Hello Brains & Hearts! 

I’m currently hard at work on my second book! I plan to reach out to the community for quotes for this one just like I did for the first one. So, be on the lookout for those posts! They should be posted in the next week or so. ♥️

In the meantime, check out this month’s Info Dump! It’s about relaxing! 

More Ways to Relax on The Couch (Without Screens)!

We use screens for a lot of things. Work, play, leisure, even relaxing! But sometimes we want to relax without them. In fact, I made a video about it last month (click here to watch that video!)

So we asked fellow Brains in the ADHD community, how they like to relax and recharge without screens – specifically from their couches. They responded with a treasure trove of ideas you can check out by clicking here.

In the meantime, we’ve curated some interesting ways to make plop-on-the-couch time relaxing.

🐶Pets ‘R Us

Have a furry (or scaly) roomie that’s allowed on the couch? For many, spending time with pets is naturally soothing, calming, and a pawsitively wonderful experience. 😇 Whether you’re stroking silky ears, brushing out a furry coat, or letting your pet snake hang out in the sleeve of your hoodie, connecting with an animal can be a great way to ground yourself and regulate your nervous system.

Got a pet who prefers not being touched but will sit near you? Admiring the luster of their coat (or scales!) and the pattern(s) of color can be relaxing too (this idea brought to you by Nuggie, Harley’s cat, who sometimes wishes to be admired but not touched… whilst sitting three inches away from you.)   

🎧 Sensory Deprivation Chamber

Have you ever tried to relax, only to realize that it still somehow feels like too much? When you’re overstimulated, winding down can be surprisingly hard. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is reduce sensory input as much as possible. Multiple Brains recommended building a sensory deprivation chamber right on their couch. How? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Block Out Light: Make the room as dark as possible. Don’t have the time, patience, or money for blackout curtains? You can also use sleep masks or other eye covers to further block light. Gentle Touch:Cover yourself using a comfy blanket and support your body with cozy pillows if needed. If you like feeling deep pressure, weighted stuffies are great! 

Quiet the Noise:Earplugs are great for cutting out noise, though keep in mind that they don’t give you much control over what you hear. Noise-canceling headphones are a great alternative and can help block external noise while letting you customize your soundscape.

Control Smells: The extreme version of this would be to get those nose plugs that you might see swimmers wear. But if you don’t need that level of control, then leaning into neutral scents via air fresheners, scented oils, or candles are just some of the ways to better control the aroma around you. 

Once you’re set up with your version of a “sensory (semi) deprivation chamber,” what you do from there is up to you. Do you find it relaxing to focus on your breathing? Or perhaps you’d rather focus on the music or sound of beach waves playing in your headphones. It’s up to you and what works best for your brain in order to unwind and relax. 

P.S. If you have the time, money, and ability to access a real float tank, our Director of Operations, J2, says it’s “life changing.” She recommends looking for one that is ADA accessible if tight spaces freak you out. This isn’t couch related but we figured we’d give it a passing mention! 

📚The Reading Tower of Pisa

For some, reading is easy-peasy. But for the rest of us? We get bored reading just one book. Or we have trouble choosing just one. So why not more than one book? No rule saying we gotta read one at a time!

You can build a literal stack of books with a whole lotta variety – textbooks, graphic novels, or even colorful magazines. Read a book until you get bored, then mark the page, and move on to the next book in the stack. 

The best part? You can stack your books in whatever order works best for you. Maybe they’re all a single type of book. Or maybe you start with something more visual, like a manga, before steadily progressing to that big wordy novel. Or you prefer starting with the novel and working your way to a beautiful picture book. It’s totally up to you! 

Feel Anxious Without Your Phone?

A few Brains mentioned they feel anxious or bored without their phones because they feel too understimulated. So, they set their TV to a video of a crackling fireplace, listen to an ambient noise soundtrack, or a livestream of nature at a low volume. While these options may be on a screen, they aren’t meant to keep your attention. In fact, many Brains use this method to give themselves some background noise and visuals while doing something else that they enjoy. 

2026 ADHD Conference | July 22-23, 2026Live. Online! | www.pesi.comWhile I won’t be attending this year, this is your chance to learn from 17 leading experts in ADHD! Join hundreds of fellow Brains (online) as you gain new strategies on how to navigate the complexities, controversies, and emerging research in ADHD.

CADDAC's 18th Annual ADHD Conference | October 24–25, 2026 Scarborough, ON, Canada | www.caddac.ca So many conferences, so little time. I won’t be able to make it this year but, CADDAC's annual conference is officially on the calendar! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with leading ADHD experts and hundreds of members of Canada's ADHD community. Keep an eye on their website as more details get released!

This Month’s Featured Video:The Key to Exercise When You Have ADHD

Click here to watch this month’s featured video!

More Alternatives to Doomscrolling for Relaxation

Big Life Changes? Watch out for this common trap!