Remove stimuli.
If it's noise, use headphones and earplugs.
If it's people, face your computer away from them.
If it's inbox, increase update or retrieval time.
You have the solutions.
Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
21–30 of 97 posts
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#22> Going offline on slack is probably not an option. Unless you're in a support role and actively on-call for coverage for a period of time, I think I would revisit this assumption and be sure you collapse the "probably" to something more definitive. If you're in a more typical development role, turning off Slack for periods of time is probably an option. Talk to your manager, describe the problem you're facing, your…
“Talk to your manager, describe the problem you're facing, your proposal to trial going off Slack for 2 hours (or whatever) at a time, and see what they think.”
Depends on the role and the org I guess, but for me I just mute notifications and then close the Slack app whenever I need to focus. (Mute so that the phone app won’t start spamming me after I’ve closed the Desktop app.)
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#23> Going offline on slack is probably not an option. Unless you're in a support role and actively on-call for coverage for a period of time, I think I would revisit this assumption and be sure you collapse the "probably" to something more definitive. If you're in a more typical development role, turning off Slack for periods of time is probably an option. Talk to your manager, describe the problem you're facing, your…
“Talk to your manager, describe the problem you're facing, your proposal to trial going off Slack for 2 hours (or whatever) at a time, and see what they think.” Depends on the role and the org I guess, but for me I just mute notifications and then close the Slack app whenever I need to focus. (Mute so that the phone app won’t start spamming me after I’ve closed the Desktop app.)
Totally agreed on "just do it" for most people, roles, and orgs.
I was taking the cue from OP's post that they thought that was "probably not an option" so I suggested they clarify as they seemed unwilling to "just do it".
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#24> Going offline on slack is probably not an option. Unless you're in a support role and actively on-call for coverage for a period of time, I think I would revisit this assumption and be sure you collapse the "probably" to something more definitive. If you're in a more typical development role, turning off Slack for periods of time is probably an option. Talk to your manager, describe the problem you're facing, your…
> trial going off Slack for 2 hours Ironic it is called Slack, and we are more productive when not "Slacking off."
Slack: off => Individual Productivity: up.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#25- Ignore your inbox: Unless you're in a support role, most company emails are not as critical as you might think. All of that noise between blathering newsletters, GitHub notifications, calendar events, various service updates, and alerts from failed CI jobs are mere distractions. You can configure your mail to filter these out or, like I do, not bother checking them for days. If something's actually important, you'l…
As tech lead on my team, I ask them to make it to standup and I'll forgive any other absence. It's 15 minutes, we time box it so we just hang up on second 900 if we even make it that long.
My team won't update ticket comments, they wont read emails, they won't read Teams channel questions directed at them. I try to keep these things at a minimum so that I can't be accused of making a point about over-stimulation - I get it.
But if they start to skip standup, the one time each day I can ask them where the hell one of my things I need is, then I have no reliable connection to them at all. And I'm not a boss so all I can do is beg.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#26I'm autistic, and quickly become very frustrated by distracting sounds and unexpected or unproductive interruptions. Unfortunately, this is a "me" problem, and I've found that I'm the only one interested in solving it.
After years of carefully managing/challenging expectations of me, here's what my work situation looks like today.
- I work 100% remotely. If I go into the office, I will only be interrupted constantly, dragged into meetings, etc.
- My Teams status is set to "offline" at all times, with notifications disabled. No exceptions. I check Teams messages between tasks, before/after lunch, and at the end of the work day.
- Unproductive Teams messages, like impromptu requests for status updates, questions which have well-documented answers, or that I've answered directly on multiple recent occasions, are completely ignored.
- All work requests which are not submitted via official channels are ignored. The remainder are addressed only if they are submitted, or assigned, directly by my manager. I completely ignore all other work requests.
- I've created dozens of mail rules to filter out almost all of the noise in my inbox, including the company newsletter, timesheet reminders, office-specific messages (bagels in the lunch room!?!), etc.
I know I'm a pain in the ass, but at least my sanity is stable after years of overwhelming frustration while trying to effect even the slightest change in others.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#27Need to clarify why I think going completely offline is not an option. As tech lead I feel I should be available for my team.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#28In my younger, crazier days when I was OK with giving up work/life balance, I dealt with this by not really trying to get things done in the office (by which I mean not bothering trying to reach or maintain flow state). Instead, I'd mostly warm my office chair and do my real work after hours at home.
Now, though, I think "screw that". I want a life. So I just found a way to accept that working in an office environment means that I won't be able to do my best or most efficient work and don't worry about making up for it on my off time.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#29Remove stimuli. If it's noise, use headphones and earplugs. If it's people, face your computer away from them. If it's inbox, increase update or retrieval time. You have the solutions.
> Remove stimuli. If it's noise, use headphones and earplugs. If it's people, face your computer away from them
Excellent advice for many, but those don't work for everybody. Doing those things increases my anxiety quite a lot and reduces my ability to work even more.
Re: Ask HN: How to deal with constant interruptions at work (with ADHD)
#30I'm autistic, and quickly become very frustrated by distracting sounds and unexpected or unproductive interruptions. Unfortunately, this is a "me" problem, and I've found that I'm the only one interested in solving it. After years of carefully managing/challenging expectations of me, here's what my work situation looks like today. - I work 100% remotely. If I go into the office, I will only be interrupted constantly,…
IMHO, this seems very reasonable.