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Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

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Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#661

Post by corobo »

PH95VuimJjqBqy wrote: post #570
corobo wrote: post #317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There may be a little bit of birds of a feather flocking together on this one. Similarly my closest circle have all got a diagnosis of something or other. Most are in the IT field too. For me personally I mostly attribute this to how the circle initially formed - a bunch of outcasts to varying degrees new to college glomping on to any familiar faces from highschool (despite not really interacting during high school)…

or it could be that ADHD is a spectrum with most people having some symptoms of it even if it's not very disruptive. The better question is how many of the people in these groups have been medically diagnosed?

The groups were already split in my comment. How many emails in your inbox are in your inbox? All of 'em :P

I get the arguments for self-diagnosis but really it's self hypothesis. I only say diagnosed if they're medically diagnosed. Even doctors shouldn't be self diagnosing

ADHD is a spectrum sure but it has a low-end cap due to the second D, disorder. No disorder, no diagnosis, no ADHD. I'd love to have the same brain wiring without the disorder

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#663

Post by corobo »

JohnBooty wrote: post #483
corobo wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I'll give that a read, ta for the pointer. It's been on my to-read list for a long while but y'know, ADHD, haha. Bumped it up the list.

In the meantime I'll give my task list a realistic "when does this really need doing, if at all" audit, nice one

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#664

Post by RoyalHenOil »

regularfry wrote: post #659
RoyalHenOil wrote: post #642

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find music distracting when I work because I listen to it too actively, but I can imagine that a subtle regular pulse or beat might help. It would beed to be quiet and plain enough that it would not dominate my attention.

For me it's a question of whether it has lyrics or not. No lyrics? Absolutely fine. Lyrics? Instasquirrel.

Even music without lyrics is distracting to me, but lyrics (if in a language I understand) definitely make it much worse.

Oddly enough, non-musical sounds (like birds or cars) don't affect me at all. I think it's the complex pattern-matching in music that is a problem for me. Of course, that's also what makes it so delightful to listen to.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#666

Post by gcatalfamo »

TheRealHB wrote: post #54

The Blinking LED, A simple Hack that still works for me after years: 1. Place a tiny LED (red or yellow) by the side of your monitor or virtually on the screen corner. Basically anywhere almost bordering your field of view. 2. Make it blink like a fast heartbeat (120-150 bpm) and gradually slowdown to around 60 bpm (or your slow heartbeat base). Make the slope approx 20 to 60 minutes (you can adjust the best rate by…

Fascinating, but I have photo-sensitivity and continuous blinking would give me an headache.

But I used to reproduce a similar behaviour with music (repetitive)

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#667

Post by almaty »

aidog wrote: post #23
matheusmoreira wrote: post #7

Extremely relatable. Hyperfocus... I can easily spend over twenty hours focusing on something once I get in the zone, but it's extremely difficult to open the editor and start programming. Coping mechanisms and adaptative behaviors are all good and all but the power of lisdexamfetamine cannot be underestimated.

Coping mechanisms also help with getting started. Mine are history podcasts and stimulating YouTube videos in the background.

Could you share the links?

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#668

Post by slipperlobster »

RHSman2 wrote: post #649
slipperlobster wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My issue with reading is that my eyes will continue on while my brain has already left the station, so to speak. I'll end up having to go back and re-read sentences/paragraphs. I started doing some research (prior to speaking with my psychiatrist) and started noticing some ADHD-esque behaviors in my toddler. I'm not looking to get them diagnosed (yet?), because who knows what is "normal young kid inattentiveness and…

I have a 9 year old dyslexic boy with solid ADHD (impulsive). It’s been quite the journey (so far). He is heading back to ‘normal’ school next semester with no special support and fully integrated almost like a neurotypical. Sort of. I have the same ADHD style: Overall lessons: 1. Sleep. Melatonin. Transformational 2. Love. Love and more love. 3. Forgiveness and understanding 4. Throwing the kitchen sink at him for f…

This is good to hear that you have a solid foundation of how to best work with your son. I definitely wish I had that level of support growing up! I'm hoping to do the same with my kid.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#669

Post by rswskg »

JaDogg wrote: post #489
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.

ADHD !=dumb but it does make you terrible at studying a broad range of subject's you aren't interested in.

Re: Hacking ADHD: Strategies for the modern developer

#670

Post by qumpis »

lolinder wrote: post #488
qumpis wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I've got good results with white noise, not sure if that's something that would work for you. And of course I didn't suggest that this eliminates other distractions.
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