Productivity is one of the primary measures of success in the corporate world. There are a lot of factors that affect an individual’s productivity, from the working conditions to an employee’s skills. They all add up to the efficiency of achieving their goals. Productivity hacks help individuals excel!
The primary reason why productivity is an essential performance indicator is its direct relation to revenue in most sectors. There are also cases when productivity does not have that great an impact, but quality does. It all depends on the profession and the industry.
Nevertheless, knowing the hacks that can help you improve your productivity in no time is good! Especially if you have conditions that may hinder your productivity and disrupt your work-life balance. ADHD is one such mental health condition.
The following sections will discuss one of the most impulsive conditions and how productivity hacks can help an individual’s efficiency.
What is ADHD, How Does it Affect an Employee’s Productivity?
Before we dive into the productivity hacks for ADHD employees, let’s know what this condition is. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a chronic condition where individuals experience impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and attention difficulty.
It often begins in childhood and presents its signs into adulthood. This can usually contribute to other mental health issues, such as difficulty at work or school/college, low self-esteem, and troubled relationships.
It can also put your plans of mastering the art of first-time management at risk!
Common symptoms include, but are not restricted to:
- Behavioral signs such as excitability, aggression, hyperactivity, irritability, lack of restraint, or repetition of actions or words
- Cognitive signs such as difficulty focusing, problems paying attention, forgetfulness, short attention span
- Changes in mood, such as anxiety, anger, mood swings, or excitement and boredom
- Learning disability or depression are common too.
Let’s dive into the productivity hacks for employees who have ADHD. You can also learn hacks that will help you support such individuals in the workplace.
8 Productivity Hacks for ADHD Employees You NEED to Know!
The signs and symptoms of ADHD make it hard for individuals to focus on the task. That is when they become victims of stereotypes and prejudice, which stems from ignorance about the condition.
The following hacks are helpful for employees with ADHD:
Break Tasks Into Smaller Steps
Large tasks are overwhelming for anyone not accustomed to pressure. It is particularly overwhelming for employees with ADHD as they tend to procrastinate when this happens. They will indulge in distractions and delay working on that monumental task.
If you feel the same or see a colleague struggle, break the task into smaller tasks. This makes managing it easy, and the individual does not feel overwhelmed.
When a vast task is broken down into smaller chunks, it is easier to achieve and reduces anxiety significantly. This is an essential aspect of productivity tips for employees with ADHD as they get the necessary support.
This hack helps create a clear roadmap that makes the individual less anxious, making the work more achievable.
Bonus Tip: Improve this by using a task management app such as Trello or Todolist that can help outline the steps to take for completing tasks. These apps will help you progress through any task quickly.
Use Timers and Time-Management Techniques
You can conquer any task with the help of time-management techniques such as using a timer. Despite being in the corporate sector for a couple of years now, I would still face challenges with time management.
You may not have flexible work schedules, but you can still be on top of your game with this hack!
However, I have been managing my time well since I started timing myself using techniques such as a timer or the Pomodoro method.
So, I have no doubts that such techniques will be helpful for employees with ADHD who have trouble focusing on a single task for a long time. They can use a timer or Pomodoro technique to boost your productivity at work.
The Pomodoro method works this way:
- You work for 25 minutes without any distractions and with complete focus. Use a timer that’s set for 25 minutes. If it feels like a long time, then start with 10 or 15 minutes, then increase the time from there
- You can then take a break for 5 minutes, and when you have completed four cycles of 25-minute work and 5-minute breaks, take a more extended break
This method has been a boon for a long time, and it helps individuals with ADHD cope well with the signs that prevent them from being productive.
Bonus Tip: You can use apps such as Focus Booster or Be Focused to implement this technique. You can also use your phone’s timer to avoid downloading such apps. This technique will be great to prevent burnout.
Visualize Tasks
Visualizing tasks helps clarify the task at hand so that you can proceed with it without any hindrance. Visualization of functions can be done with the help of aids that help you organize the task.
Organizing tasks is particularly helpful for people because they can avoid any confusion or anxiety related to the task. You can even use the following
- Lists
- Digital boards
- Charts
These can help you structure your work and clarify the action plan. You can also achieve the tasks by prioritizing them as per the requirement.
Try this hack, and you’ll see a significant difference in your productivity and sense of achievement! That’s undoubtedly a great feeling.
Bonus Tip: You can enhance visualization with the help of digital tools such as Monday.com and Trello. Both can help you track the progress of your tasks and make it easier for you to manage the workload.
Create an Environment that’s Free of Distractions
Distraction is one of the biggest enemies for employees with ADHD, let alone non-ADHD employees. Distraction is equivalent to Kryptonite for Superman. This prevents them from doing any work and can worsen their behavioral symptoms, such as irritability.
When you have a distraction-free environment, you ensure no barrier to your productivity. You can use noise-cancelling headphones or even sit in a quiet space.
These measures will help you limit distractions and manage ADHD symptoms, such as insufficient focus.
Bonus Tip: Tools such as Cold Turkey and Freedom can help you block distracting websites if you have trouble with them. You may even have apps that distract you from work; these apps can help block those, too.
Use Hyperfocus Mode to Your Advantage!
Hyperfocus is when you focus on that famous drink that gives you wings! This is a state where individuals with ADHD become intensely engrossed in a task. This is a superpower that many would love to have!
So, why not use it to your benefit? This asset can be very helpful for you when you use it effectively. When you are in hyperfocus mode, you can easily use it to tackle any task. No matter the timeline or priority, this personal beast mode will help you achieve it all.
Bonus Tip: keep a list of high-priority tasks that need deep focus and dive into those when you are in a hyperfocus period. You can set timers for this, which will also help you take breaks.
Food for thought: Hyperfocus state depends on dopamine levels in the brain’s frontal lobes. You can activate it automatically when you dive deep into a task.
Plan Ahead
Planning a day or even the night before will help you achieve your tasks. Planning the night before enables you to control the anxiety and allows you to start the day with clarity. This will help you recenter your focus on the task at hand instead of losing it while worrying.
This one from the productivity hacks for ADHD employees will help you prevent decision fatigue early in the morning, helping you start the day with the prioritized tasks.
This can also be a part of your critical incident stress management – helping you manage stress efficiently.
Bonus Tip: When you have this habit, you can easily create a to-do list that gets you started the next day without the stress. You can also block time on your schedule for the next day’s task.
Find an Accountability Partner!
Just as people have gym buddies to keep themselves disciplined; you can have a colleague as your accountability partner. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand.
They can frequently check in to make sure you are on track with your work; this will maintain your focus and attention. This hack works because you have a sense of responsibility and accountability for your planned work.
In addition, they can even provide you with the support that you may need while working.
Bonus Tip: You can set up daily or weekly update meetings that can help you discuss progress and review goals. This also motivates you to finish your work on time.
Take Physical Breaks
ADHD indeed presents barriers that can make it difficult for an employee with ADHD to focus on their work. However, staying in hyperfocus mode for a long time can have detrimental effects on your physical health.
Thus, you must take physical breaks when you are away from your workstation and take a walk or stretching, for that matter.
Bonus Tip: Set timers and get up to go for a walk. You can combine this hack with the Pomodoro method to club the more extended break for a walk.
Wrapping It Up!
Now that you know the productivity hacks for ADHD employees, you’ll be able to tackle the symptoms that can act as barriers for you. As a corporate employee, you want to put your best foot forward with everything you do.
These hacks will help you put your best foot forward despite the conditions, and these strategies empower you to do your best at work. Thereby helping you achieve your targets quickly.
We’re eager to know how many you found helpful from the list.
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