Written by Megan Winkler, Business Coach for Creatives
Megan Winkler, MBA, is a business coach for creatives, merging Divine Masculine business strategies with Divine Feminine intuition and flow. She's the author of the upcoming book, Breaking Up With Burnout.
Does the word "routine" give you shivers and make your brain scream "boring!" while the thought of a supportive structure feels like the warm hug you never knew you needed? You aren't alone. Most business owners with ADHD or who identify as neurodivergent struggle with this dichotomy. On the one hand, we must have some routine to help us get along. On the other, it can just about make you itchy with anticipation to get out of anything that feels basic, rote, and routine.
However, having a structure in your business can be anything but boring. It’s the key to creating flexibility and creativity while ensuring you don't forget to take care of the basics.
What’s the difference between structure and routine?
Structure is a beautiful framework that allows for flexibility without hemming you in on how you accomplish your goals. Think of it as the walls of your home; they’re protective but customizable.
Conversely, routine is more rigid and repetitive and, for the ADHD brain, boring. Yes, it’s protective, but it’s also like wearing a scuba suit while trying to walk down Fifth Avenue. It just doesn’t work. While everyone craves novelty, the ADHD brain is especially attracted to it, seeking out novelty, variety, and a sense of freedom repeatedly, making a routine feel soul-crushing if it’s not just right (or if you’ve been doing it for too long).
According to ADHD researchers, ADHDers who have a system in place that allows for flexibility have a 60% higher chance of sticking with them versus more rigid routines (Christiansen, et al., 2019). ADHD brains thrive when there’s scaffolding in place, but that scaffolding needs room for us to swing, climb, and explore. So maybe it’s more like a jungle gym!
Why ADHD business owners need structure
I often compare business structures to bumpers at the bowling alley. Bumpers prevent your ball from going into the gutter. The ball still gets to the pins at the end of the lane. The same is true for a good structure in your business: it prevents you from going significantly off-track and keeps you focused on the goal at the end of the task.
Structure also helps reduce decision fatigue. If you know that you're going to work on a specific task for the next 25 minutes in a Pomodoro session, for example, then you don't have to decide what to do next for nearly a half hour. How freeing is that?
It also helps you stay on track with your goals without micromanaging each little thing or every minute of your day. Within this structure is space for creativity and spontaneity, two actions ADHD brains desperately need to get through more demanding business tasks.
The problem with routines for ADHD business owners
Routines can feel like a chore, just something else to be done in the day. There’s also no flexibility when your energy levels or focus fluctuate. If you’ve ever tried to force yourself into a strict 5 a.m. “CEO morning routine,” you know what this is like. It feels like you’re trying to wear someone else’s shoes all day – and on the wrong feet.
Since people with ADHD struggle with skills like time management and organization, adding a rigid routine to the mix can often have the opposite effect and lead to a shame spiral. It can feel like failing if you don’t pull off the routine the way you think you should.
How to create an ADHD-friendly structure without the rigid routine
In search of a flexible structure that still helped me get things done in my business, I created Energetic Containers. These are like anchors throughout the week that tell me what I need to focus on, and it works so well that I recommend the approach to all of my clients. The idea is to assess your week to determine when you feel best doing specific tasks. For example, I prefer not to hold client calls on Mondays or Fridays. These are my administration days when I meet with my networking partners or schedule personal appointments. I feel particularly creative on Wednesday mornings, so I spend those writing weekly posts, newsletters, or important emails to colleagues.
The key with Energetic Containers is to batch tasks by energy, not by time. Use your peak energy times to focus on the more creatively intense tasks and your low-energy times to focus on less intense, easier-to-dos.
Create a system that you love, whether it's a paper planner that looks more like a journal and coloring book than something FranklinCovey would recommend or it's something that changes every month to keep things fresh.
Finally, be sure to celebrate your progress and even the smallest accomplishments. We tend to gloss over our successes or beat ourselves up over things that didn't go perfectly. However, being that extreme with yourself will only harm you in the long run. One of the reasons you struck out and established your own business was to do things your way. Please don't feel bad about not doing things like others say you should.
Freedom and a framework
You aren’t failing at anything if you’re resisting a routine. While structure is key to taming the chaos and creating calm in your business, it’s best when it works for you and your desires. Allowing your creativity and energy to dictate the structure of your week will open up a whole new world of possibilities for your work.
Are you ready to embrace structure over routine? Because the soul of your business likely is!
Read more from Megan Winkler
Megan Winkler, Business Coach for Creatives
Megan Winkler, MBA, believes in doing business differently. With an MBA and 15+ years of business ownership experience plus extensive training in energy healing modalities, Megan helps her clients create business plans, marketing sprints, and sales strategies that honor their strengths, natural talents, and unique value offerings to create thriving businesses that help change the world for the better.
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