I'm after a smart watch for my ADHD. mainly to help working memory problems.
Anyone got advice on a good one?
I know I've left this kinda vague. Kinda hoping those with ADHD who have used a msart watch can share their insights.
Am kinda worried I will become addicted to my smart watch instead of my phone. Which is also what i don't want.
Any thoughts?
I saw someone on reddit the other day who went just ultra watch 3, no phone to cut down on distractions but remain contactable. (Watch has cellular support)
Yeah that could be the go if your intention is to use the watch to drop the smartphone. I've been considering a dumbphone for a while and watch does seem like a decent option, it solves one of the dumbphone problems for me which is messages not being grouped together in chats.
I agree with this (as someone with ADHD). It's so easy to think there's some gadget around the corner that'll fix everything but there never is. Notes app/alarms/reminders are the main thing that will help. I just have the reminder app widget on my home screen whenever I open my phone so I'm always looking at it. Works for me. The watch just ended up becoming expensive e-waste.
haha. Yes easy to be sucked into the daydreaming.
I'd just say, that a smart watch ability to help with to do list etc is better than a notepad. i.e. can talk to siri to add notes. set reminders via voice. All these things helps assist working memory which is the issue.
But the big question is. will the smart watch hurt more than help. Because if it hurts more. than what a waste of money.
appreciate the input though.
Don't worry I get stuck in the daydreaming plenty that's how I know.
Wouldn't relying on a smartwatch actually decrease your working memory? In the same way they say having the ability to google has ruined our memory.
Anyway are you making lists atm? If not I would start there first before buying a smartwatch because if you're not already doing that it's probably not the small effort of typing out a note that's preventing you from doing it consistently so adding the ability to make notes by voice won't be the fix.
respect to you for asking the right questions.
I am doing notes now.
Issue with non-digital. is I leave my notes in random places.
Issue with digital is. unlocking my phone unlocks pandoras box of distractions. and I end up wasting time.
Also in regards to working memory. I don't think working memory becomes worse. I think it can aid working memory. Think of it like RAM. my RAM is currently full. So instead of overfilling it and losing data. What i will do is. Store some of my working memory using reminders and notes on smart watch.
That's the theory anyway.
ADHD'er here - I have an Apple Watch - if I go to poop but leave my phone in the office, I can spend a grand total of like a minute pushing buttons on my watch until I get bored :P
Buuuuut: I also have focus modes setup so I only get notifications from things I should care about (ie. text messages/calls, no notifications from reddit and other timewasters)
I also find it's easier to cut down on distractions when I get a text message, I can glance at my watch and go "I don't want to deal with that" vs having to pull out my phone and look at the message (thus opening the door to more distraction).
As for the memory problems: I use Things (the to do list app that's stupid expensive but does the job) and I use a lot of timed notifications as reminders to do things. These too come up on my watch. (I don't actually enter things to do into my watch - typing on the watch sucks)
An example: I'm at work, I remember something I need to do when I get home, so I set a reminder for 5pm to do the thing. If there's multiple things, I'll set them to different times (as all of them coming in at once, I'm bound to forget about one of them).
Remember: Nothing's too small to go on your to do list.
Keep fightin the fight my dude.
Thanks mate.
A Good Smart Watch for ADHD
Nice weather today.
Friend had it, he started having Indian takeaway food 3 times a week (since he didnt cook himself) and said it definitely helped him.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35394134/
Smart watches give you notifications from your phone. There's nothing to really be addicted to. You can get apps and games and stuff for smart watches but why would you want to spend all day using them.
Why would you put a device designed to distract you on your wrist if you're trying to reduce your ADHD symptom? Why cant you just make to-do lists in your notes/to-do app on your existing phone? This sounds like the classic ADHD "I just need to buy this shiny new toy then I will be able to do the thing" daydreaming. Personally I find a physical notepad to be the best solution to help battle distractions and stay on task.