ADHD Structure vs. Systemization: Finding What Works
Updated: Jul 8
Navigating entrepreneurship with ADHD can feel like sailing a ship in a hurricane. I want to explore how the right kind of structure, instead of rigid systemization, can be your anchor, providing stability without stifling your creativity.
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Why the ADHD Brain NEEDS Structure
Many assume that the spontaneous, quick-thinking ADHD brain thrives in chaos, but in reality, we operate best when we have clear boundaries. These boundaries are not about confinement but about channelling our dynamic energies more productively. They help us focus our creativity without losing the essence of our impulsivity.
The Struggle with Systemization
Systemization implies strict adherence to predefined methods, which can clash with the ADHD Entrepreneurial mindset and operation preference. It's like trying to paint by numbers when really, what you need is the freedom to create your masterpiece your own way. Systemization limits spontaneity, leading to discomfort, frustration, and decreased productivity.
My ADHD Structure Model™: Tailored for Entrepreneurial Success
Overtime I developed a personal structure, a framework that complements my ADHD, focusing on three key areas:
Environment Control: Create a space (workspace) that minimizes distractions. This could mean a clutter-free desk or digital boundaries like turning off unnecessary notifications. By controlling your environment, you tailor a space that minimizes sensory overload and maximizes focus.
Cultivating Habits: Habits are the backbone of daily success. They convert repeated behaviours into automatic responses that don’t drain your mental reserves. For instance, starting the day with a simple routine (habit stacking) can signal your brain that it’s time to transition into work mode without that jarring, abrupt shift that can feel overwhelming. Mental energy management!
Personal Rules: Rules aren’t about restrictions; they’re self-set guidelines that help manage your common ADHD pitfalls like hyperfocus on irrelevant details or distraction. Setting rules like no emails in the first work hour helps avoid early-day diversions. You have to make the rules for you, not someone else if they are to be successful.
Implementing and Benefiting from the Model
Think of these structures as bumper rails in bowling alley —you’re free to throw the ball however you like, but the rails keep you aligned towards the pins when you go off track. The ADHD brain requires a wide lane to play, but we have to ensure we don’t cross any boundaries that derail us. Here’s how you could structure a day:
Morning Ritual: Engage in a low-demand activity like making coffee, which gently shifts you from rest to work mode.
Focused Work Time Blocks: Tackle high-priority tasks during peak mental freshness, avoiding emails until a designated break to maintain this focus.
Adaptive Breaks: Incorporate movement breaks that respect your ADHD need for movement and change without derailing productivity.
What Is Your Point André?
Setting up ADHD Structure™, helps you leverage your natural traits and talents for entrepreneurial success (and personal success, too!). It’s about understanding and respecting your mental wiring, not fighting against it. Customize these strategies to your unique needs and watch your productivity and satisfaction soar.
Let me know about your ADHD Structure™ by emailing me. I am interested to learn how other people create their own ADHD Structure™.
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