ADHD operations management

We with ADHD often have shortcomings in operational management due to the distractions caused by brain activity. Operational management requires clear goal setting, planning of the course of action, starting and completing tasks. To implement them, we need cognitive abilities, impulse control, working memory, and regulation of attention, alertness, emotions, and behavior. These are all things that we on ADHD must balance with every day.

KEEP THE MOTIVATION ON

We can focus for hours on things that interest us, while less interesting tasks are notoriously tedious. High level of motivation and interest in the subject helps us stay engaged in the activity, and short-term stress supports this activity when deadlines are looming. Long-term stress works against us and negatively affects our ability to function. The impulsivity associated with ADHD makes it difficult to plan activities, and to finish them.

The difficulties may manifest as a lack of initiative, difficulty in prioritizing things, or there may be a lack of concentration. Difficulty prioritizing things leads to completing secondary tasks that are not important. In some cases, the person may have difficulty creating realistic goals and may unrealistically overestimate their own resources. All these factors affect the regulation of ADHD entrepreneur's emotions and thus maintaining motivation.

HYPER-SENSITIVITY

The systematic implementation of activities is also affected by the sensory sensitivities associated with ADHD symptoms, which cause considerable mental and physical strain and fluctuations in emotional and alertness. Excessive sensory overload can trigger strong emotional and behavioral reactions and have a lowering effect on a person’s self-esteem. This can seem confusing to other people and increases ADHD individual’s feeling of being an outsider. Sensory hypersensitivity makes the person avoid unpleasant situations, and this can have an impact, for example, on the development of the ADHD entrepreneur's business.

Adults with ADHD benefit from clear daily routines and scheduling. Routines also increase the feeling of security. Stress is often caused by a feeling of inadequacy, so it is important to create everyday habits that will help them cope, otherwise things that seem difficult are pushed aside and then often remain undone. All unfinished business and inaction cause stress and feelings of failure for those who do it, which has a negative impact on motivation.

PERSONAL GUIDANCE

During the coaching, it is important to create suitable ways of managing clients’ daily actions, so that the necessary tasks, even the boring ones, can be completed. In this way, successes have a positive effect on their self-esteem. In addition, it is important for each person to learn to value themselves as they are, despite their weaknesses. A person with better self-esteem is also able to perceive their strengths better and can accept failures more easily.

There are many technological tools available to help you improve your focus. Various apps can help you reduce stress and increase your focus or make scheduling easier. There are also apps for developing money skills or monitoring your well-being. With Focusmate.com you can book an appointment with a virtual ‘coworker’ to sit down with you for an hour while you work on your field. The list below contains examples.

Tiimoapp.com for scheduling and prioritizing tasks

Habitica for developing efficiency and reminders

Calm.com offers help for relaxation, falling asleep and meditation

Insighttimer.com for reducing anxiety and stress

Mynoise.com offers various music options for well-being

Focusmate.com offers to help to improve work efficiency and focus

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September 18, 2025 © Tuija Kauppinen