Help me unpick why I can't get down to work

[blanketeer]

I work from home, almost exclusively. I'm constantly battling with my productivity.

I've always struggled with this. Through uni and all the jobs I've ever had, even when I was office based.

It's like I just can't work properly.

I've been able to get away with it somehow, but I just know I could be much more successful if I just tried properly.

Why am I like this ? It's so frustrating.

Can anyone relate or does anyone have words of wisdom ?

@CinderRosie Childish I know but "brown noise" made me laugh, is it the sound of someone on the bog?

i don’t know tbh, I only really read up about ENFP. But there are amazing resources on google which take you through what it generally means for you

😂 😂😂

it’s like white noise but a slightly different frequency

I could have written your post 100% - since I started autism diagnosis for dd I've considered adhd and 100% instant gratification monkey is spot on.
I'm off to do Myers Briggs again coz I can't remember what I was!

You sound like me. Everything you’ve said is me.

Except I do do the bills and such like because I’m a single parent.

The bit about returning things - that is exactly me. If there are lots of steps to understand what you have to do, I’m gone.

I’m INFJ on Myers Briggs if that means anything?

Well apparently that means you’re my perfect romantic partner to me as an ENFP 😊 sorry to say it hahaha

Same

I'm a massive procrastinater but found I'm more productive if I have more to do. To avoid doing things, I will do something else. So with more actual things to do, at least something is getting done at some point. And every little thing you do equals you are making some progress.

I've also just accepted this is what I'm like. I don't believe I would produce better work with more ordered preparation because it would still be boring and I'd lose interest. Leaving it to the last minute means I don't have to spend so long on it.

I've never returned an Amazon package in my life - I wouldn't even know how..

It's ridiculous. I've probably needed to return at least 5 things that were broken / wrong.

I'm glad I'm not alone !

I’m the same. My DS has quite severe ADHD so I guess I am starting to think that’s my problem too. It’s kind of what I am though so am learning to embrace and to set myself timers when i really need to get stuff done. I love the cartoon from wait not why - it’s my life!!

@blanketeer it does sound like possible ADHD. There are some self screening forms online or you can ask your GP for one. They will check that and decide whether to refer you for assessment.

Oh my giddy aunt this has just described my life

God, yes, to half hour gaps between calls. Pointless time.

My does too.

I keep thinking about phoning the drs to get on the humongous waiting list and be assessed eventually, but so far have procrastinated about this.

ADHD. I'm the same. I can only work when there's a genuine pressure eg. I have a manager breathing down my neck or there's an absolute deadline with bad consequences if I miss it. But it's also being human. We're not meant to be sitting at a desk looking at a screen all day.

Honestly, I've found morning exercise and a solid breakfast helps me focus better during the day. I do short runs (around 5k) every other morning, or and somwtimes swim or cycle. Really makes a difference.

I'm InFJ and everything you have written is true for me, OP. I have a partner going through ADHD diagnosis so despite it being a challenge I'm the one that needs to be organised, and deal with paperwork and life admin. It's been a decade of trial and error but I now have lots of
things that help:

For work, brown noise/white noise or non-vocal music on repeat, headphones, and/or I have a monthly subscription to Flown, who offer 24/7 accountability buddy based online focus sessions. I also try to do 3 tasks a day, and tick them off as I go, and have learnt to break things down into 30 minute chunks. I also have a promodoro apple timer that I use from time to time. My best day was 4 chunks, I normally only manage 2-3 plus some basic calls/emails/admin tasks.

For home, I religiously use a bullet journal, which I populate 3 months ahead, with a week to view. All my tasks, lists and projects are in there so all in one place, including reminders for birthdays holidays and school events. I also have a home digital calendar, cozi, and a work calendar and reminder alarms on my phone.

so that's what it takes for me to (just about) stay on top Of everything. Without all that, I'm in chaos, everything is last minute and life is pretty stressful !

Yeah I've done those and of course they show that I should have an assessment. But it's a couple of years wait and I think if your life is generally ticking along, they may be reluctant to diagnose it. I read somewhere it has to be really impacting your life, like job loss etc. for them to diagnose it. Is that true ? Do drugs help ?

I feel like such a massive fraud in life. Because I just don't actually work that much in reality.

Today I just couldn't handle any more at 3 pm and just sacked it all off after.

ADHD?

I second Eat That Frog, also music for adhd brains and a walking pad w standing desk for working.

I think the drugs help some but they have side effects; stimulants are basically speed and so they’re not good for the heart, I think much better to find alternative ways to live

Do you also tend to be a bit of a perfectionist? I am which means I actually tend to overestimate how much work/how good the work is of other people in my team and think that they're all doing much better than me because I'm just faffing and I'm not being perfect therefore I must be rubbish. In reality, I get outstanding feedback and my boss recently changed my contract to full time (rather than 4 days a week) to reflect my contribution and output. Turns out, the vast majority of people are half-arseing it and even the ones with what seems to be an amazing work ethic aren't actually producing anything better than me.

I'm like this too. I'm glad I can't WFH. I find it hard to concentrate on work when there's other things I could be doing.
Chores, life admin, people I need to call. I'm no good with noise around me but listening to music puts me off too. Also addicted to my phone.
I'm an anxious type with ants in my pants, always been the same.
Sorry if that isn't helpful but you aren't alone.

Making bullet pointed lists help me. And try not to put things off if you can. It feels like you've achieved something in a day that way.

inattentive ADHD - busy hyperactive mind rather than busy hyperactive body in regular ADHD.