In essence, the higher we want our performance to be, the more we should probably focus on monotasking. I remember learning about this, and yet, in almost every instance, someone seems to want to start an argument saying we still have to multitask. It's like the point didn't get across, and they just want to argue.
I've found that serial monotasking and switching when I lose forward progress seems to work the best. Doing multiple things at once really only works of one is low priority and low on cognitive demand.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade yeh I have to watch out for my procrastinating tendencies here - I justify doing busy work as I'm "preparing" to do another task...!!! I think conscious mono-tasking is what I must aim for! 😁😁
Toooo clarify...I don't monotask on every task. It's fun and more natural for my brain to bounce around. It's just A tool in my toolbox for when I need to be efficient and effective. I balance out monotasking on tasks that require my brain to focus so I can be more effective with giving my brain time to wander (bounce around and do whatever it wants) :) When I'm more overwhelmed and need to get stuff done monotasking is my go-to, when I need stimulation I'm more likely to do multiple things at once. It just helps to know what tools are useful for what. Multitasking is often portrayed as more efficient -- but according to research, it's really not. It gives us the illusion of productivity as opposed to helping us actually be more productive.
Thank you so much for this! I find that when I multitask, if I put something I don't want to do in the mix, I often end up not getting started at all. Dr. Paula Talal did a lot of research on multitasking and consistently found lower performance on every task. If we really want to multitask, we should outsource.
Yes! Tools in the toolbox are always good. Especially with adhd. 😅 We just need to remember what's in the toolbox, and where we put the toolbox... And put the tools back into the toolbox in the first place 🙃
GREAT topic! Thank you - your channel has really helped me better understand my son, my own brain, and to direct myself as a writer. On that note, congrats on starting your book! I'll bet you've got heaps of experienced authors in your circle (plus the Wondrium course!) but if you happen to find yourself in need of a fresh set of ears on something, or if you find a nuts-and-bolts question with an elusive answer, I'd like to humbly offer my experience. (Started in 2015, turned pro in 2018.)
Thanks Jessica! Multi-tasking was a BS buzzword and it was hell in the 90s with employers acting like it was humanly possible for a normal person, let alone someone with ADHD. You really cannot multi-task but actually be efficient at task switching. The only way I can get multiple things done is what you mentioned in your video. I sure hope many viewers put this advice into practice so their life does not feel so hectic and also keep in mind it takes time to learn to be efficient with ADHD. This video along with your last one of creating an ADHD efficient home can also be applied to the work environment.Good luck with your book!
@VideoTzar19, I agree wholeheartedly. I've only just recently realized (after self-diagnoses of ADD) that I am not meant to work in an office, or any other environment that is too loud and busy. Also, I cannot multitask. I'm now looking for a new career where I can thrive and best suited for me; not the employer!
Didn’t it really come from being able to have more than one thing on your computer at the same time? Like bouncing between your email and your calendar.
@@hiknfo from what I remember employer's were able to hire 1 person to multi-task. For example, a cashier at a store who could ring up your items & bag them also, that way the employer has 1 employee doing everything instead of 2 employees.
I used to be embarrassed about being diagnosed with ADHD, my family made me feel like it meant I wasn’t smart and thought I should take “special ed” classes. I’m so glad you created this channel! Thanks to this channel I’m willing to admit to anyone and everyone that I have it, and I am not embarrassed, and none of the misconceptions people say will define me. I graduated high school in the honors (magnet) program at my school. For anyone going through what I did, do not let anyone define you or your ADHD!
Sad your felt that way about things your parents did or said. I graduated from college 4+1 program at 19 so I understand. It was almost like if I did not go through college fast enough I might get stuck and not finish.
i try to dual task my homework. if i get bored of one assignment, i start a different one. it’s more helpful when i’m not on a time crunch (two incomplete assignments are worse than one complete one) but i work on whichever one is more interesting to me at the time, that way i don’t have to start from the beginning every time
I try to explain to my boss that I need random boring mundane tasks in my schedule as well as big projects things - it means I can switch to something necessary but easy to give my brain a rest! I didn't even realise dual-tasking was a thing!
For me, It generally depends on the type of task whether I'll monotask, pomodoro or multitask. For example, monotask when I have to mail or work on something or have to do some research on a topic or solving mathematical equations Pomodoro when I'm studying or preparing for test or related. And Multitask when I'm doing household chores or writing assignment because it's boring
did you actually read my mind? i'm experimenting recently on doing more conscious monotasking and so far it is going pretty well. if i multitask too much my brain ends up bouncing inside at full speed, which is not the most productive thing hehe
Yep, one thing I learned is to mix task switching with pomodoros by trying not to switch mid time block. I'll usually switch to my other homework when I start to get frustrated or unreasonably confused.
I feel this! When I start trying to multitask I just end up starting a bunch of things and not getting anything finished, and instead of feeling like I accomplished something I feel like I failed at everything!! I hadn't heard of the name monotasking before but I had already been working on doing one task at a time and it works much better especially with pomodoros. Instead of having the goal to write today I have the goal of doing 2 pomodoros or something like that. Also to stay focused, I often have music playing in the background.
I use spreadsheets or notebooks if I just can't stay focused on one thing long enough to finish. That way it is organized enough I can see where I left off when I can get back to it.
"Multi-tasking is multi-failing" This is something I have said to literally every boss I've ever had. Now I'm going to rewind this video to concentrate!
@@HowtoADHD it requires so much conscious effort not to try to do too many things at once - that statement helped me realise what I was doing to myself! I *try* this on "see a job do a job" Saturdays 😂
How do you mono task when the task has 5 separate, unexpected steps that each must be completed before you can do the thing? I often find when I try to work on a to-do list, the unexpected extra tasks derail me, especially if they themselves involve surprise sub-tasks or waiting on someone else.
Breathe and start a step earlier is my go to solution. Write a list and think about it, imagine the task and then seeing what's needed for it. Then re-do the list with the under-tasks. I feel like it has to do with self regulating the pressure and slowing down. Also awareness.
If it's not urgent I drop it and do something else that I find more interesting If it's urgent I break it down into steps, and do the first step and give myself a real reward. If possible I ask someone to check in with me to gently nudge me onto the next task. I also think about how good it would feel to cross it off the list
I can’t even express how much this channel has helped me. I was just diagnosed w/ ADHD recently, at 33 years old. It’s been so much to accept and learn, since I didn’t know much about ADHD prior. These videos are SO helpful in understanding what’s going on in my head, & also self acceptance. Thank you Jessica 🙏🏼
@@jonesyxperia7 I think because I now have a better understanding of why I’ve struggled with so many things in life; focus on school work in the past, jobs, etc. Sadly, like the stigma says, I thought I was lazy/never good or smart enough at a lot of things. Now I know with this diagnoses not only that it wasn’t my fault, but I can learn more about how my brain works & how to manage my symptoms w/ my therapist. Hope that helps!
Diagnosed at 30 and I second this! For me, it just helped to have a professional say “yeah, that’s how your brain works” so when I have that self-doubt of “maybe I am just bad at being an adult” I can remind myself I have a legitimate reason for my struggles and I can do something about it. For context, I also didn’t even consider the possibility I had ADHD until my late twenties
I learned really early on that I was NOT one of those people who can do work/study while eating. Even if it’s a snack, I have to pause what I’m doing in order to focus on eating, especially if it’s something messy like soup or cheeseballs. Stopping to eat allows myself to shift into a break mode to decompress, and also prevents me from getting crumbs or food/drink stains on whatever I’m working on.
I have that with drinking 😅 I cannot for the life of me do something else while I'm drinking. Especially motoric stuff like walking. I used to get teased or laughed at for it, but at some point I just told myself that I can either shrug the laughter off and not shower myself in tea or defend my borders and do what's right for me.
I dont have ADHD but anxiety, and one of my main symptoms is the incapability to sit down and focus. I tend to try to do everything at once and end up frustrated and doing nothing. Monotasking will probably help me. It is so nice to finally find this kind of video that actually has a source for a “life hack”. Thanks!
This video came out at the exact right time. I've been struggling with cleaning my apartment for months. The monotasking idea is something I recently started doing and it's helped me get things actually accomplished, instead of half a room being cleaned while I take a "break" and never actually finish it.
Thank you for letting me understand how my brain works 💗 (just got diagnosed at 30.. had no idea why life is so damn difficult, branded myself as "oh well, I guess I'm just defective")
Adhd and Perfectionism : how it can be used as a coping/ masking tool, but can be hella toxic too. Time anxiety sleep and events, how aiming for a train at 7.30 can be stressful yet re-framed as a morning train removes stress. Q&A with newly diagnosed adhd ppl. Out of sight, out of mind. Wait, it's with feelings too?
