Understanding ADHD Impulsivity: Impacting Work, Finances, and Relationships

Everyone knows about ADHD and attention (and quite often they’re wrong!).  In this blog post, let’s delve into ADHD impulsivity and explore its serious effects on success in all areas of our life. 

I'll also peek at the neurological - brain - aspects of impulsivity.. When we understand these factors, we can gain valuable insights into learning how we can start managing impulsivity and reducing its impact on work, finances, and relationships.

So, read on to discover how you can navigate the challenges of ADHD impulsivity and download my free resources to support your journey towards a calm, responsive - not reactive, life with ADHD.

Understanding ADHD Impulsivity:

Impulsivity, a hallmark characteristic of ADHD, means acting without fully considering the consequences - because we don’t have a chance before we have hit ‘buy now’ or blurted our comment or sent that email. While everyone occasionally makes impulsive decisions, living with ADHD means we experience impulsivity on a more consistent and heightened level. This impulsivity can show up in various ways, such as making hasty decisions, speaking before thinking, or engaging in risky behaviors - the data on teenage pregnancy alone should be enough to convince doubters that ADHD and impulsive behaviour go hand in hand.

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Causes of ADHD Impulsivity:

The exact causes of ADHD impulsivity are still being researched, but several factors have been identified. ADHD brains often have differences in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for executive functions which includes impulse control. 

Additionally, dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in reward processing, is often dysregulated in individuals with ADHD. This dysregulation means we will take longer to resist immediate impulses - grabbing that handful of crisps, the lipstick, stopping off for a drink on the way home from work - or at school, pushing that other child over, making that negative comment.. they are so satisfying we struggle to stop ourselves in time.

“People without ADHD have the ability to stop, mid-stream if they recognize a person is not smiling. The child with ADHD needs 20-30 milliseconds longer warning [to correct course], which is an eternity when it comes to behavior control.”

— Dr Joel Ning

Impact on Success at Work:

ADHD impulsivity can significantly impact success in the workplace. Impulsive ADHD adults may find it much harder to stay focused on tasks, leading to decreased productivity - and then negative emotions about themselves, their work effectiveness and difficult relationships at work among colleagues and managers. Impulsive decision-making can also lead to poor judgement or difficulty keeping to deadlines. 

It’s absolutely essential to remember that ADHD impulsivity is not a measure of intelligence or capability. With the right strategies and support, individuals with ADHD can excel in their careers and uncover their unique strengths.

Impact on Financial Life:

Impulsivity can have profound consequences in financial matters. Impulsive spending, impromptu investments, or excessive risk-taking can lead to financial difficulties and instability. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with long-term financial planning, prioritizing needs over wants, and maintaining a budget. 

An online bank, Monzo, was so worried by what it was hearing from customers they commissioned a study by YouGov

“The financial impact of ADHD is especially pertinent as the cost of living crisis grips the UK. Earlier this year, research we commissioned with YouGov found the majority of people with ADHD told us it impacts how they manage their money, costing them on average an estimated £1,600 a year. Our latest research reveals the impact on women is outsized, costing them £200 more per year than men (£1,695 compared to £1,494). A much higher percentage of women (72%) think their ADHD affects their personal finances compared to men (56%), and more women said it has an impact on their mental health.”

There are strategies that can help -

• building in a PAUSE, using mindful awareness,

• effective financial management strategies like automating saving or ‘hiding’ money with strong barriers to prevent going into more debt, and

• building up support systems,

mean that anyone with ADHD can start to gain  control over their financial lives.

Impact on Relationships

ADHD impulsivity can also impact relationships, both personal and professional. Impulsive words or actions can strain friendships, romantic partnerships, and working relationships. Individuals with ADHD may unintentionally interrupt or speak without considering the impact on others. Things can even result in infidelity and divorce - the statistics should make all ADHD adults take time to build up their ‘pause muscle’ before giving in to that emotional activation.  

What can you try?

Some things that can be used to avoid the negative results of our ‘mile a millisecond’ brains include:

• practising active listening - really engaging and responding to our partners,

• developing effective communication skills like the ‘collaborative problem solving’ technique developed by Dr Ross Greene and useful for every kind of relationship as well as

• using compassion - with boundaries - to build and strengthen relationships.

The Neurological Connection:

Neurologically, Dr Nora Volkow and team showed that individuals with ADHD often exhibit a slower or weaker response to reward. This means that an immediate reward - something right in front of you - will have a more significant impact on decision-making compared to delayed rewards. Choosing a purchase that makes us feel great - that buzz of buying a treat - right now is always going to win when it’s against a pension or saving for a rainy day. 

 Understanding this aspect can help you learn to develop strategies so that you can manage impulsivity.

There are a few options to experiment with -

• setting short-term goals: keep it really, really short. For under 18s, no more than 1-2 weeks away;

• using visual reminders - phone wallpapers (see below) and any kind of prompt in front of you especially in your purse or wherever you’re experiencing impulsivity, 

• creating and playfully implementing structured routines where you notice you make short, immediate impulsive choices that have a negative effect on your longer term dreams

Experiment with these to find which ones help you to work towards long-term rewards while managing impulsive tendencies.

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Free Resources

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Download Resources - free

Managing ADHD impulsivity requires a multifaceted approach. To support you in this journey, we have curated a collection of free resources. 

These resources include 

• An infographic to explore the main steps in a ‘PAUSE’ strategy. This is truly powerful, especially when you include deeper values, dreams and WHO you want to be into creative this ‘fire break’ activity

• A choice of phone wallpapers so that whenever you’re going to take that impulsive action, you’re reminded of the PAUSE.

ADHD impulsivity can have really significant negative impacts on so many aspects of your life, including work, finances, and relationships. Once you understand the causes and neurological aspects of impulsivity it’s possible to imagine how to develop effective strategies for managing impulsivity and achieving long lasting, significant success. 

Remember, impulsivity doesn’t define you and with the right support and resources, you can thrive in all areas of your life. 

Download my free resources today and embark on your journey towards a more balanced life.

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