🧬 HEALTH
“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Health is the ground beneath your feet on the ADHD trail—the steady earth that allows you to move, rest, focus, and recover. It’s not just physical; it’s mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual. It’s not about perfection or aesthetics—it’s about capacity. And for ADHDers, maintaining that capacity can take extra creativity and care.
Many people with ADHD struggle with consistent self-care. We forget meals, stay up too late, skip appointments, or ride waves of energy that crash without warning. Shame tells us this means we don’t care. But in truth, we often care deeply—we just need systems that match our brains.
Living the value of health means meeting yourself where you are, with compassion. It’s asking not “What should I be doing?” but “What helps me function and feel whole today?” It’s taking your meds and taking a breath. It’s reaching for rest before burnout. It’s making health a relationship, not a project.
And it’s personal. For some, health is movement and momentum. For others, it’s slowing down. What matters is not what it looks like—it’s that it’s yours, and that it works.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Is this choice helping me feel more steady—or just more pressured?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who treats my health not as a task to conquer, but a foundation to honour.
- People and Pursuits: Who supports my well-being without judgment? What activities truly nourish me?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll take one step—tiny, tangible, kind—that supports my health from the inside out.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Time blindness and motivation fluctuations can disrupt routines.
- Emotional dysregulation may lead to health-neglecting behaviours.
- Medical gaslighting or misunderstanding can make ADHDers distrust healthcare.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Health
- Pick one “anchor habit” to return to—a meal, walk, sleep cue, or hydration check.
- Ask: “What’s the most supportive thing I can do for my body or brain today?”
- Celebrate consistency in spirit, not in streaks.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What does health mean to me—beyond society’s definitions?
- Where have I made progress in caring for myself, even if no one noticed?
- What supports might I need to create a more ADHD-friendly version of self-care?
Health is not the pursuit of perfection. It’s the art of maintenance, recovery, and compassion—the kind that lets you keep showing up for your life.
