Productivity Tips for Work?

Hey all! I’m a software developer that was diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago.

My productivity went to complete shit during Covid and hasn’t recovered. Part of the issue is that I’ve learned body doubling is one of the most effective ways for me to get stuff done. And, unfortunately for me, no one has wanted to come back into the office. I’ve tried setting reminders for myself to get routine-but-not-daily tasks done, but those only worked for a couple weeks. Pomodoro timers the same.

Anyone have any tips for being more productive at work? Ideally oriented toward software development, but I’ll take anything.

Shiroa,

Is it pomodoro that doesn't work or just timers in general? One of the more heavy handed approaches I've taken in the past is installing a parental control app on my phone (if you use Android, there's a really good FOSS one available on F-Droid), and restricted access to all websites and apps aside from calling and texting during work hours. I obviously know the password to disable these, but the extra time spent punching that in is enough to steer myself back in the right direction.

I know you said timers don't work but I'll still suggest using them, just in a more loose fashion. Momentum is huge with executive dysfunction, getting the ball rolling in the correct direction is important. So instead of holding yourself to a hard and fast 20-5-15 Pomo, try "I have to work for the next 5 minutes, after the timer is up, I can take a break, or I can keep going if I feel up to it". That 5 minutes is adjustable, if 5 is too long, don't feel guilty about lower it to 4, or 3, or even sub 1 minute. If you aren't picking up any momentum after few tries, stop and ask yourself what needs could you meet before trying again (Hungry? Tired? Craving a burst of entertainment?).

Lastly, lets address likely why some things only work for you for a few weeks. Novelty, is an incredibly powerful motivator for the adhd brain. Simply something being new can be enough to make it hold your attention. As soon as it's not new, it no longer works, because sadly habits aren't very "sticky" for the adhd brain either. BUT, you can still use this to your advantage. All you need is multiple systems to get yourself in gear, and work them on a cycle. Use one method until you feel the drive burning out, then switch to a new one. On a constant cycle you can keep the novelty rolling and keep yourself involved in organizational aids.

Puttaneska,

1 Have a think about when you’re best able to think straight and do the trickier jobs, then. (I’m pretty useless in the afternoon).

2 Set a time to check email, if you can.

3 Use filter rules to send email to folders. This makes it easier to understand, quickly why to do with them.

4 Block your calendar with tasks and try to keep them consistent so you get into a habit.

5 make a plan for each month and week. Add stuff to your calendar on Friday, for the next week.

6 at the end of the day, check you calendar so you know what you’re doing tomorrow. (I have a reminder alert).

That’s more or less what I try and do, anyway! Most of this is based on David Sparks’ tips.

I_Hate_Blackbirds, (edited )

I hit burnout during COVID and once we came out the other end my productivity halted. It's only just began to recover (also newly diagnosed and recently started vyvanse so that's helping).

I benefit from working in an extremely large organisation, and we have an internal ND Peer Support group on our org's Yammer (Viva Engage?). Someone set up a body-double rota, so anyone in the group can go into a shared calendar and sign themselves up to host a Team meeting for "body doubling". You can either sit silently on the call (cams on!) or chitchat if others are okay with it.

A few other things I've done to help keep myself on track in my specific team:

  • Set up a Team Planner (works similar to Trello) so I can see what is MY task and what other people are working on. My manager is responsible for recommending due dates and we go through the planner during our team meetings.
  • Setting up accountability mechanisms with my manager and subordinate: they give me clear deadlines/requirements
  • Agreed that any actions discussed verbally need to be followed up with an email because I WILL forget within 30s of the discussion if I never put it in the Planner
  • Plan meetings in the morning rather than afternoon where possible, because afternoon meetings prevent me starting a task due to appointment paralysis
  • Me and my subordinate both did 'working with me' guides, just a one-pager that describes who we are and how we like to communicate/work
  • Use OneNote to categorise almost all of my work. I have a 'library' page that shows all the resources I use/may need. A page describing who people are and what they're responsible for. A page where I put every note I take from a meeting. Then tabs for current work, tabs for completed work, all broken down by subject.

