Is it normal to struggle with too many tabs open mentally all day?

Yes — many people with ADHD describe exactly this feeling, and it’s a very common experience. People often call it having “too many tabs open” because the brain is juggling multiple thoughts, reminders, worries, and ideas at the same time. In ADHD, this happens because of differences in executive functioning and how the brain filters and prioritizes information, so thoughts can feel louder, faster, or harder to shut off. This can show up as jumping between tasks, starting something and remembering three other things you need to do, difficulty relaxing mentally, or feeling mentally tired even if you haven’t done much physically. It’s not laziness or lack of effort — it’s how the brain is processing information. The good news is there are ways to help manage it. Medication, therapy (like CBT for ADHD), externalizing tasks (writing things down, using apps, visual lists), and structured routines can all help “close some tabs.” Movement breaks, sleep, and reducing multitasking also help many people. If this is happening all day and feels overwhelming, it’s worth talking with your provider because it’s very treatable and you’re definitely not alone in experiencing it.