--- title: Stuck at home and restless? Try these 5 things description: I’ve always had symptoms of ADHD, like fidgeting and having trouble with focus. Staying inside is tough. Here are five things to try if you’re stuck at home and feeling restless. slug: stuck-at-home-and-restless-try-these-5-things author: Andrea Toledano published: '2020-06-16T16:58:28.253Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/5Q8VJn2jLJ7w4nsnbo6OhR/b027d16db70080cbf32334c0b4cdafd3/Stuck_at_home_and_restless_Try_this_Andrea_final.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/stuck-at-home-and-restless-try-these-5-things lang: en --- # Stuck at home and restless? Try these 5 things Sometimes we get stuck at home, with nothing to do... or nothing we *want *to do. Hello, pandemic! What do you do when your mind is racing, jumping between the things that have to get done and the many events you can’t change? I’ve always had [ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-adhd) symptoms, and my energy levels are high. I’m constantly fidgeting, going for a swim, walking outdoors, or chatting with those around me. Spending too much time inside makes it hard for me to focus and stay present, even mid-conversation. I know that some people prefer to binge-watch TV shows to pass time. But if you’re like me, you have so much energy that you need to be doing something to get through the day. So what do you do when you’re restless and struggling to stay sane? Try these five things. **Do jumping jacks.** 100, 300, 600. Just jump. Believe me, you’ll feel heavenly waking up the next morning. **Throw punches.** You don’t need fancy equipment to box at home. Watch boxing videos on YouTube and release some of that energy. **Do karaoke.** Ask your family, roommates, or significant other to join in, or just do it alone. Pick a time that works — and sing your heart out. Singing is a great way to strengthen bonds, have fun, and burn a bit of energy along the way. **Write.** Write out what you’re feeling, or what you’re doing, or what you wish your life would look like right now. Write a tragic letter you’ll never send, recounting your experiences with unrequited love. Write that first chapter of a novel, even though you don’t know the first thing about writing a book. Here’s the key: Use a pen(cil) and paper. **Volunteer.** Tutor kids in your community (or across the world) virtually. Write articles for your local newspaper or community center. Help nonprofits (maybe they have chapters in your community) with their social media. Next time you’re feeling restless, get moving. Find ways to keep your mind focused — and yourself busy. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Tips from an ADHD Coach: Staring at a blank screen ](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/missunderstood/frustration-starting-tasks-unproductive-adhd-coach-tips) - ADHD coach Jaye Lin addresses how to stay on task when our brains arent working with us. Sometimes when we start on something important with ADHD, we find ourselves unable to make any real progress on it. This can be really frustrating, but that frustration doesnt always turn into focus. This week - [10 tips for staying focused when learning from home](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/10-tips-for-staying-focused-when-learning-from-home) - Just like most of yall, Im struggling with remote learning \(and having ADHDdoesnt make things any easier\). In college, Im studying to be an educator, so I thought Id share some tips for staying focused when learning at home. 1. Make your study space cozy and clean. Keep your computer screen clean, t - [6 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers with ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-things-your-grade-schooler-with-adhd-can-say-to-self-advocate) - Grade-schoolers dont always have the words to explain what they need or to ask for help. But being able to self-advocate is especially important for kids with ADHD whose symptoms might make it look like theyre misbehaving. Help your child by going over sentence starters like these. 1. The teacher do --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/stuck-at-home-and-restless-try-these-5-things#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/stuck-at-home-and-restless-try-these-5-things","description":"I’ve always had symptoms of ADHD, like fidgeting and having trouble with focus. Staying inside is tough. 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