How to overcome ADHD Procrastination? Procrastination is the deliberate and persistent delay of essential tasks, especially when doing so puts you in danger of punishment. If you have ADHD, you might be aware of it.

Procrastination is frequently a symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which also causes problems with emotion regulation. It's not always about motivation or willpower.

What is ADHD? 

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

An individual with ADHD has difficulty paying attention, maintaining stillness, and controlling their behavior. As a kid or teenager, you may experience it until you reach maturity.

ADHD is the most commonly identified mental illness in young people. The likelihood of boys having it is higher than that of girls. When attention issues initially manifest, they are frequently discovered in a child's early years of school.

ADHD cannot be cured or prevented. A kid or adult with ADHD can manage their symptoms if diagnosed early and have an intense treatment and education plan. But ADHD symptoms can be controlled. There are many methods for overcoming procrastination brought on by ADHD.

Getting assistance from a mental health expert specializing in ADHD may be a crucial first step. They can collaborate with you to create a customized strategy to meet your unique demands.

You can also try a few methods on your own to get started on the path to better time management and increased productivity.

ADHD Procrastination Signs and Symptoms

ADHD Procrastination warning signs can include:

• Anxiety

• Unwillingness to finish assignments

• Task performance delays

• Distractibility

• Heightened stress

• Lower performance on the task

• Decreased wellbeing

• Regret

Procrastinating and putting off a necessary chore may cause you to become more successful in other aspects of your life. For instance, you may clean the entire house instead of completing a tax form (even if you usually hate to clean).

You can decide not to finish a task because just thinking about it makes you anxious or stressed out. However, you might find that as time passes and you put it off longer, your tension and anxiety levels rise due to the incomplete task.

How to Overcome ADHD Procrastination?

Everyone delays things occasionally, but for those with ADHD, it may be a formidable barrier.

If you have ADHD, it could be challenging to begin a new endeavor or continue after you've got going. Additionally, you could discover that you put off routine duties like paying bills or doing the laundry.

The following tips will assist you in managing procrastination whether or not you have ADHD.

1. Alterations to Make Places Functional for You

Planning, organizing, and maintaining focus can be complex if you have ADHD. The result could be procrastination. ADHD treatment can be beneficial. ADHD symptoms can make it challenging to sequence and prioritize work. A few minor modifications to your surroundings could also be beneficial.

You could start by considering ways to make your workplace more conducive to concentration. Are the windows close by? Are the colors distracting? Do you have a messy desk?

According to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based cognitive behavioral therapist Amanda Levinson, it may be beneficial to "reduce distractions by turning off cell phones, TVs, and moving to a quiet space."

2. Don’t Be Hard on Yourself

The thoughts we have in our heads while performing the work at hand significantly impact how (or if) we complete it. Instead of talking down to yourself, encourage yourself with realistic, optimistic thoughts.

Rather than saying, "This will take forever, and it's already too late..." Alternatively, say, "I might not be able to do this today, but I can complete the first two steps within the next 30 minutes."

The signals you give yourself when you finish a task can be effective stoppers of procrastination in the future. Additionally, they might lessen the guilt that procrastinators frequently experience due to past tardiness or submission of subpar work.

3. Restructuring Tasks to Increase Productivity

Being more productive can be aided by organization. Although it might seem simple, living with ADHD can make it difficult. This is why beginning with basic organizational approaches may be required.

It may be enough to define and list your tasks to get organized. You can write things down by hand or think about utilizing an online tool like Trello.

You should only put down the chores you want to finish today so you won't have to worry about the rest. List only the tasks you'd like to work on over the next four hours if you find this problematic.

Gonzalez-Berrios advises "breaking jobs down into small bits and finishing each of them one at a time" after they have been organized.

For instance, you might want to settle your unpaid bills today. You may start by classifying them into past-due, future bills, and bills for the next month. Then you can begin working on past-due debts.

You can also recognize the minor phases that make up the more significant task for more complicated or extensive activities. Consider the scenario of planning a welcome breakfast for incoming interns at your business.

4. Obtain Training When Necessary

Are you putting off a task because you lack the necessary skills? For instance, studies have shown that while procrastination and worry are common among students who are taking challenging courses, planning can help to decrease these feelings. 13

If yes, why not learn more about it? You could accomplish this by signing up for a formal training program. Alternatively, you may accomplish this in a more relaxed manner by asking a friend to do it for you or by viewing a video online.

When you know how to do something, resistance vanishes and action is simple.

5. Taking Deliberate Breaks to Reduce Task Avoidance

Breaks are a great way to reward yourself, but they may also help you stay on task and control procrastination.

With the introduction of his Pomodoro Technique, Francesco Cirillo popularized the idea of working with time rather than against it.

Try the following advice:

• Make a list of tasks you want to accomplish.

• Give yourself X minutes to work uninterruptedly and without interruptions. The time can gradually rise once you set it.

• Pause briefly (about 5 minutes) when your allotted time is up.

• Give yourself a more extended break (20 minutes) through this process.

• Consider setting the alarm to go off when the break begins and when it finishes helping you avoid turning these breaks into procrastination.

6. Adapt Positive Thoughts and Get in Touch With a Doctor

Our emotions and thoughts have great power. It may be simpler to act if you speak to yourself in a kind and encouraging manner and remind yourself of your recent victories. On the other hand, it might be challenging to escape the avoidance loop when you are stuck in a negative mindset.

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful if you notice that avoiding tasks is primarily caused by your negative thoughts (CBT). Inform a medical practitioner or mental health specialist about your procrastinating issues. 

When necessary, therapy and medication can play a significant role in your treatment strategy for ADHD. Although taking medicine won't stop you from procrastinating, it can help you focus and make starting things simpler.

Let's Reassess

Procrastination may be a symptom of ADHD. These challenges can, however, be handled and frequently overcome. You might learn coping mechanisms by asking for advice from a mental health expert. 

You might take the first step toward overcoming procrastination and attention deficit disorder caused by ADHD by replacing old habits with new ones, rearranging your workspace, or locating an accountability partner.

Don't let ADHD win. Many of us frequently feel that we had already lost the battle before it began. As a result, we cannot see the value in making any changes. But with this mindset, you've done nothing more than concede defeat to ADHD procrastination. When you give up and believe there is nothing you can do to alter the way you approach or begin activities, ADHD procrastination triumphs.

This couldn't be further from the truth, in a real sense. As discussed in this post, there are several reasons why people with ADHD procrastinate. You have many resources for alternative approaches to addressing and resolving ADHD procrastination, regardless of the cause.

So, all you have to do right now is to stop giving ADHD procrastination the upper hand. You need to stop thinking you lack the capability and resources to respond. You can begin right away. Recognize inspiration in the accomplishments of others. Procrastination doesn't need to have the final say. The odds are in your favor. Don't give up right away.