Why My ADHD Brain Finally Found Peace with "Good Enough" (And Yours Can Too)

Embracing "good enough" for ADHD means letting go of perfectionism to reduce overwhelm and executive dysfunction. This approach shifts focus from flawless execution to consistent progress, validating effort over outcome. It's about setting realistic expectations and celebrating small wins, ultimately fostering self-compassion and sustainable productivity for neurodivergent individuals.

It’s 2 AM. The house is quiet, and my brain, as usual, has decided this is the prime time for a philosophical debate with itself. Tonight’s topic? The relentless, often exhausting, pursuit of "perfect." For so long, I felt like I was running on a hamster wheel, always chasing an elusive ideal, especially when it came to tasks, projects, or even just keeping my space tidy. The world seemed to operate on this unspoken rule that everything had to be just so, and my ADHD brain, with its all-or-nothing tendencies, internalized it with a vengeance. The result? A lot of half-started projects, a mountain of self-criticism, and a pervasive feeling of not quite measuring up. Sound familiar?

Why Does "Perfect" Feel So Impossible for ADHD Brains?

For many of us with ADHD, the concept of "perfect" often becomes a paralyzing trap. This isn't because we lack capability, but because our executive functions struggle with the sheer weight of perfectionism. The internal pressure to achieve an ideal, often unrealistic, standard can trigger intense overwhelm, making it difficult to even begin a task. When we compare our messy, non-linear processes to a neurotypical ideal of flawless execution, it breeds self-doubt and can lead to analysis paralysis or complete avoidance. Our brains thrive on novelty and immediate feedback, and the long, arduous path to "perfect" rarely offers either.

I remember this one time, years ago, I decided I was going to finally organize my entire digital photo library. Thousands of photos, going back over a decade. My perfectionist streak kicked in hard. I envisioned perfectly categorized folders, every face tagged, every blurry shot deleted, precise dates for everything. I spent an entire Saturday trying to get through just one year, agonizing over subfolders, and by Sunday morning, I had a headache, a half-finished 2010 folder, and the rest sat untouched for another two years. It was the pursuit of perfect that stopped me from simply making it better.

How Can "Good Enough" Be a Superpower for Executive Function?

Embracing "good enough" isn't about lowering your standards; it's about re-calibrating them to be more compatible with how your ADHD brain actually works. When you aim for "good enough," you reduce the cognitive load associated with a task. This shift liberates executive functions like task initiation and planning from the crushing burden of perfectionism. Instead of spending hours planning the perfect approach, you can just start. This allows for momentum to build, which is often the missing ingredient for us.

Think of it this way: getting something done, even if it's not pristine, is infinitely more productive than getting nothing done while chasing an impossible ideal. For me, this applies to everything from writing emails to cleaning my kitchen. If I wait until I have the energy and time to deep clean every surface, the kitchen might never get cleaned. But if I tell myself, "Just wipe down the counters and do the dishes – good enough for tonight," suddenly it feels manageable. And sometimes, once I start, the momentum carries me to do a little more. But even if it doesn't, it's still "good enough."

Is "Good Enough" Just Being Lazy or Settling?

This is a common fear, and one I wrestled with deeply. It’s easy to internalize the message that "good enough" means you're not trying hard enough, or that you're somehow "less than." But that’s a misunderstanding of what "good enough" truly means in an ADHD context. It's not about laziness; it's about strategic energy management and self-compassion. For neurotypical individuals, "good enough" might be a choice; for many of us with ADHD, it's a necessary survival strategy to avoid burnout and maintain functionality.

"Good enough" is about prioritizing progress over perfection, completion over paralysis. It acknowledges that your brain has unique energy reserves and demands, and it respects those limits. It means saying, "I did my best with the resources I had today," rather than beating yourself up for not achieving an unattainable ideal. It’s the difference between never sending that email because you can’t get the wording perfect, and sending it with a few typos because the message needs to go out. One moves you forward, the other keeps you stuck. It's not settling; it's smart. It's about giving yourself permission to exist and function effectively within your own neurotype, rather than constantly trying to contort yourself into a shape that doesn't fit. And honestly, sometimes, what we perceive as "good enough" is actually quite excellent in the eyes of others, who aren't privy to our internal struggle for flawlessness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know when something is "good enough" and not just unfinished?

A: "Good enough" means it meets the core requirements of the task and achieves its intended purpose, even if it's not polished to an absolute shine. Unfinished means it doesn't fulfill its basic function. It's a judgment call based on the goal: does it work? Is it complete enough to be useful? If yes, it's good enough.

Q: Won't aiming for "good enough" lead to lower quality work overall?

A: Paradoxically, it often leads to more consistent and completed work, which is often higher quality than perpetually unfinished "perfect" projects. The goal is to get things across the finish line regularly, rather than having a few perfect unicorns and a graveyard of half-starts.

Q: How can I overcome the internal guilt of not striving for perfection?

A: Practice self-compassion and reframe your inner dialogue. Remind yourself that "good enough" is a powerful tool for managing ADHD, not a sign of failure. Celebrate the completion, even if small, and acknowledge the effort. Over time, this shifts your internal narrative.

TL;DR

✅ "Good enough" is a powerful ADHD strategy for managing overwhelm and fostering consistent progress, not a sign of laziness.

🧠 Perfectionism paralyzes executive function, leading to avoidance and self-criticism; letting it go creates space for action and self-compassion.

📌 Start small: Identify one task today where you can consciously aim for "good enough" instead of perfect, and notice the difference in your ability to initiate and complete it.

As someone who's navigated the labyrinth of ADHD for over two decades and spent the last five years deeply immersed in understanding and sharing insights with the neurodivergent community, I've learned that the most profound shifts often come from seemingly simple re-frames. This idea of "good enough" felt almost rebellious at first, but it has genuinely transformed how I approach tasks, my own self-worth, and my relationship with productivity. It's a journey, not a destination, but it's a journey worth taking.

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