The ADHD Hoarder–Minimalist Paradox: Why We Keep Stuff We Don’t Even Like

The ADHD Hoarder–Minimalist Paradox: Why We Keep Stuff We Don’t Even Like

Why do ADHD girlies keep stuff we don’t even like? Why does minimalism feel like a personal attack? And how do we declutter without spiraling into an identity crisis? In this episode, I break down the real reasons traditional decluttering advice doesn’t work for neurodivergent brains — and what actually does. From my fake beef with Marie Kondo to the emotional landmines in your bathroom, we’re going deep on how to create a space that supports who you are becoming, not just who you’ve been! You’ll get 7 ADHD-friendly tips that are practical and rooted in compassion — no beige boxes or shame spirals required! Love, D P.S. let’s chat in the comments :) 🧠 Grab my ADHD-friendly Notion template here [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/2e721602-160a-4ab4-9240-f4229c8c9682?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true]! 💬 Wanna get an hour with me on my Hot Girl Helpline? YOU CAN [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/7fe5bf37-15d5-4736-b8d4-0ea5ae5f358c?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true]! 💌 Subscribe to ADHD Girlie on Substack [https://daniellecolada.substack.com]! 🕒 Timestamps + Takeaways 00:00:03 – The Hoarder–Minimalist ParadoxWhy do ADHD girlies keep things we don’t even like? Let’s talk about the inner war between craving calm and living in clutter. 00:01:11 – Why ADHD Brains Struggle With ClutterIt’s not laziness — it’s pattern recognition overload. We see too many possibilities in everything. 00:01:59 – Story Time: The Toilet Paper Tube RattleA baby toy, a cord organizer, a trash item… or all three? This is how our brains spiral. 00:02:39 – The Hobby Graveyard & Guilt PileWhen your space becomes a time capsule of everything you never finished. 00:03:47 – Minimalism Is Not an AestheticLet’s separate the beige influencer vibe from what minimalism actually means for ADHD baddies. 00:04:56 – Overstimulation, Memory, and Crusty VibesWhy clutter makes us shut down and how “leaving it out so you remember” totally backfires. 00:06:04 – My (Fake) Beef with Marie KondoHer system works — just not for brains like ours. Here’s why. 00:07:14 – 7 ADHD-Friendly Decluttering TipsThe real meat of the episode. Grounded, practical, and laced with compassion. 00:07:26 – Tip 1: Declutter Your HeartLet go of past identities. Own your future. Your space should reflect who you’re becoming. 00:09:12 – Tip 2: High Leverage Spaces FirstPrioritize the areas draining your energy the most — not the ones that just nag at you. 00:11:25 – Tip 3: The Overwhelm vs. Underwhelm ParadoxBig piles = burnout. One drawer = meh. Here’s how to find your sweet spot. 00:12:48 – Tip 4: Time Blindness & the Dory EffectWhy timers don’t always work — and what does. (Smartwatches to the rescue.) 00:15:02 – Tip 5: Externalize EverythingTalk to yourself, your items, or your AI. Out-loud processing is a game changer. 00:17:03 – Tip 6: Delay Decision FatigueUse layered “maybe” piles to avoid emotional shutdown. Forget perfect, aim for momentum. 00:19:54 – Tip 7: Remember Your CriteriaYour working memory will forget your goals. Set future-you reminders in advance. 00:21:23 – Decluttering Is Spiritual, ActuallyYour stuff either reinforces your past or helps unlock your next chapter. 00:21:27 – Wanna Work Together?Coaching spots are open. Hybrid support coming soon. Let’s declutter your life and your mind. Get full access to Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie at daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe [https://daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

ADHD Girlies, it's OUR time.