@@HowtoADHD agreed, please, would love to see these! Especially the adhd & perfectionism one.... depending on what you say, I might have to go get a diagnosis 😅
Hey Jessica, no mention of Hyperfocus & its relation to Monotasking? It's one of our potential strengths if learnt to manage right. Sometimes, getting myself into Hyperfocus while Monotasking on one thing, is the only way to get good work done! :) (Usually it takes a long time to "warm up" to that one task, or in other words "get into the flow", but once i'm "in the zone" i'll start making serious progress in bigger tasks that i might have spent many days procrastinating & not being able to do.)
This, exactly this. I started journaling (BuJo) a few months ago and I feel less "lazy and lost" now that I work task by task, I've found myself actually enjoying it that I get unaware of time. Now I just set alarms to eat and to stop working lol, Outlook reminds me of meetings anyways.
I’ve tried to monotask and failed miserably. For me, I’m more comfortable bouncing from one thing to another when necessary. If I focus only on one thing, the other thingys keep bouncing around in my brain, keeping me from efficiently doing the one thing I should be doing. If I bounce between stuff, I just feel better and get more stuffs done. With that said, I’m a weirdo… so there’s that.
I find it makes sense for creative work, you run out of juice for one task, start the next after a little break. Eg, writing music causing hearing fatigue due to constant exposure to the same frequencies. After a point of focusing intently on such things, you hit NEGATIVE returns, not even diminishing!
@@michaelchildish Luckily, I do creative work. If I try to focus to much on one thing, I can get flustered. If I just go with the flow and bounce around, my brain works better. It’s all about knowing what works, and doesn’t work, for our individual brains. Self awareness if key.
I like to think of my failed attempts at anything as my gathering data/research development phase of whatever it may be. This way doing experiments with variables feels less daunting as a failure and more like finding what’s right for my brain.
Monotasking is hard. My job requires intense focus and pushing to hit deadlines. The best weekends are the ones where I can “potter”; no plan, no deadline, just do tasks as the occur to me.
Discovered monotasking when I was younger. Used it in college and it helped. One of my strategies to getting paper work done is this, used it in college to, I' d sit at a table with what I needed to get done to my left was stuff that needed to get done. In the middle was what I was a currently studying. Above the middle was things I'd put aside to study later and to my right was the completed pile. I'd switch w bedded subjects when ever my brain started to lose interest and come back to what I was doing later on.
I've never clicked so fast when I saw monotasking! Watching! 😍 And...yeah... I'm gonna give Wondrium looksey. Edit: I've tried monotasking, it's a lot harder than sounds when your brain 🧠 just enjoys chasing the dopamine🙈. I'm trying a new system using Trello...I'm hoping this one sticks.
@@HowtoADHD definitely more effective! I'm discussing with my therapist about going on medication now.. it's time, life quality is suffering a lot from immense lack of attention to even things that interest me greatly. And CBT has not really put a dent on this (but has been great for mindfulness and negative self talk) We're hoping it slows my mind down long enough to slow the hops in between tasks 🙈, then I'll give monotasking another go cause I feel it's a great way to get more consistent results and is great with time blocking.
@@Lunadish I have found that CBT is not great for most serious issues; it also seems like CBT is where the psychoetheraputic equivalent of jobbers go to make their money. I've found Rogerian therapists to be a lot more attentive and responsive to issues that afflict me and are able to guide me through it more effectively. Really, I feel that any therapist that is empathic and can pay attention tends to do better than someone who focuses on CBT as a solution set.
Something that's helped me a ton lately is an hourglass! Not only does it have the "I just need to start for X minutes" effect of helping me get going, but also I've found it's very grounding and control-granting for me to make time into a concrete visual spatial Thing instead of it being some fleeting imperceptible abstraction of numbers. Really helps me with everything and that includes making it easier to switch into and out of transition states ("I'll listen to this lecture but first I have to set up my laptop and I should pee first and and and ..." all gets lumped into one 15-minute hourglass and then I get the transition done instead of whipping out my phone and losing an hour!) and also making it easier to start on some monotasking when my brain is screaming about how annoying it is that I can't watch a class lecture and a movie at the same time XD
Doing one thing a day really helped me in college. Being a music major who is spinning many plates, I had to set aside a day where I did laundry, answer emails/every administrative task that I was procrastinating on. The same went for big presentations/music compositions/Things that I could spend a whole day on. Obviously this would only be about two of the days of the week since the rest were filled with many classes practicing and spinning every other plate. But those mono days really helped with the big tasks
Number 5 "Dual Class" is actually how I approach "managing" my friendships. If I'm on Facebook Messenger, I always have multiple tabs open, and I'm ready to switch between different conversations as people respond. I'm focused on whatever conversation I'm engaged in, but I'm prepared to switch to another one as needed (sometimes it's another person's response that "needs" me, sometimes it's my own brain needing stimulation). How cool to think I could use that approach to studying multiple subjects!
I find that doing two things at once helps me finish one task more often. One task is the one I must complete and the other one is the choice distracter. I chose a distraction that will not overly distract me. I would read with music without lyrics. I would take notes on the front of the paper and doodle on the back. When I taught full time and worked on my masters degree going to a three hour evening class. What is a sleepy person with ADHD to do? I drew my professor. I was caught and luckily I drew well enough that she was not insulted. I also do the reverse. If I have a boring task that must be done but is mindless I find a distractor that takes much more mental energy. I hate to clean my house. I use How to ADHD, webinars anything that will help my mind keep busy while I do the mindless activity. Now we need a word for doing a task and a half because that’s kind of what I feel like I’ve been doing.
that's exactly what I do! It can almost be essentially using one simple task as a fidget to sop up other types of attention whilst doing another. I manually sharpen pencils whilst supervising kids, or when I'm using the electric pencil sharpener for the odd-sized pencils I read on my phone. I like the 'task and a half' idea.
Jessica I really do love you. You make me feel normal and give me inspiration when I've hit rock bottom caused by self shaming at not getting multitasking done. Thank you for being so authentically you x
Your videos have provided me with entertainment, education, information, and most importantly, hope. Thank you for doing what you do!! I joined your patreon and discord, and I hope everyone here (who can) does too!! Ironically, I'm writing this while the video is still playing above.. need to start over, lol.
I have to say thank you (starting to tear up) for your channel. It has provided the missing pieces to my 19 yr old son's long struggle with anxiety and OCD. I just finished with the intake interview for getting him properly evaluated. It looks like he has "pretty severe ADHD." Weirdly, it's such a relief and I am optimistic that we are on the right path.
Currently dual tasking writing of thesis chapters and now I have words for it-it's so true that when the hyper focus in one area fades, having something productive at the ready saves time in the long run
thank God this video came out at this second and showed up for me because I was trying to find something at this moment like easy morning cleaning routine is what I was thinking because well granted it's already noon I am overwhelmed and have so much to get done don't know where to begin so of course what did I do I focused on something I enjoy doing instead and now I'm feeling more pressure to get stuff done but as you know sometimes as an ADHD person that's what it takes as a fire under the butt but I don't always like that feeling so instead I'm going to watch this video and see what happens thank you in advance!
I suffered at work with my last office job because of the ridiculous expectation to multitask x a billion 24/7. I finally quit after 7 years of this -- it took several months to heal from total exhaustion. Now I make my own schedule and can not believe how great I am doing with the focus and accomplishment -- AND I am doing very well, even though almost everything I am doing is boring but extremely necessary home fix-it and big life form filling out stuff. Thanks SO MUCH for this timely and VITAL subject!
Could you talk about intense fear and low self-esteem in ADHD There are so much information that's not widely know. About how intense the emotions we feel are and how strongly it affects our lives.
This is one of THE most important things I learned after being diagnosed, and I've been forgetting it the past year or 2. Need to get back to that. Thanks for the video.
This is why I suck at work when it comes to data entry, but I can sell all day long because it's not the same switch in tasks as having to both data entry and take care of customers
After over a year of watching your channel, I finally had a first meeting with a psychiatrist yesterday. Thank you so much for giving us all the info, tips and courage. I probably wouldn't have made the first step without your help.
Oh my gosh that first task was so hard! 😂😅 I really had to focus. What a great video! Thanks for the reminder that multitasking doesn't work. I love your videos so much! They have helped me and so many others I know in learning more about ADHD! Incredible channel and I can't wait till you hit 1 million subscribers! You totally deserve it! 🎉
Not me checking my mail because you mentioned mail, seeing I have a new appointment and putting it in my agenda, then seeing that I have enough time to lunch somewhere and looking up locations, before finally coming back to the video, which was more because I opened YT again than me actively choosing to do so. But well, mono-tasking or dual-tasking is a really helpful tool when I'm studying. Loved hearing your take on it!
