5 Research-Backed Productivity Strategies for People with ADHD

I’ve had to get shit done despite having ADHD for my entire life. It’s been a persistent struggle that’s led to lousy grades and poor job performance. Ironically, I now teach workshops about building a more attentive workforce for companies that would never hire me as an employee. These research-backed productivity strategies are based on the work of three amazing authors: Shawn Achor, Adam Gazzaley, and Teresa Amabile.

These ideas have helped me to develop a habit of writing 1000 words a day. I’ve used them to read over 100 books a year, which led to a 2-book deal with a publisher. On the surface, they seem so simple that you might question their effectiveness. But don’t be fooled. There’s great power in simplicity.

Research-Backed Productive Strategies I Use Every Day

1. Shorten Perceived Distance and Leverage Success Accelerants

When the challenges we face are particularly challenging and the payoff remains far away, setting smaller, more manageable goals helps us build our confidence and celebrate our forward progress, and keeps us committed to the task at hand. — Shawn Achor, The Happiness Advantage