you know i totally relate to the being ashamed of how "into" things i get, my friends always say im either super obsessed or dont gaf about everything. but you know it also means i get so much more joy from things than the average person, and i've gained so much random knowledge about several topics and skills that most people have no experience with, just because of how i get so excited about hobbies. And honestly how lovely is it that we are able to draw so much happiness from things others dont think twice about! (let's ignore the financial side of it for a sec haha)
Yes! I was working with someone to help me process my adhd when I first received my diagnosis and she helped me see the positive ways it has shaped me, including all the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained from my constant enthusiasm for research, experimentation, and learning. I think it is lovely, and now I get an extra thrill out of finding affordable ways to engage with a hobby! I can’t tell you how much satisfaction I got while trying to make paper with recycled paper. Did it also mean that I had buckets of water and paper pulp lying around our home for a few days since I didn’t want to invest in a blender or proper paper-making supplies? Yes. 🤭 Did I end up with mostly unusable cardboard-like paper? Yes. 🫠 Did I learn a lot and was I able to reuse those skills with my sister’s students in a paper-making project? Also yes! 🥰😝😁
Honestly this is so relatable. I have autism and ADHD. I have found ACT is the most effective form of therapy for me, it's the framework my current therapist uses. Its so easy for me to become obsessive and spend a fortune. I just got into fountain pens and am wary of falling into the spending money phase. I'm a long term journaler, crafter and artist with many hobbies. I know I come in and out of phases with my interests.
Thank you for taking the time to comment - I appreciate you! 🥰 It’s very validating to hear that ACT has been a successful approach! As a long-term stationery enthusiast (with so much stuff 😳), I can relate to feeling wary about getting into fountain pens. I’m glad I gave it a go, because it has brought me so much joy for things I do on a daily basis. At the same time, it’s been extremely difficult to tame my enthusiasm. I’m hopeful I can remain responsible and at peace with my level of engagement, though 😅
My biggest dream in life is to get a workshop so I can house all of the supplies for my various hobbies. Plus having space for some nice big tools would be nice too. Lathe, table saw, bandsaw, drill press, etc.
Hey I just want to thank you for this video, I have adhd and autism and my special interest is Japanese stationery and my spending and obsessions are totally out of control. Hearing you talk about this niche struggle and your new mindset and strategies on dealing with it is exactly what I needed to hear right now (especially since I started getting into fountain pens). I also value sustainability and it’s unsustainable how much I buy new things instead of using and cherishing what I have. I’m really inspired to try your strategies, I’ve never heard anyone talk about my specific struggle like this before ❤
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 🥹 When it comes to stationery, I’ve often found it difficult to control. It’s not easy, and it may take a few tries to get to where we want to be with respect to how we engage with our hobby, and that’s okay! Please be kind with yourself. It a lot of effort to detach from the hobbies we attach ourselves to. I’m so glad you found the strategies inspiring. You’re not alone and you’ve got this! 💓
I’m the same! I’m autistic and ADHD too, and I also have a stationery hyperfocus which includes fountain pens. Trying to limit purchases is something I struggle with a lot, especially as I’m trying live by more intentionalist/minimalist values. I’ve saved this video to refer back to, as it brought up a lot of things I’ve been trying to do and put it concisely. It’s definitely something that takes time to work on, and with how my hyperfocuses work (they come and go, months at a time), there’s almost a guaranteed relapse period. It’s very reassuring that I’m not alone, and it helps to have strategies to try ❤
@@bec1.618 thank you so much! I’m glad that you’re found these strategies helpful, and I agree that hyper focus work is not necessarily linear. I try to remind myself that it’s okay if I have to take a few steps back, and expect to, so I don’t beat myself up as much when it happens. That way, I can use my energy to get back on track. 💗
I just got diagnosed with adhd and sooo many of my “quirks” make so much sense now. The fiber arts bit and being very “intense” about a new hobby totally resonates. I too have a stash of way too much yarn when I learned how to knit. I’m finding my interests get cyclical so I’m saving until I have the itch. I’m currently using the lot of bookbinding supplies I’ve had for ten years now that I’m into stationary again. I’m starting to amass a collection of fountain pens and travelers notebooks.
When I received my diagnosis, I also had a simple “ohhhhh” moment where many of my “quirks” made sense. None of my friends and family were surprised to learn that had it, either. You know, I have been so intrigued by bookbinding (I went through a short-lived papermaking phase that not go did not result in accumulating a ton of stuff, thank goodness) and toyed with the idea of making my own notebooks. I also like to save my supplies knowing I’m likely to come back to them. I still have a box of embroidery floss from my friendship bracelet making elementary school days that I keep “just in case”. To be fair, I’ve used it to mend some of my dog’s toys and some day, I want to use it to attempt embroidering… or bookbinding… someday... 🤣 Thanks for being here, I appreciate you!
