Why “Just Try Harder” Never Works—And What to Do Instead

About this episode

The episode discusses effective strategies for overcoming task initiation challenges associated with ADHD.

If you’ve ever tried to start something simple—doing the dishes, sending the email, getting out the door—and still somehow couldn’t make it happen, this episode is for you. Russ Jones is back with Isabelle and David to go deeper into what actually works when ADHD makes even the smallest task feel impossible. You can go back and listen to part one of their conversation here . Russ, ADHD wellness coach and creator of ADHD Big Brother , gets candid about his own patterns and tools—and how even with all his knowledge and experience, he still gets stuck sometimes. But instead of spiraling into shame or "just try harder" mode, this episode is about finding your way back to momentum without beating yourself up. Here’s what's coming your way: How to use behavioral momentum to get moving again—by starting small and stacking tiny wins Why body doubling isn’t just helpful—it’s a core support strategy (especially on the hard days) The exact self-check-in Russ uses to stay consistent without self-blame—and how you can try it too David also unpacks why these tools work from a neuroscience perspective, Isabelle shares her own struggles with task initiation, and the group unpacks how…

People in this episode

Hosts: Isabelle Richards, David Kessler

Guest: Russ Jones

Topics covered

• ADHD
• task initiation
• behavioral momentum
• self-check-in
• perfectionism
• mental health

Keywords

• ADHD
• task management
• behavioral strategies
• self-improvement
• mental health tools

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ADHD Big Brother

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