Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. I've spent an enormous amount of time judging myself for my spending habits. Not that I spend a lot (I can't afford to as a student), but even when I was making a lot of money at the height of my career as a voiceover artist, I somehow still felt guilty and sometimes icky after a purchase - especially if it was one I judged as frivolous . A lot of it has to do with the fact that owning a lot of "stuff" (or as I like to call it now, inventory ) doesn't fit with my values as a citizen who believes in doing her part to lessen her carbon footprint. * But then reality slaps me in the face. As a student, I can really only afford to shop sales. And when I do, as I mentioned in this post , I use the Jordan Page technique of buying one item now and two for later (of something I use religiously, not stuff that just happens to be on sale), for long term savings. The extras go into my Home Store , also discussed in the post linked above. So having extra stuff in my house is my current reality. To combat impulsive sales, however, I use the 24-hour Rule. The 24-Hour Rule The basic rule is this: when I feel like I am being marketed something that I really want, I can put it in a cart or take a picture of it and wait 24 hours. Whatever you want will always be there tomorrow with the same discount if it's online. What I learned is that sometimes, if you create an account and you don't purchase right away (wait a few days, if you have the strength), companies will send you coupons for even steeper discounts because they want your sale, obvs. And at the end of the day, I have to ask myself, "Is my life going to be ruined if I have to wait 24 hours for this thing?" The answer is always no. Why? Because if it were something I really really really wanted, I would have done all the research about the product over the span of more than 24 hours. You don't look at houses online for a couple hours and then make an offer to buy without getting all the information, and hopefully, an inspection. Research and planning take time. The unexpected outcome of waiting 24 hours As it turns out, I don't usually buy what I put in the cart 24 hours earlier. What I learned is that the ADHD side of my brain is constantly searching for novelty, and simply putting something flashy in a cart is enough for now to satisfy that need. After 24 hours, the novelty has usually worn off and the more logical side of myself takes over and realizes we don't really need that thing. Like...at all. How much money has this saved me? Probably a thousand bucks this year so far. It's only February. What techniques do you use to stay on top of your budget? -Jaren *For more on that, you can check out the reviews of my book, Talking Trash: My Year In Zero-Wasteland If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy this one from my series, The Pivot, available as a blog post here but also with audio on my podcast by the same name, here .

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. Can you study while music is playing? If you're someone, like me, who can't study while music is playing in the background (because you'll immediately sing along or harmonize, even if you don't know the song), may I present to you Binaural Beats and 432 Hz Study Music . What are binaural beats? Here's a definition I pulled from WebMD. " Binaural beats occur when you listen to two tones of slightly different frequencies , one in each ear, usually through headphones. Your brain perceives a third tone , which is the difference between the two frequencies, creating the illusion of a rhythmic beat. For example, if you hear 440 Hz in your left ear and 444 Hz in your right ear, your brain perceives a 4 Hz beat. This phenomenon is called binaural entrainment . " I don't listen to binaural beats with headphones very often. I mostly just pop on a playlist from YouTube while I'm studying and it works like a charm! What about 432 Hz Study Music? Now this is interesting. Here's what I found from https://www.serendipitysounds.com/ "432 Hz has roots in ancient traditions, often associated with harmony and resonance. 440 Hz was adopted as the international standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1955, making orchestras and instruments consistent worldwide. Early research suggests that 432 Hz may do more than just sound pleasant. In one study, listeners reported feeling more relaxed and less tense when music was tuned to 432 Hz compared to the standard 440 Hz. Another study found that it even improved sleep quality, particularly in people who often struggle to rest. More recently, emergency nurses working under high stress during the COVID-19 pandemic showed reduced anxiety when exposed to 432 Hz music. While more research is needed, these early results point to 432 Hz as a promising tool for stress relief and emotional balance. " There are a lot of claims online that 432 Hz is more "healing" than the traditional 440Hz. I haven't been able to find any official studies on the first two pages of a Google search to support any of that, but it's obvious it's popular given the fact that there are so many study music playlists on YouTube of 432Hz. All I know is it drones, it's calming, and it doesn't distract me away from my studies. That's all I care about for now. Are any of y'all music averse? Ironically, this gal (pointing to self), who has had a 20+ year career in the music biz, does not listen to music very often. I prefer silence. Especially when I'm driving - because it helps me see better. Is that weird? My kids hate it, which is why they started wearing headphones in the car pretty early, but it feels like there's only enough energy in my brain to operate one sense at full capacity at a time, and when I'm driving, I need all that energy to focus on the road ahead. This is probably one of the big reasons the baby-daddy and I divorced. He needs electronic dance music on max if he's behind the wheel. My definition of hell. (I'm allowed to write this because the baby-daddy and I are besties, btw.) Anyhow. What helps you study? -Jaren ***Update: February 15, 2026 A commenter on my YouTube post introduced me to the term soaking music. I'd never heard of it before, but I'm gonna add it to my binaural beats and 432 Hz study music. Thank you, as always, for sharing! I am hear to learn as much as I share, so let's keep the knowledge moving. :) If you enjoyed this post, might I suggest this one about emergency audio cards!

