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Budi Tanrim (buditanrim.co)
Budi Tanrim (buditanrim.co)

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For 2 years, I've been collecting productivity tips. You might find it useful

Since last year, I've been reading a lot of discussions about Productivity and ADHD. I find lots of valuable tips and have been compiling them on my Obsidian note. I have tried some of them, and I want to share these with y'all:

Increase focus (combat distractions)

  • Disable all your notifications, except for essential apps
  • I find taking less sugar or carbohydrates during lunch helps a lot! Less sleepy!
  • Set clear expectations and targets with your team or supervisor
  • Exercise in the morning or walk. Your brain will focus better after some exercise.
  • Listen to brown or white noise or any music without lyrics to your liking. My favorite so far is YouTube music, and I usually find one-hour lo-fi or instrumental music.
  • Consider a site blocker if you find yourself opening a certain website
  • Keep your to-do list at eye level. I use sticky notes, and recently, I used an app called Today, which has floating notes that stick on top.
  • Brain dump all tasks quickly in the morning, then choose 1-2 critical tasks to focus on.

Deal with mood swings

  • Remind yourself that the world won't end if a few things fall behind.
  • Ignore the awkward thing you did last week. People won't remember it.
  • Brain dump in a notebook by your bed every night. It helps you to calm down and think.
  • If you felt unproductive yesterday, don't hate yourself. Focus on improving yourself in the present.
  • I use Obsidian to write daily journals

Get things done

  • Put your todo in a place you can always see.
  • Break down tasks into smaller chunks until they feel manageable
  • Use Pomodoro. If 25 minutes work, a 5-minute break doesn't work, try 50 minutes work, a 10-minute break.
  • Sometimes, I like to use a timer instead of Pomodoro. I like to use Toggl to track my time.
  • Put your phone out of sight (in a different room)
  • When you take breaks, make sure they aren't too interesting. Otherwise, you will get absorbed in them. Just go to the bathroom or clean during your break.
  • Time block your calendar so you know what your day looks like. But don't beat yourself up if it doesn't go as planned. ⭐️ My favorite app for this is Today (usetoday.app). I can see tasks and calendars side by side.
  • Download an app that chimes every hour so you get a sense when the time has passed

For daily things

  • Three-point check before you go out: Phone, wallet, keys
  • Have one bag for all your essentials—keys, chargers, toothbrushes—and when you go out, just grab that bag. Easy peasy!
  • Put a bowl near your door for your keys, badges, or wallet so you can't leave without ALL the stuff you need. My spouse finds this helpful!
  • Listen to podcasts when doing chores. It gives me excitement.

For traveling

  • Pack things weeks before so you don't forget
  • Have a checklist (toiletry, passport, what to check before leaving the house)
  • Write things down if you worry about "Do I need a visa?" then write it in a FAQ format. Question: "Do I need a Visa to South Korea?" Answer: "No. Here's the link from the official website." I like to use Notion for every trip.
  • Find friends who is detail-oriented to plan the itinerary, ideally they know your condition.
  • Set two alarms: (2 hours) and (30 mins) before the time you should go to the airport.

Top comments (4)

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sabrinawi profile image
Sabrina Williams

Toggl has a Pomodoro setting, too! (You probably know, but I thought it might be worth mentioning that switching between poms and regular timer can happen in the same tool.)

Great article! 💡🦙

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buditanrim profile image
Budi Tanrim (buditanrim.co)

I never understand how to set it up on Toggl, I'll googling them :)

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izinin profile image
Igor Zinin

Ignore the awkward thing you did last week. People won't remember it.

i think this is big mistake:
i count everything and assume everyone do the same. The best way to avoid possible tension would be to admit mistake asap :)

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buditanrim profile image
Budi Tanrim (buditanrim.co)

I think you're talking about a different thing.
If it's a mistake, then admit it and reflect on it.

What I'm referring there is sometimes people with ADHD is over self-criticize - they end up stress out about something weird they did in front of the other people (like saying something in a meeting)