Embracing ADHD in the Professional World: You Are Not Alone
Alright, let’s get real for a second. As an ADHD coach working with professionals, I hear the same struggles over and over. They usually come wrapped in a bow of shame, with the feeling that you’re the *only* one dealing with this stuff. But you are far from alone.
Many folks with ADHD are in the same boat, and guess what? The challenges you’re facing are completely valid. So let’s dive in—why do these struggles even happen, and more importantly, what can you do to make your life a little easier?
“You Can’t Have ADHD… You’re too smart/successful”
Ever heard this one? It’s one of the most frustrating things professionals with ADHD deal with. Maybe someone’s told you, “How can you have ADHD? You’ve got a degree! You’re a lawyer! You’ve got your life together!”
Yeah, no. Those comments can make you start doubting yourself. You might catch yourself thinking, “If I’m so successful, why do I still struggle with simple things?” But here’s the thing—ADHD doesn’t cancel out success. In fact, some of the most high-performing jobs with a lot of moving parts are exactly where ADHD starts showing up. For years, you might have had school or work systems that helped you stay on track. Then suddenly, without those built-in structures, things start to unravel. Sound familiar?
4 Common ADHD Struggles (And Why They’re So Tricky)
Let’s talk specifics. These are some issues I hear *all the time* —and they’re hard for a reason:
1. Managing Multiple Projects or Cases
If you’re juggling multiple cases or have a ton of projects, keeping everything straight can feel like wrangling a tornado. Missed deadlines, last-minute sprints—it’s not about not caring, it’s about your brain having trouble flipping between tasks.
Why It’s Hard: ADHD impacts executive functions, which is basically the part of your brain responsible for organization, prioritization, and time management. With a lot on your plate, things slip through the cracks.
2. Falling Behind on Time Cards or Expense Reports
Expense reports, time cards—these are our kryptonite. They aren’t urgent, so they get pushed off until they’re suddenly they are, and now you’ve got a mountain of paperwork staring you down.
Why It’s Hard: These tasks don’t exactly provide the dopamine hit your brain is craving. They’re boring and tedious, so they slide to the bottom of the list—until panic mode sets in.
3. Building a Routine with a Changing Workload
You know a routine would help, but with a workload that shifts constantly, building one feels impossible. Plus, your brain loves novelty, so sticking to the same routine every day feels like swimming upstream.
Why It’s Hard: ADHD makes it tough to visualize how your day or week will unfold, especially with constant change. It’s like you’re always reacting, never really in control.
4. Guilt Over Delayed Email Responses
The email guilt. You mean to reply, but days slip by, and now it feels *impossible* to reply because it’s been too long. Cue the shame spiral.
Why It’s Hard:Switching tasks and initiating things—like typing out an email—can be a massive hurdle. Add time passing, and the pressure builds, making it harder to hit “send.”
So, What Can You Do About It?
First, breathe. These struggles don’t define your worth. They’re just part of how your brain operates, and the trick is learning to work with your brain instead of fighting against it.
One tool that’s simple but powerful? A timer. I’m serious. Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and give yourself permission to focus on just one thing. It’s not about finishing the whole task, but about starting. For example, forget “clearing your inbox.” Instead, set your timer and archive irrelevant emails from the oldest week in your inbox. When the timer is up, you can stop—or keep going if you feel the momentum.
The goal is to ditch the all-or-nothing thinking and take the pressure off.
And here’s the kicker—be kind to yourself. Self-compassion is your secret weapon as a professional with ADHD. Guilt and shame? They’re not helping. But breaking tasks down, prioritizing, and giving yourself a little grace? That’s where you’ll find steady progress.
2 things that I want you to remember; You are Not Alone—and There is Another Way
If you’ve been nodding along while reading this, know you’re not alone. ADHD throws some curveballs, but that doesn’t mean you’re not capable or deserving of success.
If you’re ready to find strategies that actually *work* for you, come hang out with me on Instagram. There’s no need to do this all by yourself—let’s figure it out together.
As we celebrate ADHD Awareness Month, let’s remember: you don’t have to do things the hard way. You just need the right tools to support how your brain works. Keep on keepin’ on, friend. The journey continues!
Bri Plyler is an ICF-certified life coach who helps professionals with ADHD shift from a life of constant panic to living with purpose—without beating themselves up along the way. She’s the founder of Current ADHD and the creator of the Instagram community @currentadhdcoaching. As an entrepreneur with ADHD and a relentless optimist, Bri knows firsthand that struggles and success go hand in hand. That’s why she’s passionate about sharing the message that you can be kind to yourself and get things done.
Her goal? To help people learn how to work with their brains, not against them, so they can build a life that feels authentic and energizing. You can learn more about Bri and her coaching at currentadhd.com or connect on Instagram.
