Oops, I Forgot to Eat Again: Life with ADHD & Hyperfocus

You know that feeling when your brain suddenly decides it’s time to do that one thing, and suddenly you’re a laser-beamed, notebook-gripping, playlist-making maniac who forgot food, sleep, and what year it is?

Yeah. That’s hyperfocus.

And if you’ve got ADHD like I do, it’s not just a cute productivity quirk. It’s more like falling into a brain vortex and only coming back when your spine feels like a baguette and your stomach is screaming, “HELLOOO, bitch, we’re starving!”

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain regulates attention, focus, emotions, and impulse control. For me, it’s like having 47 tabs open in my brain, and one of them is playing music I can’t find.

Some days I’m scattered and forget everything. On other days, I’m hyperfixated on one task, as if it’s my entire reason for existing. Some days I chase noise, some days I chase silence, but everything I do is led by a brain wired for intensity.

So What Is Hyperfocus?

Hyperfocus is this intense, sometimes magical, sometimes disastrous concentration on something that lights up our ADHD brain. And I mean lights up like a Christmas tree on espresso.

It’s like:

• Rearranging your room or the whole house at 2 AM
• Gaming for 8 straight hours without peeing
• Creating a 5-hour playlist for your dog’s emotional well-being
• Researching the world’s BEST laundry basket… at 3 in the damn morning

We don’t choose it. We don’t control it. It just happens, like flipping a switch you didn’t even know existed.

It’s Not Just “Getting in the Zone”

People love to romanticize hyperfocus like it’s a productivity superpower. But it’s not that glamorous. It’s not a skill we can switch on and off. I wish.

It’s more like:

Oops, I forgot to eat, drink, blink, or exist for the last 7 hours because I was making a moodboard for a project I might never finish.

Hyperfocus feels like your brain grabbed you by the soul and dragged you into a mental tunnel. There’s no clock in there. No hunger. No pee breaks. Just you and that one thing you absolutely have to finish, or die trying.

The ADHD Hyperfocus Timeline

Let me paint you a picture:

💡 “This is exciting, I’ll just start it real quick.”
💡 2 hours later: No food. No pee. Posture = Gremlin.
💡 5 hours later: Eyes dry. Spine hurts. Still hyperfixated.

One second you’re relaxing with a cup of tea, and suddenly it’s the middle of the night, you’ve color-coded your entire bookshelf, and your dog’s giving you the side-eye.

But Why, Though?

Blame it on dopamine.

The ADHD brain is wired to crave dopamine like a junkie craves a hit. So, when something finally give us that rush? Boom. We’re locked in.

The flip side? Shifting gears becomes damn near impossible. Like trying to get out of bed with 12 blankets and a depressed golden retriever on your chest. Even basic needs like food, water, or standing up become “optional quests.”

How I Kindly Manage Hyperfocus

Because shaming myself doesn’t work. But, awareness, and strategy? That’s where the real magic happens:

✔️ Set timers or visual clocks – Even a cheeky little Pomodoro timer can help.
✔️ Schedule breaks – Literally write “drink water, stretch, pee” into your to-do list.
✔️ Keep water/snacks nearby – Fuel the brain or it will eat you from the inside out.
✔️ Ask someone to check in – Accountability buddies are gold.
✔️ Forgive yourself when you get stuck – You’re not lazy, you’re wired differently. And that’s not a flaw, it’s a trait.

Hyperfocus can be a gift or a curse, depending on how you handle it. I didn’t choose this brain, but I’m learning to live with its rhythm. Some days I dive deep into something I love, and other days I forget I have a body until someone reminds me to eat or breathe. Both are valid.

If you’ve felt this too, you’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re just playing a different game with different rules, and you’re doing better than you think.

I’m not a doctor or a mental health professional - I’m just sharing my own lived experience with ADHD in hopes that it helps someone else feel seen. Always speak to a qualified professional if you think you might have ADHD or want help managing it.