@@LittleCocoStudio book binding is really fun for me. Kinda tedious if you don’t have the proper tools but at the same time there’s something meditative of folding dozens of sheets of paper 😂 probably because I had an intense origami phase. Ahh yes embroidery string. I also had a friend bracelet phase way back when, I think I found that at my parents house storage and also those plastic lanyard cords back when I went through a lanyard bracelet phase. It’s kinda a relief to find out my diagnosis, for the longest time I felt down on myself because of my quirks, but it’s nice to know I’m not alone and that there are ways to handle the symptoms.
@@JonTheJotter I know that origami phase you speak of! I also went through an intense paper stars phase. I used to find making them so soothing, especially the part where you pinch the edges to turn them from flat pentagons to cute stars! ⭐️ It felt validating and freeing for me to receive my diagnosis. I found the acceptance piece to be very healing and it wasn’t until I accepted my diagnosis that I started to have a focus with my “what’s wrong with me” research and see the positive side of these tendencies as well. It also renewed my motivation to adopt more discipline and structure… through pen and paper planning, of course 😁
My first visit to your channel - lots of interesting food for thought! I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD (female age 54), never has anyone suggested I might have ADHD, but what you describe here matches my thoughts & behaviors to an uncanny degree. Interesting!
Thank for taking the time to comment! I’m glad you found parts of the video interesting to think about. I think some of the ideas and strategies could work in general for someone who wishes to make a change in how they engage with their hobbies. Thanks for visiting channel - I appreciate you!
AuDHd here and immediately subscribed. The dopamine hunting is never ending. I'm successfully reigniting my jewlery making hyperfixation! Bujo has been the only interest that I've ever maintained so this is an exciting video for me! 😊
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I appreciate you!! 🫶 Paper planning has held my heart for so long as well. And I love getting inspired by everyone’s creativity in the way they set up and use their planning systems! I’m always learning something in the planner / journal community! Jewelry making sounds exciting! What kind of jewelry are you making? 😊
Thank you for posting this. Pretty much everything you shared hits close to home. Rather than experiencing these things alone, it is apparent that they're fairly common.
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I’m glad that you find this helpful, and I agree that’s helpful to know that we aren’t experiencing these things in isolation.
This was great and really resonated with me. I think you have a very wise approach towards managing the slippery slope of stationary consumerism. And, even though I'm a long time pen collector, you've given me some good ideas as well. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!
Thank you so much! What are some of your favourite pens in your collection and how did your engagement with it evolve over time? The stationery world is massive and truly is a slippery slope. It’s in the best interest of pen stationery brands and retailers to keep the interest alive, so there’s often lots of excitement and temptation to navigate. I’m clearly not immune to it. 😅 Thanks again for stopping by! I appreciate you!
Love the charm you made with your name pendant! So cute! I love “logs” and while I’ve got pages in my bullet journal for my pens and inks, I like your idea of dedicated TN inserts. I too have the plain ones I didn’t end up using for water colour. You inspired me!
Thank you so much! 🥰 I was feeling guilty about the number of blank TN inserts that were piling up, so I'd been trying to think of creative ways to use them since I didn't think I'd end up using them for writing. My original idea was to use a fancy Hobonichi blank notebook to house my pen and ink log, but I'm happy I managed to re-purpose these notebooks instead and save a bit of money!
This is so helpful. In particular, I'm going to think more about how my struggles with impulse control run counter to my values around over-consumption and environmental sustainability. I'm also noticing a conflicting value that fuels my lack of impulse control -- a desire to support indie bookstores and shops, as well as small makers. I have no trouble with not buying mass produced goods from large chain stores or Amazon (which I boycott), but I always want to support the indie economy. I just spent $100 on a beautiful handmade bag I don't need and justified it because I was supporting both the maker and the delightful art gallery selling it. 🙄
Thank you for your kind words! I am glad you found it helpful 🥰 I observed a similar struggle in 2020 with wanting to support smaller makers. It was somewhat easy to stop buying from large retailers, but I found it much harder to manage my small business spending habits. Deleting IG made a big difference for me, as did unsubscribing to email newsletters. Still, it is nice to support local artists by buying their work, so I get that it’s hard to find a good balance! I also like bookmarking small businesses as gift giving resources. I love introducing friends and family to some of my favourite stationery stores. 🥹
I will need to go back and rewatch this. So much good info and a lot me in these symptoms. Having been diagnosed with manic/depressive disorder, retail therapy for a new hobby is a definite. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words! Receiving a formal diagnosis and working through symptom management can be a lot. I’m so glad you found this video helpful. Thanks again for being here. I appreciate you! 💗
Diagnosed ADHD and suspected AuDHD here - even though I don't have a fountain pen hobby I REALLY found the principles and questions you mention in this video helpful, so thank you! I've always thrown myself into hobbies, and they've lasted a few months, weeks or years... but eventually, I've found something new (aside from journalling: I've been doing that for over 40 years now - everything else has changed though) I think the worst point was when I got into decorative planning in 2017 and discovered The Happy Planner. I'm *still* using up supplies I bought over the couple of years that followed in my journalling, even after three major destashes post-pandemic, because holy wow: there's a company that encourages impulsive buying through multiple planner releases every couple of months!
