I’ve been really struggling with my focus over the last few weeks and am slightly concerned that I may have some sort of adult ADHD. Normally I’m pretty flighty, but today has been ridiculous. Work has gone something like this:
10am: Open Twitter. Worry that I’m not interesting enough, tweet a bit of random nonsense.
10.02am: Open blog analytics to see how much traffic comes from Twitter. Worry that my traffic sources aren’t diverse enough.
10.04am: Ask friends how to increase traffic. Set up Stumble Upon account. Start to read article about making the best use of Stumble Upon but decide I don’t have time. Check emails. Open another tab but immediately forget why.
10.13am: Start reading article about link building. Check all external blog links. Decide to launch link building campaign but then change mind.
10.17am: Worry that blog will never be awesome. Check ebay for nearby ottomans.
10.20am: Check emails and worry about lack of link building campaign. Wonder if I should make a living instead by writing other people’s dating profiles. Browse available URLs for new business. Get as far as checkout and abandon purchase.
You see what I mean? It’s not a style of work conducive to productivity. I’m not saying I need to start stockpiling brain health supplements or anything, but it’s kind of annoying.
After several hours of this I’m feeling exhausted and have only done about half an hour of paid work. My head hurts from the heady mix of adrenalin and constant frowning and all I want to do is lie face down in some grass. I decide to do a test to see if I have adult ADHD. A quick Google of symptoms suggests things like forgetfulness, mood swings, repeatedly starting but not finishing tasks, risky behaviour and lack of motivation.
You can do the test here, if you dare.
My results are in…
OK, that doesn’t look so bad. It’s probably out of 100 right?
Oh, apparently not.
“You should not take this as a diagnosis of any sort,” the quiz reminds me, “or a recommendation for treatment. However, it may be likely beneficial for you to seek further clarification about a possible diagnosis of ADHD or ADD from a physician or a trained mental health professional soon.”
Soon. Not just soon, but soon.
I would seek help, but to be honest I’m not sure I have the time. I have links to build and ottomans to buy.
Do you ever worry about your attention span?
I think sometimes we all have days like this, days when we simply can’t focus on anything. It’s just part and parcel of being human and I think that’s okay. Maybe take a break, have a coffee and come back to work later. That’s what I’d do. But then maybe that’s part of it too! Oh…
lists lists list then systematically follow them is the key
Think back to pre-internet…Were you the same? I doubt it.
I definitely have days like this, all I do is feel like my blog isn’t good enough and that I need to do more to improve it but as soon as I stop worrying I get loads of good emails and things happen so I think it’s definitely better to focus on the positives. Hard though sometimes! x
I was SHOCKED to see I scored as high as 19! Shocked I tell you. I am incredibly lazy and can stay immersed in tasks for hours on end (although it takes a lot of effort for me to get started, outside of the workplace that is, probably because work uses up all my energy). But then I realised my score is probably impacted by the fact I often interrupt other people and talk over them. This isn’t because I can’t concentrate and listen. It’s because I’m rude and bossy. They don’t mention that in the test though!
I just did the test and I got 27, which wasn’t too surprising but not sure how accurate the test could be! I’m forever starting jobs and then starting a new one and end up with half finished piles of things everywhere (and in my head!)
Hello there,
I was diagnosed ADD at 32. To me, the diagnosis meant nothing more but the scientific subscribing to findings I came up with at the end of thorough self-analytic research. My solitary exploration into the realms of the behavioral disorder that kept on ‘derailing my own train’, despite intimately and intuitively formulated goals and good intentions led up to a firm idea that even friends and family are blind or ignorant when considering ‘what is wrong with you’. Only a creative approval of your ‘disfunctioning’ self through self-analytic writing can liberate yourself from your “Self”. At least, that’s what I think. :)
I often worry about this as i’m always jumping from oen job to another, and often worry that my the work i’m doing isn’t good enough. I do find if i’m really struggling to focus stepping away helps and lists too…although i don’t always stick to them! x
I definitely have trouble focusing…my organisation skills have seriously slacked recently and I find myself having to close FB & Twitter tabs if I want to get anything done, but it doesn’t stop me flitting between one thing to another! Eek! x