Moving cities with ADHD? (send help)

I moved to LA. My executive function did not...

Author

Eugene Yao
February 21, 2025

Welcome back to ADHDfounder! I’m gonna keep it 100%… I have not been at 100%

Why? I moved from SF to LA in the past few weeks and it’s literally felt like pressing reset on my life. But instead of a fresh, clean slate, it was more like a browser with 37 tabs open.

New routines, new places, new people—all great in theory, but my brain kept demanding a roadmap I didn’t have.

Turns out, starting over isn’t just about changing cities—it’s about rewriting your internal GPS. So, today we’re going to talk about how to start over.

How to handle new beginnings with ADHD

Ever wonder why big life changes feel equally exciting and terrifying?

Neuroscience says it’s because novelty releases dopamine (which we ADHDers loveee) and triggers uncertainty, which our brains treat like an incoming asteroid.

The trick? Reframe uncertainty as an adventure rather than a threat. Studies show that people who approach change with curiosity instead of fear actually build stronger habits and adapt faster.

You don’t need a perfect plan—just a willingness to see where the road takes you.

Uprooting with ADHD (and putting them down again) 🌲 

Starting over is an ADHD paradox: it’s thrilling, it’s chaotic, and it will convince you that you’re bad at life for at least three weeks.

  • The Good: New environments force fresh habits, meaning old distractions don’t hold the same power. If you’ve always wanted to wake up early or stop doom-scrolling, now’s your chance.

  • The Hard: ADHD brains rely on structure, and moving obliterates every existing system. Suddenly, basic tasks like remembering where you put your keys (or your entire life purpose) feel impossible.

  • The Fix: Intentional anchors. Keep a few rituals from your old life—morning coffee at the same time, a favorite playlist for focus—to create stability amid chaos.

Big moves don’t just challenge your ability to function—they challenge your identity. But ADHD brains are built for adaptation.

It’s messy, it’s frustrating, and yes, I have considered just leaving my unpacked boxes as permanent decor—but every move is a chance to reinvent and figure out what actually works.

That’s a wrap! So yeah, moving to LA didn’t magically solve all my problems, but it did force me to rethink how I navigate life. What’s a big change you’ve gone through recently?

Made it this far? Here’s your small win for today: 🏆

—Eugene (ADHDfounder) ✨