Today, many adults have demanding workdays filled with meetings, deadlines and digital distractions. For adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), however, these common sources of stress can become barriers that persist and create obstacles persistently.Â
When ADHD in adults presents in ways that interfere with job performance, relationships and mental health and often goes undiagnosed over the years, it is necessary to understand what the everyday barriers adults will deal with and what the tools will be that can help adults with ADHD to improve the quality of life with their work, jobs and satisfaction.
Why the Workplace Is Especially Difficult for Adults with ADHD
ADHD doesn’t just go away when a child reaches adulthood. ADHD adapts and shows itself in other ways. For numerous adults, it can appear just as challenges to manage time, prioritize tasks effectively, sustain focus in long meetings, and coordinate multiple responsibilities. Adults who struggle with these challenges may experience labeling as lazy or disorganized, but these struggles are really related to the challenges of executive function created by ADHD.
One of the hardest executive functions is task switching – transitioning from one academic assignment to another and neither losing focus nor momentum. If you have ADHD, you will often rely upon your momentum and structure to maintain your focus and complete your work. Open office plans, an inconsistent routine, or excessive multitasking can increase cognitive load and exacerbate difficulties when transitioning between tasks.
Socialization can be a real challenge as well. Adults with ADHD may interrupt conversations unintentionally, miss subtle social cues, or significant information that has been presented through conversational connection. When these things happen, they are frequently misinterpreted, exacerbating your chance of developing difficult professional interactions or being made to feel isolated from your peer group.
Understanding the Importance of Diagnosis
Sadly, a lot of adults do not put two and two together and realize that ADHD is to blame for their challenges in the workplace until later on in life. Instead, they get down on themselves for their disorganization or their inability to keep up, unaware that they have an underlying neurodevelopmental disorder.
With diagnosis, that changes. Obtaining a diagnosis leads to accommodations, support that is designed for you, and even the ability to be more self-compassionate. Today, more people are searching for answers and insights using digital venues, and more people are accessing ADHD online tools that help adults identify their symptoms and pursue an evaluation from a licensed professional, these days more without a referral.
The main point is that obtaining a diagnosis is not branding yourself. It is being aware of what is truly happening, and that allows you to implement better approaches and strategies, personally and professionally.
Managing ADHD at Work: Strategies That Make a Difference
Once ADHD has been identified or even suspected, there are some specific strategies that can help make the workday a little more palatable. Structuring the work environment is a great first step. By using visual reminders, color-coded calendars, noise-canceling headphones, or even specific deep-focus hours, distractions can be mitigated and consistency may be improved.
But it is also important to consider internal strategies. Many adults become productive through time-blocking, prioritizing tasks based on how urgent or complex they are, or using checklists to break large projects into small, actionable, pieces. These organizational tools can also help to reduce some of the anxiety that can come with procrastination.
Communication is important as well. With many workplace issues resulting from lack of communication, misunderstanding someone for ‘careless’ behavior when they may have missed a deadline or impulsively commented may not be unintentional. Perhaps some relationship development amongst colleagues or supervisors about individual needs may facilitate how we respond to each other in the workplace; and even in general terms, it is helpful to be honest when suitable.Â
Lastly, when considering ADHD, it is surely important to acknowledge the abundance of strengths that may accompany it as well. Creativity, energy, and adaptability are among the many great strengths often overlooked that come with this condition. This may be a way to re-contextualize being neurodivergent as a difference rather than a deficit of professional competencies because if granted appropriate tools and an environment of understanding, many adults with ADHD are all but capable of fulfilling work-related expectations and, in fact, they tend to often surpass expectations.
How Telehealth Expands Access to ADHD Care
Ongoing support is important in the treatment of ADHD symptoms, however, many adults have barriers to treatment delivery associated with time and access. Demanding work schedules, commute times, or limited access to a local ADHD specialist can complicate the need to engage continually in treatment to support effective symptom management.
In many cases, telehealth has proven to be very helpful in allowing adults to have unlimited access to treatment for their ADHD. With access to convenient virtual visits or appointments, adults can undergo therapy, coaching or medication check-in virtually, saving them valuable time from being away from the workplace.
If you search an online platform that offers telehealth services, patients can more easily get all sorts of ADHD care without much wait time.Â
With telehealth, including virtual care, patients have more opportunities to find providers who specialize in adult ADHD with real-time options, no matter where they live. This is especially important for those living in rural or underserved areas and for adults balancing busy schedules.
New studies – which can be found in the August 2020 peer-reviewed journal Healthcare – have also shown the success of telehealth for treatment of ADHD in adults with demonstrated treatment adherence, satisfaction, and symptom management over time.
Bringing It All Together: Awareness and Action
Dealing with ADHD successfully in the workplace starts with awareness at both a personal level and an organizational level. When adults are aware of how ADHD shows up in their day-to-day life, they can impact positive change – not just in performance, but also in confidence and wellness. The tools available to help adults manage ADHD are more current and accessible than they have ever been.Â
From early diagnosis to organized workplace strategies to the option of telehealth care, the goal is not to alleviate every aspect of the challenge – it’s about developing the support systems that adults with ADHD need to work, connect, and thrive during their own lived experiences.
