Top 8 Resources Making My ADHD Life A Little Easier

It’s no secret that managing life with ADHD can leave a brain feeling overwhelmed at times. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for tools that make the daily grind just a bit easier. In this week’s episode of I’m Busy Being Awesome, I’m sharing eight incredible resources that have powerfully supported my ADHD brain this season.

woman smiling looking at phone

These tools cover everything from simplifying routines, to supporting emotional regulation, to creating a more restful night’s sleep. I’m telling you, there’s something here for everyone.

My goal with this episode >> To help you find resources that truly support your brain and make life feel a little more manageable. 

So, if you’re ready to discover some fresh ideas, I invite you to dive into episode 289. I think you’ll find a few favorites to add to your toolkit.

You can listen to the episode above or stream it on your favorite podcasting app here.

Prefer to read? No problem! Keep scrolling for a summary of the key takeaways.

In Episode 289: You Will Discover:

  • ADHD-friendly tools that help manage daily tasks and reduce mental strain.
  • Strategies for emotional regulation and self-care tailored for ADHD brains.
  • Resources for better focus, sleep, and productivity.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here.

Before we jump in make sure to grab this Free eBook – 10 Tips to Work with your ADHD Brain…

10 tips to work with your ADHD brain

episode 289: Top 8 Resources Making My ADHD Life A Little Easier (Transcript)

This week’s episode was such a fun one for me to put together, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Today, I’m really excited to share the top eight resources that are making my ADHD life a little bit easier this season. 

A lot of these are random tools and resources that are helping make my day-to-day life more enjoyable or lighten the cognitive load. A couple are more business- and work-related. It’s definitely a wide array, and I hope that as you listen, one or two of these will stand out to you and give you some fresh ideas.

And, as always, if you have resources that are making a difference in your life, I’d love to hear about them! Please reach out and let me know. We can connect over on Instagram—I’m @imbusybeingawesome. Send me a DM or leave a comment on one of   the posts for this episode. I can’t wait to learn about all of your favorite resources, too!

So with that, let’s dive into my current top resources making my ADHD life easier…

My Top ADHD Resources Making Life Easier

1. Libby (with Timer Benefits)

Libby is this incredible app that connects you to your local library’s collection of audiobooks and eBooks—all for free! It’s like having an entire library in your pocket. You just sign in with your library card, browse through thousands of titles, and borrow them. 

The audiobooks are perfect for parallel tasking, like walking, cleaning, or driving, crocheting, doing puzzles, folding laundry, etc. all while still enjoying books.

There’s the thrill of requesting books without the price tag of audible, and you’re using your local library while doing so.

Plus, something I love on both Libby and Audible is the timer feature. I find this is such a great resource to cue when it’s time for me to goto sleep.

So I have this comfy chair in the corner of my bedroom and I love to sit there and read or crochet or whatever. At night, I like to take about 30 minutes to wind down. I crochet while listening to whatever book I have going at the moment and then before turning out the light I write a few sentences in my journal.

Now, I don’t keep my phone in the bedroom, so I set a 25-minute timer and when it goes off, I know it’s time to write a few sentences in my journal and then go to sleep.

It helps prevent slipping into hyperfocus when I’m crocheting so I don’t suddenly look up and realoze I’ve finished half the book and it’s after midnight…which has certainly happened before. 

By using the sleep timer function, it builds a sense of structure, making it easier to relax and enjoy the time without needing to keep track of it. 

2. Speechify

Speechify is an amazing app that turns text into audio, so you can listen to things like articles, emails, documents, web pages, or even PDFs instead of reading them. (Use this link for a one-month free trial and $60 off a premium subscription if you decide to keep it.)

For some ADHD brains, reading can be super draining on our working memory—it’s challenging to stay focused, remember what you just read, and (if you’re like me) even stay awake sometimes! Having the text in front of you plus someone reading it aloud is incredibly powerful.

One of my favorite features is that you can even take a picture of a book, a page, or handwritten notes, and Speechify will turn that into readable text and then read it aloud to you.

It’s such a game-changer for tackling anything from textbooks to random scribbled ideas you jotted down.

You can also adjust the speed, which is so handy. Honestly, it’s like having a personal assistant who reads to you. And because you get to choose the voices, I have Gweneth Paltrow read all of my stuff, which makes it even more fun.

Whether it’s catching up on work, making progress on a dense book, or just turning a chore into a more engaging experience, Speechify makes it so much easier to tackle the reading pile in a way that works with your brain.

3. Spotify by Mood

For anyone unfamiliar with Spotify, it’s essentially a music and podcast app similar to Pandora or Amazon music.

I like Spotify for many reasons in regard to being able to listen to and play music whenever I want to, but more specifically through an ADHD lens, Spotify is one of my go-to supports for emotional regulation. 

If I’m feeling big feelings, whether  I’m feeling sad, angry, anxious, grief, etc. I go to Spotify and search for that mood of music.

For example…

If I’m feeling sad, I’ll type “sad music” into the search bar and let it generate a playlist that helps me lean into that sadness and really feel it.

