537- Small Wins Add Up: How to Build New Habits in 2025
Jan 14, 2025
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Linda Roggli, a professional certified coach and founder of the AD Diva Network, shares valuable insights into habit formation for those with ADHD. She discusses the unique struggles ADHD brains face in developing new habits and emphasizes starting with small goals. Roggli highlights the importance of celebrating tiny victories, using visual reminders, and habit stacking to create lasting changes. Personal anecdotes and practical strategies make this conversation both relatable and actionable for anyone looking to enhance their routine.
ADHD individuals benefit from setting small, specific goals linked to existing routines to overcome challenges in forming new habits.
Celebrating every small win is essential for reinforcing positive behaviors and maintaining motivation in individuals with ADHD.
Understanding the unique challenges faced by ADHD brains allows for the development of tailored strategies that promote effective habit formation.
Deep dives
Challenges of Resolutions for ADHD
Many individuals with ADHD struggle with New Year's resolutions, as roughly 70% of Americans find them challenging, leading to feelings of shame and disappointment. Instead of adhering to rigid resolutions, establishing intentions can be more beneficial, as it allows for a gentler approach towards creating healthier habits. The discussion highlights how traditional methods may not be effective for those with ADHD, given the tendency to feel overwhelmed by the expectations set by resolutions. The goal is to create small, achievable steps that promote progress without negative self-judgment.
Understanding the Nature of Habits
Creating new habits can be particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD due to factors like inconsistent working memory and difficulty establishing consistency. It’s essential to recognize that the ADHD brain often struggles with distractions, making it easy to lose focus on newly formed habits. By understanding these unique challenges, individuals can approach habit formation with a more informed perspective. This awareness facilitates the development of strategies that accommodate ADHD, allowing for effective habit building that respects individual limitations.
The Power of Tiny Habits
Introducing tiny habits is a significant strategy for individuals aiming to establish new routines. The concept involves linking a small, new behavior to an existing routine, effectively creating a prompt for action. Celebrating each success, no matter how small, reinforces the habit and boosts self-esteem, addressing the negative self-talk commonly experienced. This approach not only fosters success in forming new habits but also shifts the focus from failure to positive reinforcement, paving the way for lasting change.
Setting Realistic Goals and Intentions
It is crucial to set realistic and specific goals rather than vague intentions that can overwhelm ADHD individuals. For instance, instead of stating a general desire to lose weight, identifying specific actions such as drinking more water or reducing portion sizes can foster clarity and motivate progress. The discussion emphasizes refining goals through a funneling process to isolate the most impactful and manageable steps. This targeted approach enables individuals to build confidence as they successfully achieve each small target, creating a solid foundation for larger goals.
The Importance of Celebration and Motivation
Celebrating small victories is a vital practice for maintaining motivation and reinforcing positive behaviors, especially for those with ADHD. The discussion highlights how many people are accustomed to negative feedback throughout their lives, which can diminish self-worth and motivation. By acknowledging even the tiniest achievements, individuals can foster a positive mindset and combat feelings of hopelessness. Emphasizing the emotional aspect of habit formation opens doors to building lasting change through encouragement and recognition of progress.
Linda Roggli explains why ADHD brains have a harder time cementing new habits, how to start with a small goal, build new habits into existing routines, and use reminders to get habits to stick — and why it's important to celebrate every step.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/additude and get on your way to being your best self.
Thank you for listening to ADDitude's ADHD Experts podcast. Please consider subscribing to the magazine (additu.de/subscribe) to support our mission of providing ADHD education and support.
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