ADHD and Motivation
One of the most common struggles for those of us with ADHD is a lack of motivation. It seems a lot of us with ADHD cannot find the motivation to get started on things. This can be frustrating both to ourselves and others. This frustration can boil over into all sorts of emotional conflicts both exterior and interior.
Why Is It So Hard to Get Motivated?
A 2011 study found that the ADHD brain has dysfunction in the dopamine pathway. Dopamine is the reward chemical. So, without that reward chemical, it is hard to get motivated. However, knowing the reason behind this lack of motivation is pointless without a solution. To find a solution, though, we need to start asking the right questions.
What Can Be Done about Low Motivation?
Low motivation is a problem. No one is denying that. However, I do think we are looking at the problem incorrectly. I think we are asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, “Why am I not motivated?”, ask “What will motivate me?” This is a much more productive question than “Why am I not motivated?” Asking what will motivate you will get you into action mode. Instead of looking at a problem, you start looking for a solution. Thinking about what will motivate you gets your creative juices flowing. Soon, you’ll be exploring how you can change the task at hand to be more interesting, something the ADHD brain needs to be engaged.
What If I Need Help Finding What Motivates Me?
Finding what does, indeed, motivate you can be tricky. It is not easy to know. The simple fact of the matter is there is no magic solution. It will vary from person to person. It will take some experimentation. One of the best ways to experiment with this is to hire a coach. A coach can help you determine what motivates you and how to implement that motivational factor in the tasks you do not want to do.