ADHD and Motivation Insights
My ADHD diagnosis in 2012 gave me a lot of profound insights regarding productivity and motivation. In my research, I learned that it’s not uncommon for people with ADHD to have problems with internal motivation, and instead, rely a lot on external motivation. Came as no surprise to me…
The difference between the two is that internal motivation comes from within, via our goals, thoughts, feelings, and values, whereas external motivation is basically someone telling you or coercing you to do something, much like a fitness trainer. Internal motivation is tough for ADHDers because our interests, thoughts, and goals are constantly changing.
You know what I’m talking about. You know when you have 5 things on your interest list and you want to do all of them, but your brain doesn’t know how to focus on any of them until completion, and when it does, it focuses on one just long enough to get about 3/4 of the way through it and then bang, it switches over to something else. Now repeat that sentence really fast… That’s ADHD life.
Just because people with ADHD have issues with internal motivation doesn’t mean they necessarily have weak will power. Like the rest of society, we live in an information overload age where things are constantly competing for our attention. Like other people, we can be resistant to starting new habits such as working out or eating green stuff with dinner. Often times, we know what’s good for us and want to change, but we don’t have quite enough leverage to start. Sometimes, we start, but then sputter like a lawnmower that’s low on gas, and give up. You know what could fix that? A little accountability, and I can personally attest to its power.
Marine Corps Accountability
When I was in my early 20s and in the Marines, my life was full of accountability. It was during those four years of my life that I managed to pull off 31 wide-grip overhand pullups in a single session, run 3 miles in 18:40, bench a one-rep max of 265 lbs, and do a bazillion crunches in one sitting. Not to mention, I had low body fat and a kick-ass six-pack, and ate 3 full meals a day (sometimes, MRE’s). I was in the best shape of my life! Sure, I was single and had tons of downtime, but what young 20-something doesn’t have tons of free downtime? The difference was accountability.
In the Marines, we trained together, had chow together, and even dragged our hungover bunk mates out of bed so they could make it to morning PT. When somebody was slowing down on a platoon run, we made sure to motivate them, lift their spirits up, and help them make it all the way home. When a boot Marine was out of line, it was an NCO’s responsibility to set them straight. We kept each other accountable, and that’s what made our operations successful.
How to Use Accountability for Motivation
Of course, life is different outside the military. Instead of other Marines, you have to rely on friends, family, and even hired coaches or trainers to get that same level of external motivation. If you’re trying to do something new in your life or trying to re-institute something you’ve failed at before, accountability is what will keep you in the game. That’s what’s going to push you when you’re weak or tired and feel like giving up.
Want to make a change today? Here are some quick tips:
- Tell a friend or several friends. Get either one of them or a family member to hold you to it. Make a bet with them you’ll follow through or give them $100.
- Hire someone (if you can afford it). Personal trainers and life coaches are good examples. The good ones will motivate the hell out of you.
- Sign up for stickk.com. You tell them your goal and your stakes, and if you fail, your money goes to either a friend, a charity, or an anti-charity (an organization that you absolutely despise).
Have a change you want to make now? Or have you gone off-course and need to get back on track? What are you going to do to get motivated and back on course?