I knew it! You’re into D&D! I do not think I can dual class though! I think it is my autism and having to have pure classes. Anyway, I gave up on multitasking way back in the 90s, when I found I could not go back to the other thing, because I was constantly being interrupted. It became evident that multi-tasking was not the best when hearing a friend describe a healer in a group trying to heal in a dungeon in a popular MMPORPG around 2010 and their group dying, while they multitasked studying for exams or doing homework. Friend was not happy to continue dying.
PS thank you after watching the video I'm going to try to accomplish less things at one time that'll I think help my mind from feeling overwhelmed as I know I have multiple things I want to accomplish but if I can pick just one or two for now I think that'll get me going instead of keeping the brakes on so thanks for getting me motivated have a great day!
Jessica, you are an absolute Godsent for us! I’ve learnt so much from you about my AHDH than any books, doctors, “experts”. You should be immensely proud of the impact you’ve made in our lives. I actually had your channel on in the background to try to stay focus on task. Then I realise why I was still struggling is because I was multitasking! Instead, I am going to watch your videos as my rewards when I finish my tasks.
great video! I'm going to try thinking about this more consciously, I think it's really important to think about the best way to achieve something before diving into it. Also, this reminds me that I'd love to see a video about how to deal with hyperfocusing, because even though it is often framed as a ADHD "superpower", I sometimes find that it can turn into spending hours on the task without a break and realizing after some time "wait... I feel something weird. Oh yeah that's hunger! and... thirst? ooh that might be why I have a headache" and then I crash and spend the next hour (or day) doing nothing. Also it's impossible for me to work with other people when I hyperfocus cause my brain is just going to fast, and I realized that hyperfocusing often puts me in a state of anxiety which can be confused with euphoria, but really isn't. I've tried using time blocking strategies such as pomodoro to solve this, but I find that most of the time when the pomodoro runs out, if I am in a state of hyperfocus, I'm not going to stop and I'll just think "I finally got some productivity, I should make the most of it".
I made a weekly chore chart. It has one chore for each day and a checkbox next to it.. I laminated it, so it’s dry erase. I check off the chore after I’ve done it. Makes it easier to keep track of what I’ve done during the week and checking off the little box makes me feel good. This also helps me when I have multiple things to do in a day (appointments, email, etc).
I learned this lesson the hard way this weekend, holding an interesting conversation while also wielding a sharp implement in the kitchen. My finger wishes I didn't try to multitask with ADHD. (Going to be fine, was just painful and unfortunate in the moment.)
Could even having a conversation in your head while doing something else count as multitasking? I've noticed that its mentally draining just thinking and doing my job, which is usually physical labor? Like I need to quiet my head intentionally to avoid any issues
well your attention is divided, multi-focus would be multi-tasking because a task can also be a mental task (thinking) and it requires attention and mental energy
Oh boy, that's true! I find that if the activity doesn't need my brain as much, I need to listen to podcasts so my brain doesn't do the death spiral of anxious thoughts.
For me it depends on whether I need to actually think about what I'm doing while I'm doing it. For example, I can do dishes and let my mind do what it wants because I don't need to actually think about washing dishes. But when I'm cooking I need to think about what I'm doing.
Just wanted to say, thank you so much for your work. I always thought I might have ADHD as a kid but was assured that I just didn't apply myself. It wasn't until I found your channel that I seriously considered it, and after today confirmed that was the case. I could have gone my whole life without knowing, so thank you for putting info out there and helping people like me find themselves. You guys are real heros to me.
Hi Jessica, I was wondering if you could do a video on ADHD and PMS? When your estrogen levels drop at the end of your cycle, your dopamine levels crash and ADHD symptoms become much worse. Stimulant meds become much less effective because of much lower than usual dopamine levels. This is probably also why women with ADHD are over diagnosed with PMDD, and a contributing factor to why we're diagnosed later in life as ADHD gets worse with puberty and menopause. I've never heard of this until I researched it after starting meds and noticing them becoming ineffective at this time, and a lot of us could probably relate but also haven't heard of this.
I've had teachers say "multitasking doesn't work" not to refer to two tasks that require focus but to tell us not to fidget and not to have a show playing in the background. So when I hear the phrase I instantly spike up. But learning that it *is* actually about "tasks" really makes it sound more accurate and approachable
My ADHD brain thrived when I "thought" I was multitasking as a writer/producer/director but in reality I was never multitasking. Yes I would be writing episode #4, preparing to shoot episode #3, shooting episode #2 and editing episode #1 all in the same week. In reality none of those things could be done together. In those days I couldn't edit, write, or prepare while shooting on location. Today the tools are different so it might be possible though I wouldn't want to try. It worked because of a hard unmovable deadline and I time blocked everything. Now that I am only a writer I am trio-tasking one step up from dual-tasking my switch has three positions. I have a project that I am working on that is dark and heavy, another that is light and fun, and a third that I'm writing with a co-writer. This keeps my ADHD brain interested and allows me to work on the project my brain is most interested in at that time. It also helps that the energy on each project is different. There are days I will work on one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I love your idea about laundry as laundry has recently become an issue for me.
Could you possibly do a video on completing tasks that are a priority for another person? Like for example, it's my job in my house to empty the dishwasher. However, sometimes I forget and when I'm in a rush my mom will ask me to do it, and I'll explain I don't have time (usually I'm trying to leave for work) she will then ask me if it's fair to make her wait all day to able to fill the dishwasher (I don't like to fill it for sensory reasons so we split the tasks) so then I end up having to do it right then and there and then rush through the rest of my routine to make it out the door. It's been the source of many arguments but I can't move out yet so this is my living situation at the moment. I've tried setting a time to do it, I will check the dishwasher at a certain time (usually in the morning when I eat breakfast) to see if it needs emptying and if it's still dirty I won't check again until the next morning. She somewhat agreed to that but when the schedule gets thrown off we end up arguing again because I'm always the one not matching her expectations. Maybe a video on ADHDers living with roommates or in shared spaces? Love these videos!
Maybe the routine needs to be switched to allow you to do it either before bed or first thing in the morning. Maybe your mom needs to remind you first thing in the morning that there are clean dishes, rather than when you're trying to get out the door. Maybe you shouldn't be doing a task that someone else depends on as a regular part of contributing to the household, and instead put dishes away only when you can, and take on something less time sensitive that your mom is currently doing. Trying to be responsible for step 1 in a process is necessarily a bit of an uphill battle
I've started dual tasking in my home office. If the work I've scheduled for myself has slowed painfully then I spend a few minutes cleaning the room. The movement really helps me recharge and get back into work mode.
I was in a school/studying rut because I couldn't get my meds but I got them recently and ohmygosh did this video come at the MOST PERFECT TIME! Thank you!!
Thank you for this! The name writing example was super helpful! I've noticed when I try to do too much at once I get overwhelmed and have to keep starting over with the same task like "Where was I?", so it takes longer to just "do the thing." Lately I've been repeating to myself "One thing at time" and now I have a word for that! Thank you! Good luck with your book!
It depends! This is a great article on when it makes sense to monotask vs. multitask: www.adhd-app.com/2013/07/05/multitasking-vs-monotasking-for-adhd/
Thank you for helping those who find this very useful. Hope you continue to make more educational videos like this. Stay strong and live a wonderful life! ❤️💚💜
My job expects and requires multitasking (particularly actively tracking email while working on other things), but I try to schedule things so that I monotask. I actually already use a few of the methods you outline here: time blocking, using a “brain dump” task list for things that come up while I’m working on something else, clumping tasks like checking email. Listening to music is generally the only other task I let myself do while working, and even then, only music without lyrics.
I just noticed that you have closed captions for this and many of your other videos (TH-cam doesn't make it super obvious), and I wanted to say a giant THANK YOU! It's so helpful for a lot of people, including (as I'm sure you know) ADHD brains that don't always want to focus on listening. You also keep things short and concise, which I'm sure is difficult but makes things so more accessible for us.
I worked as a software engineer in L3 support for 4 years. Multitasking was forced upon me by different customers constantly asking for more results and updates when I was already working on an update for some other customer. It was hell for me. I have moved to a developer position since then. Currently, I am relearning how to monotask and get rid of obsessive email checking, which only increases my anxiety. It's tough and I don't even have ADHD. It'll take months to relearn it. Monotasking is definitely the way to go. Dual-tasking makes sense as well, but you must feel comfortable doing it (and not be pushed to it).