My org is limited to using MS suite of products so there may be other tools that yours will use. For my personal life I use Google Tasks & Habitica.

I'm also in an extremely supportive team where I felt safe to disclose my ND, and appreciate how lucky I am for that. If you can find a confidant in your team/org it may help.

pinkpawkitty,

What often helps me is body doubling in a video call. Either with a coworker or a friend.

loreasaurus,

God I wish that worked. XD Body doubling digitally doesn’t seem to be effective for me.

Maturi0n,

It is not that of a magic trick, but on my router, I've created a blacklist of websites that I can't access between 8:30 and 17:00. That list is huge and basically contains everything from news media, Fediverse/Reddit, YouTube, Gaming websites, etc. Helps a bit.

SteelCorrelation,

It's a bummer you say that Pomodoro timers don't work for you. I work in technical writing, and the Pomodoro system is ideal for keeping me on track, even when I'm testing a system (which bores me to death, let alone writing the documentation for it). Knowing that I have a short break after the end of a sprint's worth of work keeps me motivated... when I remember to use the Pomodoro apps on my phone and Mac.

I set up a great system in Apple Reminders for my to-dos and lists. It's a powerful tool if you use Apple products, more than just mere reminders.

Are you medicated? That helped me a ton in more ways than I can count. But I've never tried body doubling, since I've worked solo from home for the last seven years. Background noise is also helpful to me, such as Reddit videos in the background (especially r/NiceGuys compilations). Music, too. Podcasts and audiobooks less so because I become more focused on listening than being productive.

loreasaurus,

The timers work, but only for a week or so at a time. Then they stop working for a few weeks. Repeat. XD Same with my reminders (because yeah, the Reminders app is a godsend).

I am medicated, but we’re still figuring out the dosage. I’m on 18mg Concerta right now - probably going to ask my doctor to raise it at our next appointment. See how that goes.

Background noise is generally helpful for me as well. I usually have the TV on in the background! Generally a series I’ve seen before, but right now I’m working my way through King of the Hill. Anything that I can half-listen to and still be able to follow, haha.

sunbytes,

I find on the days where I'm getting constant focus breakers, that half-listening to a podcast can help me not have to spend "executive function points" every time I need to start working after my focus is broken (could happen 20-30 times a day).

For example I'm waiting for someone to reply to a message, so rather than breaking coding focus, I just "hear" the podcast for a minute, and then switch back into the coding when possible.

It's very weird that it works, but it kind of forms a layer over the "second voice" in my brain and keeps me from wandering off for 15 minutes while I wait 30 seconds for someone to DM me back.

Obviously it only works with lightweight stuff I can do with muscle memory (CSS, testing etc), and it takes a bit of practice, so maybe no good for your situation.

Also don't drink during the week. I notice how much my brain/motivation shuts down if I have so much as a single beer the night before.

loreasaurus,

I don’t generally drink at all, so that part is easy haha.

I’m definitely a “show on in the background” kind of person when I’m working from home. Podcasts I end up getting too into them and ignore my work.

I find myself wandering when I’m doing anything requiring mental effort. Debugging a weird test (mocking axios requests is currently the bane of my existence), writing API routes, that kind of thing. Anything I can do without having to think too hard about it gets done pretty effectively. The problem is that I’m almost senior, so I’m expected to do the hard tickets!

RQG,
@RQG@lemmy.world avatar

From what you write you struggle with organizing your work and remembering deadlines and tasks. Is that the main part? How or why have reminders failed you? I have set automated recurring timers for recurring tasks and it helps me immensely. I also write schedules and to do lists and such which works a little bit.

Or do you also struggle with the 'actually doing the thing' when you remember it? I got less tips for that.

loreasaurus,

Unfortunately, it’s usually struggling with “actually doing the thing”.

I’m lucky that my reminders have worked for the things I consistently actually forget, haha.

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