Mind Traps & Thought Loops: Identifying Cognitive Bias in the ADHD Brain
If you’ve ever invested time or money into a “sure thing” that fizzled, or found yourself insisting, “this time I’ll stick to my schedule!” (despite plenty of evidence to the contrary), you’re not alone. We are talking about cognitive biases, those sneaky mental shortcuts that shape our decisions, our stories, and, often, our downfalls.
Cognitive biases aren’t unique to ADHD brains; they’re a universal human feature. They are one of the tools evolution handed us to allow for snap decisions instead of getting overwhelmed by information. But for those of us with ADHD, these shortcuts don’t always get us where we want to go. Sometimes, they spark innovation, but other times, they lead us straight into frustration or failure.
Drawing inspiration from Vicki Tan’s book “Ask This Book a Question,” we’ll break down why our ADHD brains are uniquely wired to fall into these “mind traps,” from relentless optimism and the sunk cost fallacy, to judging ourselves and others with double standards.
But it’s not all doom and gloom: you’ll find out how understanding these biases can help you harness them as tools, create better decision-making habits, and transform your relationship with your business and your team. Let’s unravel the stories we tell ourselves—and learn how to write better ones.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
What cognitive biases are, and which ones our ADHD brains are most prone to
The Optimism Bias - why we are grossly unrealistic about how much time and energy things take, and how to calibrate your big dreams.
The Fundamental Attribution Error—why we give ourselves grace but judge our team, clients, and competitors
Sunk Cost Fallacy— why we can’t let go of things we’ve worked hard at, even when they are doomed to fail
My personal hacks for reality checking, perspective shifting, and accountability building, and my four-step “fresh start” framework.
Tools to reset your decision-making: decision journals, external accountability, and Post-its that help you keep your eye on those sneaky bias blindspots
Spoiler alert: Cognitive biases aren’t a bug; they are a feature. These mental shortcuts are part of the brain’s operating manual. The key isn’t to eliminate them, but to learn how to spot them and flip them into tools for smarter (and kinder) entrepreneurship.
🏆 Want to get better at spotting your cognitive biases and make better decisions as a result? I created a free companion handout with the various patterns discussed in this episode, plus my four-step framework for rewiring your biases. Grab your copy right here.
Mentioned in this episode:
Vicki Tan’s “Ask This Book a Question”
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© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.
