Tips from Twitter: ADHD and Exercise

I like the gym with h/phones and a gym playlist.
I find having a place to go, a specific bpm song list, free weight training with mirrors (focus on form & positive and negative movements) & sharing a common energy with minimal interaction (cos distraction!) great.
Rejoin gym Fri!

— He Aroreretini Māori Wahine Toa (@ThatMaoriGirl) March 16, 2021

For me the benefits of exercise far outweigh the ‘dragging myself out the door’ 😫. It helps give a good dopamine rush, and it can be done around my own schedule. Plus, can listen to a book on whatever subject I’m deep diving into.

— AutisticMidwife (@AutisticMidwife) March 15, 2021

I subscribed to Fitbit Premium and it has access to guided/personalized workouts among other interesting features. It also offers fitness stats (approx) like heart rate during workouts, cardio fitness, calories burned etc and motivates me to continue exercising

— Chenna (@EntangledADHD) March 15, 2021

Define 'manage'. 😜While I can't currently go to organised classes, when I am up & about, I do a bit more to keep moving. When there are classes, I sign up to reg sessions & go (b/c I hate wasting money). Going for a spontaneous walk or similar is anathema b/c I ALWAYS need prep.

— Sigrid is totes getting the vaccine when she can. (@starduster360) March 15, 2021

I do it if/when I can, without expectations and without judgment.

Like most things, I've embraced being consistently inconsistent.

I'd much rather exercise inconsistently than strive for consistency, inevitably fail, and shame myself for it.

— Ren, MSOT 🌻💙 (@neurodiverseot) March 15, 2021

1st of all: have fun!

Find something you actually like – like juggling, or practicing a martial art, or skateboarding.

2nd: challenges!
Find an activity that challenges you. Challenges are exciting and push us to new limits, which gives us dopamine!

— amanda but in english (@adhdmandy) March 15, 2021

I struggle with this a lot but I’ve found that by just putting on my headphones and a playlist I can more easily get the movement part of my brain activated. Sound and movement go together for me.

— Donna Maria Bottomley 🐝 (@donnamariabee) March 15, 2021

I struggle with exercise a lot, but I‘ve been going on a walk almost every day since October. It can be hard to motivate myself, but I always take a book, download some good podcasts, and sometimes bring snacks and coffee. I know my area pretty well now and that feels great.

— Fina (@FinaStarGuard) March 15, 2021

Give yourself a tiny goal, like jog for 5 minutes 2 times a week. Once you get started exercising, you'll likely do more, but if you don't, then you'll still have achieved your goal and won't feel discouraged! Don't make it a chore! You're hard enough on yourself already!

— Andrea Rochelle Scardina (@AndreaRScardina) March 15, 2021