Let's shatter a myth that's probably been haunting you: the idea that you need to be consistent to be successful. You know that voice that tells you "If you can't do it perfectly every day, why even try?" Yeah, let's talk about why that voice is full of it.
Here's a radical thought: what if inconsistency was actually your superpower? What if those ups and downs, those bursts of energy followed by periods of rest, were exactly what your brain needs to thrive?
Think about it this way: your ADHD brain isn't a steady-state machine. It's more like a jazz musician - sometimes hitting perfect notes, sometimes improvising, but always making music. The key isn't playing every note perfectly - it's keeping the overall rhythm going.
Let's break down what "successful inconsistency" actually looks like:
The Reality of Systems
You might have an amazing morning routine... that you follow 3 days a week
Your workout schedule might look more like modern art than a calendar
Your meal prep might happen in random bursts of hyperfocus
Your perfectly organized desk might descend into chaos every few days
And guess what? That's completely okay
The Problem with Perfection
Here's what typically happens when we try to be perfectly consistent:
We set unrealistic expectations
We burn out trying to maintain them
We crash and abandon everything
We beat ourselves up
We restart the cycle with even more self-doubt
Instead, let's embrace what actually works:
The Power of Rebounds
Don't focus on never falling off - focus on getting back on:
Missed your morning routine? Jump back in tomorrow
Skipped exercise for a week? Start again today
Let the dishes pile up? Handle what you can now
Lost track of your tasks? Reset and restart
The Self-Talk Revolution
Time to rewrite those scripts in your head:
Old Script: "I never stick to anything."
New Script: "Hey buddy, you're back at it - that's what matters."
Old Script: "Why can't I just be normal and consistent?"
New Script: "You're working with your brain, not against it."
Old Script: "I'm just lazy."
New Script: "You're trying different approaches to find what works for you."
Building Flexible Systems
Create systems that bend instead of break:
Have multiple morning routine options for different energy levels
Keep backup plans for when the main plan fails
Create "minimum viable" versions of your important tasks
Allow for natural ebbs and flows in productivity
The Success Spectrum
Success isn't binary. It exists on a spectrum:
30% consistency can still yield 70% of the benefits
Partial completion is better than total abandonment
Progress isn't always linear
Small wins add up over time
Practical Application
Let's get real about how this works:
Task Management
Instead of: "I must check my to-do list every morning."
Try: "I check my list when I remember, and I have systems to catch important items."
Exercise
Instead of: "I must work out 5 days a week."
Try: "Any movement is good movement, and I celebrate what I manage."
Organization
Instead of: "I must keep everything perfectly organized."
Try: "I have periodic reset points when things get too chaotic."
The Liberation of Lower Standards
Here's something revolutionary: what if you aimed for 60% instead of 100%?
60% of planned workouts still improve your health
60% adherence to a system still creates progress
60% completion is infinitely better than 0%
When Things Fall Apart
Because they will. And that's okay. When they do:
Pause and observe without judgment
Identify what worked and what didn't
Make adjustments based on reality, not ideals
Start again with renewed understanding
The Power of Self-Compassion
Your brain works differently, and that's not a flaw:
It's okay to have high-energy and low-energy days
It's normal for systems to need regular adjusting
It's expected that some weeks will be better than others
It's acceptable to work in bursts rather than steady streams
Moving Forward
Success with ADHD isn't about maintaining perfect consistency. It's about:
Building resilience through repeated rebounds
Creating systems that accommodate variability
Celebrating progress in all its forms
Understanding that your path doesn't have to look like everyone else's
Remember: The goal isn't to never fall off the horse. The goal is to get better at getting back on. Your inconsistency isn't a bug - it's a feature of how your brain works. Work with it, not against it.
And the next time that critical voice pipes up about your inconsistency, remind yourself: some of the world's most successful people got where they are not by being perfectly consistent, but by being perfectly persistent in returning to their path, again and again and again.
Keep going, keep trying, keep returning. That's not inconsistency - that's resilience.
I love the stay at 60% consistent part