I equate mono or multitasking to focusing a camera on an object. If you want photos of similar things, in the same lighting, at the same distance, you don't need to refocus the shot for each. If you need to shoot close up, then something far away, or something brightly lit to a object in shadows, it takes time to adjust to those different things. Our ability to do many things at once is similar. If we are focused on a macro image of a bee in a flower, any attempt to photograph a fleeting Sasquatch running through the woods is going to be blurry.
Multitasking efficiently: watch videos while painting my nails; talking or listening to podcasts while cleaning the dishes. I always feel sleepy in theoretical classes, always. And I wander so much while talking to people. These different tasks help me pay attention :)
I've been wanting to write a book since I was in high school and now it's approximately 20 plus years later maybe your new book will inspire me to finally write mine I have had the title forever and I can tell you that it's "where the seed begins" I have doodled and jotted down many ideas for the book but of course imagine as an ADHD person that those are in multiple different spots in different boxes and in different places and oh my that's a whole another project for a Time that I am in good management of my blessed ADHD got to love it you're a wonderful inspiration my friend I really really like you and your channel stay strong and be happy peace love and joy to all!
Dual-tasking and procrastiworking are how I got through my degree. I think some of us with ADHD can't properly monotask, because of the loose attention that needs tying up with fidgets or background stimulation, but we can definitely pick attention occupiers that won't also steal focus from our main task - so no reading while watching TV, because they're both verbal and visual, but yes to knitting while watching TV. Not that I always take this advice. I've been playing brick buster while watching this video.
I don’t know if I have ADHD, but this is true for me not just in the moment but also over long periods of time as well. I find I work very well when I’m only thinking about one class than when I’m thinking about multiple, even if it’s ultimately the same amount of work. If my school offered the chance to take one class every day over 3 weeks instead of 3-4 each on some days over 11 weeks, I would be very interested.
Hope you read this, young lady. These are VERY HELPFUL. Not just this video. I'm new to your channel, but these would help anyone learn to 'task' better. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WOOOOA that was so interesting! I had to start over the name thing a couple times because I would get mixed up! I knew that multitasking was a struggle for me but that really helped put into perspective that the literal action of multitasking is genuinely something my brain has trouble with even on a very base level. So cool to actually SEE that.
I monotask when I multitask. I make a list of all the things that I need to do in a day and I break them down into super teeny tiny steps. And then I organize those in a way that allows for different things to be one after the other. I'm still completing the entire task but I don't get bored and because I break it down in a super tiny steps I don't get overwhelmed. When the task is "clean the kitchen" there's seven different steps involved in that and then in some of those there's even smaller steps involved. And it makes no sense to just do my dishes when I hate drying dishes, so I might as well do my dishes and then go to the living room and fold some T-shirts and then by the time I'm done folding my t-shirts, my dishes are done drying so then I can put my dishes away. And by the end of the day, my couch is cleaned off, my kitchen is spotless, my laundry is done and put away, my bed is made and I have cleaned off my desk. It technically falls under multitasking but I'm still completing a job to completion one thing at a time, I just break the steps down super small, allow myself to not get bored and I don't get overwhelmed. I think it's better than to finish the day like that than when I've done one load of dishes and had three panic attacks.
There are some cleaning tasks in which I do get distracted too often to monotask, so I play youtube videos while doing it and that helps me stress out less.
I don’t have adhd as far as I know but I really struggle with focus and concentration and organisation and a lot of things associated with adhd and OMG your channel is so helpful
So much props for putting the sponsor at the end of the video, with only a note at the beginning!! Just when we thought this channel couldn’t be better 😍
Great video as always! Finding this channel a couple months ago changed my life. It gave me the courage to seek an ADHD assessment, and yesterday I finally got a diagnosis. I've never thought of diagnoses as empowering before but, due to the things I've learned with Jessica's videos, this one is! 😁 (Long text ahead, feel free to ignore it) The pandemic has worsened my ADHD traits, sometimes to unbearable levels. My working memory has often been dropping to literal nonexistence, and my tendency to space out became so strong that sometimes I spend most of a class trying to focus. Even my willingness to read about science or History (subjects I've always LOVED) has dropped dramatically, and when I do read, I sometimes skip entire paragraphs or pages, only to realize later. And I'm in college, studying History! Thanks to "How To ADHD", I now know that I'm not going mad, nor utterly doomed to fail at life. Seriously, thank you so much! 🥰
Multitasking is the bane of my existence. Especially at work, when I'm trying to focus on something (Heavens know that's _already_ hard) and then something *quick* comes up and I need to address it because it's either URGENT or "Now or Never". I should probably have a notebook around to make a brain dump... The Fidget Cube trick sounds like an interesting idea, I already have the cube so I'm going to try it tomorrow.
In order to monotask a lot you need to be your own boss when you plan ahead and organize your tasks and then you need to be your own employee as well when you actually start doing your preplanned tasks. This sounds good, but my problem is that I don't know when to switch... :D
Multitasking might have another definition : be able to switch task when you are blocked. In my work, I design stuff. But often during the design I have questions whose answers I need to continue. While waiting for them, you then need to be able to switch to another task and progress on that one until: - you are blocked, or - the anwers arrive. Gracefully being able to switch task is a good skill to have. In my case I write down my state of mind and the next few steps then switch task by reading my notes.
I just discovered your channel yesterday and I'm loving it, your videos are amazing and the way you speak is so good it makes me pay attention. Strong hug from Mc Zói de Gato's country. (Brazil) 💖
I like to join tasks that require different memory stores - especially when one doesn't require much focus and I'm not in a hurry. Like listening to a lecture while cleaning up my room or working out. Or listening to ambient music and reading. Or fixing a shelf and talking with a friend. It actually keeps me more engaged and focused on very long tasks that aren't very stimulating. I do it slower but it gets done instead of being procrastinated. But Jessica is right - different tools for different situations! ;)
![[Live] : ONE 168 วันนี้!! "โจนาธาน vs ซุปเปอร์เล็ก"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jIN65KgJsI/mqdefault.jpg)
In essence, the higher we want our performance to be, the more we should probably focus on monotasking.
I remember learning about this, and yet, in almost every instance, someone seems to want to start an argument saying we still have to multitask. It's like the point didn't get across, and they just want to argue.
This is a great way of putting it!
@@HowtoADHD thank you! ❤
That's because they are monotasking on being right :p
I've found that serial monotasking and switching when I lose forward progress seems to work the best. Doing multiple things at once really only works of one is low priority and low on cognitive demand.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade yeh I have to watch out for my procrastinating tendencies here - I justify doing busy work as I'm "preparing" to do another task...!!! I think conscious mono-tasking is what I must aim for! 😁😁
Toooo clarify...I don't monotask on every task. It's fun and more natural for my brain to bounce around. It's just A tool in my toolbox for when I need to be efficient and effective. I balance out monotasking on tasks that require my brain to focus so I can be more effective with giving my brain time to wander (bounce around and do whatever it wants) :) When I'm more overwhelmed and need to get stuff done monotasking is my go-to, when I need stimulation I'm more likely to do multiple things at once. It just helps to know what tools are useful for what. Multitasking is often portrayed as more efficient -- but according to research, it's really not. It gives us the illusion of productivity as opposed to helping us actually be more productive.
Thank you so much for this! I find that when I multitask, if I put something I don't want to do in the mix, I often end up not getting started at all. Dr. Paula Talal did a lot of research on multitasking and consistently found lower performance on every task. If we really want to multitask, we should outsource.
Yes! Tools in the toolbox are always good. Especially with adhd. 😅 We just need to remember what's in the toolbox, and where we put the toolbox... And put the tools back into the toolbox in the first place 🙃
Sooo yes! My brain goes on strike when I think about focussing on tasks. Sounds like a great tool!
My comment got zapped by TH-cam's autoreject for some reason.
GREAT topic! Thank you - your channel has really helped me better understand my son, my own brain, and to direct myself as a writer.
On that note, congrats on starting your book! I'll bet you've got heaps of experienced authors in your circle (plus the Wondrium course!) but if you happen to find yourself in need of a fresh set of ears on something, or if you find a nuts-and-bolts question with an elusive answer, I'd like to humbly offer my experience. (Started in 2015, turned pro in 2018.)
Multi-tasking; Noun.: Half-assing two tasks and not being able to complete either.
Perfect 😆 🤣
LOL seriously though.
Basically lol
Wait... Ain't that a verb?
@@mayanah.2875 damn, I'm a writer and you caught this before it hit me 😅😂
I find that just having a list can feel overwhelming, unless I make it a checklist with boxes. The boxes kinda make it a game.