Today, many adults have demanding workdays filled with meetings, deadlines and digital distractions. For adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), however, these common sources of stress can become barriers that persist and create obstacles persistently.Â
When ADHD in adults presents in ways that interfere with job performance, relationships and mental health and often goes undiagnosed over the years, it is necessary to understand what the everyday barriers adults will deal with and what the tools will be that can help adults with ADHD to improve the quality of life with their work, jobs and satisfaction.
Why the Workplace Is Especially Difficult for Adults with ADHD
ADHD doesn’t just go away when a child reaches adulthood. ADHD adapts and shows itself in other ways. For numerous adults, it can appear just as challenges to manage time, prioritize tasks effectively, sustain focus in long meetings, and coordinate multiple responsibilities. Adults who struggle with these challenges may experience labeling as lazy or disorganized, but these struggles are really related to the challenges of executive function created by ADHD.
One of the hardest executive functions is task switching – transitioning from one academic assignment to another and neither losing focus nor momentum. If you have ADHD, you will often rely upon your momentum and structure to maintain your focus and complete your work. Open office plans, an inconsistent routine, or excessive multitasking can increase cognitive load and exacerbate difficulties when transitioning between tasks.
Socialization can be a real challenge as well. Adults with ADHD may interrupt conversations unintentionally, miss subtle social cues, or significant information that has been presented through conversational connection. When these things happen, they are frequently misinterpreted, exacerbating your chance of developing difficult professional interactions or being made to feel isolated from your peer group.
Understanding the Importance of Diagnosis
Sadly, a lot of adults do not put two and two together and realize that ADHD is to blame for their challenges in the workplace until later on in life. Instead, they get down on themselves for their disorganization or their inability to keep up, unaware that they have an underlying neurodevelopmental disorder.
With diagnosis, that changes. Obtaining a diagnosis leads to accommodations, support that is designed for you, and even the ability to be more self-compassionate. Today, more people are searching for answers and insights using digital venues, and more people are accessing ADHD online tools that help adults identify their symptoms and pursue an evaluation from a licensed professional, these days more without a referral.
The main point is that obtaining a diagnosis is not branding yourself. It is being aware of what is truly happening, and that allows you to implement better approaches and strategies, personally and professionally.
Managing ADHD at Work: Strategies That Make a Difference
Once ADHD has been identified or even suspected, there are some specific strategies that can help make the workday a little more palatable. Structuring the work environment is a great first step. By using visual reminders, color-coded calendars, noise-canceling headphones, or even specific deep-focus hours, distractions can be mitigated and consistency may be improved.
But it is also important to consider internal strategies. Many adults become productive through time-blocking, prioritizing tasks based on how urgent or complex they are, or using checklists to break large projects into small, actionable, pieces. These organizational tools can also help to reduce some of the anxiety that can come with procrastination.
Communication is important as well. With many workplace issues resulting from lack of communication, misunderstanding someone for ‘careless’ behavior when they may have missed a deadline or impulsively commented may not be unintentional. Perhaps some relationship development amongst colleagues or supervisors about individual needs may facilitate how we respond to each other in the workplace; and even in general terms, it is helpful to be honest when suitable.Â
Lastly, when considering ADHD, it is surely important to acknowledge the abundance of strengths that may accompany it as well. Creativity, energy, and adaptability are among the many great strengths often overlooked that come with this condition. This may be a way to re-contextualize being neurodivergent as a difference rather than a deficit of professional competencies because if granted appropriate tools and an environment of understanding, many adults with ADHD are all but capable of fulfilling work-related expectations and, in fact, they tend to often surpass expectations.
How Telehealth Expands Access to ADHD Care
Ongoing support is important in the treatment of ADHD symptoms, however, many adults have barriers to treatment delivery associated with time and access. Demanding work schedules, commute times, or limited access to a local ADHD specialist can complicate the need to engage continually in treatment to support effective symptom management.
In many cases, telehealth has proven to be very helpful in allowing adults to have unlimited access to treatment for their ADHD. With access to convenient virtual visits or appointments, adults can undergo therapy, coaching or medication check-in virtually, saving them valuable time from being away from the workplace.
If you search an online platform that offers telehealth services, patients can more easily get all sorts of ADHD care without much wait time.Â
With telehealth, including virtual care, patients have more opportunities to find providers who specialize in adult ADHD with real-time options, no matter where they live. This is especially important for those living in rural or underserved areas and for adults balancing busy schedules.
New studies – which can be found in the August 2020 peer-reviewed journal Healthcare – have also shown the success of telehealth for treatment of ADHD in adults with demonstrated treatment adherence, satisfaction, and symptom management over time.
Bringing It All Together: Awareness and Action
Dealing with ADHD successfully in the workplace starts with awareness at both a personal level and an organizational level. When adults are aware of how ADHD shows up in their day-to-day life, they can impact positive change – not just in performance, but also in confidence and wellness. The tools available to help adults manage ADHD are more current and accessible than they have ever been.Â
From early diagnosis to organized workplace strategies to the option of telehealth care, the goal is not to alleviate every aspect of the challenge – it’s about developing the support systems that adults with ADHD need to work, connect, and thrive during their own lived experiences.
