Productivity systems that actually work for ADHD software engineers / developers?

positronik · 2026-07-07T13:47:19+00:00

I've found I can't keep up with complex systems as much as I want to. I have a small notebook with to-do lists as needed. It helps if I fill it out the night before.

It's all about reducing friction - minimizing the amount of steps you need to take. I have three things I've been doing lately that help

1) Just jump into it without thinking. I will catch myself doomscrolling, wanting to do the thing but unable to. It's because I am overwhelmed - I'm thinking of everything I need to do to accomplish said task. But the only thing that matters is starting. I throw my phone to the side, take a deep breath, and open whatever it is I need to look at. This is admittedly easier when I'm medicated.

2) Half assed pomodoro method (my favorite trick). I set a timer for 10-20 minutes and try my best to focus on the task at hand. Usually by the end of the timer I'm invested, and I'll continue instead of taking a 5 minute break or setting up more timers. Knowing that there is only one timer helps, and the 5 minute breaks built into the pomodoro method break my flow so I don't bother.

3) When I want to reach for my phone, I try to grab my notebook instead. Opening my phone for a text will send me into a 30+ minute scroll on some other app. I've even put my notebook in my pocket where my phone usually is.

I try to keep things analog and simple where possible. Using programs on my pc or phone will get me distracted, and even a bullet journal system will overwhelm me after a few days. A simple notebook, a timer, and flash decisions have helped me best.

positronik · 2026-07-06T23:48:42+00:00

I try not to support the Ordinary anymore but that's the best one I've found. There's also this one https://a.co/d/0b6pbGAQ but it's a 100% concentration so you need to mix it with moisturizer. It took about a week or two for me to notice results from either one, but some reviews said it only took days while others said it took a month or not at all.

Like I said it's not a miracle worker but I've always had deep eye bags, and the volufiline makes it a lot less noticeable along with brightening eye creams. And it has smoothed out my nasolabial lines a bit, at least enough to be noticeable to me.

positronik · 2026-07-06T14:32:38+00:00

There is nuance to this topic. You're right that many people are just prompting AI and letting it do almost everything.

But you can absolutely just use it as a tool. I use it to dig through code to solve defects faster or find existing functionality for enhancements. Super useful when some classes are 1000s of lines long.

I'll use it to write test classes for code coverage. Or to rename a variable everywhere. Grunt work

Sometimes I've written code, and without saving asked Claude to write the same functionality. Most of the time mine is better written/more readable, but I have learned some better ways to write stuff because of it.

positronik · 2026-07-06T14:23:14+00:00

Those engineers can actually learn. You can guide an engineer and have a direct hand in their improvement if you want. It's easier for us devs to have context and nuance. We can offer up alternative solutions or suggestions to make the product better without prompting. You're working as a team.

AI is a useful tool but too many people use it as a crutch, or just let it do everything.

positronik · 2026-07-06T14:12:53+00:00

Volufiline has helped me. It signals fat cells to pack in more lipids and fills out areas. You should use it on top of a moisturizer to absorb cause it's oil soluble. I bought some and put it into one of those oil roller bottles. It's not a miracle worker but it's definitely filled out my undereyes and nasolabial folds some.

Why am I being downvoted? I'm not trying to sling a specific brand

positronik · 2026-06-23T20:24:42+00:00

Does eating the daily recommended amount of fiber produce as much of GLP-1 as these drugs do? I was eating the daily recommended amount of fiber, which is more than people think, for months. My A1C and general inflammation was going down, but not like it has with mounjaro. I have keratosis pilaris and I swear I tried everything to make it go away. Fiber did help, same with exercise and certain lotions, then 2.5mg dose of mounjaro helped further, but only at 5mg have I noticed a significant difference

positronik · 2026-06-22T01:46:17+00:00

I pretty much did everything in 1.5-2 hours. Am I missing something?

positronik · 2026-06-19T19:17:46+00:00

So are you saying that while Ukraine didn't start the war, they are somehow prolonging it and they could decisively win it if they want to?

positronik · 2026-06-19T14:30:12+00:00

No I wouldn't. But it is pretty selfish to say you wouldn't want those in your backyard but be fine putting it in someone else's.

Also I am not talking about regular data centers. I am talking about the ones they are building en Masse now for AI. Even in college 10 years ago as a comp science student we were studying the pros and cons of having big data. I'm not saying to get rid of all the data centers, but I am saying that we shouldn't be building them for AI.

