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ADHD Brain Hacks: How Tiny NFC Stickers Can Make Life Easier for ADHD Brains

In my work as an ADHD coach, I'm always looking for the best ADHD brain hacks we can leverage especially for that point-of-performance gap we face.


As you probably already know, we often have the desire to follow through, but our difficulties with executive function can throw us off track. The reality is we just need a bit more support to make the magic happen.


And well that magic just might be NFC tags. These tiny, inexpensive tools turn your iPhone into an external executive function system, truncating and automating steps so there’s more action energy left in you to do the damn thing!


NFC tags are programmable stickers that you scan with your phone and are one of the most amazing ADHD brain hacks.

What NFC Tags Are (In Human Language)

NFC stands for near-field communication, and technical terms aside what they actually are is stickers or coins with a passive microchip inside them.


When your phone gets close, the chip “wakes up” long enough to trigger an action you’ve chosen.


You tap → your phone recognizes the tag → your phone runs an automation for you.




Why NFC Tags Are One of the Best ADHD Brain Hacks


1. They collapse multi-steps into fewer steps

Many tasks fall apart because they require way too many invisible setup steps. Unlock your phone… find the right app… open the right page… remember what you were going to do… initiate the task… wait was the task again?


Each step is tiny, but the accumulation of them creates so many opportunities for rabbit holes as well as friction that derails follow through. A single NFC tap can eliminate most of those cognitive steps.


2. They act as “point-of-performance” cues

ADHD brains benefit from environmental supports that appear exactly when and where an action needs to happen.


NFC tags create those cues automatically:

  • The tag on the pill bottle

  • The tag on the desk

  • The tag on the steering wheel

Your environment becomes the reminder — not your working memory.


3. They help build automaticity

Behavior becomes easier when it’s tied to a physical cue. NFC tags pair a location or object with an action, making repeated follow-through more automatic over time.


How to Set Up an NFC Tag on Your iPhone

  1. Open the Shortcuts app

  2. Tap Automation → New Automation

  3. Choose NFC

  4. Scan your tag by holding your phone over it

  5. Assign the action you want

  6. Stick the tag somewhere intuitive

  7. Tap to confirm it works


That’s it!


ADHD-Friendly Uses for NFC Tags

Below are high-impact, low-friction ways to make NFC tags part of your daily cognitive support system.

 

1. Idea Capture

Place tags in idea-prone spots — kitchen counter, bedside table, bathroom mirror, car dashboard.


A tap can:

  • Open Notes

  • Launch your Notion idea bank

  • Send yourself a text


Perfect for catching thoughts without relying on working memory.


2. Grocery List Capture

Tag on the fridge or pantry → Opens your shared grocery list instantly.

Add items on the spot so nothing relies on memory later.


3. Desk Focus Mode

Tag on your laptop →

  • Turns on Focus Mode

  • Silences notifications

  • Opens your dashboard

  • Starts a Pomodoro timer


A simple, embodied “start working” cue.


4. Overwhelm / Dysregulation Reset

Tag on your computer or workspace →

  • Grounding exercise

  • Breathing video

  • Mindfulness app

  • Quick reset routine


A fast off-ramp when your nervous system spikes.


5. Medication Routines

  • Tag on pill bottle → log meds, open tracker, trigger reward playlist

  • Tag in bathroom cabinet → open health dashboard

Reduces setup friction around routine medication.


6. Morning & Evening Transitions

  • Tag on mirror → routine checklist

  • Tag on nightstand → Sleep Mode, dim lights, journaling app


Anchors transitions with fewer steps.


7. Chores & Home Systems

  • Tag on washer → laundry timer

  • Tag on trash can → “take bins out” reminder


Quick supports for tasks most likely to slip.


8. Emotional Regulation & Self-Compassion

  • Tag on mirror → self-talk scripts

  • Tag in bag → calming audio for moments of anxiety

Small taps, big nervous system regulation.

 

Designing NFC Systems That Actually Work for ADHD Brains

  • Keep automations simple: one tap = one behavior

  • Place tags where you naturally will run into them

  • Make them visible (washi tape, bright stickers)

  • Start with one or two before expanding

  • Review weekly and adjust what feels clunky

 

Closing Reflection

We are motivated and driven, but can struggle with accessing that motivation, drive and memory 😅 when we need to most. We’re facing a cue, friction and cognitive load problem. NFC tags reduce those barriers by shifting part of the executive functioning burden into your environment.


Your brain doesn’t have to hold everything; your systems can help carry the load, literally with one tap.


Ready to Build ADHD-Friendly Routines That Actually Work?

Work with a Neural Revolution ADHD coach to design personalized, brain-based systems that support your goals, energy, and follow-through.


And if you want more science-backed ADHD strategies like this every month, subscribe to Chaos Managed, my newsletter for high-performing ADHDers and the practitioners who support them.

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