🎧 Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie #9 If you’re a woman with ADHD, a laptop, and a million ideas a minute — this one’s for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down how women with ADHD are uniquely built for the New Internet — and how AI tools like ChatGPT can help us become the most prolific, magnetic creators of this era. for all my fellow Goblin Girls just trying to get it together <3 We’re talking creative workflows, who gets to be an It Girl in the Age of AI, how ADHD might be an unfair advantage in the Ideas Economy, and how to use AI without becoming beige, boring, or robotic. Whether you’ve struggled to execute your ideas, organize your brilliance, or just keep up with life — this episode is your permission slip to leverage your brain the way it was meant to shine. Love, D P.S. let’s chat in the comments :) 🧠 Grab my ADHD-friendly Notion template here [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/2e721602-160a-4ab4-9240-f4229c8c9682?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true]!💬 Wanna get an hour with me on my Hot Girl Helpline? YOU CAN [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/7fe5bf37-15d5-4736-b8d4-0ea5ae5f358c?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true]!💌 Subscribe to ADHD Girlie on Substack [https://daniellecolada.substack.com]! share with another Goblin Girl in need <3 ⏱️ Timestamps & Takeaways: 00:00 – ADHD girlies are built for the New Internet00:33 – The secret isn't organization — it's ideas + AI execution01:33 – What actually makes someone an It Girl?02:09 – It Girls never do it alone — they have teams03:43 – Why ADHD girlies haven't had access to support... until now03:58 – Maybe your brain was never the problem — it was structure05:27 – The ADHD creative advantage: popcorn ideas06:35 – Enter AI: finally a system that keeps up07:50 – How I used ChatGPT to write this podcast (and you can too)10:47 – AI should help you, not replace you11:42 – Protect your voice!!!13:18 – Most people are using AI wrong (and how to do it better)15:35 – Train your tools — don’t let the tools train you17:10 – 4 types of girlies who will thrive in the AI era20:20 – This is our moment — flip the script!! Get full access to Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie at daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe [https://daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Is AI the Ultimate ADHD Hack — or Just Cheating?

Hello Girlies, it’s time for Episode 8! Strap in cuz this episode is doozy! If you’ve got ADHD (or just a brain that never stops), you already know the struggle: you’re chock-full of brilliant ideas but somehow life (and your own brain) keep getting in the way of getting it done… But in the year of our Lord 2025, we’ve got access to possibly the most powerful (yet polarizing) tool human-kind has ever had access to! Some are eager to embrace it, others are proud of their resistance… but what if you fall somewhere in between?🤔 This episode is part rant, part revelation — and maybe one of the most transparent episodes I’ve made yet: * what it’s like to want to finish things… but never quite get there * how Chat GPT came along and lowkey change my life — not because it gave me ideas, but because it helped me actually ship them * how I think every ADHD Girlie can begin to leverage AI, not to replace her own creativity, but to stop leaving her magic on the cutting room floor! Love u, D P.S. If this episode hit and you’re ready to stop sitting on your brilliance, I’ve got a few ways to help: 👩🏻‍🏫 Want personalized support? You can literally book an hour with me for ADHD coaching [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/7fe5bf37-15d5-4736-b8d4-0ea5ae5f358c?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true] — no long-term commitment, just pure “let’s figure this out together” energy! 🗂️ My ADHD-friendly Notion system [https://daniellecolada.store/shop/2e721602-160a-4ab4-9240-f4229c8c9682?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdaniellecolada.store%2F&show_back_button=true] (the one that actually works for my war zone of a brain) is available in my shop — and it comes with a full walkthrough [https://youtu.be/jpE8Csy7-8E?si=QlDaGFyrb78OWs5O]. 💌 And if you want to stay in the loop for new episodes, behind-the-scenes rambles, and the occasional overshare — join me on Substack [https://daniellecolada.substack.com]! My earliest paid subscribers get lots of things but particularly of note, my game-changing Notion system as a free gift with purchase ;) ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – The AI discourse is wild (and wildly inconsistent) 1:45 – My early ChatGPT experience: underwhelming TBH 3:20 – ADHD Girlie rebrand + the magic of messy drafts 4:45 – Is AI cheating or just efficient delegation? 6:10 – Popcorn thoughts, perfectionism, and the death of good ideas 8:15 – The 10–80–10 Rule (but make it neurodivergent) 10:00 – Creativity is divine. So is asking for help. 12:00 – GarageBand, Jack Antonoff, and boutique writing in the AI era 15:00 – What if ADHD is actually a superpower… now? 17:00 – Human tasks are sacred — but so is your brain 19:00 – Final thoughts (+ how to work with me) Get full access to Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie at daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe [https://daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