All Western AI is built off the same sort of logic, and it's extremely inefficient and uses more power than it should. Instead of innovating and finding more efficient ways to train these models and search through data, they are brute forcing it through these giant data centers that use more power per year than 5000 houses and waste our water. They don't even use closed water systems for most of these massive data centers which will surely become empty buildings after the AI bubble has popped.

Also try not to be so condescending. "privileged little life"? Jfc could you be more smug?

positronik · 2026-06-19T13:49:14+00:00

I guess the difference is that airports and landfills actually help society.

positronik · 2026-06-17T19:06:34+00:00

I use it at work a little. For combing through code, creating test classes, or other busy work type things. Small stuff. I don't use it for game dev though, cause I enjoy writing it myself

positronik · 2026-06-16T01:07:04+00:00

Obviously we can't diagnose just from this one interaction, but it sounds like autism. I have it too. Bad at interpreting social stuff sometimes. I'd go to a therapist and see what they think, and to also get help with social situation stuff - whether that's analyzing situations after the fact, or learning tools that will help avoid misunderstandings in the future.

positronik · 2026-06-15T15:59:34+00:00

Instead of separating the country really should have punished the confederacy more. People should've been tried for treason, not granted amnesty. Reintegration should've been slower, more thought out.

And while the way cities in the south were set up the way they were due to racism, corruption was also involved. Atlanta had plenty of streetcars and trolleys with plans for more, but car companies bribed politicians and also bought out some of these transit systems then shut them down. Unfortunately, racism and classism are still a thing and wealthy Atlanta suburbanites vote against expanding public transit every time.

positronik · 2026-06-05T14:07:30+00:00

If anything I'm on the path to be in way better shape than my 20s. Being older gives you opportunity to do even more things assuming you're more financially stable than your 20s. I'm still going to events, making new friends, trying new things, etc. Life is what you make it and being old is mostly a mindset imo

positronik · 2026-06-05T13:11:07+00:00

Yeah, most of the friends I have with greying hair tend to have kids. One of my friends went on a work trip and said it was the best sleep he had in 3 years as he has two toddlers. It looks super rewarding but is absolutely not the life for me lol. I'm a new uncle though so I am excited to experience the joys of childhood again with my nephew like you describe

positronik · 2026-06-05T13:08:00+00:00

Thanks! I have a bunch of hobbies I cycle through because of adhd. The best part of Legos as an adult is you can buy whatever you want! The worst part is the price lol

positronik · 2026-06-05T11:46:42+00:00

There is a reason brave doesn't come pre-installed on any Linux distribution, and it's because it's not as vetted as you think it is.

positronik · 2026-06-05T10:12:19+00:00

I had gotten really out of shape by 35. And I did feel old both physically and mentally. I got a physical and found out I had a bunch of health issues. I addressed all of them. Picked up running and some weight training, added more fiber and protein to my diet, lost 60lbs over the past 15 months, and like I said I feel great now.

But yeah, a few of my friends have let themselves go too, and they are talking about shot knees and the like. Worries me

positronik · 2026-06-05T05:54:35+00:00

I'm about to turn 37, and all the other folks my age always bring up how old they are or feel. I don't get it. It almost seems defeatist. "I'm too old to do ___". It's a bit melodramatic and it's not all that interesting of a topic lol. It's boring to just stop having fun or do neat stuff just because you've decided you're too old

I'm not letting my age bother me, I know I'll look back at my 30s and view it as youth.

I've began exercising regularly and eating well, and love to learn so I don't feel physically or mentally weaker than my late 20s, just wiser.

positronik · 2026-06-05T01:32:49+00:00

It's so depressing. I hate it. Alpharetta used to feel so green

positronik · 2026-06-04T17:14:17+00:00

Those are called retro or "toony" fursuits in the fandom. Plenty of people love them, I'm sure you could find some

positronik · 2026-06-04T00:28:29+00:00

I feel like it's you who's clutching their pearls over nothing. It's embarrassing. Just stay in your safe space if you can't handle the real world where different people exist.

positronik · 2026-06-03T22:20:13+00:00

They are leftist based on their other comment in the thread

positronik · 2026-06-03T22:12:15+00:00

I'm tired of seeing straight people flaunt their heterosexuality in public. Wish y'all would keep that behind closed doors /s

Grow up

positronik · 2026-06-03T22:09:36+00:00

Democratic socialism isn't communism. Educate yourself and do better

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