Say no to multitasking!

*A look inside my brain...

I can’t multi-task.

And for the longest time, I refused to admit it.

I used to believe I was great at it. In fact, it was a skill I proudly highlighted on resumes and emphasized in job interviews. 

Now, I realize that was a lie.

What I am actually good at is getting distracted. And for my ADHD brain, distraction often leads to trying to do too many things at once—and failing.

What many people don’t understand is that individuals with ADHD can be incredibly good at focusing. In fact, many of us have the ability to hyper-focus. This intense, sustained concentration is a kind of “flow” state where everything around us fades away, and the only thing that matters is the task at hand.

The issue, however, is that hyper-focus isn’t something I can switch on and off at will. It requires the task or activity to be interesting or engaging. And let’s be honest—many jobs don’t come with that kind of consistent excitement.

As a result, my brain constantly hunts for distractions, leading me to juggle countless small tasks that never truly hold my attention.

This means the tasks I do manage to start are rarely completed to a high standard. I’m endlessly pulled away from what matters, bouncing from one incomplete task to the next without ever fully diving in.

Recognizing how deeply distractions affect my ability to concentrate, I've come to understand just how crucial it is to intentionally create space for focus. I need to carve out times, free from interruptions, to work on one thing at a time. I can’t rely on the illusion of multitasking anymore. 

To make all of this work, I’ve had to experiment with different strategies and fine-tune what helps me stay on track. Here are a few simple techniques that have been game-changers for me:

🧱 Scheduling specific time blocks on my calendar dedicated to deep work

⏳ Using 30-minute timers to inject a sense of urgency

🔄 Automating routine tasks to free up mental energy for focus work

🎶 Using music or ambient sounds that help create isolation

🙇🏻‍♂️ Finding work that genuinely engages me

While it’s not always perfect, these small adjustments have made a huge difference in how I manage my day—and my brain.

For a long time I believed that juggling everything at once was the key to productivity. But now I understand that true success comes from focused effort, not from the illusion of multitasking. It’s just one more way I’m learning to work with my brain, not against it!