If I’m feeling angsty, I’ll type “angsty music” and let the playlist help me get into my body and process the emotion—whether that means dancing it out, walking through it, or just breathing with it.

It’s such a powerful way tohelp me connect with what I’m feeling, move through it, and come out the other side feeling so much lighter.  

4. Shark Vacuum

The Shark robot vacuum – essentially, it’s the shark version of the roomba –  is like having a little helper that takes one more thing off my plate. Ha! It’s like having Rosy from the Jetsons living in your home if you happen to remember that cartoon.

But I put my shark robot vacuum on a timer, and every day it gets to work cleaning up crumbs, dust, pet hair—you name it.

And let me tell you, with Bruno shedding like it’s going out of style, this thing is an absolute lifesaver.

For me, it’s not just about the convenience—it’s also about the timing. Vacuuming noise generally can be super intense for me – really grating on my ears, so I love that I can schedule it to run while I’m asleep. I wake up to clean floors without ever having to deal with the sound or stop what I’m doing to vacuum.

And it’s not just the noise and the physical act of vacuuming; it’s the mental load of remembering to do it, finding the time, and then actually following through. Having a robot is really something else. It’s so very helpful.

5. BedJet

The BedJet has been a game-changer for me as a hot sleeper. I’ve always run hot at night—ever since I was a kid—which is ironic because, during the day, I’m always cold. Maybe my body just saves up all the heat to release at night!

Whatever the reason, sleeping through the night has always been a struggle. I wake up kicking off sheets, getting tangled in them, and feeling restless. Sleep and I have not been friends for a long time.

I’d heard people rave about 8Sleep, but every time I looked into it, the price tag just wasn’t something I could justify. So, naturally, I had a conversation with my good friend ChatGPT to explore alternatives, and BedJet came up repeatedly. It piqued my interest.

On the surface, it seems a little unusual—you’re basically putting a fan system at the foot of your bed that blows air under the sheets, adjusting the temperature to be cool or warm. And honestly – that’s what it is. But it’s so effective!

The best part? You can program it to change temperatures throughout the night. For example, I tend to wake up really warm between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m., so I set the BedJet to start cooling during those hours.

At first, I just bought the fan system, and while it was good, I wasn’t completely sold.

Then I added the BedJet fitted sheet that’s designed to distribute the air evenly throughout the bed, and wow—what a difference. The cooling (or heating, if you prefer) becomes consistent and so much more effective. Plus, there’s an option for dual temperature control if you’re sharing the bed with someone who has different preferences.

So again, without the sheet, it works, but in my experience, it’s just not the same. Adding the sheet was the key for me. I use a few sleep tracking apps – I believe I even mentioned them on a different episode – auto sleep and rise sleep, and I’ve seen clear improvements in my sleep quality.

For the first time in I don’t even know how long—maybe since childhood?—I’m actually sleeping through the night. Better rest means more focus, energy, and emotional regulation during the day, and I can feel the difference when I wake up after a solid night of uninterrupted sleep.

Is it cheap? No, but compared to something like 8Sleep, it’s much more affordable. I believe the price is around $400 for the single-temperature system, though you’d want to check the current pricing. For me, it was an investment I saved for and would happily make again.

👉 Get 10% off with my referral code. If sleep is a challenge for you, and especially if you’re a hot sleeper like me, this could be a game-changer for you, too!

6. Ororo Heated Vest

My dad drew my name for Christmas, and he got me this vest, which I’d never heard of before. But let me tell you, it’s incredible. Especially because, as I just mentioned, despite being super warm at night, I’m always freezing during the day. 

The Ororo heated vest is such a cozy bit of delight, especially if you’re someone who’s always cold during the day like me. It’s a lightweight vest with built-in heating elements that you can control with the push of a button.

It has adjustable heat settings, so you can make it as warm as you need, and it heats up super quickly—which is perfect when you’re working in a freezing office or just trying to stay warm without piling on a bunch of layers.

For me, it’s not just about staying warm; it’s about staying focused since comfort and focus go hand in hand for me. When I’m cold, I get distracted, fidgety, and just plain uncomfortable.

The vest keeps me cozy, which helps me concentrate and actually get things done. It’s also super lightweight and doesn’t feel bulky, so I can wear it while I’m working, walking the dog, or even running errands.

Honestly, it’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received—it’s like walking around with a warm hug all day. Yes, please!

7. Todoist

All right, I know I’ve mentioned todoist multiple times. But when I’m doing a list of top 8 things that are saving my ADHD life, I can’t skip this one, because it really plays such a big role for me. But because I have talked about it before, I’ll do just a quick overview here.

Todoist is my go-to app for keeping track of everything I need to do, as well as the ideas and projects I might want to do and don’t want to forget. It’s like my external brain, helping me stay organized when my ADHD brain wants to go in 100 different directions. I love how easy it is to use—you can make lists for all your projects, set deadlines, prioritize tasks, and even break things down into smaller, more manageable steps.

