Why ADHD Brains Abandon Projects (And How to Stop It) episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 14, 2025 · 21 MIN

Why ADHD Brains Abandon Projects (And How to Stop It)

from It's The ADHD-Friendly Show | Personal Growth, Well-being and Productivity for Distractible Minds · host Caren Magill

In this episode, we explore why following through on projects is particularly challenging for ADHD brains and introduce the concept of the "Valley of Despair" - that critical point where most of us abandon our initiatives. Drawing from both neuroscience and personal experience, I share three powerful strategies to push through this valley: managing your dopamine intentionally, implementing a "pause practice" before starting new projects, and using self-awareness as a navigation tool. Whether you're struggling with perfectionism or simply find yourself repeatedly starting and abandoning projects, this episode offers practical tools to build your follow-through muscles and complete what matters most. Learn how to define "done," set reasonable expectations, and finally break the cycle of unfinished projects that damages self-trust and satisfaction.

In this episode, we explore why following through on projects is particularly challenging for ADHD brains and introduce the concept of the "Valley of Despair" - that critical point where most of us abandon our initiatives. Drawing from both neuroscience and personal experience, I share three powerful strategies to push through this valley: managing your dopamine intentionally, implementing a "pause practice" before starting new projects, and using self-awareness as a navigation tool. Whether you're struggling with perfectionism or simply find yourself repeatedly starting and abandoning projects, this episode offers practical tools to build your follow-through muscles and complete what matters most. Learn how to define "done," set reasonable expectations, and finally break the cycle of unfinished projects that damages self-trust and satisfaction.

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Why ADHD Brains Abandon Projects (And How to Stop It)

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This episode is 21 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 14, 2025.

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In this episode, we explore why following through on projects is particularly challenging for ADHD brains and introduce the concept of the "Valley of Despair" - that critical point where most of us abandon our initiatives. Drawing from both...

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