⚙️ EFFICIENCY
“Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.” – Peter Drucker
Efficiency, for people with ADHD, isn’t about speed or strict schedules—it’s about fluidity. It’s discovering how your brain actually works best and then setting up the trail to match your stride. True efficiency isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, with less friction and more ease.
ADHD brains can be brilliant, but not always fast or focused in conventional ways. We might hyperfocus for hours on one task and completely forget another. We might struggle with transitions, multitask ourselves into chaos, or lose entire afternoons to overwhelm. But when we design systems around our natural rhythm—rather than forcing ourselves into someone else’s—we begin to move through life with more grace.
Efficiency means cutting the clutter. Reducing decision fatigue. Working with our energy peaks instead of pushing through our valleys. It means removing shame from the equation so we can see what really works. And sometimes, what’s efficient is not doing the task at all—but asking for help, automating it, or letting it go.
Living this value means we stop chasing the fastest way and start choosing the smartest way—for us. And that’s not laziness. That’s wisdom.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Is this approach making life smoother—or adding unnecessary steps and stress?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who works in a way that reflects my real needs—not just my goals.
- People and Pursuits: Who helps me simplify and streamline? What parts of my life could be less cluttered if I trusted my own efficiency?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll look at one routine or task and ask: How could this be easier?
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Perfectionism can lead to over-complicating simple tasks.
- Executive dysfunction often hides the easier path behind chaos.
- ADHD can cause us to reinvent the wheel each time unless systems are in place.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Efficiency
- Identify one daily task to simplify or automate (e.g., outfit, meals, emails).
- Use the “If–Then” strategy: If I start to feel overwhelmed, then I…
- Try a “before/after” journal—notice when you felt in flow, and what allowed it.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What task always drains me—and how could I do it differently?
- Where am I working harder than I need to, because I think it “should” be that way?
- What’s one small system that could save me hours of frustration?
Efficiency isn’t about hustle—it’s about harmony. It’s learning your pace, choosing your path, and letting go of everything that doesn’t help you move forward with ease.