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. If you need a really quick way to visualize what information you need to study vs. what information you already know, let me introduce you to the Red/Yellow/Green Method I learned from the gals over at GEMs. (Perhaps there's a different name for this technique, but it wouldn't matter. We'd still refer to it as the Red/Yellow/Green Method.) Essentially, you mark the things you know in green, the things you need to review once or twice in yellow, and the stuff you need to spend time learning in red. This is the ultimate ADHD/AuDHD studying hack! Let me show you how it looks in practice. How does the Red/Yellow/Green Method work? Imagine I need to memorize most of the details on the page below. My page of information without mark ups Now, imagine I've marked it up using the Red/Yellow/Green Method. It's so much easier to see what I already understand and don't need to spend time rereading. I can focus, instead, on the red, then the yellow, then the red again until I understand everything on the page. FAQ about the Red/Yellow/Green method Jaren, once you mark on the page, you can't really change the markings. What happens when the yellow information becomes green? I thought you'd never ask! I like to slide each paper into one of those plastic sleeves. This way I can use a dry or wet-erase marker on the plastic. Once I understand the yellow information, I can wipe away the line and add a green one, for example. Anywhoozle. This method has been a real game changer for me and my kids. I used it when I was studying to be an LPN last year. I'm using it this year particularly for my french studies. -Jaren What are your favorite studying techniques? If you liked this post, check out these two: Staying organized with the Folder Method Using highlighters to organize, visually

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. As you can see in the video above, my use of highlighters used to be...questionable at best. It's funny, I've been reading that highlighters aren't really that effective as a study tool. Well, not when you're highlighting every single word in all of the colors in the rainbow like I used to! I use them for visual organization, primarily. And not just for studying, either. In fact, I try, as best as I can, to use the same colors between my digital and paper calendars. One color denotes my schedule, another for one kiddo's, and yet another for the other kiddo's. And when I'm organizing my nursing notes, I know exactly where to look on my disorder sheet to find what medications are most commonly used to treat that disorder (red), which nursing interventions are appropriate (green), and what the top signs and symptoms are (blue). Here's an example: Because this is a system, it takes a little time to learn, but once you get it down, it becomes a lot easier to find what you're looking for. So if you want to create your own system, I recommend drawing one out, like I've done above, and taping it somewhere obvious so you can look at it every day until it has seeped into your brain so deep, you simply can't forget it. -Jaren How do you organize, visually? P.S., if you like this post, here are two more related to staying organized in school. The Red/Yellow/Green studying method The Folder Method

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. Yes, I refer back to my book Talking Trash: My Year in Zero-Wasteland again ...because today's thing that makes my life easier is buying in bulk. Here are three reasons why buying in bulk makes my life easier: 1) Saves me money (in the long term) 2) Reduces the amount of packaging I have to clean up (if you have kids who eat things that come in wrappers, you know) 3) Knowing I have the extra quantity reduces my super weird worries about food insecurity But Jaren, it's more expensive. Yeah, the initial investment is, but over the long run, it's cheaper. Example: I can buy trail mix in a big ol' bag from Costco for $22, or buy the individually wrapped ones for $3/each. For the same quantity, that's a price difference between $22 and $32. I can divvy up the trail mix myself for that amount of savings. But what if I don't have the money to spend more up front? Then it's time to find yourself a store that specializes in zero-waste or bulk product offerings (Bulk Barn, Green Matters, Yupik etc. - depending on your country). How to shop bulk with your own containers: 1) Weigh your own containers. When you enter the store, there's almost always a station with scales and markers where you can weigh your own containers. Mark down the weight on your container with a marker or crayon. This is your tare weight and will be deducted at checkout. 2) Fill your containers and be sure to write down the food's code on the container. 3) Checkout. The cashier will weigh everything at checkout and subtract the weight of your containers. You'll spend less moolah (most of the time) than if you bought the product with a bunch of packaging. Important to note: There's no sense buying something in bulk if you don't use it. I buy rice, beans and lentils en masse because I use them weekly in my diet (I'm a creature of habit). So only buy what you really use regularly or you'll waste money. The last thing you want is for something to spoil because you bought too much and didn't use it. -Jaren What helps you? If you enjoyed this post, might I suggest this one about meal prepping for people who hate meal prepping.

