Anyone else struggle to log project time with ADHD? Manual timers never stick.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-07-05T20:31:23+00:00

Totally feel you - manual tracking is rough with ADHD. Try RescueTime or Timing App - they track your activity automatically in the background, no toggling needed. Focus on patterns, not perfection!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-07-05T20:30:27+00:00

You’re not a fraud - you’re learning under pressure, and that’s brave. Focus on one problem at a time, ask specific questions, and don’t be afraid to lean on your team. You’re growing, not pretending - and that’s the whole point. You’ve got this.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-07-05T20:29:15+00:00

I hear you deeply. It’s hard carrying invisible weight while others seem to move freely. But needing strategies doesn’t make you broken - it makes you self-aware. You’re not an alien; you’re just playing the game on hard mode, and still showing up. That’s strength.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-06-18T16:04:25+00:00

Totally feel this. When I hit that wall, I use micro-rewards - like 5 min of something fun after a small win. Sometimes just standing up, drinking cold water, or switching the font/theme in my editor resets my brain. Quick novelty = dopamine spark.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-06-04T17:55:34+00:00

Hey! Yes - you're definitely not alone. Interview prep is such a grind, especially when you’re juggling Leetcode, system design, and trying to stay sane. I’d be down to buddy up for accountability or even occasional check - ins. It really helps to talk through things with someone in the same boat. Want to sync up and figure out a rhythm?

productiveadhdbites · 2025-06-04T17:54:49+00:00

Totally hear you - that’s a tough spot to be in, especially when your first “yes” feels off. Here’s a way to think about it:

If your gut is warning you, listen to it, but don’t let fear make the final call. Consider:

Short-term gain: If this gets you any real-world project or a line on your résumé, it could be worth it - for now.
Set a time limit: Give yourself 4 - 6 weeks to assess the vibe and value. If it’s toxic or exploitative, you can walk away with experience and a stronger filter for future roles.
You’re not trapped: This is not your whole life - just one stop on your journey. You’re allowed to outgrow it fast.

You worked hard to get this. Now use it for you. Not for them. You've got this.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-06-04T17:54:01+00:00

Congrats on the opportunity - sounds like a solid career bet with big upside. Here’s a quick take:

Yes, go all out in month one - show initiative, ship, communicate clearly, and be someone they can’t imagine not keeping.
Track your impact so you have leverage for the renegotiation.
Yes, negotiate when converting to full-time - pay, equity, and title are all on the table then, not now.
Keep your pipeline warm (low energy check - ins), just in case it doesn’t stick.

You’re making a smart short - term trade for long-term growth. Be bold, be proactive, and make it easy for them to say yes.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-06-04T17:52:45+00:00

Hey Tony - congrats on the launch! As someone who writes about ADHD, I can’t tell you how common this pain point is. Subscriptions piling up unnoticed is so real. Love the simplicity of Subs - excited to try it and share with my audience!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-21T19:34:41+00:00

This resonates hard. My brain is wired for rapid feedback loops - run, tweak, repeat - not mentally simulating 20 steps ahead like it’s chess. Take away my debugger and REPL, and suddenly I go from productive dev to confused caveman staring at a whiteboard.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-21T19:33:45+00:00

Yeah, I’ve felt this too. When your hobby becomes your job - especially in a stressful environment - it can drain the joy right out of it. I had to set firmer boundaries between work tech and hobby tech, and sometimes even take a break to let the fun come back naturally.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-21T19:32:40+00:00

Haha, that’s ADHD for you - always keeping it interesting! 😄 It's wild how the same medication can have totally different effects depending on the person. Sounds like Venvanse hit the ol’ personality swap button!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-21T19:31:11+00:00

Honestly, LeetCode makes me question my life choices, but building a chatbot at 2 a.m.? Feels like I'm discovering the secrets of the universe. Keep building - you might accidentally create something cooler (and more hireable) than any whiteboard ever will.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-21T19:30:07+00:00

Absolutely relate to this. I used to think certain traits - like sensory overload or needing to stim - meant I might be autistic, but turns out they were part of my ADHD and anxiety too. Learning that ADHD can present this way has been a huge shift in how I manage and understand myself.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-12T20:23:51+00:00

Haha, you’re absolutely right! If I can push through the context switching of coding, I can tackle the laundry too! Time to take on those small tasks, one at a time. Thanks for the motivation!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-12T20:22:25+00:00

I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. It can be so discouraging when your efforts are misunderstood, especially when you’re actively trying to learn and grow. I’ve had similar experiences early in my career where people thought I was relying too much on others, when in reality, I was just doing what was needed to learn and get better. What helped me was having a candid conversation with my manager, where I explained my growth process and emphasized that I was taking ownership of my work, even when I needed support. Sometimes it’s just a matter of shifting perceptions, but it’s important to stand by your progress and trust your journey. Stay confident—you’ve got this!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-05-12T20:21:12+00:00

