Hey friends, In addition to writing and sharing my experience with ADHD, I work as a frontend software developer (which is a complex title that essentially means: make web apps easy to use and pretty to look at). If I lost you there stick with me, I promise this is relevant! In software development, there's a concept called and "if-then statement" which is simple but very powerful. Essentially the idea is this: if a certain condition is met, then a specific action is taken.
I use something called habit-stacking. This sounds a lot like habit-stacking. Simple example: one of my morning meds is a topical gel, so I need to go wash my hands. Which means, since I'm in the bathroom, I can shave my face and then brush my teeth. :) If-then-if-then. Stacked habits.
It's essentially Classical Conditioning aka Pavlov's Dog. All this If/Then and Habit Stacking etc. has been around for years. I've set it up so if I wash my hands, I have a drink of water. The water is right there, so drinking water is an easy habit to add onto washing my hands. Now, if the water is running, I get the urge to want a drink of water.
I've heard it called habit anchoring, same thing as habit-stacking. The concept is valid, but the examples feel more like the software equivalent of adding function calls to an existing subroutine than conditional logic.
I'd use the if-then conditional logic for talking about deciding between alternatives. What strategies am I going to use to remember to do a task? I can set reminders on my phone, send myself emails, put a token in a place, etc.
If the task has to be at a specific time, set a timer.
Else if the task has a physical token to represent it, put it in a place to remember (like putting an umbrella or package to mail by the door).
Else send myself an email.
That's more like what I see as an example for if else.
I take so many supplements, with food, without food, so that's another place where if then conditional logic is handy. I use a box of supplements to go with dinner, medications with a timer, which I can snooze, and by moving things from one place to another, I know what I've taken.
This is such a great brain hack. I do essentially the same thing but call it habit stacking. I'm a nerd for formal logic though, so thinking of it as a conditional statement is hitting it for me. 😅
Also LOVE Andor s2 so far. Galactic politics and economics? Diverse cultures and planets? A gritty, nascent rebellion where the Force doesn't fix everything? Yes, please!! Not to mention the set and costume design. And acting. And direction.
I have a cat named Cassian. He's a momma's boy; no other personality resemblance. He's basically afraid of his own shadow.
I have been doing something like this for years to make sure I don't forget to take my medication, though I refer to it as my "order of operations." Brushing teeth must come before using mouthwash, which must come before taking my medication, which must come before waiting 30 minutes to eat breakfast. I can add other things to make sure they get done, but the main setup cannot change or the day is wrong from the start
I use something called habit-stacking. This sounds a lot like habit-stacking. Simple example: one of my morning meds is a topical gel, so I need to go wash my hands. Which means, since I'm in the bathroom, I can shave my face and then brush my teeth. :) If-then-if-then. Stacked habits.
I was thinking about how this reminded me of habit stacking too!
It's essentially Classical Conditioning aka Pavlov's Dog. All this If/Then and Habit Stacking etc. has been around for years. I've set it up so if I wash my hands, I have a drink of water. The water is right there, so drinking water is an easy habit to add onto washing my hands. Now, if the water is running, I get the urge to want a drink of water.
I've heard it called habit anchoring, same thing as habit-stacking. The concept is valid, but the examples feel more like the software equivalent of adding function calls to an existing subroutine than conditional logic.
I'd use the if-then conditional logic for talking about deciding between alternatives. What strategies am I going to use to remember to do a task? I can set reminders on my phone, send myself emails, put a token in a place, etc.
If the task has to be at a specific time, set a timer.
Else if the task has a physical token to represent it, put it in a place to remember (like putting an umbrella or package to mail by the door).
Else send myself an email.
That's more like what I see as an example for if else.
I take so many supplements, with food, without food, so that's another place where if then conditional logic is handy. I use a box of supplements to go with dinner, medications with a timer, which I can snooze, and by moving things from one place to another, I know what I've taken.
This is such a great brain hack. I do essentially the same thing but call it habit stacking. I'm a nerd for formal logic though, so thinking of it as a conditional statement is hitting it for me. 😅
Also LOVE Andor s2 so far. Galactic politics and economics? Diverse cultures and planets? A gritty, nascent rebellion where the Force doesn't fix everything? Yes, please!! Not to mention the set and costume design. And acting. And direction.
I have a cat named Cassian. He's a momma's boy; no other personality resemblance. He's basically afraid of his own shadow.
Indeed, a logic gate. A light switch is an if/then statement.
I have been doing something like this for years to make sure I don't forget to take my medication, though I refer to it as my "order of operations." Brushing teeth must come before using mouthwash, which must come before taking my medication, which must come before waiting 30 minutes to eat breakfast. I can add other things to make sure they get done, but the main setup cannot change or the day is wrong from the start
Love the If-Then hack. If I play Lumosity (and I will because Im obsessed), then I will take my morning vitamins (which I often forget).