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. ***For those of you with 5 kids who don't have extra space to do this, I don't have a solution for you because I don't know what it's like feeding that many people. So disregard this post. Pack your lunch the night before, and put the whole thing in the fridge (in a bin, in the lunch box, in a big bowl, whatever you have available to you). That's it. That's part of the best kept secret of getting out the door on time and without stress in the morning. The entire secret is just this: prepare everything the night before . Clothes, homework, lunch, etc. (Man, I tell you, having kids really forces you to develop systems otherwise you'll freeze in a corner and cry for eternity...if you're anything like me, I mean.) If you don't know what to prepare for the next day's lunch (maybe you're a student who just moved out of the house for the first time, or you're someone who decided to start making lunches at home to save money), feel free to print out a checklist (here). How to prepare everything the night before Method One - Leftovers My general rule is this: 1 protein, 1 carb, 1 veggie, 1 fruit, 1 snack If you need a visual reminder of what to pack like I do, I suggest checking out this post. 1) If you have leftovers, portion some out in a container you can microwave at the cafeteria (or heat quickly in the morning to transfer to your thermos). They might count as your carb, protein and vegetable. You'll decide. 2) Add support foods you already prepped. Why cut up fresh bell peppers each morning for your lunch? Too much work. Cut up three peppers and keep them in the fridge. The night you prepare you next-day's lunch, grab a handful. Bing, bang, boom. Same with fruits. I batch prep everything. Buy oranges, apples or bananas (easy single-unit fruits), or cut up a melon to last a few mornings. ***My kids and I each have our own labeled lunch spots on a shelf in the fridge to make things easier, keep the kids from fighting, and streamline our mornings. Method Two - If you don't have leftovers from the previous night's dinner I pack one of each of the following from a checklist I keep on my fridge. 1) Protein I could pack grilled chicken, egg salad, tuna salad, ham slices with cheese, etc. Again, all batch prepped so I only make them once every few days. Because I'm efficient. Not lazy. .. says the woman trying to get over her guilt for not having an interest in cooking. 2) Carb This might be the bread I use for the sandwich, or could be a side of pasta, rice, etc. 3) Veggies I usually meal prep a big weekly salad (my favorite is just bell pepper, cucumber, hearts of palm and olives with olive oil) so I will portion some of that into a container. 4) Fruit I toss an apple or an orange into my lunchbox 5) Snack Could be a granola bar, some trail mix, a yogurt, whatever. Below, I have included a visual my kids use when packing their lunches the night before (the wording. on mine is different because I'm focused more on protein - thanks, perimenopause ). We keep it taped on the fridge or the inside of the cupboard, depending on how stressed and wild our brains are. Never forget your utensils! If you want to customize your own, visit this post to download a template. -Jaren P.S., if you enjoyed this post, you might like this one, too! How do you prep for easier mornings?

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. If you like this post, be sure to check out this one next! I have to thank Jordan Page for introducing this idea to me. This might be the ultimate of the ultimate ADHD/AuDHD mom hacks! It came from one of her YouTube videos and when I first heard it, I thought wow this is bonkers. I must try it. I was looking for any excuse to reduce the amount of time it took to fold laundry and socks, as any mother can attest, were the bane of my existence. The Box of Socks Technically, it's not a box, it's a drawer in my entryway cabinet, but box rhymes with socks. Easier to remember. How the Box of Socks works: Easy. You get rid of all the colorful socks with cute designs (I know...but you won't miss them that much when you realize how much time this box of socks saves, I can almost promise... almost), and replace everything with one style of white sock that fits everyone in the house . You heard me. Okay, obviously you can only really do this if you all wear similar sizes. My kids and I have been wearing the same one size fits most socks since they were 10 and 12 years old, and let me tell you, the box of socks changes the game! A Box of Socks by the front door helps in these ways: 1) It makes it easier to get out the front door - no stress looking for mismatches or lost socks 2) No more folding. All the socks go into a pile and get dumped directly into the drawer 3) Accidentally tear a hole in a sock? No prob. Toss it or repair it. The brilliance of having all of the same style is that you don't have to spent time pairing them Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. We rotate the white socks for winter and summer. Ankle socks for summer, long socks up to our bellybuttons for winter. -Jaren What tips and tricks save you time? If you like this post, be sure to check out this one next!