Oh gosh, I still have supplies from my shopping spree back when I got into bullet journalling! I’ve really slowed down on my sticker and marker purchases because I went nuts in the beginning! I don’t know a lot about The Happy Planner, but it sounds like something I would have easily gotten sucked into! I used to have no control around stickers (until I faced a few credit cards bills that made me realize I had to slow down 😅)
i have recently come to terms with the fact that the magpie state and research frenzy is where my hobbying is concentrated. so i am currently allowing myself to indulge completely in stationary vloggers and comparing pens and inks and the perfect notebook size and paper quality. even putting the stuff i crave in online shopping carts. but i don’t buy it. this of course only helps with the money and space problem. i still spend an unhealthy amount of time on it and neglect important stuff meanwhile.
Thanks for sharing! That’s an interesting perspective about the amount of time and energy spent in the research phase. I probably spent a disproportionate about of time in the research / consideration phase as well.
One thing I've learned with my hobbies and ADHD is I usually stick with the same ones and it's in cycles so if I like something now and then go off to something else, I pack up the supplies for the one I've migrated away from, and then when eventually I want to go back to it I have everything already.
I love that self-awareness and think it’s a great way to keep things interesting (and minimize the barrier to entry or upfront construction of getting back into a hobby. I relate to this a lot, and that’s usually why I don’t give everything away when I lose interest in a hobby, unless I’m feeling certain the at I’m unlikely to come back to it. As you can imagine, my minimalist partner loves that I hold onto everything 😂
Oh boy, Alison. You’re speaking to me with this one. Same, same, same. Are you my long lost pen twin sister? I think so! I’m exactly the same with the research, the experimentation, the full-on passion. I DREAM about my latest hobby, fall asleep thinking about it, excited for the morning. I spend way too much, I start skipping exercise and ignoring other interests. I accumulate and organize, move out the old hobby supplies from prime real estate in the “studio” (I start renaming plain old rooms “the studio” to justify my tool requirements) to make room for the new hobby. Quilting was a bad one because sewing machines and quilting machines take a lot of space and money and fabric. I have a spare room dedicated to my charms and beads (jewelry). You get the idea; ok back to your video… But my hobbies keep me alive and interested, I call it passion and learning. I’d be bored and lost without some kind of mental stimulation. It’s exciting and the endorphins run high!
I love your outlook and your list of interesting hobbies! 🤩 Sewing is one skill/hobby that has escaped me (for now.. it's on the someday list!), and I would love to make a quilt some day.
Alison, I love everything about this video. You’ve provided so many practical ideas to slow down my brain and spending on this hobby. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and research. I think it’s time for a plan of action for myself. 😊 p.s. you have such a lovely voice. So calming!
Ingenious, I have ADHD (focus) and struggle with the same things! (As a speech pathologist for many years I have also witnessed that many highly creative individuals are also ADHD… just an observation… I love the thought processes and narrowing the parameters that you discussed and the ideas of pen insert and ink insert. I tend to get “hyper focused” on swatching different types of pens/mediums - using your ideas, instead of using up lots of pages in the back of my journals/planners, I can apply this into an insert that I can reference, e.g., my favorite planner/notebook is from Sterling Ink - the Common planner, my favorite paper is Tomoe River paper - love the newer one even more - that sets some parameters for me. I will be rewatching this video and taking note!
Thank you for your kind words! I’ve focused a lot about the downsides of some adhd traits (to help improve my functioning 😅), but feel there are a lot of great ones, too, like being creative. 🥰 I’m so glad you found some inspiration for your ink swatching. The SI notebooks are so good!! I was very, very tempted to buy a new notebook for my ink log before I decided to work with inserts I already had. I like that one insert is Tomoe River Paper, and one is Midori, so I’ll get to use the ink on both types of paper. Happy ink swatching!!
ADD and likely ASD here. VERY much relate to the intensity with hobbies, but does anyone else find that the hobbies spring on you out of nowhere, stick around for like 6 months (and consume your life), but then abruptly vanish for an extended period of time?
Welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by 🥰 As for hobbies coming and banishing abruptly - yes! I have experienced that. For that reason, I try to limit how much money I invest in a hobby until I think it’ll stick around for a while, or I resist looking into it more (I wanted to try making soap 🧼 at one point, but decided it was for the best to stay away 😅).
Will you please be my friend??? This video is incredible! All of this resonated with me so strongly. Thank you so so much for all of your research and vulnerability in sharing your experiences. I can't wait to watch more of your content and contemplate what I learned from you. Thank you!
Hello, friend. 🫶 Thank you so much for your kind words! 🥺 I’m so glad to hear that my video resonates with you. It sounds like we have a lot of shared interests! 🖋️
Wow, I could relate to this so much. I don’t have ADHD but do have GAD. I’m on a few month break now and instead of traveling or just enjoying life I am dealing with all the hobby gear (plus handbags, which I also consider to come from the same place as hobby consumption).
