Productivity advice for ADHD sucks
Here's some radical advice that doesn't
Productivity advice for ADHD sucks.
Most of it tries to ram us all into the same box.
But here’s the problem — productivity advice, in general, sucks for most people (not just ADHD-powered people).
So where do we turn?
Here are a few contrarian thoughts on better productivity advice for ADHD:
1) Ditch todo lists
My favourite productivity technique is forgetting all the unimportant things I don’t need to do.
As ADHD folk, we’re forgetful.
So, in response to our forgetfulness we create lists. Endless lists of everything we want to do.
What if we stopped doing that?
If it was important enough, wouldn’t we remember it anyway?
Aren’t we clogging up our minds with unimportant junk that blocks us from doing the stuff we really need to do?
Perhaps that’s extreme. Remember, these are just thoughts.
Ok, what next?
2) Work (only) when you’re most effective
Daniel Vassallo said “sustainable productivity is about working when you’re most effective, and conserving energy when you’re not.”
If you’re self-employed, or have a forward-thinking and open-minded boss, it makes sense to work when you’re at your best.
The time we’re best is different for everyone – contrary to what productivity gurus would have you believe.
I work best between 6am and midday. My afternoons are useless.
Sometimes, I get stuff done after 7pm. But rarely do it because it affects my sleep.
So, if I worked every day from 6am to midday and got a lot more done than from 9 to 5, why on earth would I ever work 9 to 5?!
It’s just worth asking the question.
3) Learn to love procrastination
Procrastination is information. Use it to find what demotivates you, and try to arrange your life to do less of it.
If you force yourself to create something you don’t feel like doing, it will show.
And if you happen to succeed, you’d have hated it so much, you wouldn’t do it again.
Procrastination is a signal. A signal we tend to ignore because we think if we fight a little harder we’ll get the task done. Tell me, how often does that actually happen?
I think we deeply misunderstand the value of procrastination. It’s data we can use to make better decisions.
4) Wait until the last minute
Everyone from teachers to our parents told us to get stuff done early.
That might be useful advice. But not for people with ADHD.
In fact, if you get a high Quick-Start score on the Kolbe test (which all ADHDers do) you’ll get an important piece of advice – DO leave things to that last minute.
Why?
Because our brains seem to leap into action when a deadline is looming. We tend to be great in a crisis. We need pressure to do our best work.
So, contrary to what our parents taught us, leaving it to the last minute may be a smart thing to do.
§
👋🏼 I have some space opening up in my 1:1 coaching programme. To apply, and work with me directly, click here.
§