Why does long-term planning feel impossible?

Long term planning relies on future thinking, working memory, and sustained motivation, all areas that are more effortful in ADHD. The future can feel abstract or emotionally flat, making it hard to engage with plans that are months away. Many people with ADHD think very well about today or right now, but struggle to emotionally connect to future outcomes. This is not a lack of ambition. It is a difference in how time is experienced. Breaking long term goals into near term steps can make planning feel more accessible.