Support for ADD (or the shiny object syndrom!)
On Shiny Object Syndrome
I like to affectionately call it Shiny Object Syndrome.
I could be doing one thing, fully engaged, and then—ziiiinnggg!—a more interesting thought or task would appear and I’d be off on a new thread. Suddenly I’d be in ten different rooms, doing ten different things, before remembering what I’d gone there to do in the first place.
Totally harmless most of the time.
Incredibly disruptive when I actually needed to focus.
For a long time, I thought this was just a personality quirk. Eventually, I learned that this kind of busy, easily diverted brain is often described as ADD. Over time, what mattered to me far more than the label was understanding how my brain and nervous system respond to stimulation, stress, and depletion.
What I’ve learned — through lived experience, not perfection — is that focus isn’t just about discipline. It’s about support.
And one thing I want to say clearly:
Of all the tools I’ve explored, meditation has been the most powerful practice for training my attention over time. Not in a “fix it overnight” way, but in a steady, cumulative one.
Food, rest, movement, and supplementation can help support the brain — but meditation taught me how to notice when I’d left myself and gently come back.
Supporting Focus (Without Making It a Moral Issue)
Rather than thinking in terms of a rigid “ADD diet,” I now think about reducing things that destabilize my systemand adding things that help it feel steady.
Things that reliably made focus harder for me:
Large amounts of sugar (especially when stressed or under-fed)
Highly processed foods
Artificial dyes and additives
Excess caffeine
Eating irregularly or skipping meals
There was a time in my twenties when I was surviving almost entirely on sugar and stress. My brain felt chaotic because my body was overwhelmed. Once I started feeding myself real food consistently, my ability to focus changed dramatically.
Not because I became more disciplined — but because my system finally had what it needed.
Nutritional Support (Context Matters)
Over the years, I’ve found certain nutrients helpful for my own focus and nervous system support, especially when used consistently and thoughtfully:
Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil or food sources)
B vitamins, which support neurological function
These weren’t magic solutions — but when I neglected them, I noticed the difference.
As always, individual needs vary, and support is most effective when it’s personalized.
Grounding Tools I Still Use
When I feel scattered and don’t have the space to sit and meditate, I turn to sensory grounding.
For me, scent has been a surprisingly effective anchor.
Woody, earthy scents like vetiver or cedarwood help my body settle and my attention gather. I don’t use them to forcefocus — I use them as a reminder to come back into my body.
A few slow breaths.
A pause.
Then I return to what I was doing.
What I Know Now
Looking back, my “shiny object brain” wasn’t a flaw.
It was a signal.
A signal that my system needed steadiness, nourishment, rest, and fewer demands — not more pressure or self-criticism.
Focus isn’t something we bully ourselves into.
It’s something that emerges when the system feels supported.
And meditation — simple, imperfect, human practice — taught me that more than anything else.