The Strange, Frustrating, Amazing Truth About ADHD and Goals (And What Actually Works)

Ever feel like you’re the only one who can’t stick to your goals, no matter how hard you try?
Spoiler alert: You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re just wired differently.

If you live with ADHD, traditional goal-setting doesn’t just feel impossible — it is impossible.
Here’s the strange, frustrating, and ultimately amazing truth about ADHD and goals — and how to finally set yourself up for success.

Why Traditional Goal Setting Fails When You Have ADHD

I used to think something was wrong with me.
Lazy. Unmotivated. Maybe even hopeless.

Over 30 years ago, a kind supervisor named Mike Ogier first taught me about goal setting. Later, others like Andy Harrington drilled it in even harder: Goals are everything.

And for a few weeks, it worked.

Then… back to chaos.

Skip ahead three decades, and here’s what I finally understand:

My brain isn’t built for rigid goals. It’s built for curiosity, creativity… and caffeine.

Every January, while the world flashes vision boards and perfect plans, I’m just trying to find my coffee.

Sound familiar?

How ADHD Really Affects Your Goals (It’s Not What You Think)

Here’s the truth: ADHD isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a wiring difference.

Neurotypicals climb ladders. Step by step.

We? We’re leaping from trampolines… blindfolded… onto moving platforms.
It’s not logical. It’s emotional. It’s unpredictable. It’s uniquely personal.

The ADHD Goal-Setting Traps I Fell Into (Over and Over)

🛑 Setting goals I thought sounded good, not goals I actually cared about
🛑 Planning for “ideal me” instead of real, messy, exhausted me
🛑 Depending on discipline instead of creating smart systems
🛑 Obsessing over outcomes instead of enjoying the messy process
🛑 Judging myself by everyone else’s timelines (ouch)

I even built a perfect productivity tracker. Color-coded. Rewarding. Fancy.

Guess how long it lasted?

Two days. 🙃

What Actually Works for ADHD Goal Setting

Forget hacks. Forget perfect planners.

Here’s what finally changed everything for me:

1. Set Themes Instead of Rigid Goals

Instead of saying “publish 3 blog posts a week,” I set a theme: create consistently.
Themes give you flexibility. Breathing room. Joy.

2. Use Time Blindness as a Superpower

Deadlines feel fake? Fine. I create artificial urgency with micro-deadlines.
⏰ 10-minute sprints. Celebrate every win.

3. Gamify Everything

I turned boring to-dos into dopamine-packed games.
Points for emails. Rewards for staying focused.
I even named my task list “Boss Battle.“

It’s silly. And it works.

4. Quit Goals That Aren’t Yours

Biggest win ever.

Turns out? I didn’t really want to run a marathon.
I just wanted to prove I could.

Now, I chase only the goals that actually light me up.

If You Feel Like You’re Failing at Goals… You’re Not

You don’t need “more willpower.”
You need better systems — and way more grace for your uniquely wired brain.

Some days, success is crushing five tasks.
Other days, it’s binge-watching YouTube and journaling for five minutes.

Both are valid. Both move you forward.

Final Takeaway: You Don’t Need Better Goals — You Need Better Systems

Living with ADHD means you don’t follow the “normal” path.
But it also means you’re built for innovation, passion, and resilience.

Stop measuring success by other people’s checkboxes.
Start measuring it by how alive you feel.

You’ve got this.

👋 Loved this? Then you’re exactly who I write for!

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Comment below and share your ADHD goal-setting struggles or wins — I personally read every reply and would love to hear YOUR story.

Let’s build this journey together. 🚀