It made a difference, but not in the way I expected. — “You know the scene in The Expanse where the Martian interrogator takes a pill before questioning, and his eyes sharpen and everything comes into focus and he can sense even the slightest micro-expression on the prisoner’s face?” I said to him. “That’s what I imagine adderall is like.” …

And the one annoying little bug I wish they’d fix. — Raise your hand if any of these phrases sound familiar: “Oh, %$#@, it started five minutes ago!” “Wait — that was today?” “This is taking forever. How can it not be over yet?” “Guess I’m just gonna be late…again.” “What was it I’m supposed to be doing now?” If your…

You won’t like it. I didn’t like it. But it worked. — I was finally back in my comfort zone, only I wasn’t comfortable. In the Before-Times I used to travel all over North America, either organizing or presenting at various small conventions put on by local communities. It was rewarding, but also exhausting, and in 2019 I “retired” from the presenter/organizer…

I learned the hard way, so maybe you won’t have to. — I write a lot about productivity tools and methods. I’ve written about time management and project planning and habit formation and self reflection. I’ve reviewed the things that make these possible, apps and notebooks and timers and even wrote a book about my favorite form of meditation. I left something…

A real dream about things that didn’t happen but could. — Note: all people mentioned in this article are fictitious constructs of my subconscious brain. Even the one who is real. Since my relatively recent diagnosis, I’ve been immersing myself in research, anecdotes, podcasts, videos, and social media related to adult ADHD. It’s been quite the revelatory experience, as my perspective…

If you struggle with rapid logging, this makes everything easier. — I love bullet journals. I have spent many happy hours scrolling through Pinterest filled with envy of the beautiful layouts, relaxed to the mellow music of endless “plan with me” videos on YouTube, and lusted after the latest Archer & Olive notebook with its shiny embossed cover. It’s a form…

I finally became the person I needed back then. — Last week I wrote an article in response to Denise Kendig’s Knock ’em Out Challenge, asking you which of five old article ideas you would like to read. In a surprise last-minute upset, this is the winner, receiving more than twice the votes of any other. I’ve done most of the things a man in my culture is supposed to do. I did ok in…

It’s easy to spot when you know what to look for. — There’s a whole lot of theoretical and empirical data out there about ADHD. One of the frameworks lies in the area of “executive dysfunction” — something characterized by Kristen Carder as a sort of Inside-Out-esque team of executives in your head, each in charge of a different department. …