on this front.

[@RickHasADHD]

Yeah. Limitations might be the wrong word. It's more like having a focus. For example, if you were to tell me, "Write a funny poem about the worlds fattest walrus," ideas would start flowing right away. But if you said, "Write a runny poem," I'm lost for what to do.

[@anagsom376]

@@RickHasADHD Now we need to read that poem!

[@nautje]

If I didn’t have deadlines, I’d probably never finish anything I start 🥲