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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#481

Post by piperswe »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #254
tapland wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I noticed: Other people would get hyper from coffee, I would not. My brain would calm down a lot with the help of caffeine. I would regularly down 3-4 red bulls (diet) in the evening if I knew I needed to fall asleep and sleep well. I'm not sure if it's been studied but anecdotal evidence from others seem to suggest I'm not alone and that some others have the same experience.

N=1, I sleep better on stimulants than off them. No problem falling asleep after drinking coffee (usually it makes me more sleepy), or even taking a prescribed stimulant before going to bed.

Some of my best naps have been after taking amphetamines. My brain shuts up, and I can actually relax.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#482

Post by P_I_Staker »

mathieuh wrote: post #92

I used to think I had some ADHD symptoms: growing up I never did any revision for any of my school exams until a couple of days before, all my coursework and projects were done last minute in a week of intense focus, I've had issues with drugs in the past etc. Then I met someone who actually has ADHD and saw them before they'd taken their stimulant drugs. They were completely nonfunctional in any sense of the word, t…

It presents in different ways. Someone isn't having 5 conversations, but could be drifting in and out of thoughts. It might just look like they aren't very interested. If it's more severe you would have more trouble controlling these kinds of things for a number of reasons related to the condition (poor executive function and impulse control).

I've met "people with ADHD" who seem to not have the condition at all, though pretty much always medicated. On the other hand, I've met people with far more clearcut symptoms, and I felt like I had way more in common with them. It sounded like they were living the exact same life.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#483

Post by JohnBooty »

corobo wrote: post #236
Mordisquitos wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my case I have to say that is only half true. As an adult-diagnosed ADHD sufferer I cannot say that I developed coping strategies on which I relied excessively that masked my symptoms. Rather, I used to try [0] to develop coping strategies, only for me to eventually drop them for unexplainable reasons at the slightest routine-messing incident or event, regardless of how effective the strategy was being or how good…

I've recently been wondering if maybe I'm overcrowding myself in this way. I mean I definitely am, but I'm starting to wonder if there are any other options besides burning through tasks whenever I get a good day. I don't think I've had an empty task list in my entire professional career outside of changing jobs and effectively declaring task bankruptcy. Todoist's end of day notification often says something like "re…

For me, the biggest takeaway from David Allen's "Getting Things Done" book (which was hugely popular in the early 2000s) was that todo lists require aggressive pruning.

Otherwise they work well at first but quickly become giant guilt piles, aka "54 tasks remaining for the day" syndrome.

(Also then you never get the satisfaction of clearing your daily list, because it is one neverending eternal infinite list)

Which of your 54 daily tasks should be put on a "tomorrow" or "next week" or "next year" list? Which of them truly need to be done in the next 24 hours?

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#484

Post by JaDogg »

swozey wrote: post #285

That Amazon Silent Meeting thing... I think that would drive me crazy. It's annoying enough when someone hasn't read what you've posted as an agenda in a meeting invite and you have to tell them about it. I don't want to sit on camera with 6 other people reading a 6 page document.

I really loved it. It is much easier to read in dedicated time when there is nobody talking. and you can just add comments to the doc while reading..

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#485

Post by P_I_Staker »

gosub100 wrote: post #269
slipperlobster wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note that ADHD can manifest physically, mentally, or a combination of the two. I've been recently diagnosed with ADHD in my late 30s after finally seeing a psychiatrist, and at most my physical manifestation of it is minor fidgeting. Where it really burns me is not being able to dedicate brainpower for more than a few minutes at a time, unless I'm in one of my "focus" modes. Similarly, my brain constantly has multipl…

Did you have the inability to read books? I notice that I simply cannot focus on reading a book to save my life. I can read internet comments and articles all day though. If I try to read a book I get annoyed that they're "not making their point" fast enough, especially with fiction and visual descriptions of people and places. I used to just complain about it, but now I wonder if thats actually pinpointing something…

I think this is pretty common. I can read certain rare books that really capture my attention, and often I read hundreds of pages at a time.

Typically, requiring complete silence.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#486

Post by smcleod »

qumpis wrote: post #357
lolinder wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I find that, if time allows, I get a massive productivity boost after 4:30pm and everyone is either winding down or leaving. The most important ADHD accommodation for me has been a private office (in my case working from home). I'm insanely distractible—the slightest noise can throw me off, and even the threat of an impending interruption is enough to make me lose focus thinking about how I'll respond if it comes.…

Why not put these earbuds in the office?

Way too many distractions in an office, it’s not just trying to tune out sound, it’s visual, temperature, lighting, social, commuting etc…. They all increase your load.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#487

Post by P_I_Staker »

navjack27 wrote: post #184
mathieuh wrote: post #92

I used to think I had some ADHD symptoms: growing up I never did any revision for any of my school exams until a couple of days before, all my coursework and projects were done last minute in a week of intense focus, I've had issues with drugs in the past etc. Then I met someone who actually has ADHD and saw them before they'd taken their stimulant drugs. They were completely nonfunctional in any sense of the word, t…

Yup! I wish more people who say they have ADHD could have that experience. If someone says they have ADHD but they are unmedicated and they already are holding down a decent job but are only recently kind of struggling with something they called distraction or issues with focus... Then I say they don't have ADHD because it's so much more than that. It is issues with actual executive function. It is being unable to pu…

I wish you wouldn't say things like this. It seems to fuel a popular narrative that's leading to underdiagnosis and treatment.

There's a good chance that much of the ADHD behavior is being written off, eg. as a moral failing, when it's really a disorder that's really harmful to the person.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#488

Post by lolinder »

qumpis wrote: post #357
lolinder wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I find that, if time allows, I get a massive productivity boost after 4:30pm and everyone is either winding down or leaving. The most important ADHD accommodation for me has been a private office (in my case working from home). I'm insanely distractible—the slightest noise can throw me off, and even the threat of an impending interruption is enough to make me lose focus thinking about how I'll respond if it comes.…

Why not put these earbuds in the office?

I did, but that was never enough: even 37dB ear muffs aren't enough to completely suppress the noise of a conversation happening nearby, but the ear muffs plus the walls and the door are.

And, of course, as others point out, the auditory distractions are only part of the problem with an open floor plan.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#489

Post by JaDogg »

rswskg wrote: post #388

I cannot trust someone who did well at school but claims to have ADHD.

I passed lot of exams (A grades, etc) with last minute study. But at some point I reached a ceiling (failed). So different people might have different ceilings.. for some they might reach this ceiling at grade 5. Some might reach it at degree level.

ADHD != dumb.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#490

Post by smcleod »

Good all be it brief summary.

The only part I disagree with is hybrid work.

For me, as I’ve gone through this journey - a key takeaway from understanding myself better is that commuting to and working from an office is far worse for my health than I thought and not something I could go back to doing.

An office is a place that’s very hostile to the majority of folks with ADHD and can have considerable health impacts. Its disruptions, lighting, heating, noises and work space disrupt my comfort, flow, mood and enthusiasm. It’s not something I’d go back to doing again - and because of that I’m healthier, happier, get considerably more work done, and want to engage socially more outside of work.

It’s great to see accessible articles like this become popular, I think it’s also important to make sure that all the mitigating strategies don’t end up falling solely with the individual, but we that we also work towards a healthier, more inclusive, working society.

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