I’ve always felt very awkward about my hands.  I just don’t know what to do with them most of the time, and my hands often betray me by exhibiting my emotional state. Want to know how I’m really doing? Just look at the state of my hands.

Additionally, as a woman with ADHD, I also have a habit of fidgeting as a way for my brain to function and to help me focus on what I need to focus on. That’s how ADHD brains work. We think about different things at the same time. However, my poor fingers are usually raw, swollen, jagged, and cloudy by the day’s end as I unconsciously tear them apart with my fidgeting. I realize some of this comes from anxiety, some of it with the natural tendency to fidget, but either way, picking at my fingers displays the opposite of self-love, and often leaves me very self-conscious about their appearance.

Rather than fight against this energy and forcing myself to focus on only one thing at a time, I think it’s best to just work with it and provide some constructive and healthy outlets for my fidgeting.

Here’s some ideas of what to do with my hands to facilitate healthy and productive fidgeting:

• Learn piano & practice (in the air)
• Learn sign language
• Learn guitar
• Learn and practice mudras
• Finger dexterity exercises
• Play with fidget toys (Although this could be really hard to do when I’m working in front of a keyboard or at my desk. Plus, I don’t want to lose them.)

I think this is a good list to explore for now. Now I just need to try them out and see what works for me, and what I’m most drawn to.

What other tactics or tools should I try to end this nasty habit? What has worked for you?