Dreams are wonderful. They motivate people to accomplish things they never considered before. A person can stay on course if they continue to chase a goal. People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often tend to get into new hobbies or activities for a while and then drop them. This is known as hyperfocus. Ever since the diagnosis last March, the fear of every new interest turning out to be a flash-in-the-pan hobby is terrifying. No one wants to spend money on a bunch of supplies for something and never use it again. That’s a waste of money and resources. How do you determine if a goal is worth pursuing? Each person has to discern that for themselves. Here are a few questions that help determine the answer.

Why this hobby? Why now?

What inspired this new idea? Is this something that has been on the mind for a long time? Do any barriers exist for  turning this goal into something useful in everyday life?  Personally if any of these questions have answers it’s worth the time. The universe likes to keep us on our toes, and finds interesting ways to guide people toward new opportunities.

An example of this is exercise. Someone can start working out as a way to gain more confidence. After a few months of working out, the person develops a love for health and fitness. Then, that individual realizes they want to help people get in shape, and decides to become a personal trainer. This creates an avenue for a new career that can create exciting experiences that one never imagined.

Those new hobbies do not always need to have realistic applications. For example, adult coloring books don’t have any use outside of stress relief. However, having less stress  in life can improve the mood, and lead to an increase in performance, or better relationships.

How Much Will It Cost?

Money is necessary to live in American society. Will the new project prevent paying regular household bills? Is there a way to participate with minimal costs? An example: A friend wants to start practicing yoga. Are there free videos on YouTube? Websites or phone apps with a free trial? This is a good idea to make sure that an activity is enjoyable before spending hundreds of dollars. 

Is The Hobby Here to Stay?

Routines are tough to stick to especially with ADHD. Is the activity something that has staying power? Is there a chance that after 6 months or less the passion will go away? Try it out for a month or two if the excitement is still there and consider investing more into the community. Dreams are exciting, but before going all in on a project consider these three questions: Why? How much is the cost? Does the idea peak interest enough to continue?