Dr. Russell Barkley

And so how do we deal with that?

Well, one is medication.

Medications correct that.

What the stimulants do is they enhance the reward value of this information so that now you engage it where you didn't previously.

The second thing is, as I've said, to make sure that you've managed your workspace and reorganized it so a lot of the more compelling distractions are not there.

They're not available to you.

The third thing is we know making ourselves socially accountable to somebody else for what we agree to do

heightens the likelihood we're going to do it.

That's true of typical people.

It's true of ADHD people.

So if I tell somebody I'm going to get this done in the next half hour, just making that commitment to another person enhances the consequences for me, makes it more likely that I'm going to get it done.

You're now accountable to someone else for what you agreed to do, whether it's your coach, whether it's a spouse, partner, colleague.

That's why public accountability is a great strategy for adults with ADHD because it ramps up the consequences for not getting it done.

Whereas if you just promise yourself you're going to do it, you're going to cheat yourself.

We all do it.

If nobody knows I'm cheating, then I'm going to cheat.

And I'm not going to do it.

So it really is learning to know thyself and where the demons are and get them behind you, you know, so to speak.

Get them out of the way and use other people to manage yourself.

And you'll be doing and then go on medication.