ADHD Trying to Get Things Done?
Why your productivity hacks aren’t working
If you have ADHD or any attention issues, there is no system that will keep you on track. You will have to follow the pace of your creative brain. You tend to hyper-focus on a task or project until it is completed. That is followed by exhaustion and the need to decompress.
There is no “workout at 7 a.m. every day no matter what” or “intermittent fasting” routine that will work for you. They will only make you depressed and feeling like you can’t be successful, no matter how hard you work.
Still, it’s important — perhaps necessary — to use a digital calendar. Do not add more than 2 meetings on the same day. Preferably, one in the morning and one in the afternoon should be the maximum. And do not have more than 4 to 5 meetings within the same week.
Schedule your clients, training, or any other meeting first and fit everything else on your schedule around those. Try your best to “drag and drop” anything that got neglected into a future slot. Use color coding: I mark my meetings in blue, my self-care in yellow, and common tasks or chores in green. Put everything that matters into that calendar: your favorite TV show, a book you want to read (or write), emails you want to send.
A large size wall calendar is a nice back up, and it reminds you to open the laptop to check the digital version when you space out while brewing your tea. Forget about rules that work for other people. Follow your own genius so you can get things done.
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