Broken Smartwatch & ADHD Overwhelm: How Small Disruptions Impact Neurodivergent Brains
- Sarah Hardy
- May 1
- 3 min read
Updated: May 6
Why the “little things” aren’t so little—and what to do when everything falls apart
It sounds dramatic, I know.
But today, I cried over a broken smartwatch.
And not in a “bit of a faff” way. I mean actual, overwhelming, unexpected tears.Because for me—and for many neurodivergent people—this wasn’t just about a piece of tech.This was about losing the one thing that made my world work.
My Watch Was My Lifeline
Yes, I could use my phone.But if you’re neurodivergent, you already know: It’s not the same.
I had spent painstaking hours adjusting the settings, silencing just the right distractions while keeping the reminders that mattered. It was finely tuned to my brain—my executive functioning challenges, my ADHD time blindness, my sensory sensitivities.
That watch wasn’t a gadget. It was a strategy.It was the difference between surviving and managing.And when it died—with a full battery and no explanation—I felt like my nervous system died with it.
What Followed Was Chaos
No reminders. No haptic buzzes. No discreet alerts pulling me back when my mind wandered.
I missed a meeting.
Overran massively on another.
Was late to pick up my daughter—something that devastates me more than I can explain.
And yet… to the outside world? It looked like nothing.
Just a broken watch.
But for someone whose entire coping system depends on that one tool, the impact is anything but small.
This Is Executive Dysfunction in Real Time
This wasn’t carelessness. It wasn’t a lack of planning.
It was the fallout of relying (brilliantly) on a strategy that worked—and having it ripped away without warning.
Neurodivergent people often spend years building systems to support the things our brains struggle with:
Remembering
Transitioning
Prioritising
Regulating
And when one of those systems breaks—especially one as personal as a carefully set-up smartwatch—it’s not just inconvenient.
It’s destabilising.
“But Can’t You Just Use Something Else?”
It’s the most well-meaning question.And also the most frustrating.
Because the answer is: not easily.
A neurotypical brain might be able to switch tools with a bit of annoyance.A neurodivergent brain? Needs recovery time. Recalibration. Emotional processing. Grief, even.
Because building these strategies takes energy, trial and error, masking, meltdowns, tears, and triumph. It’s not just a watch.
It’s everything.
Why This Story Matters (And Why I’m Sharing It)
If you’ve ever broken down over something “small,”If you’ve ever missed something important and couldn’t explain why,If you’ve ever had a system fall apart and felt like your entire world crumbled with it—
You're not alone. You're not failing. You're navigating a world that was never built with your brain in mind.
Coaching Can Help—But Not In The Way You Think
Coaching isn’t about fixing you. It’s not about saying “Just use your phone instead.”
It’s about:
✅ Helping you understand why these systems matter so much
✅ Finding strategies that honour your wiring, not someone else’s
✅ Learning how to recover faster when things break
✅ Creating more than one support system—so you’re never hanging by a thread
If you’re tired of white-knuckling your way through every day…If you’re building coping tools in isolation, hoping no one notices how close you are to dropping all the balls...
Let’s talk.
You Deserve Support That Gets It
I keep one part-funded coaching place open for those who may find access difficult. If that’s you—please don’t hesitate.
Your Turn
What’s a system or tool that holds your world together?
Have you ever “fallen apart” over something others couldn’t understand?
What helps you rebuild when everything goes off track?
A Note on Perspective
I write from my experience as a late-discovered ADHDer, a parent, and a neurodivergent coach currently exploring my own autistic identity. My story isn’t universal—but if it resonates, I hope it helps you feel seen.
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