What I really appreciate is how flexible it is.  For example, if I’m really working in that Thoroughbred energy of intense hyperfocus on one project,  I can build my schedule and todoist to honor that and also spread out the other non-negotiable smaller tasks throughout the week to ensure that they get done as well. 

As I mentioned, Todoist is also great for capturing ideas as they come up so they don’t disappear into the void. I can quickly add tasks or thoughts, and then sort through them later when I have the time. It keeps everything in one place, so I don’t have to worry about forgetting something important.

Essentially, Todoist helps me turn the swirl of tasks in my brain into something I can manage – especially when working with others. When I was the only person taking care of my tasks and projects, my paper planner worked great.

However, once I started working with people in other parts of the country, it quickly became clear that I needed an electronic task management system that someone else could easily access.

It’s simple, flexible, and has made such a difference in how I approach my day-to-day. Plus, checking things off a list? So satisfying.

👉 Get 2 months of the PRO Plan for Free (with this link).

8. Fathom

Now this last item is more business-specific,  but honestly, it can be a phenomenal resource for anybody who ever attends or holds any type of online meeting whether on Zoom, Microsoft teams, Google meet, etc.

Fathom is an incredible tool for anyone running online meetings because it takes the pressure off trying to remember every detail or take perfect notes. It automatically records, transcribes, and highlights key moments in your meeting—like action items, decisions, or important discussions—all without you having to lift a finger.

For me, it’s been  Such a loving gift to my brain. When I’m on a coaching call with a 1:1 client or coaching one of my group calls, I want to focus completely on the conversation, my client’s energy, and their affect.

I don’t want to worry about jotting down every note or trying to recall everything later—Lord knows my working memory won’t cooperate there!

Fathom is this incredible support that captures both the overarching themes as well as the smaller details and action items shared throughout the call. And it’s written in such a concise, clear way.

One of my favorite features is that you can prompt Fathom with specific directions so that it shapes its call notes based on the type of meeting you’re having.

For example, in my coaching calls, I have it highlight client wins, reflection questions, and next steps. This way, in addition to capturing all the topics we discuss, we’re also celebrating successes and documenting meaningful questions for journaling or further reflection. It’s such a powerful tool, and the accuracy is incredible.

I also really appreciate Fathom’s focus on privacy. They don’t share your information or use your recordings to train their machines or other systems. What you record belongs to you, and that’s so important when working with personal or sensitive information.

It really is a remarkable tool, and I’ve found it invaluable in my work. As we know, recalling details and sifting through meeting notes can be incredibly draining for the ADHD brain. This tool captures and organizes information for you, reducing cognitive load and freeing up your focus for other important areas.

👉 Give Fathom a try with 3 months free of the Pro version!Once the three months are up, they’ll simply drop you down to the free version unless you choose to upgrade to pro. I do use the pro version myself, but I think for many of you, the free version would be more than enough.

Recap

So there you have it—the top eight resources that are making my life with ADHD a little bit easier this season. Here’s a quick recap:

  • Libby – Free access to audiobooks and eBooks with a sleep timer to help set boundaries and wind down.
  • Speechify – Turns text into audio, helping tackle reading tasks with ease and efficiency.
  • Spotify by Mood – A go-to for emotional regulation, with playlists tailored to match and move through big feelings.
  • BedJet – Temperature control for better sleep, leading to more focus, energy, and emotional regulation during the day.
  • Shark Vacuum – A robot vacuum that handles the cleaning while I focus on other things (or sleep!).
  • Ororo Heated Vest – Keeps me warm and cozy, helping me stay focused and comfortable while working or on the go.
  • Todoist – My external brain for managing tasks, projects, and ideas with flexibility and ease.
  • Fathom – Meeting transcription and highlights that let me stay fully present without worrying about notes or memory gaps.

Each of these tools supports my brain in different ways, and together, they make a big difference in my day-to-day life! I hope you’ll find a few of them helpful, too. If you want to check any of them out, I’ll link everything in the show notes.

Some of them include affiliate links or discount codes for you,  I’ll be sure to note that in the show notes. And if you give any of these a try, I’d love to hear about it!

Similarly, if you have tools that are making your ADHD life a little easier this season, I’d love to hear about those, too. Let’s connect over on Instagram—I’m @imbusybeingawesome. Feel free to send me a DM or leave a comment on one of the posts for this episode. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

If you’re ready to take these concepts and apply them to your life and support your ADHD in a way that’s best for you, you can learn more about how we can work together in both my small group coaching program, We’re Busy Being Awesome, and through one on one coaching.

👉 Want to learn my simple step-by-step approach to locking in a routine and making it stick, be sure to check out my free course, the ADHD Routine Revamp.

I’ll talk with you soon.

Resources Mentioned:

Links From The Podcast

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Paula Engebretson - ADHD Coach and Pdacster

About Paula Engebretson

ADHD COACH | PODCASTER

I spent the first 31 years of my life thinking I just needed to “try harder” while dealing with crushing self-doubt, perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Then I was diagnosed with ADHD.

Finally understanding the missing puzzle piece, I discovered how to work with my brain, build upon my strengths, and take back control of my life.

Now I help others with ADHD do the same. Learn more.


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