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. Check out the free printable version I posted on my blog here Welp. We made it! 30 days of things that make my life easier. What better way to go out than to tell you about my year-at-a-glance calendar. You can buy these year-at-a-glance calendars online, but if you want to make one at home like I did, here's how: Tape together 8 sheets of paper Draw 12 equally spaced columns (I do this in pencil first so I can erase later) Add numbers in rows down the lenght of each column for each month. (31 for January, 28 for February...) Figure out where your weekends are (look at a calendar online) and draw a doubled thick line to denote your Saturdays & Sundays I draw a single line of the same color used to mark the weekends for the Fridays Then I add a dot for the Wednesday to denote the middle of the week, this way I don't have to write M,T,W,Th,F,S,Su for each column over and over again. I always know the dot means Wednesay and a single line means Friday Finally, I go over everything in pen or marker and erase any pencil markings I don't need Why this year-at-a-glance calendar helps me: It helps me keep things in perspective. I am a bottom-up processor. I have difficulty zooming out to see the big picture unless tools like this are visually available. It allows me to step back and see my day within the context of a larger span of time - like a year. It helps me reverse-engineer how to prepare for things like exams, packing for a trip to see family, etc. Being able set smaller goals for myself based on a due date helps offload some of the cognitive overwhelm that comes with mothering and studying in a different language. For example: If today is Monday and I know I need to work out three days per week before my weightlifting exam next Monday, I know I can space my workouts a day or two apart giving my muscles time to recover in between now and then. I can mark those workouts on my calendar and all I need to worry about is following through. Aggghhhhhh. Follow through and ADHD. That'll be for another series. Until then, which post of this series of 30 days did you find most meaningful? Leave me a note in the comments. -J If you'd like to print your own version, you can find that post here!

Each day I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full time in my 40s. If a recipe has more than eight ingredients, there's a strong chance I won't make it. Because I'm lazy? Because of my AuDHD? I'm just not that interested in food. I like food. I appreciate food, but it doesn't rule my life. I am perfectly content eating the same meal three to five days in a row before switching. But Jaren, are you meeting your nutritional goals? Of course. I weight lift, so I have to. I need food that is healthy, balanced, and just good enough that I'm willing to eat it for days on end. Okay, but six ingredients? Do you even have tastebuds? Annoyingly, yes. This is one of the reasons I don't go to restaurants anymore. (Why pay a bazillion bucks for something my baby daddy and his family make even better? That's one of the benefits of being on great terms with your ex and boy, am I lucky.) But I also have very sensitive taste buds and require less salt that some people I know. Matt. <----said baby daddy Jaren. Girl. Do you even season your food? I'm not that white. I use some salt. Joke only! (<----if you get this reference, please can we be best friends?!) In the last year I began to use all kinds of herbs and spices to flavor my food (I live in a very ethnic melting-pot-of-a-neighborhood). Weirdly, it's easier for my brain to make something that contains three main food ingredients and seven different herbs and spices than is is to make a meal that requires ten different big ingredients. Why? (Someone tell me, please). So right now, I'm making one recipe from pinchofyum.com's 22 freezer meals (not an ad, I swear). It's called Cauliflower Curry and contains lentils and curry and other fun stuff. It's my favorite AuDHD mom hack. Not too many ingredients - and I can dump whatever veggies I have in the pot if I don't have cauliflower. It's so easy, so tasty, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I've been making this pretty much weekly for 6 months. Also, you can add chicken. So good. How do you get through the week? What are your tips and tricks? I want to know! -Jaren

Each day, I talk about one thing that makes my life easier as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent kids while going back to school full-time in my 40s. Assigning a noise...sounds crazy. I know. But it works for me. Yesterday I spoke about how using a silly container helped me remember my keys. Along those same lines, creating a ridiculous phrase, noise, or sound, can also be used as a tool to help remember things. For example: I often say "Nooooootes!" to myself in a silly voice to remember that I need to write something down. When I do this, I always remember to write it down. Why does it work? How would I know, I'm not a scientist. But if you know one or are one, please explain it to me. All I care about is that it actually works. (It also makes me feel ridiculous, which makes me laugh, which makes me happier, so technically it helps me work out my happiness muscle.) Here's a list of sounds I currently make (they change) and what they're assigned to: Noooooootes - to remember to write something down Chiiiiiiiiiiiicken Little! - to remember my keys The cats! OMG the CATS! (in a jewish new yorker accent) - to remember to feed them Time to get up, time to go eat, get outta bed, stompa ya feet! (modified words to Stompa by Serena Ryder) - used to convince me and my children to get out of bed) As I write this all down, it makes me think about another weird thing I do with sound. Typically, I need to write down what I want to say for interviews or presentations . I cannot, under any circumstance, be trusted to wing it...unless it's in a different accent. But then I'm left in a quandary. Sound like an idiot in my own accent, or sound coherent in a different one. Again, if you are a scientist or you know one, please tell my why this is possible. Anywho. That's all for today. -Jaren