“If you have the choice between finishing something now or leaving it for later, always finish it now. Finishing things now will allow you to ‘cross it off’ in your mind and move on.”

— Peter Shankman & Edward Hallowell, Faster Than Normal

That quote hit me like a lightning bolt.

You know how sometimes a single line of text can grab you by the collar and say, “Hey—you needed to hear this”? That’s what this one did for me. It’s simple. It’s practical. And it’s incredibly effective.

Because here’s the truth: the weight of unfinished tasks is heavier than we realize. When we leave things dangling, even the small stuff—like sending that email, making that call, or completing that five-minute task—it clogs up our mental space. It lingers. It nags. And it slows us down.

Let’s talk about the power of finishing things now—and why this one habit might just be the missing key to your daily momentum, productivity, and peace of mind.

The ADHD Angle: A Personal Truth

This idea resonates deeply with me because I live with ADHD.

Now, ADHD doesn’t mean I can’t focus. It means I focus differently. My brain loves stimulation and novelty, but it often resists structure and follow-through. Unfinished tasks? They multiply like rabbits. And once too many are floating around, it becomes mentally exhausting just to figure out where to begin.

One thing I’ve learned is this: the longer something lingers, the harder it is to return to. That’s especially true for those of us with ADHD. The friction of “starting” again becomes a mental wall. So if I don’t close the loop when I’m already in it, it becomes just another loose thread in a tangled ball of to-dos.

That’s why this “finish it now” principle has become one of my most powerful self-management tools. Not just for productivity—but for peace of mind.

Cross It Off, Clear It Out

There’s something incredibly freeing about crossing something off your list. It gives your brain closure. It signals completion. It allows you to move forward with less resistance.

Sometimes I catch myself staring at my task list, knowing there’s a five-minute item I could knock out right now—and instead, I’ll get up and refill my coffee or check the weather. Procrastination is sneaky, even when it wears the mask of productivity.

But when I interrupt that pattern and just do the thing, it’s like unclogging a pipe. That small win lets the rest of the day flow more easily. Especially with ADHD, where momentum is everything.

The Finish-It-Now Principle in Action

Here are a few simple ways to apply this idea every day:

1. When in doubt, knock it out.

If something takes less than five minutes, do it immediately. No negotiation. For ADHD brains, this avoids the mental tax of remembering and re-deciding later.

2. Use a “Now or Never” filter.

When I feel that familiar tug to delay, I ask, “Will this get easier later?” The answer is almost always no. That one question helps me act now.

3. Create micro-deadlines.

I give myself a quick countdown—“Alright, 3, 2, 1…go.” That breaks the inertia. This kind of “activation energy” is crucial when you’ve got an ADHD brain that wants to wander.

4. Try a “two-task momentum start.”

If I’m struggling to get moving, I knock out two small things I’ve been avoiding. That tiny surge of progress often unlocks the energy I need to tackle the bigger stuff.

5. Use timers to turn it into a game.

I’ll set a 10-minute timer and challenge myself: How many things can I finish in that time? Turning tasks into time-limited sprints plays into the ADHD brain’s love for urgency and novelty.

Momentum Loves Completion

Here’s something I’ve learned after decades of working with leaders, teams, and individuals: Momentum is one of the most underrated forces in success.

Finishing one thing leads to the next. It creates a rhythm. It turns intentions into action and action into confidence. That confidence becomes fuel.

When you consistently finish things in the moment, you’re not just checking boxes—you’re training your brain to be decisive, clear, and action-oriented. That’s a muscle worth building—especially if you’re wired like me.

A Quick Word About “Later”

Some things need to wait—no question. Strategic planning, deep rest, big decisions—they deserve space.

But too often, “later” is just a delay tactic. For those of us with ADHD, it’s a trap disguised as relief. The more things you leave for later, the more overwhelmed you feel, and the less likely you are to return to any of them with clarity.

Finish it now, and you take control. Delay it, and it takes control of you.

Final Thought

In a world full of distractions and decisions, this one simple rule might be your greatest ally:

If you have the choice, finish it now.

Close the loop. Clear the space. Free your mind.

Try it today—just for a few hours. Pay attention to how much more grounded and in control you feel. You don’t need a massive system to beat procrastination or stay focused.

Sometimes, you just need to finish the dang thing.