A Mid-30s ADHD Girlie Reset 📋 25 switch-ups for a Hot Girl 2025

⏱️ TIME STAMPS, TAKEAWAYS + PRACTICAL TIPS (00:00:03) – New Year Momentum (or lack thereof) * Theme: Resolutions lose steam fast * Takeaway: Wanting change is still valid even if motivation wanes—pivot into sustainable mindset shifts (00:00:42) – Out: Fawning & Fixing | In: Dignified Discomfort * Takeaway: You don’t owe fake niceness to people who are rude; choose integrity over people-pleasing * Practical Tip: In the moment, ask “What did you mean by that?” instead of laughing it off (00:03:18) – Out: Over-Researching | In: Step-by-Step Action * Takeaway: Research feels productive but can be a form of procrastination * Practical Tip: Identify just your next step—then do it. No more 27-tab rabbit holes (00:04:52) – Out: Perfectionism | In: Create & Ship * Takeaway: You don’t need to be a master to make meaningful work. Let taste mismatch be a teacher, not a blocker * Practical Tip: Make it “volume over vanity”—prioritize output over optics (00:06:22) – Out: Slowness | In: Speed * Takeaway: Close the gap between idea and execution. The faster you move, the more momentum you build * Practical Tip: Apply “money loves speed” to all areas—test fast, learn faster (00:07:11) – Out: Procrastination | In: Preparation * Story Time: Packing early for a flight completely changed her experience * Practical Tip: Shift from “last-minute mode” to “done-early ease”—future you will thank you (00:09:11) – Out: Need for Certainty | In: Tolerance for Ambiguity * Takeaway: Wanting guarantees keeps you on the bench. You grow by doing, not by knowing * Practical Tip: When you're hesitating, ask: “What if I just played the game today?” (00:11:10) – Out: Pie-in-the-Sky Goals | In: Micro Wins * Takeaway: Grand visions overwhelm ADHD brains. Focus on small, repeatable victories * Practical Tip: Win the day. Walk, cook at home, upload one video—stack tiny triumphs (00:12:21) – Out: Nighttime Scrolling | In: Nighttime Reading * Takeaway: End-of-day habits set the tone. Make evenings intentional, not dissociative * Practical Tip: Set a “Goblin Girl Hour” cap or sub in a physical book before bed (00:13:19) – Out: More | In: Better * Takeaway: Curation over accumulation. Love what you have = use and maintain what you have * Practical Tip: Touch everything you own this year. If you don’t love it, why keep it? (00:14:34) – Out: Instant Results | In: Reps & Progress * Takeaway: Mastery comes through iteration. Growth compounds when you stop chasing “the one” * Practical Tip: Make 100 good things instead of one perfect thing (00:15:46) – Out: Perfect First Draft | In: The Reissue * Takeaway: Release now, revise later. You’re allowed to evolve in public * Practical Tip: Think like an artist: drop the single, remix it later if needed (00:17:29) – Out: Rigid Routines | In: Minimum Viable Practices * Takeaway: Perfection collapses under pressure. Flexible consistency works better * Practical Tip: Anchor habits to needs—like “laundry when full” instead of “every Wednesday” (00:18:23) – Out: Complacency | In: Intention * Takeaway: Going with the flow can become passivity. Intention brings direction * Practical Tip: Ask: “Why am I doing this?” before you press play on autopilot (00:19:12) – Out: Rigidity | In: Surrender * Story Time: Letting go of needing to sit next to Gabe—and the universe made it happen * Practical Tip: Get clear on what you want. Let go of how it happens (00:20:44) – Out: Isolation | In: Community * Takeaway: People need people—even introverted extroverts * Practical Tip: Reach out. Nurture relationships. Join things. Create shared moments (00:21:28) – Out: Numbing | In: Presence * Takeaway: Zoning out can look like self-care, but it’s often a symptom of deeper dissatisfaction * Practical Tip: When you reach for a vice, ask yourself: “What am I avoiding feeling?” (00:22:34) – Out: Checkmark Mentality | In: Leverageable Action * Takeaway: Not all tasks deserve your time. Some are busywork dressed as productivity * Practical Tip: Ask: “Does this move the needle?” before doing a task (00:23:38) – Out: Emotional Sponge Mode | In: Clear Channel Flow * Takeaway: Feel everything, absorb nothing. Process what’s yours, let the rest pass through * Practical Tip: Try “label & release” journaling to move through amplified emotions (00:24:22) – Out: Bad Posture | In: Good Posture * Takeaway: Posture affects everything—even emotions, digestion, and jaw tension * Practical Tip: Tongue on roof of mouth. Shoulders relaxed. Realign as a form of self-respect (00:25:11) – Out: Optics | In: Essence * Takeaway: Prioritize how life feels, not how it looks. Be real, not performative * Practical Tip: Ask: “Am I doing this to feel good or look good?” (00:26:44) – Out: Scattered Spaghetti | In: Funneled Focus * Takeaway: Marry your passions into one container. Stack your skills, don’t scatter them * Practical Tip: Pick one “home base” project. Build depth before you branch (00:27:52) – Out: Raw Dogging Life | In: Taking Your Meds * Takeaway: If something helps you function better, it’s worth consistency—even if subtle * Practical Tip: Track how you feel with and without support. Patterns will reveal truth (00:29:00) – Out: Taking Life for Granted | In: Making It Magic * Takeaway: Even temporary things deserve reverence. Magic is made, not found * Practical Tip: Ask: “How can I honor today?” instead of waiting for someday (00:31:01) – Out: Settling | In: Luxury & Ease * Takeaway: You’re allowed to want more. Struggle isn’t required to be a good person * Practical Tip: Start small. Upgrade the candle. Use the good soap. Speak abundance daily (00:33:25) – In for 2025: Spiritual Connection * Takeaway: Reconnecting to a higher power can transform your energy, purpose, and peace * Practical Tip: Start small: gratitude journaling, prayer walks, or spiritual reading Get full access to Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie at daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe [https://daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

