I Have ADHD Podcast – Episode 341 BITESIZE | Unlocking Motivation: The ADHD Perspective

Host: Kristen Carder
Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this bite-sized episode of the “I Have ADHD Podcast,” host Kristen Carder dives deep into how adults with ADHD can unlock and understand motivation in their daily lives. Through candid discussion with a guest (Speaker C), Kristen dissects common struggles, such as why alarms and reminders often fail to mobilize action, how our brains struggle to connect present actions with future rewards, and the importance of celebrating even small wins. The episode is practical, validating, and rooted in the real-life experience of ADHDers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Tools Like Alarms Aren’t Enough

• Alarms create awareness, not motivation:
  • “The alarm makes you aware, right? Increases awareness. It doesn't increase motivation… All it is meant to do is to generate awareness. The generating motivation, that's still on you in that moment, right, love?” (C, 01:24)
• Support systems help but are not the whole answer:
  • Medication, adequate rest, and stress management are foundational but don’t guarantee motivation to act on reminders.

2. Connecting with the Future Self

• ADHD brains don’t “feel” the future as vividly:
  • “You don't feel the future as strongly, right. So it's sort of like that's somebody else's problem, but that somebody else is me in the future.” (C, 03:48)
• Motivation is about future benefits:
  • Replace “Do I want to do this?” (answer always no) with “How will I feel about this later?” (C, 02:32)
• Practical example:
  • The challenge of booking summer camp in March: “If you wait till summer, you better hope your kids get arrested because the only place with openings is juvie. Right. Like that. That's the ADHD tax of summer camp, right?” (C, 02:55)
• Visualizing outcomes:
  • Encourage picturing the pleasure and peace of a well-planned summer vs. the chaos of last-minute actions.

3. Deserving Good Outcomes & Internal Sabotage

• Underlying self-worth issues:
  • “It will motivate us if we believe that we deserve the good.” (B, 06:13)
• Self-sabotage and productivity:
  • “I don't actually believe that I deserve to have peace…I self sabotage because maybe when I envision future me, I don't believe that he or she deserves like good things.” (B, 06:18)
• Therapy and self-compassion:
  • Deep work on self-belief is crucial for overcoming motivational blocks.

4. Strategies for Motivation

• Rewriting reminders:
  • Kristen shares, “In my Alarms, the Alarm title is like, get this done. Get it done now. Don't put it off. You're gonna feel so much better…that plea from self to self, please just get it done.” (B, 07:34 & 08:31)
• Emphasis on emotional language in reminders:
  • Direct, emotionally charged self-talk in reminders can reinforce the future benefit and help bridge the gap.

5. Celebrating Small Wins & Giving Credit

• Give yourself credit—no comparison:
  • “It's easy to miss the things you do well. Right. We're all programmed to notice the negatives of, like, well, screwed that up. Right. So you gotta counterbalance by intentionally noticing some of the positives…” (C, 08:44)
• ADHD self-dismissal:
  • Many resist feeling accomplished for tasks that seem “easy” for others: “I'm not gonna let myself feel accomplished for something that is so easy for someone else.” (B, 10:06)
• It only matters if it’s hard for you:
  • “It doesn't matter if it's easy or hard for other people… If it was hard, if it took intentional effort, if it took goodwill to do it...note it. Give yourself a little bit of credit for it.” (C, 11:51)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On alarms and motivation:
  • “The alarm doesn't…pull out a gun and it doesn't give you a cookie..." (C, 01:14)
• On future self:
  • “That's somebody else's problem, but that somebody else is me in the future.” (C, 03:48)
• On the ADHD tax:
  • “If you wait till summer, you better hope your kids get arrested because the only place with openings is juvie.” (C, 02:55)
• On self-celebration:
  • “It's easy to miss the things you do well. Right. We're all programmed to notice the negatives...” (C, 08:44)
  • “It doesn't matter if it's easy or hard for other people. They're not the one who did it. You're the one who did it.” (C, 11:51)

Key Timestamps

• 00:47 – Discussion begins on alarms, motivation, and the real job of reminder systems
• 02:32 – Why “do I want to do this?” is the wrong question for ADHDers
• 03:48 – “Future self” disconnect and how to visualize motivation
• 06:13 – Linking self-worth and the belief in deserving good outcomes
• 07:34 – Kristen’s alarm hack: programming self-compassion and direct motivation
• 08:44 – The necessity of recognizing and celebrating small achievements
• 11:51 – The importance of self-credit: “It doesn't matter if it's easy or hard for other people…”

Tone & Style

Kristen and her guest blend humor, real talk, and genuine empathy. The conversation normalizes ADHD struggles with motivation while providing actionable mindset shifts and practical tips. Listeners are encouraged to challenge internalized shame and to take authentic pride in their progress—no matter how small.

This episode is a supportive, insight-packed listen for anyone seeking to demystify motivation through the lens of ADHD.