Today is a new day. You sit down at your desk convinced you're finally finishing that report. Nothing can stop you. But somehow, you end up checking your inbox, taking notes, and juggling a zillion tasks, and by the end of the day, you've barely managed to finish a few sentences. Frustration and guilt follow.
Does this sound familiar? It certainly does for a lot of adults with ADHD for whom this is an everyday reality. It has nothing to do with being lazy or not putting enough effort (as some might think), but with executive function difficulties affecting the way adults with ADHD work and connect with others in work related environments.
Although some adults with ADHD manage to perform well at work, perhaps because they have a supportive environment, have tailored their workspace to boost productivity, or have chosen a career path where their symptoms are less disruptive (e.g creative fields), the reality is that many still struggle on a daily basis.
Workplace demands and structure are often incompatible with ADHD-related symptoms, making it challenging to thrive. Let's take a look at some of the most common struggles for adults with ADHD at work.
ADHD and Workaholism?
Yes, although it may sound counterintuitive, recent evidence suggests that hyperfocus can also become a burden. While others may see a highly focused employee who barely moves from their chair and is extremely involved in their tasks, the individual with ADHD may end up overworking, stressed out and neglecting other important areas of life, such as family or friends (1) (2)
The ADHD-Struggle with Structure
Adults with ADHD often report difficulties not only in creating structure but also in following it! This is mainly due to the difficulties with executive functioning which make planning, prioritizing, and organizing tasks especially challenging, leading to unfinished projects, missed deadlines, and a persistent sense of frustration (3).
Burnout: More Than Just Stress or Being Tired
Individuals with ADHD tend to experience higher levels of stress and fatigue compared to their peers without ADHD. They also tend to work more unpaid hours due to the difficulty finishing tasks on time. Although some individuals might prefer demanding jobs that keep them hyperfocused, engaged and away from boredom, this often comes at a cost: increased rates of burnout and more frequent sick leave days compared to their colleagues (1) (4).
Criticism and the ADHD brain
Employees with ADHD often experience hypersensitivity to criticism and a strong fear of failure at work, which can sometimes make feedback feel personal or trigger mood swings and negative emotional reactions at work. It is also usual to feel a constant pressure of feeling judged by others and the fear of being perceived as lazy or incompetent by colleagues. These difficulties are closely tied to the emotional dysregulation that is commonly associated with ADHD symptoms (5)
Is this another meeting?
Since the pandemic the virtual meetings have been on the rise. Even though ADHD-related symptoms can make work meetings challenging regardless of the context (this is due to the difficulty at staying focused during longer periods of time, feeling stressed when discussions go off the agenda, or getting distracted when conversations derail), virtual meetings have become one more stressor individuals with ADHD have to deal with at the workplace (5) (6).
As you can see, living and working with ADHD comes with challenges. It's important to recognize that these struggles are not a reflection of laziness, lack of effort, or incompetence. If any of these traits resonates with you and reflects ongoing difficulties in your life, we encourage you to reach out to a specialist for proper evaluation and support.
Whether you're here to focus better, calm your mind, or just feel a little more in control, we’re here to support you. One game at a time.