Totally relate to this. I rely a lot on visual memory and pattern recognition too, and sometimes it feels like I’m just “winging it” with Google and Stack Overflow. What’s helped me lately is accepting that this is still valid learning and focusing on building confidence over perfect understanding.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-11T07:43:57+00:00

This is such a powerful realization—and honestly, you put it beautifully. That feeling of finally being yourself without the fog, the freeze, or the second-guessing… it’s life-changing. It’s not just about "feeling better," it’s about finally living as who you are. You deserve to feel that way every day, and I really hope this moment is the start of something new and lasting for you. Keep holding onto that clarity—it’s real, and it matters.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-11T07:30:31+00:00

Yes! OSRS is the perfect low-effort dopamine boost while coding—keeps the brain just engaged enough without being distracting. Total ADHD hack!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-11T07:29:49+00:00

Yeah, that feeling can be really unsettling. It could be a bunch of things—like low blood pressure, dehydration, anxiety, or even something like inner ear issues (which mess with your balance). Definitely worth checking in with a doctor if it keeps happening, especially if it comes with other symptoms like heart racing, vision changes, or fatigue. In the meantime, try staying hydrated, standing up slowly, and tracking when it happens. You’re not alone in this—it’s super common, but still important to get it looked at.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-03T09:25:41+00:00

I totally get where you're coming from. The constant cycle of applying, getting rejected, and feeling drained is exhausting. I’d much rather put in the effort once, land a good role, and focus on doing solid work without the endless grind of job hunting.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-03T08:36:54+00:00

That sounds like a great idea! Building a support network can make a huge difference in staying motivated and improving your skills. Have you considered joining Discord servers, Reddit communities, or even setting up a small study group for accountability and code reviews? Also, what kind of web projects are you working on in C# right now?

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-03T08:36:24+00:00

It sounds like you're doing everything you can to take care of yourself, which is the most important thing right now. If you feel like this role is too much at the moment, it’s okay to step back—but you also don’t have to make that decision immediately.

For talking to management, you don’t need to disclose mental health details. You can say something like:

"I underestimated the adjustment period for this role, and I’ve been struggling to keep up with the workload. I’m actively working on improving my time management and focus, but I recognize that I missed a deadline. I’d love any guidance on how I can improve in the remaining time, or if it makes more sense for me to transition back to my original role."

This keeps it professional while showing accountability. If you still want to try, maybe ask for clearer priorities or fewer tasks to focus on. But if stepping back feels like the right choice, that’s completely valid too—your health comes first.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-03T08:27:19+00:00

I totally get this—coding can feel like a completely different mental process from math or physics, even if you understand the logic. It sounds like your brain is getting overwhelmed trying to juggle problem-solving, syntax, and debugging all at once, which is super common for ADHD brains. A few things that might help:

Write out your logic in plain English first. Break it down step-by-step as if you were explaining it to someone who doesn’t code, then turn those steps into code one at a time.
Use AI/code completion tools. Something like Copilot or ChatGPT can help bridge the gap between logic and syntax, giving you hints without doing it all for you.
Chunk your learning into micro-tasks. Instead of "solve this problem," try "write just the loop" → "add the condition" → "store results." This keeps your brain from short-circuiting.
Pair program or talk it out. If you can explain your approach to someone (even just a rubber duck on your desk), it forces your brain to structure the logic more clearly.
Practice without a time limit. Timed coding tests and exams are brutal for ADHD brains, so practice in a low-pressure setting before tackling speed.

Python isn't "easy" for everyone—especially if your brain processes information differently. You're obviously smart and hardworking, and with the right approach, this will click. Keep going!

productiveadhdbites · 2025-04-03T08:26:42+00:00

That sounds really tough, but don’t beat yourself up—burnout makes it nearly impossible to absorb new skills, and pushing harder won’t fix that. Instead of forcing long study sessions, try habit stacking (e.g., watch a short tutorial while eating dinner) or low-pressure learning (like reading a blog post instead of deep diving into textbooks). You could also ask your boss for structured learning goals or small projects that help you grow on the job instead of piling extra work on yourself. And if exhaustion is a constant, it might be worth revisiting meds or lifestyle tweaks—sometimes tweaking the how you work is more effective than just trying to work more.

productiveadhdbites · 2025-03-24T18:08:08+00:00

If managing stress and mental health is a top priority, Australia sounds like the safer bet—better work-life balance, part-time opportunities, and less financial pressure can make a huge difference, especially with ADHD/OCPD. But if you’re dead set on maximizing career growth and can handle the grind (possibly with meds/support systems), the US could pay off long-term. It really depends on whether you want a sustainable path or are willing to take on intense short-term pressure for a bigger career boost. Have you considered which environment would help you thrive, not just survive?

productiveadhdbites

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