Can’t get anything done with ADHD? You must be lazy, right?
WRONG!!
When you have ADHD there are a few reasons you can’t get anything done. Usually, laziness isn’t one of them.
What’s the big reason ADHD adults can’t get anything done? Not understanding how important it is to balance brain stimulation.
Let me back up.
Brain stimulation is a very important ADHD topic. One you need to understand. It’s key to staying focused and productive.
ADHD is a brain chemistry issue. It’s not about laziness or a failure of will.
And, one of the central issues of ADHD brain chemistry is stimulation. When an ADHD brain isn’t stimulated enough, it can’t focus, get started, or get anything done. It’ll be hard to start a task or pay attention. You’ll get distracted. Bored. Unmotivated.
When an ADHD brain is too stimulated, you won’t be able to stay on task or pay attention. You might get overwhelmed, agitated, or scattered. You might get hyper-focused, too.
When You Can’t Get Anything Done with ADHD
This is why when you can’t get anything done. I want you to stop getting upset with yourself. Adjust your brain stimulation instead. When you do, you will find it much easier to stay focused and get things done.
This is one of the hardest ideas for my ADHD coaching clients to grasp. ADHD is about how your brain works. It’s not about your failure as a human being.
I recently taught the ADHD Success Club about this topic. You can read some tips about adjusting the ADHD Stimulation Lever on Maya’s report about the module.
Anyway, getting the right amount of brain stimulation is a balance. With ADHD, we usually teeter between having too much stimulation or too little.
When you balance your stimulation, you’re more apt to find calm focus and productivity.
Over and under-stimulation feels different for each person with ADHD. That’s why I encourage you to identify your personal brain stimulation patterns. That way you can identify what’s going on in your very own brain.
Next time you can’t get anything done with ADHD, stop getting upset with yourself. Think about how to adjust your brain stimulation instead.
Keep reading for more tips on staying motivated and getting things done:
- How to Stay Motivated When Working Alone with ADHD
- ADHD and Motivation: It’s an ADHD Brain Chemistry Thing
- My Secret Sauce to Getting Things Done with Adult ADHD
- ADHD’s Odd Relationship with Time
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Thank you for writing this article. I needed some good advice as I’m going through this exact same issue . 🙂
Help! Stuck!
Sorry to hear that! Hope you’re taking action to live easier with ADHD!
I’ve been told by numerous people how awful it is to be taking adderall for my adhd. For a while I could brush it off, now it’s starting to bother me when I have people telling me that I’m taking a legal form of crack or meth. It drives me crazy!! Now I feel like whoever I go, people are always looking at me and assume I’m on something. Does anyone else struggle with this? It’s beyond frustrating!!
Hi Deanna, I’m curious where the people who are medication-shaming you got their ADHD expertise? I’m curious what their motives are for tell you that? Most people without ADHD don’t understand what it’s like to live with. Adderall is a scientifically proven medical treatment for ADHD. If it’s the right dose of the right medication for you, Adderall will calm you down; not speed you up. Perhaps don’t share that you’re taking Adderall with so many people. I hope this helps, Dana
How do I get diagnosed? I KNOW I have it. Help me. I need medication.
Hi Joan,
You need to see a doctor who can diagnose ADHD. It can be either your primary care doctor, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. They need to make sure it’s not something else that looks like ADHD. Good luck, Dana