Holiday & Travel Planning

Simple Gifts That Satisfy: What ADDitude Readers Recommend

The last thing an adult with ADHD needs is more clutter they’ll never use but feel guilty about trashing. From tangible products to acts of service, these reader-recommended gift ideas will not gather dust or make life more complicated for the recipient.

By ADDitude Editors Verified Updated on May 21, 2024
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“How thoughtful.”

“What an interesting gift.”

“Wow – what a surprise.”

We’ve all heard the polite-yet-unenthused reaction of someone receiving an unwanted gift. Adults with ADHD — whose hobbies and interests change often — can be particularly tricky to shop for. Our advice? Go with gifts that make time, relationships, emotions, and clutter easier to manage.

Here are the gifts — gadgets, books, products, and services — that ADDitude readers told us they appreciated most.

[Download: Your Free Guide for Controlling Clutter]

Simple Gifts for Adults with ADHD

“A timer that counts backward and shows the time disappearing is so simple but made my time management so much better.” — Jo, UK

“I mostly pay for convenience services myself, but some friends got me a deep clean and declutter service (without judgment) after seeing how much I was struggling with housekeeping. It was the best and most thoughtful gift ever.” — An ADDitude reader

“A few months ago, I received a robot vacuum cleaner that also mops. This has made a huge difference in my life because I no longer need to feel ashamed about not having time to clean the floor. The work is done for me! And because the robot needs a clear space to do the job, it has been easier to keep an orderly space.”

“A Tile fob allows me to track my keys from the companion app on my phone. Conversely, I can track my phone if I click the fob on my keys. It works really well and is like being given the gift of time. I swear I’ve saved an hour a day that would normally be spent looking for my phone or my keys. The only issue is when I lose both at the same time!” — Jessica, UK

[The 2023 ADDitude Gift Guide for Adults with ADHD] 

“I wrote the months and days on a whiteboard that was attached to my fridge. I could clearly see it not only in the kitchen but from the loungeroom as well. Noticing that something was written on there made me get up and look, and I was a lot better at keeping appointments when I had this. Apps rely on being set up and updated all the time; a whiteboard is far easier.” — Dianne, Australia

“Holding a worry stone in my hand helps me to calm down and stay grounded in the present moment.” — Amy, Michigan

“My father paid for my full assessment [for ADHD]. It wasn’t covered by insurance. Having the diagnosis made it easier to accept myself.” — An ADDitude reader

“I recently read How to Do It Now Because It’s Not Going Away by Leslie Josel. While it wasn’t written specifically with ADHD in mind, it has a boatload of useful tips and tricks. It’s an easy read because it gets straight to the point without any filler.” — Christian, New York

“I struggle massively with feeding myself and cleaning up afterward. My magic bullet blender has single portion cups that are easy to clean. Even if I’m not hungry, it’s easy to throw some stuff together and get calories and protein down. Meal prep and eating is still a big struggle for me, but it’s that much easier to get going in the mornings because of my blender.” — Aiden, California

“I got a block calendar because I love associating a tangible experience with something as abstract as time. It was a gift I bought for myself. It’s aesthetically pleasing and that is important to me. I put it by our coffee maker several years ago and have been current on which day it is 97.5% of the time since. I especially love getting to change the blocks for each month. It worked so well for me that I introduced it in my classroom. Students love taking turns changing the date. It has helped the whole class become more aware of calendar time. I’ve also noticed less complaining about including the date on their assignments since the calendar block has become part of our classroom culture.” — Gabrielle, Tennessee

“Alexa can create timers for me that are voice-activated, and then tell me what they were for when I forget why they are going off. I can ask her something and get the information I need without going down a rabbit hole. She isn’t always easy to understand, but at least if I ask who Judy Garland played against in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ I don’t then see an article about ‘where are they now’ and click on it!” — Tamara, Idaho

“I really like ADDitude magazine! It has relatively few ads, and the articles are mostly concise and current/relevant to what I want to address.” — Kristy, Tennessee

“Apollo Neuro is amazing. It helps with focus and calm in a stressful situation. It’s also great during social situations like parties or group situations.” — Robin, Virginia

“I continuously read A Course in Miracles. I have read it for more than 10 years. It is especially helpful in breaking the cognitive distortions I have from not being diagnosed until my late 40s.”

“I have this incredible weekly pill container. Each day has an individual removable case with its own unique color, and two compartments labeled with the day and night. They all fit side by side into a clear case. It makes taking daily medications so much easier.” — An ADDitude reader

“Melissa Orlov and Ari Tuckman’s books have been incredibly useful tools for looking into ADHD and relationships.” — Charmaine, Pennsylvania

“The biggest ‘gift’ that has made ADHD easier is having people who see me and my challenges and who provide judgment-free support.” — K, Arkansas

Holiday Shopping: Next Steps

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

 

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