Teens with ADHD

Keith Ivey • March 28, 2025

Adolescents with ADHD: How to Get Ahead of the Game! 

Have you ever noticed how ADHD adolescents have a special quality such as creativity, problem-solving skills and high energy levels? ADHD is hard, but learning how to use these natural gifts can turn the obstacles into growth and opportunity. 

If we are going to care for an ADHD teen, it isn’t about the textbook cures – it’s about treating them holistically in accordance with their unique worldview. With targeted interventions that adapt to, rather than resist, their tendencies, parents and caregivers can empower teens to thrive in and out of school. 

The Power of Daily Routines 

Predictability and structure are important for a successful ADHD treatment plan. By making a routine each day, teens stay organized and don’t worry as much about next. Begin by having morning and evening routines to break out complex tasks into manageable chunks. For instance, preparing clothes the night before and a morning to-do list can turn chaotic mornings into smooth crossings. 

Have a number of alarms as time clocks during the day to keep things going. Early morning routines could be yoga or stretching to focus on before school. Evening routines can take a breather by relaxing and, maybe, adding something soothing such as reading or journaling. 

Goal-Setting That Works 

Converting big tasks into manageable steps is key for ADHD teens. Not "shrink your hair", but build a detailed list: make bed, take clothes out, clear desk. It stops you from feeling overwhelmed and gives you confidence with a few wins a week. 

Match goals with interests to enhance motivation. If your teen loves music, use songs they know as deadlines. Goals — Create tangible, measurable targets (such as "read 20 minutes") instead of empty ones like "study more". 

Positive Reinforcement Strategies 

Positive reinforcement is a big part of good behaviour management. Praise behaviours with verbal praise, charted rewards and earned privileges. Make sure to compliment effort and progress, not perfect result. You can also be encouraged with a simple "I noticed how hard you organized your backpack." This is more powerful than bland praise. 

Develop a behavior sheet to track daily results and have teens earn points towards valuable prizes. Be consistent with reinforcement but do not get dependent on outside reinforcement. 

Building Open Communication 

Dedicated, open conversations with adolescent help them work through struggles and victories. Use calm periods for crucial talks, not stressed and angry periods. Answer the questions "what was your best moment of the day?" open ended questions. to encourage detailed responses. 

Be sure to meet with each other once a week to talk about challenges and to celebrate wins. These conversations are about gaining trust and helping parents to better understand their teen’s individual needs. 

Immediate Feedback and Learning 

Fast and concrete comments tell teens where they’re doing well and where they can go wrong. For criticism, point to the action, not the person. You could be like "I feel like your homework is more neat when you use your planner" as opposed to "You’re so unorganized". 

Don’t wait to hear from them during routines, homework and social situations. This urgency also ensures that good habits are held, and a bad one corrected before it becomes a routine. 

Promoting Self-Compassion 

: Teach teens to be patient with themselves. Don’t be sappy with yourself and don’t tell them when they’re being critical. As simple as "I’m trying" or "I can change what I’m thinking" can rewrite negative thought patterns. 

Do mindfulness practices together and practice acceptance not judgement. When they do fail, teach teens to care for themselves the way they’d care for a friend. 

Creating Balance 

A healthy life has a huge influence on ADHD symptoms. Set regular sleep schedules and eat right. Limit screen time and make sure you move often – even moving a bit every 10 minutes can make you more attentive and less anxious. 

Give your kids reasonable boundaries of how much time you’re spending on tech, and have tech-free zones or periods of the day. Combine routines with leisure time to avoid burnout and emotional stability. 

Academic Success Strategies 

Set tasks and due dates in electronic planners or apps. Organize homework into 25-minute blocks, Pomodoro Technique, taking short breaks along the way. Invest in a private study area without interruptions and invest in noise-cancelling headphones for work. 

Move while studying – walk when checking flashcards or bounce on an exercise ball while reading. : Color-code different topics and arrange supplies in areas. 

To Become Successful By Knowing and Inspiring

Parenting a teen with ADHD is a process that takes time, patience, and a willingness to tailor approaches to the person. With these whole-person strategies – from routine to self-compassion – parents and carers can foster a space in which ADHD teenagers can find their unique talents and learn life skills. 

Keep in mind that things don’t always go exactly a particular way and everyone doesn’t achieve the same. The trick is to stay in regular contact, give yourself small successes, and keep tweaking those tactics to accommodate your teen’s needs as they change. Support and resources can give teens with ADHD the resiliency and strength to manage both present and future challenges.

Man at desk overwhelmed, holding head; hands hold tablet, charts, phone, and clock.

Why Logic Doesn’t Fix Emotional Blocks in Sales

By Admin • February 6, 2026
Sales professionals are trained to think clearly. So, when something feels off, the natural response is to analyze it: What am I doing wrong? What should I change? What’s the right mindset? But emotional blocks don’t respond to insight. You can understand why something is happening and still feel stuck. That’s because emotional responses are not logical problems—they’re protective patterns. They exist to keep you safe, not to make sense. This is why: Confidence doesn’t return just because you understand the issue Affirmations don’t stick Mindset shifts fade under pressure Lasting change happens when the underlying emotional response resolves - not when it’s managed. When that happens, clarity returns naturally. Performance improves without force. If you’ve tried to think your way out of something that feels stubbornly emotional, there’s nothing wrong with you. You may simply be working at the wrong level.
Woman with curly hair, stressed at a laptop in an office, hands on head.

