*I’m taking a pause from my series “Managing ADHD in Real Life” so I can get my kids squared away on summer break. Stay tuned for more in the weeks to come and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future posts!

I got glasses for the first time about a year ago.

I turn 40 this year, and my eyesight seems to be the first thing that’s failing me.

Up until the exam, I’d never had any issues with my vision. I’d do the test in the doctor’s office where you look at the progressively smaller letters on the wall, and I’d consistently pass with flying colors.

The whole eye-exam experience was completely new, and I have to say, there were parts of it that I DID NOT enjoy. Nobody warned me about the puff of air they shoot into your eyes. That device is sadistic.

I scheduled the appointment because I was struggling with eye pain by the end of most days. I would emerge from my office after a long day staring at the computer with eyes that felt like someone was trying to push them out of my head from inside.

After the exam, the optometrist indicated that I needed prescription glasses. She explained that my eyes were experiencing strain as a result of having to repeatedly refocus throughout the day. My left eye in particular needed more correction and had to constantly adjust to try and compensate. The need to constantly refocus meant my eyes were doing a lot of extra work.

It got me thinking. My eyes were tired because they had to constantly refocus.

Reminds me a lot of my ADHD brain.

See, the ADHD brain takes in information non-stop. It’s being pulled in countless directions, and when you’re meant to be concentrating on one thing, it can take a tremendous effort to refocus your attention on the task at hand.

It’s no wonder that most days I feel wiped out—especially if I’m doing work that’s not particularly interesting or engaging.

The demands of the day—a job, a partner, kids, responsibilities, commitments—require a lot of attention and focus. If your brain is wired to follow impulses, instead of staying on task, you end up using a massive amount of energy just doing life.

After a full day of constant self-correction, your brain is exhausted.

My advice? Cut yourself some slack.

Remember that your brain is working so much harder than a lot of the people around you. You may get tired more easily. You may need to take breaks. If you need a moment of rest, don’t feel ashamed. It’s what’s necessary for you and your brain to function at its best.

My glasses aren’t about helping me see—they’re about making it so my eyes don’t have to work so hard.

I think it’s a lot like ADHD.

Sometimes the answer isn’t to push harder, try harder, or focus harder.

Sometimes the answer is finding the right support so you don’t have to spend all day refocusing.

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