By Tara Carman-French
Try This Month: Name the Invisible Effort
Many people with ADHD and learning disabilities work twice as hard for outcomes that look average—or worse.
When effort goes unseen, motivation erodes.
This month, we make effort visible.
Try this month:
Notice and name effort out loud:
- “That took a lot of focus.”
- “I can see how hard you tried.”
- “You kept going even when it was frustrating.”
Avoid tying praise only to results.
For adults, this may mean practicing self-acknowledgment. For kids, it can change how they see themselves entirely.
This builds on regulation and task support by reinforcing safety and self-worth.
Next month, we’ll focus on language—and how small shifts can dramatically reduce shame.
I would love to hear how this Try This Month worked or didn’t work for you. Drop us a comment on our social media or connect with us directly at [email protected].
