Was that productivity advice ever designed for an ADHD brain? Jesse David shares how discovering her ADHD changed the way she understands herself, manages productivity, and approaches work. From executive dysfunction and dopamine to self-accommodation and workplace systems, this episode explores why productivity advice designed for neurotypical people doesn't always translate to ADHD brains.
Jesse David is an HR Business Partner in the technology space with a background in teaching and software development. She discovered her ADHD while researching how to support someone at work and now incorporates neurodiversity into her work, advocacy, and community-building.
Episode Highlights
01:34 — Discovering ADHD by accident Jesse initially researched ADHD to better support someone she worked with, without realizing she was learning about herself too. As she learned about time blindness, executive functioning, dopamine, and emotional regulation, her own past experiences suddenly started making sense.
10:49 — How ADHD changed the way she talks to herselfAfter her diagnosis, Jesse gained language for experiences that previously only caused frustration and self-criticism. Instead of asking why she couldn't simply do something, she could recognize when she needed dopamine, had been using too much executive function, or needed to step back and rest.
17:38 — Finding strengths after diagnosisJesse talks about leaning into pattern recognition, relationship-building, curiosity, and movement rather than focusing only on the things ADHD makes difficult. Understanding her strengths has helped her make choices that better fit who she actually is.
28:17 — Building productivity systems around ADHDJesse uses time blocks, reminders, routines, and dedicated periods for side projects to reduce the executive-function demands of deciding what to do next. She also adapts her schedule around when she has the most energy and uses enjoyable activities to make boring tasks easier to start.
34:29 — “Eat your frogs first” doesn't work for ADHDJesse pushes back on the classic advice to tackle your hardest task first, joking that ADHD brains sometimes need candy before they can eat the frog. Underneath the humor is a serious point: productivity strategies need to account for dopamine, motivation, and individual neurodivergent needs.
35:51 — Was that productivity advice designed for you?Jesse questions why neurodivergent people are expected to follow productivity advice built around very different lived experiences. She argues that systems designed with neurodivergent people in mind can ultimately benefit parents, people with different circadian rhythms, and many others too.
46:36 — Be compassionate with yourselfJesse's final message is to treat yourself with the same compassion you would give your best friend. ADHD doesn't mean things are broken, it means you may work differently, and understanding that can help you lean into the things you're genuinely good at.
Productivity ideas Jesse shares:
- Build routines to reduce executive-function demands
- Block time around how your brain works best
- Schedule "side quests" instead of fighting them
- Use external systems for tasks and reminders
- Make difficult tasks more enjoyable
- Ask whether productivity advice was designed for a brain like yours
Connect with Jesse:
Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io
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Episode 144