self-sabotage, shadow work, and the emotional rollercoaster of trying to do it all

Episode 7: fall off… get back on! Timestamps & Takeaways (00:00:00) – IntroTakeaway: Sometimes we drop off — and that’s okay. Let’s explore why, and how to return without shame. (00:00:40) – Why I Fell OffTakeaway: Just because you were gaining consistency doesn’t mean a system is fully built. Early-stage routines still require full energy. (00:02:20) – The Plane MetaphorTakeaway: Honor the energy it takes to get something in the air. Don't assume cruising altitude too soon. (00:03:18) – The Realization: Self-Sabotage & Fear of PeaceTakeaway: Self-sabotage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s subtle: blowing up flow the moment it feels safe. Peace can be triggering if chaos is your baseline. (00:06:11) – The Work Shift ExperimentTakeaway: If ease and readiness feel unfamiliar, you may subconsciously chase the chaos your nervous system is used to. Awareness is step one. (00:07:40) – Faux Beginners & False Starts Takeaway: Mastery requires sustained engagement. Reinventing yourself repeatedly keeps you feeling productive, but delays actual progress. (00:08:40) – Let’s Reframe: Not a Crash — Just a FallTakeaway: Plane crash energy = guilt and perfectionism. Horsefall energy = human and recoverable. The story you tell yourself shapes your return. (00:09:40) – Final Thought: Just Put Your Foot in the StirrupTakeaway: Progress doesn’t require perfection. Just showing up, even clumsily, builds the momentum back. Practical Tips from This Episode * Respect the Takeoff Phase:Don’t add new projects while you're still finding flow with a current one. Let something hit cruising altitude first. * Do Shadow Work Regularly:Self-sabotage often hides in your subconscious. Patterns like fearing peace or craving chaos don’t go away just because you named them once. * Experiment Like a Coach:Even small tweaks — like getting ready earlier — can reveal huge behavioral insights. * Reframe the Fall:Instead of guilt-tripping over “falling off,” view it like falling off a horse: common, recoverable, even expected. * Start Small, But Start:Your comeback doesn’t need to be a grand rebrand or perfect post. Just one foot in the stirrup is enough. Get full access to Diary of a Mid-30s Girlie at daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe [https://daniellecolada.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]