How to Prioritize When You Have ADHD: The Matrix

In which I explain how to prioritize when you have ADHD and your brain thinks everything is equally important. Also, a Laurence Fishburne impression. Matrix your brain!!!

What's your #ibnu?

Eisenhower’s urgent/important principle

The Urgent - Important Matrix (This is the one with "The Matrix" look)

"The Show Must Be Go" "Black Vortex"
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[Sinclairelim]

"All my life i've been crazy busy, but i've never gotten anything done."

My god. This is my life.

[LillianRZP]

I'm actually laughing about the "waiting until the important stuff becomes urgent" because it's too true

[michellecaldwell]

Important but Not Urgent = Beneficial but Not Stimulating (at the moment)

[TheDude]

Life is like a horse race and ADHD people are just another horse in the race. Except, the ADHD horse does not get to wear the blinders to focus on the race.

[Miner]

me trying to prioritize but is instead watching a video about it

[dolphin]

"When's the last time somebody gave you until Tuesday to eat a vegetable?" I love your scripts

[minsja]

"We often wait for the important stuff to land in the URGENT box before we ever address it." This sentence just made so much sense I literally had chills.

[IndianaJonas]

Omg. This is amazing. You are amazing.

How does someone with ADHD understand and combat it so well????
I know how ADHD effects me, but i can barely explain it without sounding like im complaining about everything.

Thanks so much. Ive started coming to your videos every time my symptoms are bad and it really helps. ♡

[MrsKirk-pgfe]

You literally JUST explained everything that drives me crazy about my husband!

While also explaining why I am always crazy busy without ever actually getting things done. Neither of us were diagnosed with ADHD, but your videos describe our lives - AND give practical tips to do life better. I can't thank you enough for these videos!

Oh, and then there's the reason I started watching your videos in the first place - professionally. I work with students who have ADHD. Again, you are the only resource I've found that speaks directly to people with ADHD, rather than about them.

I can see the whole demeanor change in my students after they've watched your videos, more empowered, understood and not alone. Thank you.

[manny]

wow all these techniques are making me feel overwhelmed

[eLLcartoons]

Ugh I feel like I will never be able to distinguish what is important and what isn't. My brain wants what it wants and doesn't let me truly figure out if it's needed :'( It must take a LOT of practice to have the strength to put something stimulating on the back burner and convince yourself it isn't important

[LovePikaMusic]

What if I procrastrinated too long and ended up in a pile of obligations that are urgent, important, and time-consuming?
I usually end up procrastrinating even more because I can't decide which task to do first so I do something else (ie. something that doesn't require much effort), even if I try doing one of the necessary things just knowing that I also have OTHER necessary things to do (or that I'm not doing it fast enough) steals my attention

[katb]

"I've been crazy busy but I never get anything done" exactly! How am i always exhausted but never have anything to show for it? Before your vids I've described myself as not procrastinating but over-committing because I think I should do everything and I think I can do everything but somehow the hours of the day are not as magical as I perceive them to be. Thanks for the great info!

[YOUNGTALENTD]

Tfw I should've started studying five hours ago and now I've gone through motivational speeches, lectures on adhd and a couple dozen of your videos.

[Palitato]

I accidentally took my meds twice once, and ended up with heart palpitations and a near panic-attack.
No matter how much I tried to breathe slowly and calmly and sit very still and try to settle my heart rate down it was just going totally wild. Checked the rate on one of those chair things they have in clinics and I was at about 140bpm. For about 2 straight hours. x.x

NEVER AGAIN. ....I hope.

[trishmcelderry]

This video was awesome. From the creativity of the video to the practical information on how to prioritize. You nailed it Jessica and you have made me feel less alone in this struggle while making me laugh. Much appreciated. Jessica, you were made to do this work.

[peter_parkour]

i love this blog because its hilarious and yet manages to stay so damn relateable

[lynnduburstone]

I just finished setting this up in my office because i was totally drowning in work. It is actually helping.

[martiembry]

I just love your upbeat and informative videos. Thanks for ”dumbing it down” for an older ADHDer who is still struggling with priorities. I will be 59 this year and still working. So I really need this! Thank you for teaching me ”how to ADHD” and not freak out! 🥰

[MSAKspain]

I LOVE Ahhh that beautiful tomato has helped me sooo much!