If “try harder” worked, people with ADHD would already be Olympic champions in effort.
That’s because living with ADHD isn’t about a lack of trying — it’s about having to try again and again, often in the face of challenges others don’t see. The truth is, every day brings hurdles that require mental energy, persistence, and resilience just to navigate.
ADHD brains are constantly managing:
Distractions competing for attention
Executive functioning challenges like planning and time management
Emotional regulation in high-pressure or overstimulating environments
Self-doubt fuelled by years of misunderstanding or stigma
And yet, people with ADHD keep showing up. They keep finding ways forward. They adapt, problem-solve, and start again — sometimes dozens of times in a single day. That persistence is a form of strength that often goes unnoticed.
The Myth of “Not Trying Hard Enough”
One of the most damaging misconceptions about ADHD is that it’s simply a matter of willpower. This myth ignores the neuroscience: ADHD is a difference in how the brain regulates attention, motivation, and impulse control. It’s not a choice, and it’s not fixed by “trying harder.”
When you live with ADHD, effort isn’t the problem — it’s the starting, organising, and sustaining tasks in the face of internal and external barriers. That’s why many people with ADHD describe exhaustion at the end of the day, even when it doesn’t “look” like they’ve done much from the outside. The brain has been running a marathon behind the scenes.
Why Every Win Counts
Every small win — getting out the door on time, completing a project, remembering an appointment — is the result of determination, not luck. And the fact that ADHDers keep going, even when it’s hard, is worth celebrating.
We need to recognise these victories. Not just the big, visible ones, but the quiet, everyday achievements that show courage, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Because in reality? ADHDers are champions. Not in spite of ADHD — but because they’ve learned to navigate a world that often wasn’t built for them, and still find ways to thrive.