Do you often find it difficult to finish something you have started? Is it more difficult for you to “kick into gear” or find the motivation and follow-through that other people seem to conjure up easily? In school, was it more challenging to focus and complete your homework? Do you find yourself lunging into new projects without finishing the ones you had already started? Do you often find yourself restless, bored, and seeking stimulation?
If you have adult ADHD, struggling with these issues may have led you to feel guilt, shame, and frustration over the course of your life. If only something in your mind would “click” so you could finish the job.
Here are the facts:
• ADHD is not just a childhood disorder
• ADHD does not only present as hyperactivity
• Very few people outgrow ADHD completely. For most, symptoms remain in adulthood.
While there is no magic cure, working with rather than against the symptoms of ADHD may help. The ADHD mind seeks novelty, excitement, and creativity. Enlisting these motivators can help you reach your goals. Approaching a problem from a novel perspective or seeking new tools can re-invent tedious processes. The next time you feel confined by routine and rigid procedures, consider out-of-the-box solutions to your projects.
Remember that motivation, energy, and focus are different for everyone. When you face a difficult task, you can start by:
• Accepting your limitations and expanding from there. Too often, we waste mental energy on what we cannot do or haven’t done, leaving little for what we can do now.
• Breaking a daunting goal into small, incremental steps while committing to daily action.
• Setting realistic and attainable goals. Creating a habit of consistently accomplishing small tasks makes loftier goals more realistic.
• Entertaining new and creative approaches that capitalize on your unique strengths.
ADHD is challenging; however, you can become more functional and successful by building on your unique strengths. In time, you can develop new approaches to tackle daily tasks and challenges in ways that work with who you are.
