ADHD people are motivated by Interst, Novelty, Passion, and Urgency!
Sometimes, we think people with ADHD are just lazy, forgetful, or don’t care about finishing things. But that’s not true! ADHD is all about how the brain works, and it can make it tricky to stay focused, plan ahead, or decide what’s most important.
Prioritizing!
Let’s say a kid named Alex starts building a LEGO castle. At first, Alex is super excited and spends hours making the walls and towers. But then, Alex’s mom asks for help setting the table for dinner, and the castle gets left on the floor. After dinner, Alex forgets about it because a new video game looks more fun.
Later, Alex’s little sister asks, “Why didn’t you finish the castle?” Alex might not even know how to explain it. It’s not that Alex didn’t care about the LEGO project—it’s just that other things started feeling more urgent or exciting at the moment.
This happens to kids and adults with ADHD all the time. They might leave projects unfinished, not because they don’t want to finish, but because their brain shifts focus to something else.
What ADHD Does to the Brain
ADHD is motivated by:
Interest
They’re drawn to topics that spark their curiosity. If something feels relevant or exciting, they’ll dive in wholeheartedly.
Novelty
Routine tasks can be a struggle. Introducing variety or a fresh twist to activities keeps their minds engaged.
Urgency
A sense of immediacy helps them focus. This is why many ADHD individuals excel when faced with tight deadlines or real-time challenges.
Passion
When they deeply care about something, their focus and dedication shine. Connecting to their personal interests can make all the difference.
ADHD makes it hard for the brain to:
Plan: Figure out what to do next.
Focus: Stick with something, especially when it gets boring.
Prioritize: Decide what’s most important.
Sometimes, kids with ADHD work super hard on one thing (this is called hyperfocus) or feel stuck because they don’t know how to begin (task paralysis).
How to Help Friends With ADHD
Ask kindly: Instead of saying, “Why didn’t you finish?” try asking, “What made you stop working on it?”
Be encouraging: Say, “You’ve done so much already!”
Work together: Help them break the job into small steps or find a fun way to finish.
Changing, not only how we talk to people with ADHD, but how we actually understand them will be a huge help for you and them. Like a toddler struggling to know how to communicate a simingly simple, yet complex feeling, a person with ADHD will struggle to communicate or prioritize seemingly simple tasks that are actually complex for their brain.