I did something like that. Task switching used to be very, very expensive for me do to unmedicated ADHD. My partner and I both work from home, so I made a system where enter one of us could press a button for desire or availability to chat. I couldn’t close my office door because the cat box was in my office closet. There was a color change bulb in each of our offices. It would be one color if I had pressed the button and another if she did. Once the other person was available (good stopping point or off a meeting/call), they’d press their button to make it change a third color indicating now is a good time and we’d both come out of our offices.
It failed completely. She’s also ADHD and trying to change her behavior to fit into a system like that just didn’t work. These days task switching is much less expensive, so the interruptions are welcome on my end.
A much better use of the color changing bulbs was to make the laundry closet turn a hellish magenta when the washing machine was done, so it looked like a portal to the underworld when closed. It was based on a zigbee power meter, so if power usage went above and then below a certain threshold, that meant the washer was done and the bulb color would change. It really cut down on the amount of times we forgot to put stuff in the dryer until it had to be rewashed.
I have adhd and work from home downstairs and like to listen to music. My (also adhd) wife seems to think that she should have the ability to yell down and have me hear her at all times.
I wonder if I could just rig up a cheap mic to flash a light when it hears her yell. Easier to work with the existing habits.
When I was a kid, I wore wireless headphones at pretty much all times. I rigged a microphone to play directly to my headset and set it up near the door. From then on I did not miss anyone approaching my room.
Mine was for footsteps, but it would probably work for yelling, too.
I did something like that. Task switching used to be very, very expensive for me do to unmedicated ADHD. My partner and I both work from home, so I made a system where enter one of us could press a button for desire or availability to chat. I couldn’t close my office door because the cat box was in my office closet. There was a color change bulb in each of our offices. It would be one color if I had pressed the button and another if she did. Once the other person was available (good stopping point or off a meeting/call), they’d press their button to make it change a third color indicating now is a good time and we’d both come out of our offices.
It failed completely. She’s also ADHD and trying to change her behavior to fit into a system like that just didn’t work. These days task switching is much less expensive, so the interruptions are welcome on my end.
A much better use of the color changing bulbs was to make the laundry closet turn a hellish magenta when the washing machine was done, so it looked like a portal to the underworld when closed. It was based on a zigbee power meter, so if power usage went above and then below a certain threshold, that meant the washer was done and the bulb color would change. It really cut down on the amount of times we forgot to put stuff in the dryer until it had to be rewashed.
I have adhd and work from home downstairs and like to listen to music. My (also adhd) wife seems to think that she should have the ability to yell down and have me hear her at all times.
I wonder if I could just rig up a cheap mic to flash a light when it hears her yell. Easier to work with the existing habits.
When I was a kid, I wore wireless headphones at pretty much all times. I rigged a microphone to play directly to my headset and set it up near the door. From then on I did not miss anyone approaching my room.
Mine was for footsteps, but it would probably work for yelling, too.
Oohhh thats a really cool idea with the washing machine!