I recently embarked on a 30-day Instagram Reels challenge, and let me tell you, it was quite a ride. I had all the tools and setups in place, but despite my best intentions, I only made it to day 17. Can you relate? Starting strong and then hitting a wall? It made me wonder why this happens and what we can do about it. So, I did some digging and came up with a few ideas that might just help us all out.
First off, I found that there’s some science behind our struggle to follow through with our plans. Apparently, it all comes down to dopamine and hypocretin (I’m not a scientist, but bear with me). These little chemicals in our brains play a big role in regulating our motivation and focus. And for those of us with ADHD, we might be dealing with lower levels of these chemicals, making it hard to stick with something that doesn’t trigger a reward response quickly. Thanks, genetics!
So, what can we do about it? Well, here are a few ideas that might sound familiar to some of you.
First up, lower the friction. Ever heard of that? It’s all about removing obstacles that make it hard for us to stay motivated. For me, that meant setting up a permanent filming space for YouTube videos and automating tasks in my other businesses. Making things as easy as possible to get started is a game-changer.
Next, and this is a big one, run a business you enjoy. If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that hustling 24/7 leads to burnout. Trust me, I’ve been there. Instead of focusing solely on what we think will make money, let’s pivot our mindset toward something that truly lights us up inside. Start with what you love and see where it takes you. It might just surprise you.
Now, let’s talk about rewarding ourselves with smaller milestones. That 30-day challenge might have been a bit daunting for me, but breaking it down into smaller goals could have made a huge difference. Maybe a two-week challenge would have been more realistic, or setting weekly targets could have kept me going.
And here’s a fun one — give yourself some time to do mindless stuff. Seriously! Taking a break and doing something that doesn’t require a lot of brain activity can actually kickstart your creativity and motivation. Maybe some of your best ideas will come to you while doing the dishes or taking a walk.
I also learned that it’s okay to ride that motivation wave when it hits. I’ve ditched the traditional 9-to-5 hours and instead, work when I’m most motivated. Some days are better than others, and that’s okay. Letting go of the pressure to conform to a standard work schedule has been a game-changer for me.
And finally, it’s crucial to give ourselves some grace, even when things don’t go as planned. We’re all about prioritizing mental health and self-care, right? So, let’s add a little gray area in our gray matter and remember that it’s okay to make mistakes. We’re not aiming for perfection; progress is what counts.
So, there you have it, my fellow ADHD entrepreneurs. These are just a few of the strategies that I’ve found immensely helpful in navigating the entrepreneurial world with our unique challenges. Let’s keep learning, growing, and supporting each other along the way.
If this resonates with you, drop a comment and let me know your thoughts! And don’t forget to subscribe for more content tailored to our unique journey as entrepreneurs with ADHD.
Until next time,
Megan
