this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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ADHD

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Exercise is hitting. My brain gives up way before my body does. Even when I try and listen to music or watch shows while exercising, I just can't keep at it.

Has anyone found an ADHD friendly way to exercise?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

When the weather’s nice, I like biking. In terms of ADHD stuff, doing a thing that takes you out of your house on a loop effectively forces you to complete it. Like, if I go for a 2h ride and then decide I’m not into it half way through… I still have to keep going. But also, just being outside with varied scenery tends to make boredom much less of a problem.

When it’s hot, swimming. You can get into a really nice rhythm with it, and it’s a truly outstanding full-body workout. Also, once your endurance gets high enough, if you are doing long-distance sets, you will get fatigued, but you will also 100% be riding that endorphin high, which is kind of a fun sensation.

When it’s cold (like, New England cold, not CA cold), mostly just walks. And skiing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I usually have to pair things up, like I rarely ride my bike just for the sake of it. Most of the time it's to get groceries, go shopping, etc. and sometimes the stores I go to are ~10km away. I'm really lucky that my city has actual factual cycling infrastructure though, so I pray your area has at least acceptable infrastructure.

This doesn't always work, sometimes I don't need anything. So another way I can get my butt on my bike is to simply put on sunscreen. Doing that makes it a lot easier for me to get out there so as not to waste the sunscreen. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I never go to the gym though. Way too complicated for me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

In my youth it was rock climbing. You can’t really quit something if it means falling to your death 🤣

But seriously anything that keeps your brain occupied. For me it was competitive sports. Basketball, ultimate frisbee, anything like that. Now that I’m old, it’s getting up from my chair to go pee. I also like what I consider “exercise games” like Beat Saber.

Tl;dr… anything that tricks your brain into seeing it as fun and not exercise.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Books on "tape" or narrative podcasts are what finally let me spend enough time working out, I have to be really into the story though

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Do it with a friend! It worked great for me: my friend and I both tend to get distracted easily but working out together helps us keep each other on track and also the workout goes by faster when you have someone to talk to. Also we motivate each other to push ourselves as well!

Find yourself a gym buddy, it might be what you need!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

YouTube workouts go by quicker for me. I also have a rebounder (mini trampoline) which I find addictive enough to stick to. It also just takes a lot of practice to make a habit of exercising even if I don't feel up to it. It helps to start with short workouts on YouTube and work up to longer workouts over time.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

FitnessBlender has a few "People who get bored easily" workouts. As an ADHD-er I often followed them. I still work out, but I don't follow the videos as much.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

Ultimate HIIT Workout for People Who Get Bored Easily - Fat Burning HIIT Cardio Workout

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Swimming does wonders for me. You can think about tons of stuff while swimming, it exercises many muscles at the same time, easy to get the hang of it and tiring if you do it enough!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Look into a thing called flow arts!

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago

are u sure you're not using adhd as a crutch here? people make up excuses to stop exercising while exercising all the time. you might just be reaching for the easiest thing to blame here. try doing something fun too and not doing shit where you can get distracted and shit. I can't do a gym routines just cuz my brain wanders off during sets and whatever, but bike like 400miles a week and it's not mentally exhausting for me.

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