This week, we’re leaning into creative, unconventional strategies for working with our brains instead of against them. You might’ve seen the recent viral trend on TikTok where folks share the chaotic and quirky hacks they use for executive function and ADHD — for cleaning, studying, and everyday “side quests.”

These hacks work because they tap into how motivation starts for many of us: through momentum, novelty, play, or emotional activation.

First, a quick refresher — executive function is your brain’s “get things done” system: the mental skills that help you plan, focus, switch between tasks, manage time, and regulate emotions.

For folks with ADHD or other forms of neurodivergence, executive function can be more challenging.

But the truth is, everyone struggles with it at times. Ever put something off because the first step felt weirdly impossible? Or opened your fridge, forgot why, then walked away? That’s executive dysfunction in action.

Throughout the week, we’ll share tips and tricks sourced from the collective wisdom of the internet, with the hope that you’ll try something new that sparks momentum for whatever you’re working on.

Sound & Imaginary Coworkers

First, let's start with one of the most powerful cues for getting stuff done: sound.

From rage-cleaning to Mozart’s Requiem, to writing essays with your pirate hat on and Pirates of the Caribbean blasting, sound can be a serious productivity trigger. These strategies create structure, boost energy, and tap into the sensory cues that help many of us lock in.

So let's get curious and a little weird, together.

Try these innovative music and sound options to get work done!

🦜 Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack — what would a pirate do?: Listen here.

⌨️ Typing noises to simulate imaginary coworkers: Listen here.

🧠 Mozart’s Requiem — get activated!: Listen here.

🪩 8D bilateral sounds — hack your brain: Listen here.

🎮 10-hour loop of Coconut Mall — get in the zone: Listen here.

Props, costumes, & alter-egos

Next, let's talk about identity-based hacks: the ones that use costumes, alter egos, or entering into a “character mode” to sidestep avoidance and make tasks feel lighter.

These strategies might sound silly, but they’re grounded in real psychology.

When you signal a "state change" to your brain by using a prop or some kind of external trigger, it becomes easier to shift into focus, motivation, or flow.

That might mean putting on a pair of “chore shoes” for when you need to get some cleaning done, putting on a tiara for writing, or becoming your own personal assistant named “Doug” with a full backstory.

These playful cues help reframe the task. Plus, they’re fun and imaginative! And fun makes motivation more sustainable.

The term for this is “enclothed cognition.” Research shows that what we wear and how we frame our identity can directly influence how we think, feel, and act.

Below are some productivity personas and props gathered from TikTok If you’re not a TikTok user, great… we scoured the platform so you don’t have to 😜

Productivity personas to try out this week:

👟 Put on “task sneakers” or one wet sock for cleaning and household chores. You’re not allowed to remove them until the tasks are complete.

👑 Wear a tiara, witch hat, or apron to click into work mode, depending on who you want to embody (you’re no longer you, you’re the ‘do stuff’ witch!)

🎭 Create an alter ego, "assistant," or an intern to train on doing your chores or paperwork (even better if you give them a name)

🧥 Put on real pants to “become” the work you

💼 Pretend you’re your own assistant (and future you is your scary boss)

Time hacks that spark momentum

Now we'll dive into one of the most common hacks that people have been discussing online lately: bending time to your will.

For many of us — especially if time feels slippery or overwhelming — timers, and fake deadlines can create a little urgency that helps us start tasks or keep going.

Some examples include: racing against a 7-minute alarm, decluttering your space fast before your food delivery arrives, or starting a playlist and only stopping work when the music ends.

These hacks harness the power of time pressure — real or imagined — to spark action.

These work not because they make us more productive in a traditional sense, but because they help us initiate tasks. And often, that’s the hardest part.

This week, I encourage you to try out some of the creative tips below.

Beat the clock with these time-based hacks:

⏳ Set playful countdowns: Try a 7-minute timer to do dishes, or 5-minute sprint to declutter your desk.

🎶 Use different songs for each hour as alarms — it helps mark time and ease "time blindness."

🧼 Tidy the house before your food delivery arrives, the laundry cycle ends, or before your oven is done preheating.

🎲 Turn your to-dos into a dice game: number each task on your list, roll the dice and do the task you land on for 20 minutes. Continue until you finish each item on your list.

📺 Trigger a cleaning spree by binging cleaning content on Youtube or “tricking the algorithm.”

Clean, reclaim, & reset your space

This week’s theme is inspired by a wave of unconventional, neurodivergent productivity hacks making the rounds on TikTok — theatrical, chaotic, and surprisingly effective strategies for getting things done when executive function feels out of reach.

One of the most shared (and relatable) topics people discussed? Cleaning.

From tying a trash bag to your belt like a utility tool, to declaring “I reclaim this room in the name of the Queen (or King!)”… these hacks turn chores into fun and funny rituals to outsmart your resistance, calm overwhelm, and re-engage with your space.

For many of us, conquering cleaning tasks can be an emotional journey.

We can get overwhelmed with the amount of work involved, or feel pressured to meet invisible standards. That’s why so many of these shared hacks aren’t really about tidiness; they’re about resetting your relationship to your space.

Instead of chasing perfection, let’s explore some playful and compassionate ways to think about your living space — below, I’ll share a few techniques that involve ritual, humor, and sensory cues to spark just enough momentum to make your space more livable, and reclaim it as your own.

Try out these fun ways to reset (and reclaim) your space!

🧍‍♂️ Can’t start? Lie dramatically in the mess, take a breath, and let the absurdity nudge you into one small action

🚪 Pretend a surprise guest is coming over — create imagined urgency and tap into social motivation

🧻 Tape a trash bag around your waist like a utility belt for instant grab-and-go disposal

📸 Take “before” and “after” pics for mini victories and motivation boosts

🗡️ Clean out of spite — pretend you don’t want an enemy, ex, or that one annoying neighbor to see your cluttered space.

Own your rhythm & ditch the shame

Thanks for sticking with us this week as we dove into some of the most out-of-the-box, quirky ADHD-friendly executive function hacks TikTok has to offer — everything from sound triggers and goofy props, to fake deadlines and whimsy rituals.

All of these hacks have one thing in common: they help you work with your brain, not against it.

Many of us grew up thinking there’s one “right” way to get stuff done. And if we didn’t meet that bar, it meant we were failing.

But productivity isn’t about pushing yourself harder or doing everything at once. It’s about figuring out what actually helps you get through your day, no matter how unusual, silly, or imaginative it is.

If putting on a crown, blasting the Game of Thrones soundtrack, or pretending you're the star of a reality TV show makes life easier, that’s not silly — that’s smart.

We celebrate whatever actually works — no guilt or pressure. I hope this week’s theme sparked some curiosity, self-kindness, and a touch of fun weirdness for you.

Let’s wrap up the week with a few gentle reminders: your personal way of getting things done only needs to work for you.

Here are a few extra reminders to carry with you this week.

✨ Your ways of managing, organizing, and coping don’t have to look polished or perfect to be meaningful and effective.

✨ Let go of the “shoulds” and the pressure to fit a mold. Instead, tune into what feels real and supportive for you.

✨ Struggling isn’t laziness. It’s your brain’s way of signaling it needs different strategies — and that’s okay!

✨ Rest and breaks aren’t rewards to be earned, they’re essential parts of your rhythm and well-being.

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We hope our theme this week helped you discover a few new, playful ways to get things done! Our community is full of people with diverse and unique brains, and we're glad to have you here, too.

P.S. If you could use help accomplishing your goals this month with support from our amazing community, please join us at one of our live guided work sessions, or morning planning sessions!

Take care,

— Farah, focused space host