ADD, 9-to-5 Coping Strategies + A New Business Model to Consider
You’re Not Lazy — You’re Just in the Wrong System
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with ADD and you’re feeling completely burnt out at your job, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want you to know this:
You’re not broken.
You’re not lazy.
You’ve just been trying to function in a system that was never designed for your brain.
The traditional workplace often rewards consistency, punctuality, and multitasking — things that can feel like climbing a mountain with a pebble in your shoe when you’re neurodivergent.
But there’s hope — both in learning to cope where you are and in exploring new ways of working that fit you better.
Coping Strategies That Help (Even in a Tough Work Environment)
These strategies aren’t about becoming “perfect.” They’re about reducing friction and helping you preserve your energy. You can’t heal your ADD, but you can learn better coping strategies.
1. Use Time-Blocking with Built-In Buffers
Try structuring your day in chunks, not down-to-the-minute scheduling. Include transitions between tasks to avoid overwhelm.
2. Leverage Visual Cues
Sticky notes, timers, or color-coded apps can be lifesavers. Visual reminders reduce mental load.
3. Micro Goals for the Win
Break tasks into the smallest possible step. Instead of “finish the report,” try “open the document” as a starting point.
4. Build a Workstation Ritual
Light a candle. Put on lo-fi music. Keep your fidgets nearby. Create a “start work” ritual to train your brain into focus mode.
5. Ask for Accommodations (If Safe to Do So)
Many people don’t realize ADD qualifies as a disability under workplace law. You may be able to request more flexible deadlines or alternate communication styles.
But What If You’re Realizing… This Just Isn’t Sustainable?
That thought — “I can’t do this forever” — often hits hard after a diagnosis. I know it certainly did for me – before AND after.
And here’s the truth:
Many women with ADD thrive not because they force themselves to keep up with the standard work model… but because they create a model that works with their strengths.
Why Digital Product Businesses Work So Well for ADD Brains
Digital product businesses are ideal for women with ADD for a few powerful reasons:
Project-Based, Not Routine-Based
You can dive into creation during a hyperfocus burst — and once it’s done, it’s done. You don’t need to show up at the same time every day.
Flexible, Autonomy-Rich Work
You decide the pace, the structure, and the workflow. You can work from bed one day and a coffee shop the next.
Creative Expression + Purpose
Whether it’s a printable, template, eBook, or mini-course, you’re creating something that helps others — and that lights up your reward-driven brain.
Passive Income Potential
Digital products allow you to decouple your income from hours worked. That’s huge if executive dysfunction or low energy often make consistency hard.
You Can Start Small — On the Side
You don’t have to quit your job. You can start with one product, one idea, and build it slowly — at your own pace.
Tiny Steps to Get Started (Even If You’re Overwhelmed)
- Jot down 3 things you’re always teaching, explaining, or solving for others. These could become products.
- Follow 2-3 creators who talk about digital products. Let inspiration sink in.
- Set a 20-minute timer and explore a tool like Canva or Gumroad. No commitment — just curiosity.
- Start capturing your ideas in one place — a notebook, a doc, a voice note. Let it be messy.
Final Thought
If the workplace has felt like survival… know that you’re allowed to build something gentler.
You’re allowed to thrive on your terms.
You are beautifully wired — and when you work with your brain, not against it, everything changes.
➡️ I write for women like you in my newsletter, Perfectly Scattered — late-diagnosed, beautifully wired, and ready to live, create, and earn in ways that finally make sense. Subscribe here to join us.