Thanks for stopping by. I have GAD as well, and I can relate to the struggle of enjoying breaks. I love being surrounded by my hobby gear - and, and the same time… sometimes, seeing it all makes me feel anxious. I hope you’re able to rest and recharge for some, if not all of your break! 💓
another AuDHD in your comments, and I've noticed that I stick to hobbies that are very, very, very flexible? my current rotating hobbies are fountain pens, watercolour paint, sewing, and knitting/crochet-there's something new to do with those hobbies constantly. with knitting/crochet there's all these different yarns with different properties to play with; sewing is much the same; there is always something new to learn in painting; fountain pens are the oddball, but really they just allow for versatility when I know I need to journal for my mental health but if I do one more black to-do list I'm going to scream haha really like your vibes :)
Thanks for taking the time to comment!I appreciate you! I love the way you phrased it as rotating hobbies. That resonates a lot with me! I think knowing that I have a tendency to rotate between hobbies helps me set limits for how much I’m willing to invest in them. I find sewing and knitting (and woodworking, gardening, etc lol) to be two hobbies that I wish to develop more skills in (especially sewing bc I want to make so many things for our home 😂), but the problem with constantly rotating hobbies is that I’m not dedicating enough time to learning those skills properly. Haha I hear you with black ink to-do lists! I do use black ink for note taking, but I’m always alternating between colours for my to-do lists and journalling. Something as small using a pretty ink on fountain pen friendly paper can go a long way!
You just described me to the tea. It’s like I don’t do anything half stepping it! If I take on a hobby I have the best of everything! I am now trying to sell all of my riding equipment since my horse passed away. I can’t believe how much money I spent. My poor patient husband puts up with me. Thank you for giving me some perspective.
I’m sorry to hear about your horse; that sounds like a great loss. 🥺 I can relate to the feeling of wanting to have the best of everything. Sometimes, buying something high quality, like my 10 year old winter jacket or my 7 year old winter boots does pay off in the long run if I can afford the initial investment. I only have one winter jacket and one pair of winter boots. It’s challenging to detach our emotions from hobbies, and if it is within our means and it brings us joy, we can’t blame ourselves too much for wanting to invest in our interests. I’m glad to hear your husband has been patient and supportive during this period. Please be kind to yourself as you move forward with selling your riding equipment. 💗
This is some fantastic self-control! I have ADHD as well and I come up with arbitrary rules for myself to follow. Lately it is that I can only buy stationery if I sell something. The goal is to decrease my hoard. I can't see myself ever coming out of the experimental phase, so I have to find other motivation.
I love the concept of only buying something if you sell something. 😍 I’ve tried to adopt that before and it was a struggle, so I commend you for your self-control and strategies! I also have a goal of decreasing my hoard, and it has taken me years to make progress in this area. I love the experimentation phase the most, so I am with you there! 👩🔬I am trying to find ways to evoke a sense of experimentation that doesn’t necessarily involve me getting new things, but I expect that how it works in practice will continue changing over time!
Hmm… I too dive into hobbies with both feet. It’s the only way to get the most out of it. That includes tons of research and understanding the hobby in a short time. I also have a lot of clutter from the various hobbies I was into. Does this mean I have ADHD also? This is also helpful for my professional life because I’m able to excel and understand things faster than my piers because of this itch to get deeper into it.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! I like how you highlighted the positive aspects of diving into hobbies with passion and rigor. I agree that it can lead to a vast collection of skills and interests in a relatively short amount of time. ☺️
I love your fountain pen insert, that's such a fun way to engage in your pen hobby even more. Although I don't think I have ADHD myself (although it does run in my family), hearing you talk about how you manage yours was really informative. I'm going to send this video to a friend of mine with ADHD because I think it might be informative and helpful for her as well.
Thank you! It gave me extra satisfaction to find a way to use inserts I already had and were collecting dust on my shelf (the temptation to buy a pretty TRP bound book was intense for a while and I really had to talk myself out of it 😂). I’m glad you find it informative! I think many ADHD traits (inattention, impulsive behaviours, executive dysfunction, etc), can be experienced by neurotypical folks even if it’s not to the point where someone with ADHD struggles to function on a daily basis. So, I think some of the strategies can help manage specific behaviours (if they are problematic in the first place and there is a desire to address them). Thank you for sharing it with a friend, I hope she finds it helpful! 💗
I've always done the thing you mentioned, challenging yourself to find new ways to create interest in the hobbies you already have. For example, what are the various methods I can use to put together and take apart a lego set to extend its longevity. I might go numbered bag by numbered bag the first time, then when I take it apart, I mix them all up and have to pull from the whole set rather than just one numbered bag. I use taking it apart as a way to build it in reverse too and put the pieces for each step back in their respective bags too. Sometimes I time myself to see how fast I can build it. Sometimes I try to slow myself down a savor it by only building one numbered bag at a time.
That is such a great example of finding different ways to assemble your Lego set. 🤯 When I think about how many ink and fountain pen combinations that are possible for me right now with what I have, I get excited by all the possibilities and combinations that I have yet to experience! I think I slow myself down as well by making sure I write the pen dry before I try a new ink.
