{"id":2621,"date":"2011-01-21T11:54:23","date_gmt":"2011-01-21T16:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/?p=2621"},"modified":"2025-05-14T16:29:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T20:29:58","slug":"add-and-the-dissapearing-mojo-what-do-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/add-and-the-dissapearing-mojo-what-do-you-do\/","title":{"rendered":"ADD and The Disappearing Mojo: What Do You Do?!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I’ve been pondering, lately, how creating structures to help you follow through and complete important tasks can sometimes seem futile.<\/p>\n

When you have ADD, creating lists, setting deadlines, making schedules, and breaking down tasks into smaller steps is critical to your success.<\/p>\n

So, when you have these in place, it can seem absolutely maddening when it feels like you are still spinning your wheels on those days you just don’t have the energy.<\/p>\n

If this is the case for you, you may be missing a piece of the puzzle.<\/p>\n

Knowing Yourself<\/h2>\n

I like my work. But sometimes, when I wake up, I have no motivation. Zip. Zero. Nada.<\/p>\n

Even though mornings are my supposed\u00a0 good time, I have acknowledged that I will have these days when I just don’t feel like working. And, if I give into this feeling, I will be in deep trouble. After all, I am self-employed!<\/p>\n

So, I have developed a habit of going right to my desk. Even though on some days it might take me two hours to do what might take a 1\/2 hour on other days, I still have a sense that I am moving a bit closer to my goals.<\/p>\n

What do you do on days when your mojo just isn’t there?<\/p>\n

Waiting for…What?<\/h2>\n

For many with ADD, two of the most common excuses for putting off work is, one, the questionable idea that “I need inspiration.”\u00a0 Which leads to, two, the unconvincing promise that “I’ll do it tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

While I would never suggest that you ignore your feelings, buying into these beliefs has risks.<\/p>\n

Yes, of course, the work would not get done. That is one risk. In addition, as you continue to put off tasks, your self-esteem may take a battering because you are not working on what is important to you. When this happens, you may have even less energy to tackle the important stuff. Clearly, this can be a slippery slope!<\/p>\n

The key is to acknowledge your feelings and still take the next possible step, however small.<\/p>\n

Acting In Spite Of<\/h2>\n

Many with ADD are very creative. Ideas may come quickly – sometimes it is too many at once. On days like this, the work seems easy.<\/p>\n

Other times, when your mojo just isn’t there, the ideas seem to have disappeared. It may feel like moving through quicksand (not that I’ve tried).<\/p>\n

How would it help if you accepted that you are going to have days like this?<\/p>\n

What would you be willing to do if you decided, when days like this come along, you would do the best you could? For example, you could decide to spend a minimum amount of time or accomplish a minimum amount to work?<\/p>\n

What do you want to do on days when the going is not easy?<\/p>\n

Making a Choice<\/h2>\n

At times, it makes sense to put off a task until you have more energy. Why push yourself, if it is not that important to you? Maybe putting off cleaning the house isn’t such a bad thing. A few more dust bunnies won’t hurt.<\/p>\n

But putting off some tasks, like tending to your finances, looking for a job, or completing a work project, can obviously have more serious consequences.<\/p>\n

When faced with the need to make a decision concerning more “mission critical tasks,” you could ask yourself a few of the questions below to help decide whether you want to put a task off or push through and do the best you can:<\/p>\n