Last updated on: November 27th, 2019 ~
If I could only carry around 10 items with me every day to improve my life with ADHD, it would be these 10 everyday carry items.
The following 10 EDC items are the best everyday carry items for people with ADHD.
Just keep these items with you to live a more fun and functional life…
Contents
1. Anker Powercore 13000 Ultra-Portable Charger for iPhones and iPads
The Anker Powercore 13000 (Amazon) is a must-have item for ADHD’ers who own an iPhone or iPad.
Because, accidentally letting your iPhone run out of battery can be a huge pain to deal with.
So, keeping this power bank on hand is one of the greatest ways to enjoy peace of mind while you’re traveling, shopping, or spending the day in the city.
You basically won’t have to worry about running out of battery ever again with this thing.
And, I like that this power bank can charge your iPhone multiple times, or give your iPad one full charge. It also includes two ports, so that you can charge two devices at the same time.
It also comes with a micro USB cable (and travel pouch), so that you’ll be ready to charge your device right away.
Overall, this is an affordable, lightweight, and convenient power bank that’s perfect for people with ADHD.
Take it with you wherever you go, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
2. Fidgetland Noah Fidget Toy
The Fidgetland Noah Fidget Toy (Amazon) is an extremely popular fidget toy for ADHD, and valuable everyday carry item.
It’s been shown that fidgeting can help people with ADHD focus on work, school, and similar activities.
But most importantly, fidgeting just feels right to people with ADHD. You should fidget as often as you need to!
Luckily, using a fidget toy like the Noah Fidget keeps your fidgeting nice and discreet. You’ll be able to keep the Noah Fidget in your pocket, and fidget anywhere you like.
This is why I personally find fidget toys to be more convenient than fidget spinners for everyday carry purposes.
You can’t always bust out your fidget spinner, and start spinning it on a table, for example.
But, for the times when you’re riding in a car, waiting at the doctor’s office, strolling through the park, or dining out at a restaurant – using a fidget toy like the Noah Fidget just makes sense.
It’s the ultimate all-purpose EDC fidget.
3. Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
The Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack (Amazon) is a high-quality daypack that’s frequently recommended by hikers, international travelers, and everyday city-goers.
Osprey packs are frequently recommended because they’re generally tough, comfortable, lightweight, and functional.
So, if these packs are good enough for hardcore travelers, they’re good enough for people with ADHD who want to comfortably manage most of their daily belongings in one simple bag.
However, one common gripe about this daypack is that the dual stretch mesh side pockets don’t work very well for storing water bottles.
You can still fit a large water bottle in this daypack. But, you’ll probably need to store your water bottle inside of the pack.
I still recommend this daypack even with its couple of flaws, because it’s one of the best value daypacks on the market, and it comes with the amazing Osprey all-mighty guarantee.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a lightweight daypack with a lot less functionality, but much better side pockets (for your water bottle), I recommend the Eddie Bauer Stowaway 30L Packable Pack.
4. Apple iPhone 11
The Apple iPhone 11 is basically a godsend for people with ADHD.
It’s fast, easy to use, and efficient for handling many tasks on-the-go, such as:
- Managing your calendar on-the-go
- Mobile banking
- Streaming Spotify, Netflix, Podcasts or YouTube
I also like using iPhone’s because of the security aspect. Security is becoming extremely important, as new data leaks are happening on a regular basis.
Thankfully, Apple builds secure devices. You don’t even need to use an anti-virus app on your iPhone.
If you prefer Android devices, Google’s Pixel 4 device is probably going to be your best alternative to the iPhone heading into 2020.
Either way, owning a quality smartphone will generally make your life with ADHD much easier to manage, as you won’t have to worry much about smartphone lag time, freezes, and similar frustrations.
5. Bali Secrets Natural Deodorant
Bali Secrets Natural Deodorant (Amazon) is an organic, aluminum-free deodorant for both women and men.
I like using quality organic deodorants because aluminum is one of the neurotoxic ingredients that people with ADHD should generally avoid.
Plus, you obviously need to use deodorant every single day of your life.
This is why it’s usually best to use a deodorant that’s free of harmful chemicals.
But, the tricky part is finding a natural deodorant that actually makes you smell good all day long.
This is where Bali Secrets comes in.
Bali Secrets Natural Deodorant smells great and it really works, due to its combination of seaweed extract, mineral salt, and special oils.
I also like that this deodorant doesn’t contain baking soda, which is a common ingredient found in natural deodorants. Baking soda is actually a great odor-fighting ingredient. But, baking soda can easily lead to nasty skin irritation and rashes. Many people (including myself) don’t respond very well to putting baking soda on their skin.
So, all of the ingredients in Bali Secrets are skin-friendly, and rated safe by EWG.org.
This is ultimately a deodorant that you can feel good about stashing in your bag, and using every single day. It’s safe and effective.
Plus, one bottle of this deodorant can last you up to three months!
6. Your favorite ADHD medication
My favorite ADHD medications are Vyvanse and Adderall XR.