Thank you for this amazing video!!! I am autistic and my special interests can just get so deep and obsessive and I’ve always been this way. I hate it if I lose interest in a new hobby after I have purchased too much. 🤦🏽♀️😖 I have always loved journaling and art since I was very young. On new hobbies I REALLY have to gauge my true interest but it’s a hard skill to distinguish even now at age 40. The spending can be bad so I literally asked my husband to put money in an account I cannot see or access. He was super uncomfortable with that at first since we have been married 20 years and built this life together, but I really needed his help with this and I couldn’t think of a different way to help. I related to so much in this video because of the crossover in the symptoms of ADHD and Autism.
Thank you so much for watching, and for your kind words. 🥺💓 I am with you on still struggling to know how long a new hobby will keep my interest. It wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t fall down a deep hole while I’m hyper focused on it! I’m glad you’ve been able to find a way to lean on your husband and keep yourself accountable. I often talk out purchases now with mine, because he’s less easy to convince than my stationery-loving friends. 😅 I loosely set a budget for myself, but I haven’t been very good at keeping track of it (despite all of my fancy planners … sigh). Thank you again for stopping by. I appreciate you! 🥰
Thank you for this video. I really needed this advice. I am the same way. I have had so many hobbies and I go nuts and then the gilt after is very intense. It doesn’t align eith my values or my goals. This will help me so much.
The guilt is really difficult to deal with! The acceptance piece didn’t click for me until very recently (like within the last 12 months), so I can relate to feeling guilt and shame for most of my life when it comes to my impulse control. However you proceed as you move forward, you’ve got this! 💗
Yes. Amen to everything. Thank you for this video. I do a lot of the same things you do to help keep myself in check and enjoy the pens I already have instead of always looking for the next one.
It sounds like we share a lot of similar thoughts around our pen collections. I’m still looking at that apricot Kaweco, but the way, but I think I’m going to be okay without it. 😆 (also, that white Estie is so pretty, but I already have the tortoise style on my wishlist! 😅)
I loved every second of this! I ended up watching your video twice. The first time I whipped out my tn to decorate with you and found myself nodding way too many times in agreement with everything you said 😅 The second time, I just listened and absorbed everything you said. I'm so glad you created this video, this is something that really needs to be talked about more often. I feel like you have described me to a T! I too had a type 'sweater project' that instead of feeling joy, all I see is the negative, see what's 'wrong' with me. Thank you for sharing your experiences and commitments. I too, have been on the same sustainability journey in every aspect of my life, making sure to document any new hobbies/interest to keep myself in check. Also, I LOVE your pen date idea!!! This is the cutest thing, I'm totally going to do the same, two used inters that would be perfect for a pen log and ink log😍
You are so sweet! 🥹 Thank you for your kind words. I’m so happy to hear that you found it helpful. It’s been a lifelong struggle to reframe my self-perception, but I’m finally making some progress and that gives me hope that this work actually works! I think it’s healthy to have hobbies and interests, and it’s okay that they sometimes mean we create space for them, as long as it doesn’t come at the cost of something else. Glad to hear we’re on this mindful, sustainability journey together! We’ve got this! 🥰
Hyperfocus is a new word for me, and it completely describes my creative interactions!! I have ADD, and, like you described, when I go in, I go ALL IN!! I do get frustrated with myself, and my family gets frustrated with me. Thank you for sharing how you've made changes to embrace your creativity, to think consciously about purchases, and try and "hyperfocus" in a positive way on what you DO have instead of needing "all the things". My new mantra for the year will be: ~~I will learn to be positively hyperfocused on what I already have. I will think of new ideas to be creative with what I already have. I will think before purchasing and remind myself (even if voicing it aloud) of all the things I already have~~ Right now, I will start by writing this mantra out on beautiful paper (which I have oodles of), decorating it with beautiful pens (I have pens of all kinds and colors) and watercolor (I have a ridiculous amount of), and hanging it up in a beautiful frame (do I also collect frames?? Of couse!) so I can see it every day. Thank you again!
