Aug 6, 2025
August always brings that hopeful back-to-school feeling—fresh notebooks, new routines, and the quiet promise that this year will be different. But if you’ve got ADHD, you might also be carrying some old worries: Will assignments actually get turned in this time? Will your work reflect what you’re truly capable of? Why does school feel so much harder for you than for everyone else?
Here’s what I want you to know: It’s not you. It’s your brain’s wiring—specifically, how it handles dopamine, that powerful brain chemical that drives motivation and focus. The good news? When you understand how your brain craves and uses dopamine, you can set up systems that actually work for you instead of against you.
Let’s talk about why school is such a perfect storm for ADHD brains. Between long lectures, multi-step assignments, and the expectation to sit still and focus for hours, school demands almost everything that’s naturally harder when your brain runs on ADHD mode. The constant cycle of procrastination, last-minute panic, and underperforming isn’t a personal failure—it’s what happens when a dopamine-hungry brain meets an environment that doesn’t provide the right kind of fuel.
Think of your brain like a car engine. Some fuels give you a quick burst of speed but leave you sputtering (like social media scrolling or sugary snacks). Others provide steady, reliable energy that lasts for miles (like exercise or the satisfaction of completing a challenging task).
Between long lectures and multi-step assignments, school demands everything that’s harder with ADHD. It helps to think of dopamine sources like fuel grades:
Premium (exercise, learning skills) = long-lasting mental energy
Regular (healthy food, creative hobbies) = steady focus
Low-grade (scrolling, sugar crashes) = quick burnout
So what does this mean for back-to-school season? Forget 'try harder'—these approaches actually work with your ADHD brain:
Start by recognizing that willpower alone won’t cut it—you need to design your environment and routines around how your brain actually works. For students, this might mean turning homework into a series of tiny, dopamine-friendly wins rather than one overwhelming task. Try committing to just five minutes of work—often, starting is the hardest part, and once you begin, you’ll find it easier to keep going. Pair boring tasks with something enjoyable, like listening to epic movie soundtracks while you study, or rewarding yourself with a favorite activity after completing an assignment.
Parents, your role is different but just as important.Take this real-life example: When my client Jake’s mom stopped asking “Did you do your homework?” (which usually leads to defensiveness) and tried “What’s the hardest part about getting started?”, they reported higher completion rates. Small changes in how we ask make all the difference. Help your student set up systems that account for their ADHD—like keeping a “launch pad” by the door with everything they need for school, or doing a weekly backpack clean-out together.
As we approach this new school year, I want to leave you with one important thought: Progress with ADHD isn’t about perfection. Some days will go smoothly, others might feel like a struggle. But every time you choose a high-quality dopamine source over a quick fix, you're not just completing a task—you're rewiring your focus for the long haul.
This year, you're not starting from scratch—you're starting with insight. When you stop fighting your brain's wiring and start working with it, that's when real change happens.
(Need a personalized plan? Let's connect before the homework piles up.)