How I Prepare My ADHD Brain (and Skin) for December

 

December is beautiful. It's my favorite month. Christmas is my favorite holiday. All the lights, the sounds, the sights, and the smells are just unbeatable. But it can also be loud, distracting, messy, tiring - chaotic.  There's pressure to finish the year strong, to prepare for holidays, to meet expectations. With ADHD, that end-of-year mental buzz becomes overwhelming. In the past, I would ride the chaos like a wave and end up drained by New Year’s Eve. But not anymore.

So instead of pushing harder, I lean into preparation that respects my rhythm.

This time, I’m taking control of how I show up for December. Slowly, softly, gently. With purpose and peace. And a little glam.

🧠 1. I Choose One Income-Generating Task Per Day

One. Just one.

ADHD brains love stimulation—and they love chasing 11 ideas in one sitting. That’s why I learned to write down every project idea, every kit, every blog post I want to do. But I don’t pressure myself to do it all at once. Instead, I ask myself:

“Which one thing will move me forward today?”

One project = progress.

One post = momentum.

One listing = money in.

It doesn’t sound grand, but it works. Especially when dopamine is low or energy is thin.

On my high-dopamine days, I let myself do two. But on most days? One is enough.

My Productivity Tool - Task Bento

Photo Credit: ZSL

This is a productivity pad that I designed with the bento in mind. Inspired by the bento, each grid in the pad tells you how much energy you want to spend in a particular task. The bigger the compartment, the higher the priority, and the more energy I spend on it.

I can write just one task in one box or a few. But for December, I'm going for one big project per day. 

Task Bento will be available on my Gumroad soon. 

🌸 2. Beauty Rituals Are My ADHD Anchors

There’s a rhythm to the rituals that help me focus:

 ❤️ Gua sha in the morning. 

❤️ Scalp massage with my wooden comb

❤️ Switching body lotion scents every few days to avoid histamine reactions.

 I'm currently trying this:

I will give a Glow Report once I'm satisfied that I can give you an honest one. 

❤️ Letting my hair air dry while writing or listening to an audiobook. I don't like using the hair dryer when I'm at home. I don't want too much heat on my hair. 

❤️ Curl cream + a kiss of floral oil (but not lavender—I’m allergic!)

❤️ Cooling body mist when the heat gets to my head

These beauty rituals aren’t about vanity. They’re my reset buttons. Each one brings me back to myself, to my body, to this moment. In a brain that spins fast, these little things slow me down.

💄 3. I Dress for Ease and Energy

I don’t dress to impress—I dress to regulate. 

Mornings might mean a soft robe while I do chores. Afternoons mean a shirt and soft lounge pants.  If I’m feeling frayed, I slip into something that feels expensive—even if I got it on sale. Why? Because looking put together brings structure to my day.

December doesn’t need more stress. It needs more softness and strength in equal measure.

💻 4. I Work With My Natural Rhythms, Not Against Them

Here’s the truth: I don’t wake up early. I sleep after 2 AM and sometimes eat breakfast at 3 PM. My body runs on a unique rhythm, and instead of fighting it, I lean into it.

Some days I write after lunch. Some nights I create kits before bed. Last night, I wrote a blog post at 11 pm. I’ve learned that honoring my cycle—especially during ovulation or my period—is key. That’s how I stay productive without burning out.

🌺 5. I Let Myself Be a Woman in December

I used to push myself like a machine. But now, I move like a woman.

That means embracing softness. Slowing down when I need to. Tuning into my body’s cues instead of punishing it for not keeping up. It means staying beautiful, rested, and regulated—even in the busiest time of year.

💬 Final Thought

December doesn’t have to unravel you. With the right rituals, a smart plan, and beauty that speaks to the soul, you can glow through the noise. And if you’re like me—a woman with a million tabs open in her brain—start with just one.

One task. One post. One breath. One moment of stillness.

That’s how we win December.

---

'Til my next post,

Stay soft. Stay strong. Stay Glowing.

LET'S GLOW.

With elegance and quiet fire, 

Lady E

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