The Rebuild Journal

07/15/2026

How many self-help books do you own?

I counted mine recently...

Over 100.

For most of my life, my routine looked something like this:

📖 Buy a new self-help book.

🤯 Read the first chapter.

💡 Have a life-changing epiphany.

📝 Spend hours creating the perfect plan that was finally going to change my life.

🚀 Be unstoppable for about a week.
..then another exciting book would catch my attention.

And suddenly I had a brand-new "perfect" plan.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

For years I thought this meant I lacked discipline, commitment, or willpower.

It wasn't until I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life that I realized something important:

I wasn't failing because I was lazy. I was chasing novelty.

One thing many adults with ADHD experience is a powerful burst of motivation when something is new and exciting. As that novelty fades, so can the brain's sense of reward, making it much harder to stay engaged—even with goals we genuinely care about. ADHD is also an executive function disorder, so knowing what to do isn't always the same as being able to keep doing it.

💡 The Hack That's Helping Me

I call it "The 24-Hour Rule."

Now, whenever I get a brilliant new idea, discover an amazing book, or convince myself I've found THE system that's going to change my life...

I don't immediately abandon my current plan.

Instead, I write the idea in an "Idea Parking Lot" and wait 24 hours.

If it still feels like the right move tomorrow, then I revisit it.

Most of the time...

I realize I didn't need a new plan.

I just needed to keep working the one I already had.

I'm still learning. I'm still rebuilding. But I'm finally beginning to understand how my brain works instead of constantly fighting against it.

👇 What's the one ADHD habit you've finally figured out that made a real difference in your life?

Let's help each other out. Someone reading the comments today might find the one idea that finally sticks.

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Sources:

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know."
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know

• Barkley, R. A. (2015). Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment (4th ed.). Guilford Press.

07/06/2026

Fast brain, slow brakes, zero focus. Just a typical
Tuesday.

07/05/2026

07/05/2026

Leave a comment if you get this!

07/05/2026

My brain has 47 tabs open, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.
Who else relates? Drop a in the comments!

07/05/2026

My brain’s prioritization algorithm makes zero sense, but the dopamine hit from an alphabetized drawer hits different. Who else does this? 👋 😂

06/18/2026

It is incredibly easy to judge our progress by our messy days. But growth isn't linear, and neither is recovery. Building something better takes time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion.

If you are doing your best with a tired mind today, give yourself credit. You got out of bed. You showed up. You didn't give up. That is the win.

Tag someone who needs a gentle reminder to be kind to themselves today.

06/18/2026

Some days I feel like I’ve got my life completely together.

Other days I can’t find my phone while I’m talking on it.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

The goal isn’t perfection.

The goal is to keep showing up.

Keep going to meetings.
Keep working on the degree.
Keep trying.
Keep rebuilding.

Some days that’s going to look impressive.

Some days it’s going to look like survival.

Both count.

What’s one small win you’ve had this week?

👇 Let’s celebrate it.