You’ve tried building habits and routines to get your stuff done. For a time, you stick to them. And then you don’t (maybe that’s the one thing you’re most consistent about!) When you get back in the saddle, it feels like you’re rebuilding from scratch, and that is exhausting.

You’re probably really hard on yourself when your system or your routine falls apart. And that’s even more exhausting.

Knowing that you can do something but at the same time feeling like it’s impossible can be confusing. Why is it that a particular hack worked so well on one day but completely failed on another?

But the inconsistency isn’t weakness. It’s not a lack of discipline or an inability to work hard. It’s just that your brain is wired to seek novelty and variety. Doing the same things at the same times each day indefinitely is working against the brain you have.

The first step is simply noticing, without judgement, when this happens.

But then what?

Most productivity coaches will tell you: Just stick with it! It takes a long time to make it habit! Consistency gets you where you want to go! But when you’re actively working against your own brain’s wiring, no amount of repetition is going to make it stick.

What works better is embracing inconsistency as a strength. You build a personal toolbox of strategies that keep things fresh and interesting, and develop a habit of using the right tool in the right moment. Not a one-size-fits-all solution. A menu of things to experiment with so you can maintain momentum even when a routine can’t be maintained.

When you can catch yourself losing momentum, you suddenly have a choice about what to do next: continue the familiar pattern, or consciously do something different. The habit worth building isn’t “be more consistent” or “stick to a routine”.

Work.Life.Smarts is a totally different approach to habit building for ADHDers. The habits we focus on first are: 

• Self-awareness so you can learn about your patterns and notice those moments as they happen, without judgement
• Making conscious choices to try something new (or not – you’re in control here).
• Curiosity, so you can honestly evaluate what’s working and what isn’t.

At the same time, we experiment with practical tools and mindset strategies that can help you work more effectively with your brain. Over time you build not a perfect, permanent routine, but a toolbox of strategies, a menu of options, that work with your unique brain to move you toward your goals with momentum.

You don’t need another system. You need an approach that is built for how your brain actually works.