Thank you for taking the time to comment! Your new mantra sounds awesome and I hope it will help you find renewed joy with what you already have. 🥰 I totally agree that it helps to see things, otherwise they get forgotten! I have lots of water colour paints as well that are currently stored in opaque boxes that I had forgotten about. 😳 I also have a ton of picture frames. The intention was to paint things that would fit in those frames, but that… hasn’t happened, yet. Wondering if it ever will 😅
Thanks for making this video. Not something a lot of people talk about. Your voice is so soothing and your content so relatable. I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 and I’m still learning how to deal with it 20+ years later. This type of content really helps. Instant subscribe. Cheers!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’ve realized that managing ADHD is going to be a life long learning work-in-progress, and making these videos help me organize my thoughts around what I’m learning. It means a lot to know it is helpful for others. I appreciate you! 💓
First time viewer and i really appreciate this video. As someone who is working towards getting an ADHD diagnosis, this was extremely insightful. I noticed a lot of the behaviors in myself. I also just recently got diagnosed with bipolar. ADHD and bipolar can mimic each other in their symptoms so many people get misdiagnosed. I guess we'll see 🤷🏽 Edited: sorry about my incoherent ramble. I need to check myself before I hit post lol.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I commend you for working towards getting an ADHD diagnosis with the help of a professional, if it is accessible to you. The assessment process can be tiring, but it was beneficial for me to gain a better understanding of myself. I hope your investigation leads you to some answers and provides you with clarity on the path forward. 💗
That was really lovely, the “is it a problem” question was really helpful and gave me some perspective! I will watch it again, as this was my ”co working” video while I was doing my jobby job! 😂
Thank you for bringing this topic up...I definitely have the issue of being hyperfocused on hobbies. I will try a few of your techniques. Rachelle in Seattle
People who find fountain pens are almost exclusively these type of people. I like my past judgements. My past harsh realistic self critique are the type of memories that keep me on track these days and with new hobbies. I used to get carried away but since I’ve recognized it over the year, it’s gotten easier to realized I’m in a manic free fall.. so I try to focus my energy on the items in the hobby that I already have. I don’t like to throw around ADHD or autistic comments because all of us eccentric people are somewhere on a spectrum. My roommate jokes that I’m on the spectrum.. and it’s kind of a half joke because I’m definitely not a part of regular society but I don’t want to ever be diagnosed with any of these things. I’m positive I can walk out of a doctors office with something but I just like to be me. I celebrate my differences. I don’t want to make it look like it’s a crutch because it’s not. It’s a strength. This pen hobby.. it’s almost all, if not ALL adhd nerds. Anyway, like I said, once you’re able to recognize when you’re jumping off the rails, it becomes easier to at least minimize the damage. I still fall into hobbies but I’m able to keep the purchases to a reasonable collection, by our standards.
I’m diagnosed with both…I’m still just me. In fact I’ve been me for so long most people forget I even have a diagnosis. I’m going to admit, it stings a little to read a comment like this. I’m only diagnosed with the things I am because I fit a particular set of characteristics that impair me in my daily life.
Thank you so much! 🥹 It’s been really fun to find new ways to appreciate my pens. Also, I love stick people drawings! My partner draws them for me (by request😅) every so often, and I ADORE them. I love how free and impactful they are. 🥰
ADHD, and maybe AuADHD, here. Also, I have been to a lot of Crafternoon events through a fiber shop in Portland Maine. If you were in those times too, hey!
Hello and welcome! ☺️ ohhh that would have been so fun to attend! I think there are few events like that here in Toronto, but I haven't attended one myself.
This video resonated so much with me. I will have to bring up ACT with my therapist. I too went down the fountain pen hyper focus and now ... struggle to use them in any meaningful way. Currently hyper-focused on crocheting lol I wonder what the overlap is between types of hobbies and those with ADHD and what we focus on.
I’m glad you found this video helpful! Although you mentioned that you aren’t using your fountain pens in a way that feels meaningful for you now, that may change in the future and they’ll be ready for you if / when that time comes. 😊 That’s an interesting question about potential similarities among those with ADHD and the type of hobbies that they focus on. I may look into that because you’ve sparked my curiosity. 🥰 Thank you for stopping by - I appreciate you!
So relatable and so important video! ❤ For me it is knitting, watercolor painting, fountain pens, drawing etc. I also have noticed that I have ”seasons” too. In the fall I knitted every night and now I have been painting/drawing 😊
Thank you so much! I think we share a lot of interests! I’ve noticed at it gets warmer, I’m reaching for my knitting needles and crochet hooks less often. I can feel the motivation to do more home decor / diy projects returning for me, as well! 🏡
Looks at title of video, turns to my entirely too large fountain pen (and ink, and notebook and nail polish) collections... looks of title of the video again... at least I'm not the only one!
I like all of my things to be custom. I am existing my experimentation phase now, and have modified three pens to use on a daily basis. Since I modified them slightly, I feel more connected to them and are less likely to want to switch to other pens. I have also decided on three inks that will be for my daily use. However, I have some mica and an old bottle of perfume I can add to small bottles of ink if I want to change things up. This way, I'm not constantly buying new ink. I'm also considering buying three inks to mix and match (like a magenta, yellow, and a cyan) so that I can make other colors if I want.
Wow! That’s amazing!! What three pens did you choose to modify and in what way? I can understand how modifying them to be exactly for you would improve your connection to them. I could see myself grinding my pilot VP F nib to an EF if it could still maintain that bouncy feel that it currently has. Also curious about the three inks you’ll be using daily! 😍 I had intended on choosing a few go-to ink colours, but confess I’m still in the experimentation / exploratory phase 😅 The idea of using mixing inks is great as well! I’ve seen pilot and deatramentis make mixable inks. I’m not great with colour mixing (it’s a struggle when I’m painting), but it is something that would be great to learn!
I loved this video and your mentioning of ACT in relation to ADHD and the fountain pen hobby! I also love the way you are maintaining interest by creating your pen log. I am inspired to try creating one myself!
