Remaining focused and productive is a common challenge for remote PWD workers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including myself.
One moment, we’re focusing on our online work from home jobs; the next, we’re browsing our phones because we heard a notification go off. Or we’re distracted playing with our pets. Or watching videos on YouTube… You get the idea.
According to research, people with ADHD often struggle to sustain their focus for long, uninterrupted periods.
In addition, they also struggle with selective attention (focusing on one task for some time) and divided attention (focusing on more than one task).
Despite these, there are many productivity tips for workers with ADHD that can be helpful to you. Here are some of them:
Find an Organizational Strategy That Works for You
One usual tip to help you better focus on your work from home job despite having ADHD is to organize your tasks beforehand.
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?
In practice, this can be tricky, as there’s no “standard” organization method that works for everyone. What may work for ordinary people may not work for individuals with ADHD.
Because of this, you have to do some trial and error to see which organizational style fits you best. Some examples you can try are:
- A good, old-fashioned planner,
- Putting your tasks in a journal,
- Using sticky notes,
- Having a whiteboard in your remote office, and
- Utilizing apps like Google Calendar and Todoist.
When you find a style that suits you, stick with it for at least a month or until it becomes part of your daily routine.
Break Bigger Tasks Down Into Smaller Chunks
Speaking from experience, one of the most helpful productivity tips for workers with ADHD is breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable ones.
Instead of just “writing today’s content article,” I divide it into keyword research, writing the introduction, body, and conclusion. Set a deadline for each part to help you remain focused and motivated.
For example, I usually dedicate 1-2 hours to doing keyword research for my topic and writing the introduction. I then dedicate an hour per section of the body, then around 30 minutes for the conclusion and title.
Doing this helps me overcome my fear of not getting things done.
Build Momentum in Your Workday
For some employees with ADHD, starting their day by accomplishing their simplest tasks helps them feel accomplished and confident enough to keep going.
Conversely, other ADHD employees find comfort in identifying their most challenging/urgent tasks and accomplishing them first. After all, you’ve finished the most challenging part of your day. What’s left to fear?
However you may choose to start your day, ensure you do the tasks that make you feel most accomplished first. This helps build momentum that’ll carry you through the day.
Understand Why Certain Tasks Are a Priority
There are just some tasks you won’t particularly enjoy, no matter how crucial they are to your work. For me, it’s checking my emails and doing keyword research.
One way to help you remain motivated is to constantly remind yourself of their importance.
When making your daily to-do list, you can put a short note below these tasks explaining why they need to be done.
Allocate Extra Time for Your Tasks
A lesser-known symptom of ADHD is having a different sense of sense of time compared to neurotypical people.
Because of this, many struggle with estimating how much time has passed and keeping up with deadlines.
One way to help you overcome this is by allocating extra time for your allotted tasks.
For example, if it takes an hour to finish a task during your online design job, allocate 2, just to be safe.
Minimize Distractions
Another common challenge for remote workers with ADHD is the various distractions at home that can steal your focus at work.
The best way to solve this is by keeping your workspace separate from where you eat, sleep, and relax.
Having an ADHD-friendly work environment should minimize external stimuli so you can better focus on your tasks. This also conditions your mind to be in “work mode” while you’re there.
Additionally, if you have your phone with you, put it on silent so you won’t be distracted by sudden notifications.
Avoid Multitasking
Contrary to popular belief, simultaneously doing several tasks doesn’t always make you more productive. It can actually be detrimental to your ability to focus on your work.
Instead, tackle one task at a time. Your brain -and productivity- will be all the better for it.
… Wait, What Were We Talking About Again?
The rise of work from home jobs has given more work opportunities for remote PWD workers than ever before.
That said, working in this setup brings its own unique challenges, such as how to remain productive as a person with ADHD.
Fortunately, workers with ADHD like you and me can be more efficient by following the productivity tips above.
So, are you ready to apply these tips to a real online job? Remote Staff is here to help.
Our jobs list contains plenty of available positions for you to choose from. These range from online transcription to engineering jobs.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up here. Good luck!
