SUMMARY POINTS
It happens all the time. You’ve got tons of shit to do, but your mind just can’t seem to focus on work stuff right now. But, you give it your best try.
You’re only a few minutes into the task and then, you remember that thing that your friend mentioned and so, you open your web browser and Google it for more details. And, that’s when you fall down the rabbit hole and waste valuable hours looking up whatever bullshit thing popped into your mind.
You snap back to reality when you realize that you’ve put yourself behind the eight ball with a few key tasks that you gotta get done asap. You’ve put yourself in a bad situation yet again.
You are stressed AF now and scrambling to get the most critical things done. And during this mad dash, you’re hopping from one unrelated task to another. It’s like spinning plates.
It’s at these moments that you ask yourself why you put yourself in these kinds of predicaments all the time. It makes managing work stress so much more difficult.
It’s time to stop this bullshit and figure out a way to stay focused.
You’re only a few minutes into the task and then, you remember that thing that your friend mentioned and so, you open your web browser and Google it for more details. And, that’s when you fall down the rabbit hole and waste valuable hours looking up whatever bullshit thing popped into your mind.
You snap back to reality when you realize that you’ve put yourself behind the eight ball with a few key tasks that you gotta get done asap. You’ve put yourself in a bad situation yet again.
You are stressed AF now and scrambling to get the most critical things done. And during this mad dash, you’re hopping from one unrelated task to another. It’s like spinning plates.
It’s at these moments that you ask yourself why you put yourself in these kinds of predicaments all the time. It makes managing work stress so much more difficult.
It’s time to stop this bullshit and figure out a way to stay focused.
How ADHD Can Screw Up Your Career
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a commonly found mental disorder in children where the child has an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity that messes with their functional development.
What most people don’t recognize is that ADHD is also found in adults to varying degrees too. It’s not just with kids.
In adults, ADHD can have negative implications to not only on your current job and personal brand, but it can also derail your career too if you don’t get it under control.
It all boils down to three things: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Each one has negative consequences if it’s not managed.
Inattention means that you have a hard time staying on task and maintaining focus. But it’s not because of a lack of skill or understanding. Your mind just likes to hop around a lot. And this makes you look like you don’t have mental discipline.
Hyperactivity is when you have this urge to constantly move. It’s an ongoing feeling of restlessness. When it’s for low-sweat workouts at the office or WFH micro-exercises, it's totally fine. When you can’t stop tapping your pen or shaking your leg at your desk, you’ll be that annoying AF coworker nobody wants to be around.
Impulsivity is when you do something on a whim or without thinking about it first. It’s kinda like a lack of self-control because you want some kind of immediate reward or gratification. In the working world, this is like escalating the issue, jumping the gun and/or sending out that big broadcast email without planning it out first.
All three of these core ADHD characteristics are habits that kill your chances of promotion and can hold you back from further advancement if they’re not managed well.
What most people don’t recognize is that ADHD is also found in adults to varying degrees too. It’s not just with kids.
In adults, ADHD can have negative implications to not only on your current job and personal brand, but it can also derail your career too if you don’t get it under control.
It all boils down to three things: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Each one has negative consequences if it’s not managed.
Inattention means that you have a hard time staying on task and maintaining focus. But it’s not because of a lack of skill or understanding. Your mind just likes to hop around a lot. And this makes you look like you don’t have mental discipline.
Hyperactivity is when you have this urge to constantly move. It’s an ongoing feeling of restlessness. When it’s for low-sweat workouts at the office or WFH micro-exercises, it's totally fine. When you can’t stop tapping your pen or shaking your leg at your desk, you’ll be that annoying AF coworker nobody wants to be around.
Impulsivity is when you do something on a whim or without thinking about it first. It’s kinda like a lack of self-control because you want some kind of immediate reward or gratification. In the working world, this is like escalating the issue, jumping the gun and/or sending out that big broadcast email without planning it out first.
All three of these core ADHD characteristics are habits that kill your chances of promotion and can hold you back from further advancement if they’re not managed well.
ADHD Hacks For Staying Productive

Let’s be very clear here. This isn’t about eliminating ADHD habits - that’s damn near impossible. It’s about being able to better control it rather than it controlling you. And, when you can master this ability, you can actually use it to your advantage.
Here are five productivity hacks that you can try out to tame your wild ADHD.
Here are five productivity hacks that you can try out to tame your wild ADHD.
Do A Brain Dump To Clear Your Head
One of the hallmarks of ADHD is a scatter-brained mind. And really, this isn’t a bad thing sometimes. Having the ability to quickly jump from one thought to another can be a big benefit at the appropriate times - like when you’re having to put out multiple fires at work.
However, when you need your mind to stay on target, it can be like trying to pin down a greased pig. No matter what you do, it just keeps hopping around. Your mind does this because it doesn’t want you to forget something.
