Working Differently When You Work Differently

In this, the latest of our occasional series of Members Blogs, ‘Jay’, an Impact Officer, talks frankly about the challenges of working with ADHD, and the affect that the current lockdown is having on him…

Working in Higher Education with ADHD is challenging to say the least.

One in seven people are Neurodiverse; a catchall term covering a range of ‘invisible disabilities’ including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and this article’s subject, ADHD.

ADHD is a label given to a spectrum of issues relating to attention and hyperactivity. Most people are aware of its presentation in children. A child may run around the classroom, talk 1000 words a minute, constantly drift off into their own little world rather than work (and often underachieve). In adults, symptoms are the same but present differently; the overwhelming energy internalises, we’re restless, we fidget, we find excuses to walk around (I’ve printed so many documents only to justify a walk),we bite nails, pens or anything within reach. Our fast speech morphs into speaking before thinking, often failing to recognise that our interjection may not be suitable or welcome. We still drift off, constantly. Our work shows it though we can’t explain it; how can you explain why for no apparent reason your table is missing 3 random rows? Everyone will experience these symptoms sometimes, the difference is ADHD is chronic, constant and affects all areas of life.

Hence, serial underachievement is often the only symptom we carry through.

You know us. We produce extraordinary copy but misspell the title. We design a system nobody asked for, drastically improving outcomes but miss formal deadlines as a result. We complete 3 days work in 4 hours on a desk buried by mess. We’re your colleagues, your friends. Your family.

I’ve learned that honesty about these struggles can bring exceptional results. When workplace accommodations are made, people with ADHD don’t merely function, we thrive.

These adjustments are not major changes. They’re simple things like ensuring that instructions are clear (e.g. bullet points rather than paragraphs), more flexible working patterns or permission to take regular walks throughout the day.

Neurodiverse people think differently by nature and with adjustments will often find solutions to intractable problems. Channelled effectively, our value can be and is immense; this is why organisations including GCHQ, Universal Music and Direct Line actively recruit neurodiverse people.

The problems come when adjustments disappear but work remains. Such as during COVID-19 lockdown.

Some assume that with no formal office, people with ADHD would simply structure their work as they wish, thereby minimising the impact. That isn’t the case. My experiences snapshot similar problems occurring across the neurodiverse community.

For example, one of the most effective techniques enabling me to achieve highly with ADHD is to divide tasks up into chunks, finish a chunk and take a short walk.

This division provides ‘transition time’; time required to reflect on a completed task and prepare for the next (an example of this is a daily commute. That time gives a person the opportunity to transition their mindset between home and work). This is invaluable for ADHD brains because without it we struggle to determine when to start work, doing what, for when and when it’s complete.

Lockdown impacted this severely; having to stay at home as much as possible limits the amount and type of time you can spend outside. For me this lack of transition time initially meant very low output. I needed new strategies.

Another issue is lack of interpersonal engagement. Many ADHDers, myself included, are sociable people, often extroverted, thriving with constant interpersonal engagement of all kinds. At work there’s someone physically there waiting for your output. If you don’t produce then you have to explain in person. In lockdown, those people aren’t there so there’s no urgency. No urgency means no immediate accountability; seemingly simple tasks become almost impossible to even begin. Without social contact, we become withdrawn, isolated and disinterested both in work and the things we normally enjoy.

These are two of many challenges I’ve faced during Lockdown, and they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Lack of routine means we forget the simple things, removal of work-home delineation means we struggle to engage with work or relax afterward, without colleagues to share with tiny setbacks are amplified and we tailspin mentally. Many more issues affect each of us differently depending on personality, history, workplace and ADHD presentation. 

Addressing these is ultimately up to the individual in collaboration with their manager, and this is what has helped me:

• Creating Transition Time– Go for a drive- don’t get out but drive for 10-15 minutes. Get up as usual and do something fun until your normal start time. I do this every day.

• Schedule Regular Colleague Catch Ups– Not for work, just to chat as you would normally. I speak to one colleague every day usually about anything but work. Currently I’m learning to potty train a toddler. Her toddler. I’m childless.

• Regular Exercise at Home– You may not be able to walk outside but  you can still exercise, do  push-ups, sit-ups, shadow boxing, dance, whatever just move! Note: I’m yet to achieve a 6-pack during lockdown.

• Accept That Some Days You’ll Fail– Some days the brain says no. These days happen normally but are far more difficult to overcome at home. Accept that. Monitor your emails frequently but don’t force yourself. If not today then tomorrow is ok, it will get done.

• Find the ‘Mute’ Button– Teams and Zoom are excellent for facilitating distant work but for ADHD brains they’re unbelievably distracting. The constant chirping and big red notifications draw me off task. Find the mute button or set to Do Not Disturb with only managers/work partners in the approved sender list. Then you can work effectively, miss nothing important and catch up on the chatter during transition times.

Adapting to working differently is a challenge amplified if you work differently by nature. We’re doing our best. We want to succeed but, especially at a distance, we will need your help and understanding.

Help us thrive in your world and watch us change it for the better. For everyone.

Should you wish to get in touch with Jay about this article, you can tweet him at @Pinballmind or email enquiries@arma.ac.uk, whereupon we will be pleased to pass on your message.

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