The Emotional Cost of “I Should Be Further Along by Now”

By Admin • February 1, 2026
Few thoughts drain performance faster than this one: “I should be further along by now.” It sounds reasonable. Motivating, even. But internally, it creates pressure without direction - and pressure erodes trust. This belief quietly reframes every outcome: Wins don’t feel satisfying Losses feel personal Progress feels insufficient Over time, this internal narrative becomes exhausting. The nervous system doesn’t interpret “should” as encouragement- it hears it as threat. As judgment. As risk of failure. And when judgment enters the system, creativity and confidence exit. Many high-performing sales professionals carry this pressure silently. From the outside, they look capable. Inside, they feel behind. Releasing this emotional weight isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about restoring internal safety so progress can resume naturally. If this sentence lives quietly in your head, it may be costing you more than you realize.
Man with headset gestures while looking at computer in office setting.

What Happens Internally Right Before a Sales Call Goes Sideways

By Admin • January 25, 2026
Most sales calls don’t fall apart because of what’s said. They fall apart because of what’s felt - often just seconds before the conversation begins. A subtle tightening in the chest. A flicker of doubt. A sudden urge to “get through it.” That moment matters more than the script. Internally, the nervous system is scanning for threat: Will I be judged? Will I fail again? Will this confirm something I fear about myself? When the system senses risk, it shifts into protection mode. Presence drops. Authenticity fades. The conversation loses its natural rhythm. The result? You talk more than you listen You rush instead of connect You push instead of invite None of this is conscious. And none of it responds to logic. That’s why “knowing better” doesn’t fix it. Sales conversations work best when the person having them feels internally safe. When that safety is restored, confidence returns without effort. If you’ve ever wondered why some calls just flow and others don’t - this is usually why.
Two women collaborate at a desk, looking at a computer screen in an office.

Why Trying Harder Often Makes Sales Worse

By Admin • January 13, 2026
When performance dips, the instinct is almost universal: Push harder. Make more calls. Refine the pitch. Add pressure. But for many sales professionals, trying harder doesn’t produce better results - it produces tension. And tension is expensive. Internally, effort without resolution signals danger to the nervous system. The body tightens. Focus narrows. Confidence erodes. Conversations feel forced instead of fluid. What looks like “lack of discipline” from the outside is often self-protection on the inside. The mind is trying to keep you safe from disappointment, embarrassment, or perceived failure - even if that protection now works against your goals. This is why pushing through doesn’t restore confidence. It often deepens the block. Performance improves when internal resistance dissolves—not when it’s overpowered. Real change begins when effort is replaced with alignment. If you’ve noticed that pushing harder only makes things heavier, that’s not weakness. It’s information.
Man in suit, head in hands at desk, stressed by paperwork, next to a laptop and plant.

Your Sales Problem May Not Be a Sales Problem

By Admin • January 12, 2026
On the surface, it looks like a sales issue. Missed targets. Inconsistent performance. A sudden drop in confidence you can’t quite explain. So you do what professionals do: you analyze, adjust strategy, refine your pitch, and try harder. And yet - nothing really changes. Here’s a possibility most sales professionals never consider: What if the problem isn’t sales at all? What if what’s getting in the way is happening inside you, not in your process? Sales performance is deeply personal. It’s not just about numbers. It’s about exposure, judgment, pressure, rejection, and identity. Over time, the nervous system learns patterns. It remembers what hurt, what failed, and what felt unsafe. Those experiences don’t disappear just because you’ve gained more skill. They quietly shape how you show up. This is why intelligent, capable sales professionals sometimes stall without a clear reason. The issue isn’t motivation or discipline. It’s an internal protective response doing its job a little too well. Until that internal experience changes, external strategies can only take you so far. If this resonates, you may not need better tactics—you may need an internal reset.

What Anxiety Is Really Trying to Do for You

January 7, 2026
What Anxiety Is Really Trying to Do for You (And Why Fighting It Makes Performance Worse)
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How Hidden Emotional Blocks Drain Your Energy

By Admin • November 20, 2025
You wake up already tired. The day hasn’t started, but your body feels like it’s dragging sandbags through wet cement. You’ve eaten well. You slept enough. You’re not sick. But something’s off—and it’s not just physical.

From Classroom to Career: Helping High School Students with ADHD Thrive in the Workforce

By Admin • June 20, 2025
By Patricia Sarmiento, Guest Blogger – Public Health Corp
A young woman is sitting on a couch reading a book.

Real-World Tips to Help Teens & Young Adults Turn ADHD into a Superpower

By Patricia Sarmiento, Public Health Corporation • April 15, 2025
ADHD isn’t some flaw that needs fixing—it’s a different wiring of the brain. And like any other wiring, it can power a lamp or light up an entire city, depending on how you use it.
A man and a woman are standing in front of a house with a suitcase

Journey Inward/Journey Outward

By keithivey • May 27, 2022
Take Control of Your Life Keep scrolling HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW? How you are feeling right now, at this very moment, doesn’t have to be a “forever feeling”. Those feelings can change. You can change them. In fact, you’re the only one can change them. Right now you may not feel very powerful. That’s […] The post Journey Inward/Journey Outward appeared first on Keith Ivey Hypnosis and Coaching.