As someone with ADHD, you may find yourself falling prey to bad habits that hinder your productivity. Perhaps you're stressing about a deadline, but instead of focusing on the task at hand, you decide to clean up your desk or aimlessly browse different tabs on your computer.
We all have those moments. These habits may seem harmless, but they can significantly reduce your productivity and make it harder to achieve your goals. Just like cockroaches, bad habits can creep into our lives without us realizing it. Break these 3 critically unproductive bad habits in your personal or work life and you’re sure to see a difference.
#1 Multitasking
As someone with ADHD, you may feel like you need to do several things at once to stay productive. Unfortunately, research shows that multitasking can actually reduce your productivity by up to 40%.
When you try to do multiple things at once, your brain can't focus fully on any of them, resulting in incomplete and inferior work. Instead of multitasking, try batching your work.
Allocate a specific time for each task and focus solely on that one task during that time. This way, you'll have a more realistic view of your schedule and be able to complete tasks more efficiently.
Tip!
Batch your work. Allocate a certain time to each task. By doing so, you have a better and more realistic view of your schedule.
#2 Distractions
Distractions can be incredibly tempting, especially if you have ADHD. Whether it's social media, your smartphone, or family members in your workspace, distractions can quickly derail your productivity.
The key to breaking this bad habit is to understand your concentration behavior. Figure out how long you can focus on a task before getting distracted and then plan your work accordingly. If you know you can only focus for 45 minutes, schedule breaks every 45 minutes to check your phone or take a quick walk.
By understanding your concentration behavior, you can reduce the chance of getting distracted and increase your productivity significantly.
Tip!
Learn to know your concentration behavior. While some can go on for hours, you might be able to spend a maximum of 45 minutes on a project without getting distracted. Knowing when to work and when to stop reduces the chance of distraction and increases your productivity significantly.
#3 Saying Yes
People with ADHD often struggle with time management and saying no to things they don't have time for. Saying yes to everything may seem like a good way to stay productive, but it often leads to feeling overwhelmed and overworked.
To break this bad habit, create rules for yourself and stick to them. If you want to spend Saturday mornings cleaning your home, don't schedule any meetings during that time. If you want to limit meetings with clients to 1 hour, do so.
By being strict with your time management, you can protect your time and ensure you have enough energy to complete tasks efficiently.
Tip!
Create rules for yourself and stick to them. If you want to spend Saturday mornings cleaning your home, then don’t schedule any meetings around that time. If you want to limit meetings with clients to 1 hour then do so. You’re the boss of your time, so be strict with your time management performance.
Increase your productivity, lead a happier a life, and achieve your goals when you take control of your time. Unproductive bad habits are meant to be broken!
Recap
To recap, if you have ADHD, there are three critically unproductive bad habits that you need to break to lead a more productive life.
1st. Avoid multitasking and batch your work instead to improve your productivity.
2nd. Minimize distractions by understanding your concentration behavior and scheduling your work accordingly.
3rd. Be protective of your time by creating rules for yourself and learning to say no. By breaking these bad habits, you can take control of your time management performance, achieve your goals, and lead a more fulfilling life.