Same.
oh, nice trick!
Yep. Team boxes. And not dots or circles. Square boxes. 😅 my brain just loves those. 🙈
same sis!
Nice trick! I'll try it
Thanks Jessica! Multi-tasking was a BS buzzword and it was hell in the 90s with employers acting like it was humanly possible for a normal person, let alone someone with ADHD. You really cannot multi-task but actually be efficient at task switching. The only way I can get multiple things done is what you mentioned in your video. I sure hope many viewers put this advice into practice so their life does not feel so hectic and also keep in mind it takes time to learn to be efficient with ADHD. This video along with your last one of creating an ADHD efficient home can also be applied to the work environment.Good luck with your book!
@VideoTzar19, I agree wholeheartedly. I've only just recently realized (after self-diagnoses of ADD) that I am not meant to work in an office, or any other environment that is too loud and busy. Also, I cannot multitask. I'm now looking for a new career where I can thrive and best suited for me; not the employer!
Didn’t it really come from being able to have more than one thing on your computer at the same time? Like bouncing between your email and your calendar.
@@hiknfo from what I remember employer's were able to hire 1 person to multi-task. For example, a cashier at a store who could ring up your items & bag them also, that way the employer has 1 employee doing everything instead of 2 employees.
@@barbarateresarhiannonsreal1756 now they hire someone to watch you multitask while you check yourself out.
I used to be embarrassed about being diagnosed with ADHD, my family made me feel like it meant I wasn’t smart and thought I should take “special ed” classes. I’m so glad you created this channel! Thanks to this channel I’m willing to admit to anyone and everyone that I have it, and I am not embarrassed, and none of the misconceptions people say will define me. I graduated high school in the honors (magnet) program at my school. For anyone going through what I did, do not let anyone define you or your ADHD!
Sad your felt that way about things your parents did or said. I graduated from college 4+1 program at 19 so I understand. It was almost like if I did not go through college fast enough I might get stuck and not finish.
i won scholarships when i was young and for college, only to get to the crash and burn in senior year and grad school
i try to dual task my homework. if i get bored of one assignment, i start a different one. it’s more helpful when i’m not on a time crunch (two incomplete assignments are worse than one complete one) but i work on whichever one is more interesting to me at the time, that way i don’t have to start from the beginning every time
I try to explain to my boss that I need random boring mundane tasks in my schedule as well as big projects things - it means I can switch to something necessary but easy to give my brain a rest! I didn't even realise dual-tasking was a thing!
@@katypilkington1704 me either!! that’s why i was excited to have a word for it and share how i use it :))
i recently started doing that too! it feels like i'm being way more efficient this way, and it's cool that there's actually a specific word for it :D
I have two books I’m reading, and if I get bored of reading one I switch to the other, it’s really great
Thanks for sharing!!
For me, It generally depends on the type of task whether I'll monotask, pomodoro or multitask.
For example, monotask when I have to mail or work on something or have to do some research on a topic or solving mathematical equations
Pomodoro when I'm studying or preparing for test or related.
And Multitask when I'm doing household chores or writing assignment because it's boring
Don't forget junebugging!
What is pomodoro?
Not me watching this video while trying to do other work >_>
Legit xD
Usss
Oh hey. Didn't expect to see you here
Nope, not me either 😶
neither me
did you actually read my mind? i'm experimenting recently on doing more conscious monotasking and so far it is going pretty well. if i multitask too much my brain ends up bouncing inside at full speed, which is not the most productive thing hehe
Yep, one thing I learned is to mix task switching with pomodoros by trying not to switch mid time block. I'll usually switch to my other homework when I start to get frustrated or unreasonably confused.
I feel this! When I start trying to multitask I just end up starting a bunch of things and not getting anything finished, and instead of feeling like I accomplished something I feel like I failed at everything!! I hadn't heard of the name monotasking before but I had already been working on doing one task at a time and it works much better especially with pomodoros. Instead of having the goal to write today I have the goal of doing 2 pomodoros or something like that. Also to stay focused, I often have music playing in the background.
I use spreadsheets or notebooks if I just can't stay focused on one thing long enough to finish. That way it is organized enough I can see where I left off when I can get back to it.
"Multi-tasking is multi-failing"
This is something I have said to literally every boss I've ever had.
Now I'm going to rewind this video to concentrate!
DANG that hit me in the feels
@@HowtoADHD it requires so much conscious effort not to try to do too many things at once - that statement helped me realise what I was doing to myself! I *try* this on "see a job do a job" Saturdays 😂
That is BOLD. I applaud you for telling your bosses that. A lot of bosses I've known would decidedly not react well to hearing that lol
How do you mono task when the task has 5 separate, unexpected steps that each must be completed before you can do the thing? I often find when I try to work on a to-do list, the unexpected extra tasks derail me, especially if they themselves involve surprise sub-tasks or waiting on someone else.
Good question!
You do one step at a time. Each step can be considered one task.
Breathe and start a step earlier is my go to solution. Write a list and think about it, imagine the task and then seeing what's needed for it. Then re-do the list with the under-tasks.
I feel like it has to do with self regulating the pressure and slowing down. Also awareness.
Consolidate, prioritize, and execute
If it's not urgent I drop it and do something else that I find more interesting
If it's urgent I break it down into steps, and do the first step and give myself a real reward. If possible I ask someone to check in with me to gently nudge me onto the next task. I also think about how good it would feel to cross it off the list
I can’t even express how much this channel has helped me. I was just diagnosed w/ ADHD recently, at 33 years old. It’s been so much to accept and learn, since I didn’t know much about ADHD prior. These videos are SO helpful in understanding what’s going on in my head, & also self acceptance. Thank you Jessica 🙏🏼
If you don’t mind my asking, how has having the official diagnosis changed your life for the better?
@@jonesyxperia7 I think because I now have a better understanding of why I’ve struggled with so many things in life; focus on school work in the past, jobs, etc. Sadly, like the stigma says, I thought I was lazy/never good or smart enough at a lot of things. Now I know with this diagnoses not only that it wasn’t my fault, but I can learn more about how my brain works & how to manage my symptoms w/ my therapist. Hope that helps!
Diagnosed at 30 and I second this! For me, it just helped to have a professional say “yeah, that’s how your brain works” so when I have that self-doubt of “maybe I am just bad at being an adult” I can remind myself I have a legitimate reason for my struggles and I can do something about it. For context, I also didn’t even consider the possibility I had ADHD until my late twenties
I learned really early on that I was NOT one of those people who can do work/study while eating. Even if it’s a snack, I have to pause what I’m doing in order to focus on eating, especially if it’s something messy like soup or cheeseballs.
Stopping to eat allows myself to shift into a break mode to decompress, and also prevents me from getting crumbs or food/drink stains on whatever I’m working on.
I have that with drinking 😅 I cannot for the life of me do something else while I'm drinking. Especially motoric stuff like walking. I used to get teased or laughed at for it, but at some point I just told myself that I can either shrug the laughter off and not shower myself in tea or defend my borders and do what's right for me.
Another thing to consider is that your two most energy consuming organs are the brain and the gut
interesting! for me snacking/drinking tea helps me focus cuz im already fidgeting with it
I dont have ADHD but anxiety, and one of my main symptoms is the incapability to sit down and focus. I tend to try to do everything at once and end up frustrated and doing nothing. Monotasking will probably help me. It is so nice to finally find this kind of video that actually has a source for a “life hack”. Thanks!
This video came out at the exact right time. I've been struggling with cleaning my apartment for months. The monotasking idea is something I recently started doing and it's helped me get things actually accomplished, instead of half a room being cleaned while I take a "break" and never actually finish it.
Thank you for letting me understand how my brain works 💗
(just got diagnosed at 30.. had no idea why life is so damn difficult, branded myself as "oh well, I guess I'm just defective")
I got diagnosed at 46 last year. Should’ve got help over twenty years ago
30 now, diagnosed 2 years ago. Welcome to the tribe!
I too can relate
Wow. That hit hard. 41, diagnosed 2 years ago.
Same! I’m coming up on a year diagnosed and it’s a journey worth taking. So good to know we’re built different, not defective ❤️
Adhd and Perfectionism : how it can be used as a coping/ masking tool, but can be hella toxic too.
Time anxiety sleep and events, how aiming for a train at 7.30 can be stressful yet re-framed as a morning train removes stress.
Q&A with newly diagnosed adhd ppl.
Out of sight, out of mind. Wait, it's with feelings too?
Are these video ideas?