Thanks, Liane! I would love to see your take on a pen log if you try creating one! Also, after many views of your videos, I finally got a sample of Opera Rose, and it really is a stunning ink to look at and write with. 😍🌹
I have a small notebook that is about an inch by 1.5inches tall. I am just listing the dates and ink information like you have but also the pen name in that color in one long list. Thinking about it now, I would love to see all the x ink on a page to see what it looks like next to each other and throughout the year in different pens and nibs. I have not yet gotten into changing my nibs out, but that’s a good rabbit hole for the future too. Oh the tiny notebook lives on a small paper tray that is the upside down box and lid that something came in a long time ago. I think it was the Lamy pen with a small Filofax notebook that has repositionable pages, about the same size as a small index card for the paper size.
Your small notebook sounds lovely! It must be so fun to flip through! I couldn't decide whether I'd prefer to see all inks by pen or all pens using the same ink, so that's why I decided to make two inserts so I could get both views. 😅
Sometimes when i get obsessed with a hobby like this i feel like i wont be able to breathe unless i get X fountain pen or Y ink etc. And then i get out of the hobby for a while and completely forget, only to fall into it again some months later. On repeat
This cycle is so relatable! 🔄 It would be exhausting to stay at the intense phase of engaging with a hobby for too long. It can be thrilling, all-encompassing, and exhausting at the same time! 😅
Thanks for stopping by! In case you’re referring to the InCoWriMo Google form to sign up to receive a letter in February, it was a temporary form which is now closed. I’m sure I’ll do something like this again in the future, and if I do, I’ll post about it in my RU-vid community tab! 😊
I love everything about this video! Your insight into hobbies with ADHD is fantastic and it resonated so deeply as a recently-diagnosed ADHDer. How do you show such restraint despite the impulsivity?
Thank you for your kind words! I would say it is still a daily struggle for me to manage my impulsivity and a combination of self-care and acceptance have been the most helpful. The difficulty level depends on what it is, what is going on in my life, and what my mental health and wellness state is. You mentioned you were recently diagnosed. It can be a lot to process! My experience may be different from yours, but when I received my diagnosis, I was already overwhelmed from life (which is why my doctor referred me for the assessment) and receiving the diagnosis didn’t come with a relief or motivation to work through it. I just felt more overwhelmed and paralyzed for a while. 😅 In case any of this resonates with your experience, please be patient and kind with yourself! 💓 The action planning and muscle building of improving your control (if that’s what you want to work on) will develop over time. You’ve got this!
Jeepers, I think I must have hobby ADHD. Hyperfocus, out of control buying, totally engrossed on the minuscule details etc. This video is so helpful. Thank you. 🙏 I’m pretty ancient now (67) but my mind races like a teenager’s! What is that beautiful bag/purse item at the LH side please ?
I should also say that I have almost all lamy safari fountain pens (I’ll have to get the two new ones naturally) and I see you have a lovely video collection, so I’m subscribing and looking forward to viewing them soon… you don’t want to see my crochet yarn stash btw 😂 new subscriber
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I’m glad you found this video helpful. I can relate to feeling like my mind races like a teenager’s! 😅🐎 The zippered down case is a Pen Wallet from The Superior Labor (a brand based in Japan) and Wonder Pens (a stationery shop in Toronto). Thank you again for subscribing and watching my videos. I appreciate you!
@@LittleCocoStudio thanks for the very prompt reply. The pen case looks delicious but if I'm not mistaken it has only an L-shaped zip, so doesn't fold out flat. It's enough to have whetted my appetite though 😀or 😒... haha. I love Japanese products (especially music tech), so I'll browse some more before buying. - best wishes
@@LeeCrampton you’re not mistaken! It’s an L-shaped zip, which I’ve come to love, but I can see the benefit of using a pen case that lies flat. The Superior Labor also make a “utility case” I think it’s called that lays flat. It’s much bigger, though, so it as slim as a pencil case would be.
Nailed it! Some things I do I didn't realize till now that it's my ADHD. I see things and I want to do this and I want to do that, research it for hours, buy lots of art supplies and then often be afraid to start using it.. I often think how a pencil and paper would be enough. Your video came up after hours of watching fountain pen videos as I would like to get one for sketching. My laptop must have had enough of me and figured out I'm ADHD.
TBH, the youtube algorithm is to blame for how deep I fell into the rabbit hole for fountain pens! The first time I became aware of them was when AmandaRachLee did a review on them, and I held off on trying one out myself for years because I knew I'd likely get obsessive about it. What fountain pen are you considering for sketching? I hope you find/found a great pen to sketch with! Thanks for being here and taking the time to comment. I appreciate you!
@@LittleCocoStudio Thank you for your reply. I might get the Kaweco Brass Sport. A wee bit concerned it might make my hands stink though due to the brass. I once had a brass fork and couldn’t stand the smell of the metal. Maybe it was a cheap fork? Anyway, they are sold out so will be back to the store when they get new stock. Also was thinking a fine nib. Not sure.
