Living Outside the Mold: ADHD and Toxic Productivity
The Burnout Nobody Talks About
If you’ve ever tried to fit yourself into a “normal” schedule—like the whole 9-to-5, five-days-a-week, push-through-it grind—you know what I mean when I say: that stuff isn’t made for us. Not for ADHD brains. It’s like trying to run creative software on a toaster. Sure, it might heat up, but it’s gonna melt before it runs anything.
The world often praises hustle culture—wake up at 5 a.m., journal, meditate, cold plunge, answer emails before your coffee’s even brewed. But for a lot of us, that just turns into this exhausting loop of feeling like we’re failing at being productive in the “right” way. That, my friend, is the slippery slope of toxic productivity.
What Even Is Toxic Productivity?
It’s when doing things becomes less about actually doing things, and more about proving you’re “enough.” That you’re not lazy. That you deserve rest, but only if you’ve earned it. And if you’ve got ADHD, this hits even harder, because we’re already constantly battling the idea that we’re lazy or unmotivated.
ADHD vs Laziness is one of those things we have to unlearn. They’re not the same. But toxic productivity thrives on us thinking they are.
The Neurotypical Mold is Cracked (and That’s Okay)
For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me because I couldn’t keep up. I’d start something with a ton of energy, then burn out fast. The crash after a hyperfocus sprint is brutal. And when you add in people saying things like “just stay consistent,” it feels like a slap in the face. Like yeah, Karen, I would if I could. Consistency isn’t about willpower for us—it’s about brain wiring.
And still, the pressure builds. You want to be useful. You want to prove yourself. So you push, and push, and push... and then you break. That’s not productivity—that’s just burnout dressed up in a blazer.
Redefining What Success Looks Like
Here’s what helped me: I stopped trying to look productive, and started being honest about what actually moves me forward. Not what looks good on paper. Not what makes other people comfortable. My version of success includes weird hours, passion-fueled sprints, and rest that doesn’t need to be “earned.”
I found this article on breaking free from toxic productivity super validating. It reminded me that I don’t need to live up to other people’s standards. I just need to build a system that works with my brain—not against it.
Your Life, Your Blueprint
So ask yourself this: What is the goal? Not the surface-level one. Not “I want to be productive.” But the real one. Do you want freedom? Creative expression? Financial stability without selling your soul?
Once you get clear on that, the “how” can be flexible. ADHD brains are actually really great at building their own systems—if you let them. And honestly, I think that’s the most powerful part. You don’t have to live like everyone else. You just have to live in a way that makes sense for you.
That’s not lazy. That’s smart.