@@HowtoADHD yup 😅
@@HowtoADHD Please do this😁. espacially the one with feelings and the perfectionism one
I am interested in that last one
@@HowtoADHD agreed, please, would love to see these! Especially the adhd & perfectionism one.... depending on what you say, I might have to go get a diagnosis 😅
Hey Jessica, no mention of Hyperfocus & its relation to Monotasking? It's one of our potential strengths if learnt to manage right. Sometimes, getting myself into Hyperfocus while Monotasking on one thing, is the only way to get good work done! :)
(Usually it takes a long time to "warm up" to that one task, or in other words "get into the flow", but once i'm "in the zone" i'll start making serious progress in bigger tasks that i might have spent many days procrastinating & not being able to do.)
I relate to u soo much
@@mariamelshayeb6734 Hear hear, thanks for the reply :)
This, exactly this. I started journaling (BuJo) a few months ago and I feel less "lazy and lost" now that I work task by task, I've found myself actually enjoying it that I get unaware of time. Now I just set alarms to eat and to stop working lol, Outlook reminds me of meetings anyways.
I’ve tried to monotask and failed miserably.
For me, I’m more comfortable bouncing from one thing to another when necessary. If I focus only on one thing, the other thingys keep bouncing around in my brain, keeping me from efficiently doing the one thing I should be doing.
If I bounce between stuff, I just feel better and get more stuffs done.
With that said, I’m a weirdo… so there’s that.
I find it makes sense for creative work, you run out of juice for one task, start the next after a little break. Eg, writing music causing hearing fatigue due to constant exposure to the same frequencies. After a point of focusing intently on such things, you hit NEGATIVE returns, not even diminishing!
@@michaelchildish Luckily, I do creative work. If I try to focus to much on one thing, I can get flustered. If I just go with the flow and bounce around, my brain works better.
It’s all about knowing what works, and doesn’t work, for our individual brains. Self awareness if key.
I like to think of my failed attempts at anything as my gathering data/research development phase of whatever it may be. This way doing experiments with variables feels less daunting as a failure and more like finding what’s right for my brain.
Monotasking is hard. My job requires intense focus and pushing to hit deadlines. The best weekends are the ones where I can “potter”; no plan, no deadline, just do tasks as the occur to me.
Discovered monotasking when I was younger.
Used it in college and it helped.
One of my strategies to getting paper work done is this, used it in college to, I' d sit at a table with what I needed to get done to my left was stuff that needed to get done. In the middle was what I was a currently studying. Above the middle was things I'd put aside to study later and to my right was the completed pile. I'd switch w bedded subjects when ever my brain started to lose interest and come back to what I was doing later on.
I've never clicked so fast when I saw monotasking! Watching! 😍
And...yeah... I'm gonna give Wondrium looksey.
Edit: I've tried monotasking, it's a lot harder than sounds when your brain 🧠 just enjoys chasing the dopamine🙈.
I'm trying a new system using Trello...I'm hoping this one sticks.
Oh yeah, I should clarify that monotasking isn't the easiest thing in the world...just more effective
@@HowtoADHD definitely more effective! I'm discussing with my therapist about going on medication now.. it's time, life quality is suffering a lot from immense lack of attention to even things that interest me greatly.
And CBT has not really put a dent on this (but has been great for mindfulness and negative self talk)
We're hoping it slows my mind down long enough to slow the hops in between tasks 🙈, then I'll give monotasking another go cause I feel it's a great way to get more consistent results and is great with time blocking.
@@Lunadish yesss! meds can help with monotasking cause our brains are getting the stimulation they need to be able to focus :D
@@Lunadish I have found that CBT is not great for most serious issues; it also seems like CBT is where the psychoetheraputic equivalent of jobbers go to make their money. I've found Rogerian therapists to be a lot more attentive and responsive to issues that afflict me and are able to guide me through it more effectively.
Really, I feel that any therapist that is empathic and can pay attention tends to do better than someone who focuses on CBT as a solution set.
I actually have monotasked at work I just didn't know that's what it was called.....not always successful, but these tips will be very helpful.
Something that's helped me a ton lately is an hourglass! Not only does it have the "I just need to start for X minutes" effect of helping me get going, but also I've found it's very grounding and control-granting for me to make time into a concrete visual spatial Thing instead of it being some fleeting imperceptible abstraction of numbers. Really helps me with everything and that includes making it easier to switch into and out of transition states ("I'll listen to this lecture but first I have to set up my laptop and I should pee first and and and ..." all gets lumped into one 15-minute hourglass and then I get the transition done instead of whipping out my phone and losing an hour!) and also making it easier to start on some monotasking when my brain is screaming about how annoying it is that I can't watch a class lecture and a movie at the same time XD
"Dula-classing in D&D" - you know how to speak to this man's heart XD
Doing one thing a day really helped me in college. Being a music major who is spinning many plates, I had to set aside a day where I did laundry, answer emails/every administrative task that I was procrastinating on. The same went for big presentations/music compositions/Things that I could spend a whole day on. Obviously this would only be about two of the days of the week since the rest were filled with many classes practicing and spinning every other plate. But those mono days really helped with the big tasks
Number 5 "Dual Class" is actually how I approach "managing" my friendships. If I'm on Facebook Messenger, I always have multiple tabs open, and I'm ready to switch between different conversations as people respond. I'm focused on whatever conversation I'm engaged in, but I'm prepared to switch to another one as needed (sometimes it's another person's response that "needs" me, sometimes it's my own brain needing stimulation). How cool to think I could use that approach to studying multiple subjects!
I find that doing two things at once helps me finish one task more often. One task is the one I must complete and the other one is the choice distracter. I chose a distraction that will not overly distract me. I would read with music without lyrics. I would take notes on the front of the paper and doodle on the back. When I taught full time and worked on my masters degree going to a three hour evening class. What is a sleepy person with ADHD to do? I drew my professor. I was caught and luckily I drew well enough that she was not insulted.
I also do the reverse. If I have a boring task that must be done but is mindless I find a distractor that takes much more mental energy. I hate to clean my house. I use How to ADHD, webinars anything that will help my mind keep busy while I do the mindless activity. Now we need a word for doing a task and a half because that’s kind of what I feel like I’ve been doing.
that's exactly what I do! It can almost be essentially using one simple task as a fidget to sop up other types of attention whilst doing another. I manually sharpen pencils whilst supervising kids, or when I'm using the electric pencil sharpener for the odd-sized pencils I read on my phone. I like the 'task and a half' idea.
I call this filling the leftover attention/stimulation gap but "task and a half" is a great way to put it!
@@WritingsOfQuill Interesting that any time I think I am just quirky I find out I am not alone.
I normally have a dnd stream playing in the background while I do other stuff ♡
Jessica I really do love you. You make me feel normal and give me inspiration when I've hit rock bottom caused by self shaming at not getting multitasking done. Thank you for being so authentically you x
Your videos have provided me with entertainment, education, information, and most importantly, hope. Thank you for doing what you do!! I joined your patreon and discord, and I hope everyone here (who can) does too!! Ironically, I'm writing this while the video is still playing above.. need to start over, lol.
I have to say thank you (starting to tear up) for your channel. It has provided the missing pieces to my 19 yr old son's long struggle with anxiety and OCD. I just finished with the intake interview for getting him properly evaluated. It looks like he has "pretty severe ADHD." Weirdly, it's such a relief and I am optimistic that we are on the right path.
Hi! That was a great example of showing what multi-tasking is, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Currently dual tasking writing of thesis chapters and now I have words for it-it's so true that when the hyper focus in one area fades, having something productive at the ready saves time in the long run
thank God this video came out at this second and showed up for me because I was trying to find something at this moment like easy morning cleaning routine is what I was thinking because well granted it's already noon I am overwhelmed and have so much to get done don't know where to begin so of course what did I do I focused on something I enjoy doing instead and now I'm feeling more pressure to get stuff done but as you know sometimes as an ADHD person that's what it takes as a fire under the butt but I don't always like that feeling so instead I'm going to watch this video and see what happens thank you in advance!
I suffered at work with my last office job because of the ridiculous expectation to multitask x a billion 24/7. I finally quit after 7 years of this -- it took several months to heal from total exhaustion. Now I make my own schedule and can not believe how great I am doing with the focus and accomplishment -- AND I am doing very well, even though almost everything I am doing is boring but extremely necessary home fix-it and big life form filling out stuff. Thanks SO MUCH for this timely and VITAL subject!
Could you talk about intense fear and low self-esteem in ADHD
There are so much information that's not widely know. About how intense the emotions we feel are and how strongly it affects our lives.