So, to satisfy this need, do a full brain dump of everything that’s occupying your mind. Write everything down so that you can put your mind at ease. This will let your mind let that shit go while you work.
However, when you need your mind to stay on target, it can be like trying to pin down a greased pig. No matter what you do, it just keeps hopping around. Your mind does this because it doesn’t want you to forget something.
So, to satisfy this need, do a full brain dump of everything that’s occupying your mind. Write everything down so that you can put your mind at ease. This will let your mind let that shit go while you work.
Get A Kickass Focus Partner To Keep You On Track
One really great way to keep yourself focused is to work alongside a very productive person. It’s even better if that productive person is your work BFF.
When you’re working next to other focused people, their intensity tends to rub off onto you. There’s an invisible force that will keep your momentum going when things get fucking hard. It’s very much like the crowd effect.
And if you want to take up another level, have them be your accountability partner too. Ask them to periodically check on your task status. It’s kinda like an informal pressure that has no serious consequences. It’ll help you to stop fucking around and get shit done.
When you’re working next to other focused people, their intensity tends to rub off onto you. There’s an invisible force that will keep your momentum going when things get fucking hard. It’s very much like the crowd effect.
And if you want to take up another level, have them be your accountability partner too. Ask them to periodically check on your task status. It’s kinda like an informal pressure that has no serious consequences. It’ll help you to stop fucking around and get shit done.
Use Pomodoro Method To Work In Smaller Chunks
If you haven’t heard of the Pomodoro technique, here’s the short of it. It’s all about working in bite-sized 25-minute chunks with breaks in between.
The beauty of this method is that it can be customized to fit your specific attention span limits. So, if you know that you can’t maintain a solid focus for more than 20 minutes, then set up your Pomodoro working session in 15-minute blocks.
This kind of working strategy will help you get in the zone with work and at the same time, give your mind the needed breaks in between.
The beauty of this method is that it can be customized to fit your specific attention span limits. So, if you know that you can’t maintain a solid focus for more than 20 minutes, then set up your Pomodoro working session in 15-minute blocks.
This kind of working strategy will help you get in the zone with work and at the same time, give your mind the needed breaks in between.
Gamify Your Work With Rewards
Another tactic that often works well is to gamify your grunt work so that you make it more fun and interesting. After all, having fun at work is important. And, if you can make work more like a fun game, the better the chances are that you’ll stick with it.
You can assign points for each microtask completion and when you reach a target amount, you can go for a walk around the block, make yourself some cofftea or do an easy desk meditation. Or, give yourself a mini reward after monotasking successfully on a task.
Whatever rewards you choose to give yourself, make them easy, free and relaxing.
You can assign points for each microtask completion and when you reach a target amount, you can go for a walk around the block, make yourself some cofftea or do an easy desk meditation. Or, give yourself a mini reward after monotasking successfully on a task.
Whatever rewards you choose to give yourself, make them easy, free and relaxing.
Use Focus Music For Background Sounds
Music is a very powerful medium that can drive your emotions. And your emotions can drive your actions. Think of how movie soundtracks are used to reinforce your emotions about what you’re seeing on the screen. It could be suspenseful, melodramatic or joyous etc.
This same tactic can be used to help you stay on track and stay motivated when shit isn’t working out. The best kinds of music are typically instrumental in nature without lyrics. Music with lyrics can mentally pull you away from what you’re reading or working on. So, it’s best to stay away from those.
Experiment and try out a variety of study beats, focus tunes, and productivity-centered instrumentals on your streaming music platform. There will be something that clicks for you.
This same tactic can be used to help you stay on track and stay motivated when shit isn’t working out. The best kinds of music are typically instrumental in nature without lyrics. Music with lyrics can mentally pull you away from what you’re reading or working on. So, it’s best to stay away from those.
Experiment and try out a variety of study beats, focus tunes, and productivity-centered instrumentals on your streaming music platform. There will be something that clicks for you.
Don’t Let ADHD Hold You Back

First off, it’s a good thing that you’re taking these first steps to manage your ADHD for work. Kudos to you for your desire for improving productivity.
The good thing here is that this is not about making a wholesale change to how your brain works. That shit will never work and you’ll just be banging your head against the wall. This is about adjusting your working style to mesh better with how your mind naturally operates.
Once you find a new groove that works for you, work will be so much more satisfying and rewarding. You’ll be creating an upward cycle of joyful productivity.
Time to get started.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]
The good thing here is that this is not about making a wholesale change to how your brain works. That shit will never work and you’ll just be banging your head against the wall. This is about adjusting your working style to mesh better with how your mind naturally operates.
Once you find a new groove that works for you, work will be so much more satisfying and rewarding. You’ll be creating an upward cycle of joyful productivity.
Time to get started.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]