ADHD Entrepreneurs: Why Productivity Advice is Like a Screen Door on a Submarine

Why Traditional Productivity Advice Fails ADHD Entrepreneurs (And What Actually Works, No Worries!)

Listen, if I had a dollar for every time someone told me, “Just make a list and stick to it,” I’d have enough money to retire to Florida and spend my days complaining about the heat. Productivity advice is everywhere, but if you’ve got ADHD, most of it is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

See, regular folks? They follow plans, meet deadlines, and stay on track. ADHD brains? We’re over here thinking, “Let me check my emails,” and suddenly we’re researching the entire history of ice cream. We mean well, but our brains work differently, and traditional productivity advice doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for us.

So let’s talk about why the usual advice flops harder than my Uncle Murray’s first business venture—and what actually works when your brain feels like it's running a hundred tabs at once.

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Why Traditional Productivity Advice Fails ADHD Brains

Most productivity systems are designed for people who function like a well-oiled machine. They start their day with a neat little to-do list and actually do it. Us? We start the list, get distracted, and suddenly, we’re alphabetizing our spice rack.

1. “You Just Need More Discipline.”

Discipline? Please. If discipline were the answer, I wouldn’t have 37 unfinished projects and a collection of planners I used for exactly one week. ADHD isn’t about discipline, it’s about interest. If something excites us, we’re unstoppable. If not? Well, let’s just say there are dust bunnies with better follow-through.

What actually works:

• Make it fun. Reward yourself like you're on a game show. “Congrats, you finished your emails—have a cookie!”

• Get a buddy. Someone to check in on you without making you feel like a 10-year-old who forgot their homework.

• Work in sprints. A little work, a little break—like a balanced diet, but for your brain.

2. “Wake Up Early and Get to Work.”

They say the early bird catches the worm. Great. But what if I’m not a bird? What if I’m more of a confused owl who works best at midnight? ADHD brains don’t exactly thrive on rigid schedules, and forcing it just makes us miserable (and sleepy).

What actually works:

• Work when you're wired. Morning, night, whenever your brain decides to show up for work.

• Flexible routines. Structure without the straitjacket.

• Nap wisely. Sometimes a little rest does more than a gallon of coffee. (Though coffee is still very much encouraged.)

3. “Eliminate Distractions and Focus.”

Distractions? They’re like long-lost relatives—no matter how much you try to avoid them, they always show up. Sitting in silence and "focusing" is a cruel joke. My brain starts bringing up everything from childhood embarrassments to whether or not I left the stove on.

What actually works:

• Controlled distractions. A little background noise, music, or white noise to keep your mind busy but not wandering.

• The timer trick. Set one, work until it dings, and boom—you’re a productivity genius.

• The “body double” hack. Work next to someone else and watch how magically productive you get. Accountability, but without the nagging.

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So, What Actually Works for ADHD Entrepreneurs?

Forget the usual advice. We need methods that actually respect how our brains work. ADHD entrepreneurs have enough creativity and energy to power a small country—we just need a system that doesn’t make us feel like we’re herding cats.