But, your favorite ADHD medication could be entirely different.
Either way, many people with ADHD love to keep their ADHD medication close by at all times.
Because in many ways, ADHD medication just might be the most important everyday carry item for enhancing your life.
So, make sure to keep your ADHD medication in a place where you can easily access it every day.
I’ve always kept my Vyvanse in my backpack. And, this has helped me remember to take my medication on numerous occasions.
But, there’s a good chance that you have a secret spot where you like to keep your ADHD medication.
Don’t worry. There’s no need to tell anyone about where you keep your medication!
Unless you want to, of course…
7. Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pens (Bold Point)
Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pens (Amazon) are my favorite pens for writing, because they’re inexpensive, fun to write with, and feel good in your hand.
You can pick up a 12-count pack of these pens, and stash them in your bedroom, office, daypack, and automobile.
I use these pens every day to write down my daily affirmations, jot down my daily goals, and brainstorm new ideas for ADHD Boss and my personal life.
These pens are made in Japan, so they’re great quality. They should last you quite a while.
I recommend selecting the Bold Point option if you decide to get this pack of pens, because bold ink is thicker, and makes your handwriting look better.
But, if you prefer thin handwriting, then you’ll obviously want to select the Micro Point option.
8. Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer
The Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer (Amazon) is probably the toughest pocket organizer that you can use to store your EDC essentials.
Most people use this pocket organizer to conveniently store tools, camping supplies, or just general lifestyle gear.
But, I like this pocket organizer because it provides you with plenty of room for stashing your pens, smartphone power bank, deodorant, ADHD medication, fidget toy, or any other small items that you’d like to keep in one centralized location.
The quality of this organizer is excellent. And, it can also be used as a carrying case for days when you don’t feel like lugging around a full daypack with you.
If you really want to spice up this organizer, you can also equip it with a small multi-tool, first aid kit, and body wipes.
9. Moleskine Cahier Journal (Set of 3)
The Moleskine Cahier Journal Set of 3 (Amazon) is a neat package of high-quality ruled journals.
There’s something really special about owning a Moleskine journal (or three).
You can use your journals to write down life-changing ideas. Jot down your random thoughts. Come up with creative storylines, mobile app concepts, and business ideas. You can write about anything that helps you flex your creative muscle, and exercise your brain.
The advantages of physically writing words on paper are phenomenal. Writing is ultimately a therapeutic practice that you should be doing every day. Even if you’re bad at it, writing is still amazing for your health and well-being.
With this three-pack of Moleskine Cahier Journals, you can keep one journal in your bag or daypack for daily use, stash one journal by your bedside, and put aside your third journal as a spare. This way, you’ll have all your bases covered, and you’ll be able to write things down anywhere in the world.
10. Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth With Stainless Loop Cap
The Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth With Stainless Loop Cap (Amazon) is a modern water bottle that’s safe, easy, and convenient to drink from.
I enjoy drinking from Klean Kanteens mainly because they’re made with food grade stainless steel.
When you drink from a Klean Kanteen, you don’t have to worry about your body ingesting any questionable chemicals.
This is the main problem with drinking from plastic water bottles. Even BPA-free plastics like tritan have shown to be harmful to human health.
So, if you’re going to drink from the same water bottle every single day of your life, you definitely want to make sure that you invest in a high-quality water bottle. It’s well worth the cost.
Beyond just providing you with a safe apparatus for drinking water, the Klean Kanteen bottle also comes with a leak proof cap, and a lifetime guarantee. Many people even use their Klean Kanteen bottle to boil water while camping.
Overall, this is an awesome multi-purpose water bottle that people with ADHD can safely drink from every day.
Other nice-to-have everyday carry items for ADHD
There are 3 more EDC items that people with ADHD can benefit from.
Here they are…
Symphonized NRG 3.0 Earbuds
The Symphonized NRG 3.0 Earbuds (Amazon) are an obvious everyday carry item for people with ADHD.
It’s hard to know exactly when you’ll need to watch a YouTube video, listen to a podcast, or jam out to some music.
So, it’s best to keep some good quality earbuds on hand for all of your audio needs.
I like the Symphonized NRG 3.0 Earbuds because they sound great, fit well in your ears, and come with a nice little carrying pouch.
Interestingly, these earbuds are also handcrafted with genuine wood. So you’re essentially getting a high end pair of ear buds for a budget price.
These earbuds are really hard to beat for the price point.
Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablet
The Kindle Fire HD 10 Tablet (Amazon) is one of the best budget tablets on the market.
And, because the Kindle Fire is extremely fun to use and relatively affordable, this makes it a great everyday carry item to own.
I mostly use my Kindle Fire for reading e-books. I love reading e-books on the Kindle because you can put your Kindle into “Blue Shade” mode, and read in bed with the lights off.
But, you can also use your Kindle Fire to browse the web, mess around on social media apps, watch Netflix, or even chat on Skype.
You’ll be able to connect to Wi-Fi on your Kindle Fire, and use your Fire to do just about anything that you want.
