Join Jesse J. Anderson, a writer and ADHD advocate, as he shares his humorous journey of self-discovery living with undiagnosed ADHD. He reflects on the challenges of motivation and the struggle to find a diagnosis later in life. Jesse discusses balancing a full-time job while pursuing personal projects and highlights the therapeutic benefits of video gaming as an escape. He also shares strategies for overcoming bedtime challenges and navigating the complexities of hyperfocus, offering relatable insights for neurodivergent individuals.
Jesse J. Anderson's late diagnosis of ADHD at 36 illuminated his lifelong struggles with focus and motivation in academic and professional settings.
The phenomenon of hyper-focus allows those with ADHD to immerse deeply in engaging tasks, often neglecting other essential responsibilities in the process.
Implementing the 'four C's of motivation'—captivate, create, compete, and complete—provides effective strategies for boosting productivity tailored to the ADHD brain.
Deep dives
Understanding ADHD and Its Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD at 36 provided Jesse J. Anderson with important insights into his experiences growing up. He recalls acing tests while struggling significantly with homework due to a lack of motivation, a common issue for those with ADHD. Throughout his early career, Jesse jumped between numerous jobs, often becoming bored and disengaged despite initial excitement. His eventual diagnosis shed light on these patterns, helping him understand that his inability to focus stemmed from an interest-based nervous system rather than a simple lack of effort.
ADHD and Hyper-Focus
Hyper-focus is a well-known phenomenon among individuals with ADHD, allowing them to immerse themselves deeply in tasks that genuinely interest them, often at the expense of other responsibilities. Jesse describes how he would often become so absorbed in projects or activities that he would lose track of time and neglect essential tasks. This intense focus can easily create a sense of urgency and energy when engaging with interesting tasks but can lead to difficulty transitioning away from them. Understanding this aspect of ADHD became crucial for Jesse in managing his time and productivity effectively.
Motivation Techniques for ADHD
Jesse emphasizes the significance of using strategies aligned with the 'four C's of motivation': captivate, create, compete, and complete. These strategies focus on engaging interest, encouraging creativity, fostering competition, and generating urgency—elements that resonate more with the ADHD brain than conventional methods like rewards or consequences. For instance, he found that including elements of competition or setting exciting challenges significantly boosts his motivation in the workplace. Incorporating these approaches is essential for maximizing productivity and maintaining focus while navigating tasks.
Balancing Work and Creative Pursuits
Jesse discusses the challenges of managing a full-time job while engaging in creative pursuits like writing and community building. He acknowledges needing to make compromises, such as stepping back from some projects to allow himself time to focus on writing his book, which ultimately became a priority. The struggle of saying 'no' to various opportunities is common among individuals with ADHD, who often feel compelled to take on new projects enthusiastically. However, finding balance and focusing on what truly matters has proven essential for Jesse in sustaining his creativity and professional life.
Useful Resources and Community Connection
Resources like Jessica McCabe's 'How to ADHD' channel and Dani Donovan's book 'The Antiplanner' offer valuable support for those seeking to manage ADHD more effectively. Jesse's newsletter, alongside his newly published book, serves as a community hub where individuals grappling with ADHD can find information, share experiences, and build connections. He emphasizes the importance of accessible resources in understanding and navigating ADHD, particularly for those newly diagnosed. The community engagement fosters a supportive environment where shared tactics and experiences can enhance daily productivity and well-being.
Welcome to episode #38 We’re thrilled to be joined by Jesse J Anderson today. JESSE J. ANDERSON is a writer, speaker, coach, ADHD advocate, and maker of things. Diagnosed at 36, Jesse writes about his insights and experiences living with ADHD in the weekly newsletter, Extra Focus, helping over sixty thousand readers navigate their own ADHD journeys or better understand their loved ones. He is known for his humorous, relatable, and insightful posts about ADHD under the handle @adhdjesse, and has been featured in publications including Today and Huff Post.. Welcome to the show Jesse!
Questions
Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
Always felt a bit different. Thought it was a family quirk
Did well at tests but didn’t do homework
Moved jobs a lot after high school: 30+ jobs
Pizza delivery - 7 different jobs
Best friend diagnosed with ADHD
Symptoms started to resonate: hyperfocus, sensory issues
Not much info at that point
Hard to find a psychologist to diagnose
What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
Day job: designer and frontend developer
Loves the job (been there for 9 years)
Writing hard to prioritize
Had to say No to other projects (podcast and Polar Habits)
How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
Video games: dopamine factories (Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Starfield, etc.) - escape into another world
What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (75% of ADHD): used to stay up until 2 am
Shower, Coffee and get into work
What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
Get inspiration:
Watch movie trailers to get inspiration from a medium that isn’t his own
4 Cs of motivation (Dr William Dodson)
Neurotypicals motivated by:
Importance of task
Rewards
Consequences
ADHDers interest based motivation:
Captivate: things you’re interested in
Create: Novelty
Compete: optimization, the right level of difficulty
Complete: deadlines, due dates, and urgency
COMMERCIAL BREAK
What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
Difficulty going to bed on time - part medical and part habit
How do you switch off at night?
Thunder sounds/ASMR
What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
Books:
“Driven to distraction”
Danny Donovan: “The Anti Planner”
“How to ADHD” YouTube channel
Apps:
Polar Habits
Brain.fm
Where can people connect with you or find your work?
Extrafocus.com - newsletter
Extrafocusbook.com - book
adhdjesse across social media
Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
