Ideas for Letting Your ADHD Brain Run Wild (Because Adulting Is Overrated)

Most ADHD advice is about being productive, getting organized, and managing your symptoms. But let’s be real — sometimes you just want to enjoy your weird little ADHD brain instead of fighting it. That’s why I put together this list of tools, apps, and resources that fuel creativity, curiosity, and dopamine (without the guilt).

And because our memories often suck (mine most of all) here are all the ideas mentioned in my recent podcast episode.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

Give Yourself Permission to Have Weird Hobbies

Adulting makes it seem like hobbies need to be useful or productive — but screw that. If it brings you joy, it is useful. Whether it’s building with Legos, collecting shiny rocks, or deep-diving into obscure history, your ADHD brain deserves fun.

One of my favorite ADHD-friendly hobbies? TTRPGs (Tabletop Role-Playing Games), like Dungeons & Dragons.

• They allow for creativity, problem-solving, and absolute chaos.
• You get to be whoever you want — a bard who seduces everything, a rogue with an unhinged backstory, or a fairy barbarian who sparkles when she rages.
• And let’s be real, rolling dice is pure dopamine. There’s something deeply satisfying about the clatter of a D20 deciding your fate.

So if you’ve never tried it, consider giving a one-shot game a go! Look for Adventure League games at your local comic or gaming stores. Or find your own ADHD-friendly hobby that lets your brain go wild. Think about the things you loved as a kid. Sports? Theater camp? Writing poems? Dancing? Singing? Give it a try again. Or try something completely different. Just go have some fun.

Sensory & Dopamine Boosters

Engaging the senses is one of the best ways to help ADHD brains focus, regulate emotions, and stay present. Here are some tools that provide satisfying sensory input:

• Fidget Toys (but the good ones!):
  • Infinity Cubes – Clicky, smooth, endlessly satisfying.
  • Squishy Stress Balls – Heavy-duty ones that don’t break after two squeezes, like this giant cheese-shaped one that my family loves.
  • Metal fidgets – The weight, balance and fidgety-ness are peak. Captain America’s shield and Thor’s hammer are particularly awesome in this set that my daughter got for Christmas. 
• Texture-Based Dopamine:
  • Weighted Blankets – Provides deep pressure stimulation to calm ADHD restlessness.
  • Ridiculously Soft Hoodies – Because comfort is king. Unfortunately, I don’t have a link for a recommendation here because this is so subjective!
  • Kinetic Sand – Great for hands-on sensory input. Instant calming satisfaction!
• ASMR & Oddly Satisfying Tools:
  • Oddly Satisfying – A Youtube channel with oddly satisfying and ASMR videos.
  • Hydraulic Press Channel – Because watching things get crushed is weirdly relaxing.

Hobby Subscription Boxes

If you love trying new things but don’t want to commit to an expensive hobby setup, subscription boxes are the way to go! They deliver everything you need in one box — no endless supply lists or decision fatigue.

Cratejoy has tons of options. Here some of the ones I mentioned in the episode that looked fun to me, but there are MANY more:

• The Adults & Crafts Crate
• Scarlet Envelope: Secret Society Subscription
• My Garden Box

Deep-Dive Research Tools

For when your brain decides it must know everything about medieval sword fighting at 2 AM.

• Wolfram Alpha – Like Google, but for highly detailed, data-driven answers.
• Google Scholar – Find academic papers and deep-dive studies on niche topics.
• Pocket – Save articles for later (even if you’ll forget to read them).
• Instapaper – Strips distractions from articles for clean, easy reading.

Other cool apps that feed the curiosity monster include:

• Curiosity Stream – A fairly inexpensive streaming service that boasts thousands of documentaries.
• Brilliant – Interactive learning with 60+ courses in math, programming, data analysis, computer science, and more. There is a limited free option, as well as a monthly or annual premium subscription.
• Blinkist – This is another paid app, but it offers summaries of nonfiction books and podcasts in the form of audio or text.

Podcasts & YouTube Channels

Perfect for deep-diving into random knowledge, history, and internet chaos.

Kim’s Personal ADHD Deep-Dive Favorites:

• Behind the Bastards – History’s worst people, told in a way that’s hilarious and deeply researched.
• You’re Wrong About – Debunking major cultural events and misunderstood figures.

Final Thoughts: Give Yourself Permission to Play

Most ADHD advice is about “fixing” things, but sometimes, the best thing you can do is embrace what makes your brain happy.

• Play.
• Indulge your “weird” hobbies. 
• Let yourself fall down research rabbit holes.
• And probably buy yourself some fun dice.

If you found this list helpful, let me know! What’s the most off-the-wall thing your ADHD brain has ever hyperfixated on? Email me at kim@levelupmyadhd.com!