Beyond the Quick Fix 🚨🧰

You might relate to this—or maybe you’ve watched your young adult live it in real time. The classic panic-relief loop. That last-minute scramble they go through to pass a final. Or maybe it’s the panic you feel for them to pass the final. (Let’s be real—sometimes it’s you doing the panicking… for them.)

It reminds me of the time when I slapped some red masking tape over a broken tail light. Quick fix. No trip to replace the light but was anybody fooled?

That same “solution” shows up in life more than we like to admit. For young adults, especially those navigating ADHD, it can look like ignoring the pressure until it’s crushing… or going full throttle in a last-ditch effort to catch up. For parents, it can be tough to watch as they feel the pressure themselves while hoping their young adult holds it together.

This cycle—panic, relief, repeat—feels like a win in the moment, but it rarely creates lasting change. Zoom out, and you’ll see that the panic didn’t show up out of nowhere. It brewed slowly, while patterns built silently over weeks or months.

Now is a pivotal time. Maybe your young adult just got through a crunch, or maybe you're watching the storm clouds gather. Either way, summer is often seen as the big exhale. And yes, encourage them to enjoy it. Let them recharge and laugh, but also—guide them toward balance.

Support them in building better habits now: maybe it’s using a planner, setting reminders, or having an accountability buddy. These small shifts create momentum, and momentum creates change.

Soon, I’ll be sending out tips on how to use the summer to help your young adult break the cycle and lay the foundation for long-term success. Quick fixes are tempting—but sustainable growth? That’s where the real magic happens.