ADHD and a Million Ideas: Help, I Love Everything

I want to do a million different things. Not in a vague “someday” way. I mean right now, even if I’m in the middle of something else. Plant an orchard, design the garden, get my pilot's license, reorganize the closet, get more animals that depend on me, learn how to make cheese from my own dairy, start making my own clothes… all before dinner.

But wait, I also have a family, and a job, and my own business, and other things that I have to do before all the things that I want to do. (To be fair, I love my job, and my business, and this is the family I’ve always dreamed of…)

Living with all these roles, responsibilities, and dreams is beautiful and exciting, but also exhausting.

The ADHD Brain Loves Loving Things

Here’s the thing: my ADHD brain thrives on novelty and ideas. I don’t just “like” things, I fall in love with them. Hard. It’s an all or nothing kind of thing. A new passion shows up and suddenly I have an Amazon cart full of supplies, A list of YouTube tutorials, and Pinterest boards.

And it’s not just hobbies. It’s careers, business ideas, social causes, educational rabbit holes… I care deeply about all of it.

On the surface it makes life fun and exciting. On a deeper level, it’s sometimes really overwhelming.

The Problem Isn’t a Lack of Interest, It’s the Opposite

I’m constantly switching between projects, ideas, roles, and responsibilities. I start things full of energy and vision, and then somewhere in the middle the novelty (and the energy and motivation) fades. I get distracted by the next exciting thing or bogged down in decision fatigue. And some of those projects still sit half-finished, quietly reminding me of what I didn’t do, taking up space in my brain and my house.

And of course, I’m stll managing a household, work deadlines, relationships, and a to-do list that multiplies when I’m not looking. When one thing slips through the cracks (and it always does), I feel like I’ve failed. Again.

It’s a frustrating cycle of idea, partial execution, guilt, and a promise to tomorrow. Wash, rinse, repeat.

This Isn’t Laziness. It’s Brain Wiring.

If this sounds familiar, you're not flaky, lazy, or undisciplined. ADHD makes it harder to prioritize, switch gears, and stay motivated long-term. Add in a deep love for learning and creating, and suddenly you’re juggling way more than most people even realize.

So What Helps?

Here’s what works for me, not perfectly, but better than pretending I’m someone I’m not:

1. The “Passion Parking Lot”

I keep a running list of all my ideas, dreams, and “someday” projects. That way, when I get a new obsession at 11 p.m., I don’t have to act on it right away. I can write it down, know it’s safe, and come back to it later. That’s why I created the rabbit hole space in my planner. It’s for all those little side-tracks you don’t want to forget to come back to, but also don’t want to allow to derail your entire day.

2. Rotate, Don’t Juggle

I’ve stopped trying to do all the things at once. I choose one or two ideas to focus on for a month, with no guilt for pausing the rest. Everything will get its turn. This is all about authenticity and honoring myself. Make time and space for the things that make you you.

3. Small Wins Only

When a task feels too big, I shrink it. I don’t “clean the garage.” I take one bag of donation stuff to the car. It’s still progress, and that progress matters. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

4. Take Care of Yourself First

When I’m overwhelmed, I literally make myself go get a snack and water before touching my to-do list. You can’t function when you’re running on stress and air. It’s common for individuals with ADHD or AuDHD to have a diminished perception of their internal state (called enteroception), which makes forgetting to eat easy. Pile on meeting expectations, time blindness, hyperfocus, and putting yourself at the bottom of the list and you’ve got a recipe for hunger (pun intended). Hunger (whether you realize you’re hungry or not) impairs your cognitive function, decision making, and emotional regulation. If you forget to eat, set a timer or reminder to get more consistent.

5. Break the Shame Spiral

Unfinished projects do not equal personal failure. They’re just paused. Sometimes they turn into something else. Sometimes they taught me what I don’t want. And that’s valid, too. Giving myself grace for those things is still a work in progress some days, but it’s getting better with practice.

Redefining What “Success” Looks Like

Success doesn’t have to mean finishing everything, monetizing your hobbies, or becoming an expert in one thing.

Sometimes success is trying something just because it lit you up.
Sometimes success is choosing rest over another task.
Sometimes success is saying, “That’s enough for today.”

Things can be worth doing even if you aren’t good at them.

You are allowed to be multi-passionate. You are allowed to be inconsistent. You are allowed to be beautifully, wildly unfinished.

A Final Note to the Woman Who Feels Like She's Dropping All the Balls

To the woman with ADHD who’s trying to do everything all at once, remember that you don’t have to follow society’s rules for “success” if they make your life harder. Don’t make your bed, run the dishwasher twice, grab the takeout when you’re overwhelmed, or whatever that looks like for you. And love yourself even when you’re not perfect.

You're not too much.
You're just wired for wonder.

You’ve probably heard them say “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” But have you heard the rest of that saying? “But oftentimes better than a master of one.”

Be proud of your passions and wandering spirit.