@@birbtunes ah, that’s right! There is a bit of a brass smell. I don’t recall it being overpowering with this pen, but it would probably be best to try it out in person to see if it lingers on your hand. I’ve seen a few listings on FB marketplace, so that might be an option. I haven’t tried a brass cleaner on mine yet, because I like the patina :), but I imagine that would make a used pen feel good as new!
As someone with ADHD as well, it is really helpful to hear how you navigate your interests and responsibilities. I also go through cycles of *intense* hyperfixation/loss of interest and hearing about your strategies for balance is really inspiring and comforting (like, yay it is possible to find equilibrium)!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s so validating and comforting for me to know there are others who experience these intense cycles. I’m not perfect (a person with inattentive ADHD and perfectionism tendencies is a fun mix 😂), but I do feel like it has gotten better and closer to equilibrium once I accepted that I operated best with structure and lots of compassion for those inevitable hyper fixation and/or loss of interest phases!
I just told myself I wasn't going to buy pens for a while, but had wanted a new Lamy, and my largest theme in pen purchases has been purple, so despite my best efforts the new Safaris had my number. Just got the blackberry, but I had been looking into the cursive nibs, so I got one of those as well. I've not heard of ACT, but I've been kinda collecting therapies to look into with my therapist. We've been exploring new options. Unfortunately, I also just got a message from my health clinic where she works and they have decided to move more heavily to short term mental health pursuits and referring out the long terms, so I'm about to have to get a new therapist. It's so annoying to lose the years of rapport.
The new Lamy pens are so fun! I can understand how they would be tempting, especially if you have a thing for purple. That’s disappointing that your health clinic will be moving toward short-term mental health pursuits. 😞 Working with a new therapist can be draining and challenging. Despite it not being an ideal outcome, I hope the transition to your new therapist goes well. 💓
Interesting topic. Thank you for sharing! I don’t think I have ADHD but I can relate to the experiences you shared and I have been feeling guilt and shame over my ‘obsessive’ interest in hobbies as well as the ‘hoarding’ of tools and supplies. I am familiar with ACT and think I will look more into it. I ordered my first fountain pen before Christmas, but have misplaced it in my stationery stash so got preoccupied with going to the art supply store and picked up another pen that came in a set with a selection of nibs and inks. Three weeks later and I still haven’t opened that set because I fell down the rabbit hole of altered books! It’s all leading to using the fountain pens in the books I suppose. Think I will use a notebook and fountain pen to journal about this topic the way you laid out your thoughts. Thanks again for sharing. I am new to your channel and will check out your other videos. And I see you are a fellow Canadian 🇨🇦 😊
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment (and, depending on where you live in Canada, I hope you’re staying warm)! 🥰 I just looked up with altered books were - so cool! Did you end up working on one? I’m glad you found the video interesting and happy journalling! ✍️📓
Super tip:My biggest tip is if I'm getting bored and want to buy something new I simply watch reviews of things I already own and I get pumped up about them again This is me
THIS IS THE BEST TIP! 🤯 Looking back, I’ve unintentionally done this a few times, but I’m totally going to do this intentionally now to get excited about my own things again. Thank you! 🥰
That's awesome! I'm glad. It's a huge thing for me. Not just saving money but also increasing my general Joy of things I already have. On another note, I am desperately trying to find that Superior labor pen case. I even emailed them but I haven't heard back I don't see it on their website . Any tips?
@@XtianApi Did you email TSL or Wonder Pens? I would recommend signing up for back-in-stock notifications from the Wonder Pens site and their weekly newsletter. I find Wonder Pens typically announces when they are going to restock the pen wallet via email a few days in advance of the restock, whereas the back-in-stock email goes out on the day it's available for purchase. Another thing you could try is joining a TSL Buy/Sell/Trade group. I've seen this wallet pop up a few times, if you don't mind getting it second hand! It can be difficult to get, but so worth it if you don't mind waiting a little while. I hope you're able to find one! BTW, I'm actually in the process of editing a video about this pen wallet that should go up tomorrow or over the weekend in case you have more questions about it :)
This hits me perfectly. I have been making jewelry for 20 years now and I have an abundance of materials. Lately my hands won't let me work on tedious tasks like my needle and thread which I love so much to work with. I picked up coloring for my coping skills and now I'm into the planner and pens rabbit hole. I have fibromyalgia and I am disabled so I am always looking for something to keep my mind from spinning. I just bought my first gold nib pen at Christmas and now I own three. I have made a wishlist of pens I want in my collection. I think it takes a while to learn the esthetic we like and the type of writer we love. Love the video!
Thank you for taking the time to comment! 🥰 I’m glad that you’ve been able to pick up another few hobbies that help to bring you joy (and a distraction from spinning). What was the first gold pen you got at Christmas? You’re so right that it can take a while to determine what we like! I hope you continue to enjoy exploring this hobby! 🖍️🖋️✨
@@LittleCocoStudio I bought the Black/Gold E95S, then for my birthday my dad bought me the VP in Matte Black and my mom bought me the Falcon in Black/gold. I'm really blessed.
