The loop of new hobbies and lost interest

New Art Books to explore

Jan 31, 2025

Hello!

The end of the first month of this new year is over! And my birthday is next week 😱

When you hear about ADHD and ASD, one thing comes up over and over: routine. People say you need a routine to stay productive and grounded.

But here’s the thing: routines don’t always work when you have ADHD. Why? Because routines get boring. Fast. You crave something new, something fresh. That’s my life, every second of every day, constantly chasing new things. Art, sports, hobbies, you name it. I’m rarely satisfied for long.

Take art, for example. I always want to draw new things, machines, creature designs, you get the idea. But I don’t start. I can’t seem to hit the “start” button. Sometimes I’m too scared to even put the pencil on the paper. Just the idea of letting the pen flow and create something random? Terrifying.

And yet, I want to try new things. New tools, new materials. I recently got into gouache paints and it was a disaster. But trying new things isn’t bad. It’s actually amazing! How else would you figure out what you like if you never try? Whether it’s art supplies, a new game, a different movie genre, or even a strange new food, you never know until you dive in.

Still, there’s a catch. When you have a brain wired like mine, ADHD and ASD, trying new things can get expensive. I’ve recently started buying Rubik’s Cubes just to keep my hands busy when I’m restless. I already have a spinning pen for the same reason. Honestly, I’d rather mess with these things than scroll endlessly on social media. (I even deleted social apps off my phone!)

But here’s the endless loop: you buy something new, try it once, and then never touch it again. It’s happened to me with a 3D sculpting app called Nomad Sculpt. I keep thinking, I want to try this. But that “start button”? Still missing.

Why do I stop? Is it because it’s not fun? Too hard? Or something else entirely? These questions drive me a little crazy. Why is it so hard to find that spark of motivation? Why can’t I trigger the dopamine to keep going beyond that first try?

It’s a never-ending cycle.