I recommend keeping this tablet with you at all times, so that you always have something to read while you’re out and about.
Spry Gum
Spry Gum (Amazon) is a xylitol-based gum that’s probably pretty good for you, rather than harmful.
Many chewing gums actually contain questionable ingredients like aspartame and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene).
So I’m pretty careful about which gum I chew on a daily basis.
And, I like Spry Gum because their company is transparent about the quality of ingredients that they use in their gum. According to the Spry website, Spry sources their xylitol from non-GMO corncobs and stalks.
It’s pretty safe to say that Spry is a high-quality gum that’s much healthier for you than most other chewing gums on the market.
I know it might seem kind of neurotic to worry about the ingredients in chewing gum.
But, one of the main side effects of using stimulant-based ADHD medication is jaw clenching. This means that many people with ADHD chew through tons of gum.
So, you can chew Spry Gum to relieve some of that stress from clenching your jaw, while also improving your oral health, and making your breath smell good.
Spry Gum is ultimately an awesome EDC for people with ADHD.
Conclusion
Most people with ADHD enjoy vastly different hobbies, careers, and passions.
Therefore, there’s a chance that your everyday carry items may be wildly different than the items listed in this article.
However, for the most part, you will most likely benefit from carrying a good external power bank, fidget toy, daypack, journal, water bottle, etc.
I’ve done my best to provide you with the essential EDC items that most people with ADHD should carry with them!
But, you should feel free to get creative with this list. You’re the only person who truly knows the items that you’ll need to carry on a daily basis…
Which brings me to my final question:
Which everyday carry (EDC) items do you carry with you to live a better lifestyle with ADHD?
Make sure to name your favorite items in the comments section below!
This edc list is amazing! I have carried variations of just about all of these items (obviously not the same brand) at some point in time.
Personally, I tend to lose things frequently… A problem many of us with ADHD have struggled with I’m sure. I cannot say I have carried them all at one time due to convenience/ ability of packing all items into one bag. I have never been an iPhone user but have considered it recently for some of the exact reasons listed here. This seems like a very well thought out plan for managing the struggles of ADHD.
Thank you for the kind comment Aleah. I’m happy to hear that these EDC items suit you. And yeah I agree that carrying all of these items would be kind of a struggle. So, there’s definitely nothing wrong with stashing just a few of these items in your bag.
Great article! My ten year old son already incorporates his necessities as part of his everyday routine! It’s amazing how great minds think alike!
Awesome KC. Thank you for your comment. Hah yeah the ADHD mind is something special.
And additional benefit of Spry gum is that most ADHD drugs cause dry mouth which can cause tooth decay. The extra xylitol in Spry compared to other common brands means it is more effective at preventing tooth decay.
Agreed! I love Spry.
It’s interesting what you consider affordable. $100+ for a power bank is really that that affordable for many people. Same with the backpack.
Nice list anyway.
Thanks Erzsabet!
I ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE COLORED MARKERS AND COLORED PENS BECAUSE I CAN ONLY WRITE IN PURPLE OR GREEN INK.
Mr. Taylor. Would u have any information on tutoring in home? Especially some options that are provided from the Ohio Government? Grandson is being home school (K-12) program. He also has learning disability, and Aspergers ,ADHD etc. I know you probably don’t deal w/any if this, but if you have phone #’s or links I could look into, man I ‘d be sooo appreciative. Mom does work from home & can not stop work when he needs help which is quite often. She also has. Daughter that also has ADHD & ODD(oppositional defiant disorder). So you see why she desperately needs someone to assist her son. Help us provided thru the program, but not as often as he needs. Concerned NaNa TY
Yolanda I do not have any info on tutoring in home at the moment but it’s something I can write about in the future. In my opinion homeschooling is literally the best option for kids with unique learning styles. So it sounds like you’re on the perfect path.
My cocktail of psych medications is taken once a day, at home. That’s where they stay.
I like the Uniball Vision Elite pens very much. A notebook is essential. Should never be more than 5 feet away from you.
I don’t want a fidgety thing. A good water bottle is a must.
I am a mama with ADD inattentive and I have two lil ones with it too…I really like Frixion erasable ball pens by Pilot…they write nice, come in many colors, you can by refills for the ink and did I mention they are ERASABLE! I have also learned to simplify our medications by using the air tight, water proof daily vitamin containers (you can find on Amazon) this way I just refill one time a week, everyone has there meds laid out and I don’t need to try and remember if I gave meds or took them…which is golden since, well ADHD means NO/or little working memory…I really enjoy the info your share on ADHD Boss, thank you.
Thank you so much Catherine.
I always have 1) colored pencils 2) chap stick 3) a few pens & notebook 4) tissues 5) Wintergreen mints 6) my pixel light ( newest one & it’s amazing! Takes the best pix ever!) 7) a regular book + glasses 8) my keys ( seriously I keep them in my pocket all the time) …you know why🥴 9) cash/ change 10) stress ball ….
Great list.
This is going make summer with my 11 year old so much better .
Thanks Orlando mom!