Baking Sourdough Bread as an ADHDer
(Bonus: ADHD-Friendly Recipe at the End!)
I was born and raised in France, where fresh, crusty bread is a daily staple. There’s nothing quite like the smell of a well-baked loaf, with its crispy golden crust and airy crumb. After years of struggling to find good bread where I live, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
Naturally, this led to an ADHD-fueled hyperfocus on sourdough baking. For the past two months, I’ve been in an “all or nothing” deep dive—buying books (half-read), learning fancy baking terms, and accumulating new kitchen gadgets. I’ve watched endless videos, rapidly scrolling past the slow parts, soaking in just enough information to get started.
And, of course, my kitchen has turned into a gluten-covered disaster multiple times.
Here’s what I’ve learned from my chaotic but rewarding sourdough journey:
1. Time Is an Illusion
I used to think baking had to happen at a specific time—like, start at 6 AM for the perfect loaf. Nope. Now, I begin whenever my brain allows me to. Sometimes that’s 2 PM. Sometimes later. And that’s okay. Start your starter in the morning for baking in the afternoon, or the night before for mixing the next morning.
2. Low-Maintenance Starter Strategy
I’m not great at maintaining routines, so my sourdough starter lives in the fridge until I need it. When I’m ready to bake, I take out 40g of starter, feed it 80g flour and 80g water, and use all but 40g—then back to the fridge it goes. No daily feeding required.
3. Impatience Calls for a Warming Mat
ADHD and waiting? Not a great combo. I use a warming mat to speed up fermentation because I tend to forget about my dough otherwise. (And when I forget, things get... weird.)
4. Hyperfocus Is a Superpower (Until It’s Not)
I’ve realized that I won’t stay obsessed with sourdough forever. ADHD interests fade, and that’s okay. I use my hyperfocus phase to build a solid foundation—learning by doing, tweaking recipes, and getting a feel for the process. That way, when my interest inevitably shifts, I’ll still know how to bake without overthinking it.
5. Trust Your ADHDer Intuition
Strict timelines don’t always work for me, so I’ve learned to bake by feeling instead. I pay attention to how the dough looks, feels, and smells rather than relying on exact timers. ADHD intuition is a gift—use it! Over time, you’ll start to sense when the dough is ready to move on to the next step.
ADHD-Friendly Sourdough Recipe
The easiest recipe I’ve found (and tweaked) is from The Perfect Loaf. Here’s how I make it work for my ADHD brain:
- I skip the levain step. Straight to mixing what I created with my starter. I only use levain if the recipe is NOT sourdough bread.
- I don’t follow strict timelines—I shorten the bulk ferment by 30 minutes since I keep things warm.
- I speed up the preshape step—waiting only 15 minutes because the dry Colorado air messes with my dough.
- I adjust the fridge time as needed—sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, depending on my mood and schedule.
You can find the original recipe here: Simple Weekday Sourdough Bread – The Perfect Loaf
Sourdough baking as an ADHDer is messy, experimental, and unpredictable—but also incredibly satisfying. If you’ve been thinking about trying it, just start. Make the process work for your brain, trust your intuition, and most importantly—enjoy the bread!
Annabelle Denmark (she/they), LPC is a therapist based in Lakewood, CO, They specialize in individual therapy for neurodivergent adults. Annabelle utilizes IFS, EMDR and sensorimotor psychotherapy to support people on their healing journey.
You can find them at www.renegadecounseling.com
