The Bubble of Now
This blog post only scratches the surface. We will have a webinar to talk about it more. You can find that info at the end of this post.
Living Inside the “Bubble of Now”
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to naturally plan ahead, start tasks early, and stay motivated by things that happened yesterday or things that are coming tomorrow?
But for others… motivation only seems to show up right now—or right before a deadline.
One way to understand this difference is something called the Bubble of Now.
Imagine Time Like a Long Line
Picture time as a line that stretches forever into the past and the future.
Now imagine that you are standing inside a floating bubble on that line. This bubble represents the moment you are currently living in—your present.
For many people, memories from the past and thoughts about the future can easily float into that bubble. These feelings help them stay motivated:
remembering a mistake might motivate them to try harder
thinking about an upcoming test might push them to study
But for many neurodivergent people, the bubble works a little differently.
When the Bubble Is More Sealed
For people with ADHD and other neurodivergent brains, the Bubble of Now can feel more sealed off.
They still know the past happened.
They still know the future is coming.
But those things don’t always bring the emotional push that creates motivation in the present moment.
Instead, motivation often appears only when something enters the bubble right now—like excitement, urgency, interest, or a looming deadline.
That’s why you might hear things like:
“I work best under pressure.”
“I knew about it, but I just couldn’t start.”
“Once I got going, I was fine.”
It’s not about laziness.
It’s about how the brain experiences time and motivation.
The Bubble Can Grow or Shrink
Another interesting thing about the Bubble of Now is that it can change size.
When you’re well-rested, fed, and calm, the bubble feels bigger. Time flows more easily and it’s easier to think and plan.
When you’re tired, stressed, hungry, or overwhelmed, the bubble can shrink. Suddenly everything feels urgent, confusing, or impossible to start.
Why Understanding This Matters
The Bubble of Now gives us a way to talk about something many people feel but struggle to explain:
Why motivation sometimes seems to disappear—even when you know something is important.
Understanding this idea can help people stop blaming themselves and start finding strategies that actually work with their brain.
Want to Learn More?
This post only scratches the surface.
In an upcoming webinar, we’ll explore:
how the Bubble of Now works in the brain
why motivation feels different for neurodivergent people
practical strategies for working with your bubble instead of fighting it
If the idea of the Bubble of Now sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone.
And we’d love to explore it with you. ✨
Want to get on the notification list for this webinar? Send me and email
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