We talk a lot about “working smarter, not harder”, but most of us quietly translate that as “go faster”.

Especially if you have an ADHD brain.

Speed feels efficient. Fast decisions, fast fixes, fast thinking. Clear the list, move on, next thing. There is a sense of relief in speed, like finally catching up with a world that never quite slows down enough for us.

But speed is not efficiency. And confusing the two is one of the quickest routes to burnout I know.

Efficiency is about energy. It is about how much effort something costs you overall, not how quickly you can push it through in the moment. Speed often just shifts the cost downstream. You save time now, then pay for it later in stress, repair work, emotional fallout, or having to revisit something you thought was “done”.

ADHD brains are actually obsessed with efficiency. We love clarity. We love elegant solutions. We love when things make sense. But under pressure, we reach for speed because it feels like control. It feels like safety.

And here is the catch. When we are under threat, real or perceived, our reasoning brain goes offline. That is not a flaw. That is a healthy nervous system doing its job. In those moments, trying to think harder, explain better, or fix faster is like revving the engine while the handbrake is still on.

Neurotypical brains often freeze, blank, or shut down when triggered. Neurodivergent brains tend to do the opposite. We keep thinking. We push through. We overanalyse. We try to logic our way out of danger because thinking has become our survival strategy.

That is why speed feels so compelling. It gives the illusion that we are back in charge.

But efficiency does not come from pushing harder when we are dysregulated. It comes from regulation first. From pausing long enough for the system to come back online. From letting the body settle so the brain can actually do what it does best.

This is where things get counterintuitive. Slowing down at the start is often what saves the most time. Taking ten minutes to bring people with you can save hours of fixing misunderstandings later. Letting a feeling land can prevent days of rumination. Leaving a decision slightly open can build trust instead of resistance.

Efficiency is not doing everything yourself faster. It is letting other people carry some of the weight. It is building systems that work without constant effort. It is choosing the approach that costs you less in the long run, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

And yes, that discomfort is real. For fast brains, slowing down can feel like danger. It can feel indulgent, inefficient, even irresponsible. But that reaction is not a signal that slowing down is wrong. It is a sign that your nervous system has learned to equate speed with safety.

You do not need to stop being sharp, decisive, or proactive. This is not about dampening your strengths. It is about using them at the right moment.

Regulation before reasoning. Connection before solutions. Efficiency over speed.

That is not working less seriously. It is working with how your brain actually functions, rather than fighting it.

And once your brain realises that this way costs less energy overall, it usually gets on board very quickly.

Liked this? Fancy more? Hop on board!