This is one of THE most important things I learned after being diagnosed, and I've been forgetting it the past year or 2. Need to get back to that. Thanks for the video.
This is why I suck at work when it comes to data entry, but I can sell all day long because it's not the same switch in tasks as having to both data entry and take care of customers
After over a year of watching your channel, I finally had a first meeting with a psychiatrist yesterday. Thank you so much for giving us all the info, tips and courage. I probably wouldn't have made the first step without your help.
Oh my gosh that first task was so hard! 😂😅 I really had to focus. What a great video! Thanks for the reminder that multitasking doesn't work. I love your videos so much! They have helped me and so many others I know in learning more about ADHD! Incredible channel and I can't wait till you hit 1 million subscribers! You totally deserve it! 🎉
Not me checking my mail because you mentioned mail, seeing I have a new appointment and putting it in my agenda, then seeing that I have enough time to lunch somewhere and looking up locations, before finally coming back to the video, which was more because I opened YT again than me actively choosing to do so.
But well, mono-tasking or dual-tasking is a really helpful tool when I'm studying. Loved hearing your take on it!
I need more of this! Part 2 ?
Just added some helpful articles to the description :)
I knew it! You’re into D&D! I do not think I can dual class though! I think it is my autism and having to have pure classes. Anyway, I gave up on multitasking way back in the 90s, when I found I could not go back to the other thing, because I was constantly being interrupted. It became evident that multi-tasking was not the best when hearing a friend describe a healer in a group trying to heal in a dungeon in a popular MMPORPG around 2010 and their group dying, while they multitasked studying for exams or doing homework. Friend was not happy to continue dying.
What can also help is opening a new desktop for each task so you won't switch around as often
I recently got diagnosed with ADHD and your videos have been helping me A LOT. Thank you :D
PS thank you after watching the video I'm going to try to accomplish less things at one time that'll I think help my mind from feeling overwhelmed as I know I have multiple things I want to accomplish but if I can pick just one or two for now I think that'll get me going instead of keeping the brakes on so thanks for getting me motivated have a great day!
Jessica, you are an absolute Godsent for us! I’ve learnt so much from you about my AHDH than any books, doctors, “experts”. You should be immensely proud of the impact you’ve made in our lives.
I actually had your channel on in the background to try to stay focus on task. Then I realise why I was still struggling is because I was multitasking!
Instead, I am going to watch your videos as my rewards when I finish my tasks.
great video! I'm going to try thinking about this more consciously, I think it's really important to think about the best way to achieve something before diving into it. Also, this reminds me that I'd love to see a video about how to deal with hyperfocusing, because even though it is often framed as a ADHD "superpower", I sometimes find that it can turn into spending hours on the task without a break and realizing after some time "wait... I feel something weird. Oh yeah that's hunger! and... thirst? ooh that might be why I have a headache" and then I crash and spend the next hour (or day) doing nothing. Also it's impossible for me to work with other people when I hyperfocus cause my brain is just going to fast, and I realized that hyperfocusing often puts me in a state of anxiety which can be confused with euphoria, but really isn't. I've tried using time blocking strategies such as pomodoro to solve this, but I find that most of the time when the pomodoro runs out, if I am in a state of hyperfocus, I'm not going to stop and I'll just think "I finally got some productivity, I should make the most of it".
I made a weekly chore chart. It has one chore for each day and a checkbox next to it.. I laminated it, so it’s dry erase. I check off the chore after I’ve done it. Makes it easier to keep track of what I’ve done during the week and checking off the little box makes me feel good. This also helps me when I have multiple things to do in a day (appointments, email, etc).
A book!! Yay!! Can’t wait! Congrats!
I learned this lesson the hard way this weekend, holding an interesting conversation while also wielding a sharp implement in the kitchen. My finger wishes I didn't try to multitask with ADHD. (Going to be fine, was just painful and unfortunate in the moment.)
Could even having a conversation in your head while doing something else count as multitasking?
I've noticed that its mentally draining just thinking and doing my job, which is usually physical labor? Like I need to quiet my head intentionally to avoid any issues
well your attention is divided, multi-focus would be multi-tasking because a task can also be a mental task (thinking) and it requires attention and mental energy
Ideally, you wouldn't do that either, but it's not easy to silence the monkey mind.
Oh boy, that's true! I find that if the activity doesn't need my brain as much, I need to listen to podcasts so my brain doesn't do the death spiral of anxious thoughts.
For me it depends on whether I need to actually think about what I'm doing while I'm doing it. For example, I can do dishes and let my mind do what it wants because I don't need to actually think about washing dishes. But when I'm cooking I need to think about what I'm doing.
1-use a list
2-block time
3-batch tasks
4- organize days to themes
5-Dual class
Reminds me of how i clean. I do best cleaning the house if I clean one room at a time or one cleaning task at a time.
Just wanted to say, thank you so much for your work. I always thought I might have ADHD as a kid but was assured that I just didn't apply myself. It wasn't until I found your channel that I seriously considered it, and after today confirmed that was the case. I could have gone my whole life without knowing, so thank you for putting info out there and helping people like me find themselves. You guys are real heros to me.
God bless you!! Truly a commendable service you are doing.
You are so kind :)
I’m so excited to hear about your process for writing your book! Creative nonfiction is FASCINATING✨
Right??
@@HowtoADHD how is that going btw. I am looking into wonderium for the new year but its so overwelming
last time i was this early i made it to class on time
Hi Jessica, I was wondering if you could do a video on ADHD and PMS? When your estrogen levels drop at the end of your cycle, your dopamine levels crash and ADHD symptoms become much worse. Stimulant meds become much less effective because of much lower than usual dopamine levels. This is probably also why women with ADHD are over diagnosed with PMDD, and a contributing factor to why we're diagnosed later in life as ADHD gets worse with puberty and menopause. I've never heard of this until I researched it after starting meds and noticing them becoming ineffective at this time, and a lot of us could probably relate but also haven't heard of this.
I monotask as soon as I see a notification for this channel. 😂
Or is that hyperfocus? 🤔
I've had teachers say "multitasking doesn't work" not to refer to two tasks that require focus but to tell us not to fidget and not to have a show playing in the background. So when I hear the phrase I instantly spike up. But learning that it *is* actually about "tasks" really makes it sound more accurate and approachable
its so hard to monotask tho... and if i do, hyperfocus kicks in and tears my life apart... but the irony is multitasking is not that effective for me
My ADHD brain thrived when I "thought" I was multitasking as a writer/producer/director but in reality I was never multitasking. Yes I would be writing episode #4, preparing to shoot episode #3, shooting episode #2 and editing episode #1 all in the same week. In reality none of those things could be done together. In those days I couldn't edit, write, or prepare while shooting on location. Today the tools are different so it might be possible though I wouldn't want to try. It worked because of a hard unmovable deadline and I time blocked everything. Now that I am only a writer I am trio-tasking one step up from dual-tasking my switch has three positions. I have a project that I am working on that is dark and heavy, another that is light and fun, and a third that I'm writing with a co-writer. This keeps my ADHD brain interested and allows me to work on the project my brain is most interested in at that time. It also helps that the energy on each project is different. There are days I will work on one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I love your idea about laundry as laundry has recently become an issue for me.
Could you possibly do a video on completing tasks that are a priority for another person? Like for example, it's my job in my house to empty the dishwasher. However, sometimes I forget and when I'm in a rush my mom will ask me to do it, and I'll explain I don't have time (usually I'm trying to leave for work) she will then ask me if it's fair to make her wait all day to able to fill the dishwasher (I don't like to fill it for sensory reasons so we split the tasks) so then I end up having to do it right then and there and then rush through the rest of my routine to make it out the door. It's been the source of many arguments but I can't move out yet so this is my living situation at the moment. I've tried setting a time to do it, I will check the dishwasher at a certain time (usually in the morning when I eat breakfast) to see if it needs emptying and if it's still dirty I won't check again until the next morning. She somewhat agreed to that but when the schedule gets thrown off we end up arguing again because I'm always the one not matching her expectations. Maybe a video on ADHDers living with roommates or in shared spaces?
Love these videos!
Maybe the routine needs to be switched to allow you to do it either before bed or first thing in the morning. Maybe your mom needs to remind you first thing in the morning that there are clean dishes, rather than when you're trying to get out the door. Maybe you shouldn't be doing a task that someone else depends on as a regular part of contributing to the household, and instead put dishes away only when you can, and take on something less time sensitive that your mom is currently doing. Trying to be responsible for step 1 in a process is necessarily a bit of an uphill battle
I've started dual tasking in my home office. If the work I've scheduled for myself has slowed painfully then I spend a few minutes cleaning the room. The movement really helps me recharge and get back into work mode.
