3A
Apps of Steel
Using Technology Just for the Health of It
Use your technology to get healthier, without losing your ADHD-mind. There are so many ways that our smartphones and other devices can help those of us with ADHD become more physically and mentally healthy. Aaaannnd many ways that technology can get in the way of our wellbeing. What does what, and how does it apply to folks with ADHD? We'll talk about finding the best ADHD-friendly compromises for your health, including some unconventional ideas, to accomplish your health goals with (and without) technology.
Recorded in 2020. Apps, gadgets, and settings have moved on since then, so treat the products I name as examples rather than this year's picks.
Is your device getting in the way?
If you're binging shows in the evening, does it get in the way of your intimacy? "Just one more!" and autoplay make it hard to disengage until it's way too late for other activities. Or maybe your endless scroll is Instagram or TikTok... whatever! We'll talk about how devices can get in the way. And, maybe, how technology can help you get your intimacy back.
Let's Bring Attention to Our Health
I made this course to explore the ways our health and ADHD are impacted by the technology we use every day.
What do I Uniquely Bring to this topic:
Make Exercise Less Boring
We have lots of theoretical reasons to exercise, but that's just not enough. We need plans, and to get past the barriers in our way. That's where I bring in my background in cognitive neuroscience, and years of experience helping clients find exercise that works for them. One of the worst barriers with ADHD is the existential dread of something being boring! Let's come up with some less-boring options!
Reproduction / Cycle Talk
Not enough folks in technology talk about good apps and tools for cycle tracking and fertility. That's fair, most of them have "outdoor plumbing!" And, unfortunately, there are a lot of predatory apps out there. As though tracking things isn't hard enough with ADHD, now we have fear and decision fatigue about how to start! Let's talk about tech that works, tech that doesn't, and how to spot which apps might protect your privacy!
Sleep, ADHD, and Neuroscience
Sleep and ADHD are no joke. We already struggle with sleep, but the devices in our lives don't make this any easier. And less sleep makes ADHD symptoms worse. I love the intersection of health, technology, attention, and neuroscience. How are the devices getting in the way? Let's talk about how to mitigate that, and improve our sleep!
Download the Apps of Steel Handout (PDF)
Download the handout if you'd like to follow along and take notes!
Watch it straight through
The whole course back to back, 48:17. Chapter markers in the player, or tap a lesson below to skip to it. The short Night Shift demo (3C) is only in lesson 3.
Or one lesson at a time
1
Welcome: Health Goals with ADHD
5:11An introduction, background about health goals and ADHD, and a plea to tackle only 1 (maybe 2) health goals at a time! If you're not sure what to choose, consider "Brittany's Law of Health and ADHD Management" (Prioritize, Exercise, then Sleep, then Everything Else).
2
Exercise and ADHD
7:49
3
Sleep, Tech, and the ADHD Brain
3B
Using Light to Wake Up and Wind Down
3:40Chapters in this video (3)
Read the transcript
3C
Night Shift on iPhone for Better Sleep
1:43Brittany will show you how to turn on Night Shift. You've probably heard about blue light from screens causing sleep problems. That's because blue light feels like the sun and communicates that it's time to be awake. It's been associated with lower melatonin production.
It's likely that the things we do on our phones at night also contribute to problems sleeping. Since that's a harder problem, it doesn't hurt to use your iPhone's Night Shift to at least lower the blue light.
Night Shift is a built-in feature on your iPhone that adjusts the color temperature of your screen to a warmer, more amber hue in the evening. This helps reduce the amount of blue light emitted by your screen, which can disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep.
So, why should you use Night Shift? Well, for starters, it can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It's also great for reducing eye strain and headaches caused by staring at a bright screen for too long. Plus, it just makes your phone look way cooler. I mean, who doesn't want to be a part of "Team Orange Screen?"
To turn on Night Shift:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap on Display & Brightness
- Tap on Night Shift
- Turn on the toggle switch for "Scheduled"
- Set your desired schedule for Night Shift to turn on and off
- Enjoy the warm, amber glow of your screen as you scroll through your social media feeds before bed.
You can also manually turn on Night Shift by clicking on the Control Center and long-pressing on the brightness slider. Then, tap on the Night Shift button. Night Shift is the secret weapon you never knew you needed for a better night's sleep. Give it a try and see for yourself. Sweet dreams!
4
Stress and Technology
4:19
5
Meditation with ADHD
3:57
6
ADHD, Sex, & Technology, Oh My!
4:47
7
Health Tracking with ADHD
9:39
8