Diagnosed With ADHD As An Adult? Welcome To The "Oh, That Makes Sense" Club

For most of my life, I thought everyone operated the way I did—struggling to meet deadlines despite working non-stop, hyper-focusing on projects while completely forgetting to eat, and needing a symphony of background noise just to function. Turns out, that wasn’t 'just how brains work'—it was ADHD. And, getting diagnosed as an adult felt like unlocking a cheat code for understanding myself.

The Relief Of Diagnosis

Finding out I had ADHD wasn’t upsetting—it was liberating. Instead of blaming myself for my struggles, I realized my brain just functions differently. Suddenly, my life made sense: the half-finished notebooks, the bursts of creative genius followed by days of burnout, and my lifelong love-hate relationship with calendars. More importantly, it meant I could stop trying to fit into a neurotypical mold and start working with my brain instead of against it.

How ADHD Impacted My Career

Before my diagnosis, I was either the most productive person in the room—knocking out projects in record time—or I was drowning in procrastination. I avoided emails like they were venomous snakes and thrived in high-stimulation environments but crashed hard when routine tasks took over.

After my diagnosis, I stopped feeling guilty for struggling with certain aspects of work and started finding solutions tailored to my ADHD brain. I embraced structured flexibility, reworked my workflow, and learned that sometimes, the best productivity hack is simply taking a break.

Thriving With ADHD In The Workplace

If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and you’re wondering how to navigate the professional world, here are a few strategies that worked for me:

1. Harness Hyperfocus Instead of fighting my hyperfocus, I structure my workload to take advantage of it. When I feel that deep-dive energy kick in, I lean into it—batching similar tasks together and setting aside distraction-free time for creative work.
   

2. Externalize Everything

   My brain is not always the best storage device. To enhance my reliability, I use task management apps, Siri-reminders, shared calendars (even have one on my fridge!), sticky notes, and ‘appointments’ to keep myself on track. If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist. Once I stopped fighting the guilt of I should just be able to remember and leaned into using tools that would guarantee I did, I felt a wave of relief.
   

3. Body Doubling

   The simple act of working alongside someone—whether virtually or in-person—can keep me accountable. Sometimes, even just having a friend on Zoom while we both work in silence does wonders for my focus. This isn’t always possible, but if the option is there and it works, give it a go!
   

4. Set Fake Deadlines

   If a project is due Friday, I set a Wednesday deadline. I even go as far as scheduling time with myself to force myself into action before the last-minute panic sets in. Worst case, I have extra time to double check and review my work before turning it in. *wink*
   

5. Embrace The Right Kind Of Chaos

   I thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments, so when my work feels stagnant, I mix things up. I switch-up tasks, take meetings while on a walk, or work from a different location to keep my brain engaged. Sometimes a quick break to walk the dog, water the plants, or grab a brain-healthy snack is a great way to reset.
   

6. Be Open About It When appropriate, I communicate my ADHD to managers and colleagues. I don’t treat it as an excuse but as a way to explain how I work best. More often than not, people are understanding and even willing to accommodate things like flexible deadlines or alternative workflows.
   

7. Forgive Yourself

   Some days, my brain just won’t cooperate, and that’s okay. Instead of beating myself up, I take a break, reset, and try again. Productivity isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

The Takeaway

Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult isn’t just about putting a label on things—it’s about giving yourself the tools and understanding to thrive. Instead of forcing myself to work despite my ADHD, I’ve learned to work with it. And honestly? That’s been a game-changer.

If you’re new to the 'Oh, That Makes Sense' Club, welcome! Your brain might work differently, but that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. It simply means you need to play by your own rules— and maybe keep a few extra sticky notes handy.

Written by: Anonymous