Why ADHD Brains Love Urgency and Hate Deadlines Until Then
People with ADHD often struggle with procrastination—not because they’re lazy, but because their brains are wired differently. One striking pattern? They tend to ignore deadlines... until they’re almost due. Then, suddenly, there’s hyperfocus, adrenaline, and a rush of energy to finish the task. But why?
According to Rafael Achacoso, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in ADHD, anxiety, and depression, this beh... moreWhy ADHD Brains Love Urgency and Hate Deadlines Until Then
People with ADHD often struggle with procrastination—not because they’re lazy, but because their brains are wired differently. One striking pattern? They tend to ignore deadlines... until they’re almost due. Then, suddenly, there’s hyperfocus, adrenaline, and a rush of energy to finish the task. But why?
According to Rafael Achacoso, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in ADHD, anxiety, and depression, this behavior is rooted in how the ADHD brain processes motivation. “ADHD brains are dopamine-hungry. When a task isn’t stimulating enough, the brain doesn’t release enough dopamine to engage. But as urgency builds, so does stimulation—and that’s when the brain finally switches on,” he explains.
This explains the common “last-minute miracle” among people with ADHD: they delay and delay, then perform under pressure. It’s not about poor time management—it’s about needing a certain level of stimulation to activate executive function.
Rafael emphasizes the importance of understanding this pattern without shame. With structure, tools like body doubling or timers, and sometimes medication, individuals with ADHD can create “artificial urgency” to stay engaged before the eleventh hour.
👉 ADHD isn’t a flaw—it’s a different way of operating. Understanding the brain’s wiring is the first step toward thriving with it.
