Is deliberate distraction something that helps focus with ADHD

[LemonViolet]

I think I have ADHD, I am still considering whether to seek assessment or not. A lot of things would make a lot of sense if I do have ADHD.

I was wondering if anyone who understands ADHD can offer insight as to whether this is a “thing”. I have noticed that when I am trying to do a task that I find difficult to do - not a difficult task that is beyond my skills, but tasks that I just tend to shut down with and not find my brain capable of continuing to focus on to complete - I seem to find it easier to keep going if I deliberately distract myself with something else at the same time. It’s like having something else competing for my attention allows me to sneak in the boring/difficult task without my brain shutting down.

I realised this yesterday. I had a 90 minute online meeting that I didn’t need camera/microphone on for so I did it at home and spent the whole time decluttering and tidying whilst listening to the meeting and just occasionally stopping to type a comment. I worked really well. Normally, I’d do the meeting at work, and be constantly doodling, or getting distracted looking at other things on my computer or out of the window or sneaking off to get myself a snack. I am also never able to do 90 minutes decluttering and tidying at home and find housework really really challenging to manage, despite being a high level professional and pretty successful at work. But somehow my brain didn’t lose focus and I kept going on the decluttering without shutting down and was able to achieve a significant amount.

Thinking about it, I also find when I am at work and trying to get through a batch of admin work (which I usually fall behind on and struggle with), that I find it easier to keep going and complete more tasks when I have a completely unrelated video playing on my phone, I often choose home/garden makeover shows for example, that by having a little bit of my brain distracted there stops it wandering off elsewhere and lets me sneak in the admin tasks that I would really struggle to complete if that was all I was trying to do.

Does any of this make sense in terms of an ADHD brain. It’s almost like my brain is going to find something else to wander off about anyway, or find the whole task too overwhelming to compute so just shut down, but by deliberately giving it something else to do at the same time it can keep ticking over and keep going on the difficult thing. I don’t think it works all the time and sometimes I would get distracted anyway or shutdown anyway.

Anyway just wondering if this makes any sense.

Totally makes sense and I a classic adhd thing. I went for my diagnosis as I found much better focus if I embroidered in meetings but some jobsworth told me I couldn’t which they wouldn’t have done if it was a reasonable adjustment so I stropped off for a diagnosis!

Yes definitely. Conversely if I have a boring task to do eg housework then listening to something eg a podcast makes it much easier.

Yes 100%. I have audio books and podcasts on when doing any household or gardening task. If I’m on a big zoom call where I can have minimal interaction I do it while pulling weeds in garden and I fold the laundry etc. I’m recently medicated for ADHD and the medication does give me more of a peaceful mind when I’m on calls so less spinning in chair etc! However I tend to have days off at weekends if I am just in the house so will need my distractions more then.

Absolutely. Podcasts are the only reason I ever get housework done - preferably played at double speed so I have to concentrate to hear them. At normal speed I daydream too much.

In meetings, if I have to stay stay still, I type with my toes, or morse code the key points.

@LadyCurd

Totally makes sense and I a classic adhd thing. I went for my diagnosis as I found much better focus if I embroidered in meetings but some jobsworth told me I couldn’t which they wouldn’t have done if it was a reasonable adjustment so I stropped off for a diagnosis!

I love this!

Perfectly illustrates the need for diagnosis.

I tend to drum my fingers back and forth a lot in various rhythms. Never realised it wasn’t something everyone does. Surely most people don’t just sit still in meetings.

Nope, definitely a thing. I think it is actually a coping mechanism recommended. I kind of view it that I've got a permanent toddler stuck in my brain, constantly poking my arm saying, look at that, see that, what do you think of this, I'm bored, let's go do this instead, go have a biscuit, ad infinitum, so if I play music while trying to concentrate, it distracts my inner toddler and allows me crack on for a bit.

I literally cannot do teleconference without doing something else. It is physically painful otherwise.

People do apparently sit still and pay absolutely attention for hour long meetings without moving a muscle. It's fascinating to watch. For me, watching it is pretty much as impressive as watching the Olympics as it's a superhuman feat.

This really resonates with me - I find it really hard to do just one thing at a time, the idea of, for example, waiting for a bus without something else to do e.g. listening to music or podcast, reading, makes my eyeballs itch. I get quite panicky if I know I won't have other distractions available

@Sagegreenvelvet, may I ask what medication you are on? (I'm just about to be medicated for ADHD and doing some research)

It is a thing.
It's called habit stacking.
I follow coachandygil on Instagram and he gives lots of tips on how to manage/achieve tasks when you have ADHD.
One of these techniques is habit stacking. So you take one task and add another task to it. He gives examples such as brushing your teeth in the shower or listening to a podcast whilst doing DIY.

If you go to Instagram you will find so many helpful tips to help manage ADHD.
Xxx

I used to be found at university writing essays with the TV and music playing. The thought of sitting in a quiet library studying gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I wish more people knew this because the advice I got when young and diagnosed was the opposite of what I needed.

Well this sounds familiar!

I recently bought some noise cancelling headphones for when I'm working - I discovered having background music really helps me focus and it's even better if I can't hear other noises like air con, people talking or typing, too.

If I'm working, my current thing to listen to is a Spotify playlist called ADHD Hyperfixation Playlist by Self-Guided Therapy which is upbeat but chilled and doesn't have any words.

I find I can concentrate so much better on video-off zoom calls but am still waiting for my assessment so don't feel I can ask for that yet. And in face to face meetings, even if the topic is really interesting to me, I've discovered I have about a 45 minute limit before I switch off!

If you are considering assessment, I'd recommend starting the process asap as the waiting lists can be lonnnnng.

Well this sounds familiar!

I recently bought some noise cancelling headphones for when I'm working - I discovered having background music really helps me focus and it's even better if I can't hear other noises like air con, people talking or typing, too.

If I'm working, my current thing to listen to is a Spotify playlist called ADHD Hyperfixation Playlist by Self-Guided Therapy which is upbeat but chilled and doesn't have any words.

I find I can concentrate so much better on video-off zoom calls but am still waiting for my assessment so don't feel I can ask for that yet. And in face to face meetings, even if the topic is really interesting to me, I've discovered I have about a 45 minute limit before I switch off!

If you are considering assessment, I'd recommend starting the process asap as the waiting lists can be lonnnnng.

Sorry, it posted twice for some reason!