Managing Chaos and Leveraging ADHD for Success

Thanks to close friends I have been exposed and learned a lot about ADHD, which surprisingly is still very misunderstood, especially in women. Women do not tend to show the hyperactive part of ADHD, instead, their storm happens within, with ideas and emotions running non-stop.

Living with ADHD can make everything extra challenging, frustrating and infuriating. However, with proper guidance and support it is possible to come to terms, manage and even leverage it.

The Good

The endless flow of thoughts and ideas can be overwhelming, but it also makes for great out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, innovation, and quick linking of seemingly unrelated concepts; which can make for great solutions.

Another common aspect for ADHD is the emotional intensity. This of course can take them to dark places, but when it comes to positive emotions, it makes them almost contagious, transmitting positivism and excitement and boosting morale all around.

Also, when a person with ADHD is passionate about something, they can easily enter a state of hyperfocus, concentrating intensely and relative effortlessly on tasks relates to it. If this is consciously aligned with their goals it can produce amazing and fast results.

Photo by Tara Winstead

The Bad

Most people with ADHD struggle with organization, time management, and task completion. It is common to hear that they started working on X, moved to Y (because it seemed quick), and then forgot X altogether. These can make dealing with deadlines and appointments a constant suffering.

Furthermore, because of how women tend to manifest and cope with ADHD (lacking the hyperactivity and tending more to ADD), many receive a late diagnosis or none at all. This lack of clarity often lead to years and years of accumulated frustrations, self-doubt, and lack of self-awareness, making them constantly doubt them self and any commitment or task even more challenging.

Strategies for Success

The “bad” aspects of ADHD are easily relatable, while the “good” ones can sound like a fantasy. The thing is that the right mindset and tools can go a long way. That is why I want to share some strategies that have worked for my friends and that you might want to look into:

1. Leverage Hyperfocus

Plan ahead and try to get the most out of this state. Understand which tasks you are passionate about and how to group them to do them more efficiently and with little extra effort.

2. Implement External Structure

Create systems and structures to compensate for and to keep your ever wandering mind under control. Block distractions, set reminders and alarms to manage time and deadlines, delegate mundane tasks that interrupt your flow, and use body-doubling to stay accountable and on track. This last one is extremely simple but supper effective!

3. Develop Self-Awareness

Understand how your personal ADHD works. Reflect on what triggers your distractions and productivity, which schedule work best for which tasks, and how it feels to be at a low or high point. This way you can plan ahead and also make the most of good moments while taking it easier on the difficult ones.

Embrace Your ADHD

I have seen how living with ADHD and struggling with everyday tasks can be overwhelming and exhausting, and I never meant to suggest otherwise. However, I have also seen how the right support and guidance can turn this around.

Remember, you are not crazy, you do not need to reinvent the wheel, and you do not need to do it alone. If this post resonates with you, you might want to look further into the topic and into professional support. Be it a ADHD coach, like Melanie Schroeder or websites like ADHD Female Entrepreneurs, they can all provide invaluable resources, perspectives, and strategies to help you understand and work with your ADHD.

Let’s keep at it, hunting the Snark!