Hyperfocus isn’t about focus, it’s the inability to switch tasks | ADHD

[00:00:00]What if I told you that you're thinking about hyperfocusing wrong? Well, probably anyway. What most people get wrong is that hyperfocus isn't the ability to be super focused and stay on task, it's the inability to switch tasks. And that distinction is really important because it affects how you manage it. Perhaps it helps to think about ADHD less as a lack of attention and more as a misdirection of it. Not that the attention isn't there, it's that it doesn't always point where you need it to. It's like you get stuck in a loop and you can't find the exit. A bit like Marlin and Dory in the EAC, needing Squirt to show them how to jump the current. I know it's a very obscure reference, but that's where my brain went. A bit like yesterday when I was meant to be at my desk doing all the admin that ever existed, yawn, and instead I had fired up my amazing steam cleaner and was scrubbing the grout of the kitchen floor saying, "One more section and I'll stop." And then realizing another hour had passed and the floor was looking amazing, but admin was untouched. And it wasn't until the phone rang that the loop broke and I moved to my desk because that's what we need when we're in these loops.

[00:01:09]We need external pattern breakers, which actually brings another part in. If you want to stay focused, you need to remove pattern breakers and you will be amazed at how many there are around you. It's why I stopped wearing my Apple Watch, other smart watches are available, because my wonderful friend Dr. Paul Taylor noticed that every time it buzzed, it broke my concentration. The difference since I took it off is massive.

[00:01:35]Other external pattern breakers might be having your email open or pinging at you. My phone is always on silent and nearly always on do not disturb. My email notifications is silenced on my computer and obviously then on my phone.

[00:01:48]I remove the blocks to the goal, which is focus. And that's called stimulus or antecedent control by the way, just in case you were wondering. Changing the environment so the thing that pulls my attention isn't there to do so. Anyway, the point is that if you two find yourself getting caught in these loops of hyperfocus on the wrong things, create external pattern breakers. Put alarms on, get someone to call you.

[00:02:12]Basically, create your own squirt to help you jump the current. But most of all, be kind to yourself about it.

[00:02:20]You're not lazy or undisciplined. You just need to stop expecting yourself to behave like a non-ADHD person because you're not. And there's nothing wrong with that. Hope that helps. Take care.