If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing because you can’t stay consistent, this episode will change how you understand your brain.

In this episode of ADHD Late to Know, I explore why traditional productivity advice often fails ADHD and AuDHD adults — and why persistence, not consistency, is the real path to progress.

We dive into the neuroscience behind commitment, executive function, and attention - including why shame spirals, rejection sensitivity, and autistic inertia can make starting or returning to tasks feel impossible.

You’ll also learn practical strategies for working with your neurodivergent brain rather than against it, including:

• The Minimum Version Rule for hard days

• How curiosity enables persistence with ADHD

• Why persistence reduces shame and burnout

• How to return to tasks after setbacks without all-or-nothing thinking

If you’re late diagnosed with ADHD or AuDHD, this episode will help you reframe productivity, self-compassion, and what real progress looks like.

Show Notes & Research Resources:

Core ADHD & AuDHD Theories

• Dr. William Dodson — The Interest-Based Nervous System

https://www.additudemag.com/secrets-of-the-adhd-brain/

• Dr. Russell Barkley — Executive Function & Consistent Inconsistency

https://www.russellbarkley.org/factsheets.html

• Dinah Murray — Monotropism Theory of Autism

https://monotropism.org

Emotional & Mindset Research

• Dr. Barbara Fredrickson — Broaden-and-Build Theory

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3122271/

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria & Emotional Dysregulation

https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd/

• Self-Compassion & Executive Function

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201603/self-compassion-and-adhd

Cognitive Barriers

• Autistic Inertia Research

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631876