7 Things That Help Me as an Entrepreneur with ADHD
ADHD is a weird condition. Some people with ADHD need the structure of having a boss, and others need the freedom to be an entrepreneur. I cannot tell you what the best work environment is for you, but I can tell you that I have found what works for me as an entrepreneur with ADHD. If you own your own business or desire to start your own business, read on for some ideas that might help you. (REMINDER: What works for me may not work for you; you need to find what works with your brain.)
1.) Having Something First Thing in the Morning
When I am planning my week, I make sure that I have something right away in the morning. This gets me out of bed. If I don’t have anything until the afternoon, I will stay in bed too long. There are things I need to get done, and I won’t get them done if I stay in bed all morning. For me, having that thing right away gets me going in the morning.
2.) Standing up for Myself
When people know you can set your own schedule, they see your schedule as flexible and like they can dictate how you use your time. I have had to learn to say no to people who want to dictate what I do during the day. I need my time in my office to get all the things done I need to do.
3.) Planning My Week
Every Monday morning, I sit down with a half sheet of paper and plan what days I am going to do all the things I have to do that week. By putting it down on paper, it is like I am creating a contract with myself. This has been a game changer for my productivity.
4.) Listening to Myself
When I need a break, I take a break. Sometimes, I can only squeeze in a short break in between clients, but for the most part, I listen to what I need and give it to myself. There is a lot of pressure to be on the go all the time. As a solopreneur, if I am not working, no one in my business is working. That, to me, creates pressure. However, I know, if I push myself too hard, I will be less productive and run the risk of burnout.
5.) Leaning into My Strengths
I recently reached out to a marketing expert because I don’t really know what I am doing with my marketing. She gave me some pointers and ideas, but the best thing she did was empower me. She told me that I have a lot of content and can leverage that in my marketing. I am an ideas guy. I want to lean into that and use it to grow my business. If you are looking for someone to help you with your marketing, I highly recommend Ashley.
6.) Having Fun
If it is not fun, it won’t get done. I try to bring the element of fun into my business. I know that if I am not having fun, it is unlikely I will try my hardest. This means I play music while I am working and do other things that bring a little spark to my day.
7.) Working with a Coach
If I did not meet with my coach regularly, I would not be nearly as productive as I am. Talking to him about what I want to do inspires me to actually do it. When someone else knows I am planning on doing something, it is so much more likely to get done. He inspires me to action and helps me with any roadblocks I might be facing. If you need some help getting into action and overcoming roadblocks, coaching may be right for you.