Is AI the ADHD Exoskeleton We’ve Been Waiting For?(Or: How I turned my “distracted” brain into an idea fountain)
By Willy Han, creator of MyCoolSelf and the voice behind @NoPainNoJoke.
If you have ADHD, you know that “survival mode” isn’t a figure of speech—it’s a Tuesday.
I often think back to my time in university in China. Specifically, the old-school cramming style I grew up with. (I can’t speak for the modern era—maybe it’s different now—but back then?) It was built on rigid discipline and rote memorization. Basically, Kryptonite for the ADHD brain. I didn’t just struggle; I was drowning.
I barely survived. Honestly, if the internet hadn’t “happened” right on time, offering me a window into a world that moved as fast as my brain did, I can see myself living a much different, much worse life right now.
But today? Today we have AI. And the game has completely changed.
The “Fountain Brain” Pivot
For years, my brain felt like a fountain that wouldn’t shut off. It sprayed ideas everywhere, making the floor slippery and distracting me from walking in a straight line.
But recently, something shifted. That fountain is no longer a distraction—it’s my source.
With AI acting as the plumbing to catch and direct the flow, I can now handle 10 different things in a day and still see my progress trending up. I’m not sure how this feels for non-ADHDers—maybe you guys always had this linear superpower?—but for me, it feels like I finally got the manual for my own brain.
From Chaos to Calendar (The New Edge)
We have the ideas (A to Z, back to G). We just struggle with the “when” and “how.”
The Bridge
I used to let that execution gap paralyze me. So, I’m building the fix directly into MyCoolSelf.
I’m working on a super simple Timeboxing Persona (releasing soon!) that does the heavy lifting for you:
The Dump: You just vomit out everything you need to do.
The Vibe: Tell it your current energy level (High? Low? “Need coffee”?).
The Window: Say “I’m working from 9 to 5.”
The Magic: Boom. It organizes your chaos and one-click marks your Google Calendar.
It turns “I have so much to do” into “Here is exactly what I am doing at 10:15 AM.”
Why It’s an Edge, Not Just a Crutch
Calling AI a “crutch” for ADHD is like calling a bicycle a crutch for a commuter. It’s leverage. We spent decades thinking our brains were broken because they didn’t fit the factory settings of the old-school cramming system. Turns out, we were just waiting for the operating system to update.
Ready to upgrade your inner dialogue?
📱 Download the App: Get the Funny, Kind, and Cool perspectives in your pocket at MyCoolSelf.com.
💪 Follow the Journey: Catch my daily roasts and updates on Instagram/TikTok @NoPainNoJoke.
Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only. I am a creator, not a doctor. This is not professional mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek professional support.