if I can’t start my routines because of adhd, at least I can do it in mood lighting.
It’s 2:35am
I have a wax melter on, a hoodie that smells vaguely like roses and regret, a cat on my lap waiting for me to get tired, and six open tabs titled things like “how do i start a morning routine” and “standard poodle coat clips.” I’ve done none of my actual work, like reviewing my budget or my dog training coursework. But somehow, everything feels soft. And it feels right.
The Brain Gremlin Lives Here
ADHD doesn’t show up in the way I thought it would. It’s not always bouncing off the walls or forgetting appointments (though, yes… that too). Sometimes it’s just staring at my to-do list like it’s written in an ancient spellbook I can’t decode.
I start 10 projects. Finish none.
I make planners. Abandon them.
Okay so obviously something isn’t working… digitize it?
Install reminder apps. Forget them.
Automate routine start times. Snooze them.
The reality is: I can’t always force productivity. So I try to make peace with it. And that’s where cozycore comes in.
If I’m Spiraling, I Might as Well Try to Enjoy it
Romanticizing my daily life started as a joke. “Haha, I’m a little gremlin editing videos with a cup of tea and mood lighting.” But then it turned into a ritual. And the ritual turned into comfort. And the comfort turned into a survival strategy.
If I have to fight my brain to do literally anything, I’m going to wear the cute socks and drink the overpriced herbal tea while I do it.
- Working on stuff = metal music + soft lamp
- Task switching = a little snacky snack to have a break
- Forgetting what I’m doing = fine, I’m a whimsical forest being now
And if I sit down to “be productive” but end up making a Canva graphic instead? Still counts.
Cozycore vs ADHD Reality: A Comparison of Vibes and Mess
Here’s what cozycore looks like on Pinterest, versus what it looks like in my actual life:
| Cozycore Vision | My Cozycore Reality |
|---|---|
| Handwritten daily planner | A half-filled monthly planner with crumbs inside |
| Peaceful journaling | 3 sentence reflection, 20 shorts watched |
| Aesthetic bookshelf | Books on the floor, wax melter (and wax) on my desk, and my cat sleeping on my clothes |
| Digital detox | Scrolling reels while pretending to meditate |
And that’s okay. The magic isn’t in the perfection. It’s in the intention.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Productive to Be Beautiful
If you’re like me, trying to live life while your brain runs 87 background processes, then know this: it’s okay if you didn’t finish the list. It’s okay if you had to nap halfway through. It’s okay if the only thing you managed to do today was light a candle and try again.
Sometimes the blanket is the goal.
Sometimes the soft music and snack are the quest complete screen.
Sometimes making your life feel 5% cuter makes it 80% more manageable.
Side Quest: Romanticize Your Day
Feeling stuck? Here are a few mini side quests for your own cozy-ADHD adventure:
- Make tea like you’re a woodland alchemist
- Feed your pets like they’re familiars you summoned
- Put on a playlist for “enchanted productivity” and just vibe
- Write your to-do list in character (bonus if the character is also overwhelmed)
- Light a candle. Clap once. Pretend the room is warded. Begin.
Final Thoughts from the Chaos Gremlin
I might not be organized. I might forget what I’m doing halfway through writing this sentence—
—but I’ve created something warm, a little weird, and totally mine. And that counts.
Whether you’re thriving, barely holding it together, or somewhere in between: your vibe is valid.
Keep the lights soft and the snacks close. You’re doing amazing.
