Procrastination and ADHD

[Curly_Adelaide]

What to do if pills doesn't work with procrastination? It ruins my life. I was fired 4 times. I don't know what to do with my career. It's a disaster, especially when I work in remote mode. In 2023, the biggest part of programmer's positions are still remote

Also, looks like HR doesn't believe me. I'm trying to lie them and say "I did a freelance job" - last 3 years: 3 years ago I worked one year in famous corporation, which provided me a reference letter.

So, I can't get technical interview. I applied, during last month, for maybe 300 positions or so. No any calls back. Despite I have good hard skills, and usually perform well during trial time, first 3 months, because I have fear/panic to be fired And probably I can easily pass each technical interview/code challenge tasks outside of FAANG (well, for FAANG my hard skills not good enough).

And, is it possible If I have not ADHD, but other condition? I got something like ADHD in school time, when my nose were broken. I were about 8-9 years old. ADHD supposed to be inborn condition... Maybe it's reason, why pills can't help me with a procrastination?

[Austina]

So...I have to do a lot of scientific writing. I love what I do, but the writing is not interesting enough to me to keep my attention. It's a real struggle! I have finally tried using a sort of modified pomodoro technique. I set a timer for 15 minutes and work on something until the timer goes off. Then, I let my mind wander to something it wants to (check email, play the coloring game on my phone, whatever) for 3 minutes. Then start again! It helps me to stay on track during those 15 minute intervals to know that I will be able to do something else at the end.

If another thought pops into my head about something else I need to do that day, I write it down as a reminder and then get back to task.

I use it for cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the bird cages, doing laundry, etc. So far, it seems to be working pretty well. I've not mastered it completely yet--but it has been helpful!

[planteaterific]

Hey, it looks like you have multiple questions in your post.

1. Trouble with procrastination

2. Trouble getting hired

I get that you're frustrated. Of course you are!

I find that the challenges are more difficult when I bundle them together. Procrastination is one thing. Finding work is another. Procrastination and finding work, if put together, is like a 2-headed-monster.

Try breaking the problems up into smaller doable chunks. If you find that you keep procrastinating, it might be that you need to break the task down again into even smaller chunks. You might also be missing a "prerequisite" task that has to be done first. Map out the whole thing on a piece of paper and break it down into things you can do in just a few minutes. Scratch them off as you do them and you'll see that you're making progress.

For job search, well, nobody likes doing this. It is not easy and it is not fun. Just keep trying and something will hit. I had luck avoiding the general job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed and instead started focusing in on industries and other smaller job platforms.

The experience on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn is equally frustrating for employers. They get bazillions of applications. It can be overwhelming to the point where they give up and don't hire anyone from those sites.

[planteaterific in reply to planteaterific]

Also, companies often give bonuses to employees for finding good referral candidates. Find people in your network who might get a bonus for finding you and let those people advocate for you. Way better than blindly hitting Indeed all day.

[Ilovejam]

One of the symptoms that one can experience is definitely procrastinating. I do a lot of that with personal things like a simple call, scheduled car maintenance, paying a bill etc. Medication doesn’t make that go away, it will help with focus. It really takes coping mechanisms and training your brain and finding what works for you. I usually write a list, do my most dreaded first. I work best in morning so I know I must get that top thing done. As for as work think about your day, is it procrastinating or sidetracked by other duties, unexpected things that arise, ups & downs of the day?

[75ADHDgal]

No Pills will not stop the procrastination. It can help focus. I suggest 3 thjings 1- get anADHD coach. and a therapist 2- find an adult ADHD group and 3 get a buddy to suppot you. This is how my buddy and I work . First I made a list of everything I cod thiunk of I need to do at home and another list for work then I tried to prioitize them and lastly I break things down to smsll segments like 30 minutes . I tell my buddy in the next 30 minutes I will for example wash all the dishes and throw out the garbage and reycycle. then he gives me his promise . at the end of 30 mintes one of us calls the other and says did i get it done or not- If not do not make yourself wrong just look and see what happened like- oh I got distratcted because I saw an article in the paper I was about to throw out and stopped to read it . Note what happened and nove on, I only do this for about a maximum of 1.45 horus a day. And lastly try meditation

Again you need a therapist and ADHD coach. Also look at your last jobs - Too much detain. Too fast paced .. to m,uch papersork . too many people

Ask your psychiatrist for a note about ADA accommodations you need or the equivalent ffor Canada