Take a Break
Continuing projects can be tough with ADHD. Have you been working for awhile…are you tired? Do you feel exhausted and uninspired? Take that break. It might be hard to continue projects when you have no zest left in you. It’s okay to rest and do things that you enjoy. Or even do nothing. Sometimes doing nothing is essential to gain back motivation and inspiration. Even though this might sound counterproductive, at times the best thing you can do for your productivity is to take a break.
Clean up your environment
Look around you. How is your environment looking? Studies show that a clean environment can boost productivity and help you produce a higher quality work. And before you shut this down, trust me, I know how hard it can be to keep the environment clean and organized when you have ADHD. It’s a real struggle! That’s why I’m not asking you to suddenly spring clean your whole house! Just by clearing your desk, or challenging yourself to tidy up as much as you can in 15 minutes, you can help boost productivity. Or there’s always an option to work in a coffee shop/library/your cool grandma’s house.
Find a challenge
ADHD brains thrive on interest and challenge. It can help us stay motivated and engaged in the project. Ask yourself: “What can I learn from this experience?”, “What interests me the most in this project?”. Also, setting deadlines or using gamification can create a sense of urgency which might help to finish the project quicker.
Create Novelty
Another way to engage an ADHD brain in the task is to create novelty. How can you change things up? Even working in a new environment can bring excitement and motivation. Next time you feel stuck on the project, grab your tools, equipment, paperwork, whatever you need and find a comfy coffee shop or a co-working space.
Work With a Buddy
If you struggle to focus, involve someone else to either work on the task together with you or work on their own stuff beside you. Accountability can be an amazing motivator to get things done! If you can’t find someone to work together with you, check out body-double sessions online. Many people meet up and work together on zoom and it’s honestly AMAZING.
Break it down
Sometimes we struggle to do our work because the task seems confusing or too overwhelming. The best thing you can do here is to break down your tasks into the smallest steps possible. Starting small builds momentum. It can also help you identify which step causes avoidance and overwhelm. Could you ask someone to give you guidance with this step? Could you find more information or order supplies for this step?
Remember your why
If you’re still stuck with a project, think about your WHY. Why is this project important to you? What’s your personal reason for working on this? What will happen if you don’t finish this project? Finding your personal reason, whatever it is (we don’t judge here!), can be incredibly helpful for creating motivation.
