Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
ADHD brainsseek novelty and oscillate unpredictability between intense focus and constant distraction.
That way, I get things done without exhausting myself by constantly fighting my symptoms.
The result is that my typical workweek never looks too typical.
Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
Some weeks, I work seven days a week, for just a few hours each day.
Some weeks, I cram the entire workload into two or three days of intense hyperfocus.
Some days, I get tons of work done but completely neglect chores and social commitments.
Normal is working 40 hours every week.
Normal is adhering effortlessly to a more or less consistent routine day in and day out.
Normal is sleeping eight uninterrupted hours every night.
Even without ADHD, most people arent built for those norms.
Productivity aside, the standard 9-to-5 schedule also seems to be bad for your health.
Even without ADHD, most people arent built for those norms.
We shouldnt do it this way.
We should do it the way everyone else does it.
What are those strengths?
In one meta-analysis,researchers found that students diagnosed with ADHD performed better at creative tasks than those without.
Heres what that looks like for me.
Sometimes, even the reduced resistance is still too strong to overcome.
Instead, Im learning to compromise with my ADHD.
What if I get rid of the clutter youre obsessing over?
Would you do some work then?
The ADHD tendency to do literally anything else except the thing youre actually supposed to do is very real.
Sure, procrastination can end up forcing you to cram multiple days of work into one day later on.
Our days don’t have to look “normal.”
They just have to work for us.
BLS.Average hours employed people spent working on days worked by day of week.
Perry D.Clinging to an 8-hour workday?
Research suggests 5 hours is better.
Collewet M, Sauermann J.Working hours and productivity.Labour Economics.