Can’t waitttttt
You've been so helpful, so I really appreciate your channel!
Not me trying to watch this video while working and failing at both. 😅
I was in a school/studying rut because I couldn't get my meds but I got them recently and ohmygosh did this video come at the MOST PERFECT TIME! Thank you!!
I need this rn lol im struggling to get my article notebook done ;(
Thank you for this! The name writing example was super helpful! I've noticed when I try to do too much at once I get overwhelmed and have to keep starting over with the same task like "Where was I?", so it takes longer to just "do the thing." Lately I've been repeating to myself "One thing at time" and now I have a word for that! Thank you! Good luck with your book!
So I shouldn’t multitask?
It depends! This is a great article on when it makes sense to monotask vs. multitask: www.adhd-app.com/2013/07/05/multitasking-vs-monotasking-for-adhd/
Thank you ❤️❤️
Thank you for helping those who find this very useful. Hope you continue to make more educational videos like this. Stay strong and live a wonderful life! ❤️💚💜
bazinga
My job expects and requires multitasking (particularly actively tracking email while working on other things), but I try to schedule things so that I monotask. I actually already use a few of the methods you outline here: time blocking, using a “brain dump” task list for things that come up while I’m working on something else, clumping tasks like checking email. Listening to music is generally the only other task I let myself do while working, and even then, only music without lyrics.
I just noticed that you have closed captions for this and many of your other videos (TH-cam doesn't make it super obvious), and I wanted to say a giant THANK YOU! It's so helpful for a lot of people, including (as I'm sure you know) ADHD brains that don't always want to focus on listening.
You also keep things short and concise, which I'm sure is difficult but makes things so more accessible for us.
I worked as a software engineer in L3 support for 4 years. Multitasking was forced upon me by different customers constantly asking for more results and updates when I was already working on an update for some other customer. It was hell for me. I have moved to a developer position since then. Currently, I am relearning how to monotask and get rid of obsessive email checking, which only increases my anxiety. It's tough and I don't even have ADHD. It'll take months to relearn it. Monotasking is definitely the way to go. Dual-tasking makes sense as well, but you must feel comfortable doing it (and not be pushed to it).
One of the best and most INFORMATIVE channels on something I struggle with all the time :)
I equate mono or multitasking to focusing a camera on an object.
If you want photos of similar things, in the same lighting, at the same distance, you don't need to refocus the shot for each.
If you need to shoot close up, then something far away, or something brightly lit to a object in shadows, it takes time to adjust to those different things.
Our ability to do many things at once is similar.
If we are focused on a macro image of a bee in a flower, any attempt to photograph a fleeting Sasquatch running through the woods is going to be blurry.
Multitasking efficiently: watch videos while painting my nails; talking or listening to podcasts while cleaning the dishes. I always feel sleepy in theoretical classes, always. And I wander so much while talking to people. These different tasks help me pay attention :)
Just recently got diagnosed with adhd and started medication today I’m hopeful that I can get stuff done in the future
I've been wanting to write a book since I was in high school and now it's approximately 20 plus years later maybe your new book will inspire me to finally write mine I have had the title forever and I can tell you that it's "where the seed begins" I have doodled and jotted down many ideas for the book but of course imagine as an ADHD person that those are in multiple different spots in different boxes and in different places and oh my that's a whole another project for a Time that I am in good management of my blessed ADHD got to love it you're a wonderful inspiration my friend I really really like you and your channel stay strong and be happy peace love and joy to all!
Dual-tasking and procrastiworking are how I got through my degree. I think some of us with ADHD can't properly monotask, because of the loose attention that needs tying up with fidgets or background stimulation, but we can definitely pick attention occupiers that won't also steal focus from our main task - so no reading while watching TV, because they're both verbal and visual, but yes to knitting while watching TV. Not that I always take this advice. I've been playing brick buster while watching this video.
I don’t know if I have ADHD, but this is true for me not just in the moment but also over long periods of time as well. I find I work very well when I’m only thinking about one class than when I’m thinking about multiple, even if it’s ultimately the same amount of work. If my school offered the chance to take one class every day over 3 weeks instead of 3-4 each on some days over 11 weeks, I would be very interested.
Oh my God I just remembered I put a load of laundry in yesterday. Thanks Jessica!
I do this in video games and I never realized it was this!!!! Mind-melted
Hope you read this, young lady. These are VERY HELPFUL. Not just this video. I'm new to your channel, but these would help anyone learn to 'task' better. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WOOOOA that was so interesting! I had to start over the name thing a couple times because I would get mixed up! I knew that multitasking was a struggle for me but that really helped put into perspective that the literal action of multitasking is genuinely something my brain has trouble with even on a very base level. So cool to actually SEE that.
I monotask when I multitask. I make a list of all the things that I need to do in a day and I break them down into super teeny tiny steps. And then I organize those in a way that allows for different things to be one after the other. I'm still completing the entire task but I don't get bored and because I break it down in a super tiny steps I don't get overwhelmed. When the task is "clean the kitchen" there's seven different steps involved in that and then in some of those there's even smaller steps involved. And it makes no sense to just do my dishes when I hate drying dishes, so I might as well do my dishes and then go to the living room and fold some T-shirts and then by the time I'm done folding my t-shirts, my dishes are done drying so then I can put my dishes away. And by the end of the day, my couch is cleaned off, my kitchen is spotless, my laundry is done and put away, my bed is made and I have cleaned off my desk. It technically falls under multitasking but I'm still completing a job to completion one thing at a time, I just break the steps down super small, allow myself to not get bored and I don't get overwhelmed. I think it's better than to finish the day like that than when I've done one load of dishes and had three panic attacks.
ooo I love this!
@@HowtoADHD hiring an occupational therapist has been the best thing I've ever done. I highly recommend it if it's an option.
There are some cleaning tasks in which I do get distracted too often to monotask, so I play youtube videos while doing it and that helps me stress out less.
I don’t have adhd as far as I know but I really struggle with focus and concentration and organisation and a lot of things associated with adhd and OMG your channel is so helpful
This is the simplest example of multi-tasking vs mono-tasking I have seen. Thank you 🙏 🤯
So much props for putting the sponsor at the end of the video, with only a note at the beginning!!
Just when we thought this channel couldn’t be better 😍
Great video as always! Finding this channel a couple months ago changed my life. It gave me the courage to seek an ADHD assessment, and yesterday I finally got a diagnosis. I've never thought of diagnoses as empowering before but, due to the things I've learned with Jessica's videos, this one is! 😁
(Long text ahead, feel free to ignore it)
The pandemic has worsened my ADHD traits, sometimes to unbearable levels. My working memory has often been dropping to literal nonexistence, and my tendency to space out became so strong that sometimes I spend most of a class trying to focus. Even my willingness to read about science or History (subjects I've always LOVED) has dropped dramatically, and when I do read, I sometimes skip entire paragraphs or pages, only to realize later. And I'm in college, studying History!
Thanks to "How To ADHD", I now know that I'm not going mad, nor utterly doomed to fail at life. Seriously, thank you so much! 🥰
Multitasking is the bane of my existence. Especially at work, when I'm trying to focus on something (Heavens know that's _already_ hard) and then something *quick* comes up and I need to address it because it's either URGENT or "Now or Never". I should probably have a notebook around to make a brain dump...
The Fidget Cube trick sounds like an interesting idea, I already have the cube so I'm going to try it tomorrow.
In order to monotask a lot you need to be your own boss when you plan ahead and organize your tasks and then you need to be your own employee as well when you actually start doing your preplanned tasks.
This sounds good, but my problem is that I don't know when to switch... :D
Multitasking might have another definition : be able to switch task when you are blocked.
In my work, I design stuff. But often during the design I have questions whose answers I need to continue. While waiting for them, you then need to be able to switch to another task and progress on that one until: - you are blocked, or - the anwers arrive.
Gracefully being able to switch task is a good skill to have. In my case I write down my state of mind and the next few steps then switch task by reading my notes.
I just discovered your channel yesterday and I'm loving it, your videos are amazing and the way you speak is so good it makes me pay attention. Strong hug from Mc Zói de Gato's country. (Brazil) 💖
I like to join tasks that require different memory stores - especially when one doesn't require much focus and I'm not in a hurry.
Like listening to a lecture while cleaning up my room or working out. Or listening to ambient music and reading. Or fixing a shelf and talking with a friend.
It actually keeps me more engaged and focused on very long tasks that aren't very stimulating. I do it slower but it gets done instead of being procrastinated.
But Jessica is right - different tools for different situations! ;)