Day 16: Focus on My Flow

Day 16 of the challenge

Morning DUMP down, and as a bonus—Chapter 2 of this magical book on ADHD:

Ever had one of those ADHD moments where you start a task, get distracted, and suddenly find yourself deep-cleaning the fridge at 2 AM? Yeah, me too. But sometimes, we hit our stride and accomplish amazing things. Let me share some highlights and how you can do it too, apprentice-style.

Patterns of Success for Neurodivergent Individuals

1. Breaking Down Tasks into Manageable Steps:

Neurodivergent individuals thrive when large tasks are split into smaller, more manageable steps. This reduces overwhelm and provides a clear path forward.

• Event 1: Breaking down the process of costing recipes into discrete tasks.
  • Me: When tasks are smaller, they’re a hell of a lot easier to navigate. Plus, seeing progress is awesome! It’s like an audit but less boring. I loved getting into the nitty-gritty of costing recipes.
• Event 2: Dividing the complex problem of updating the Tempo Lists Workbook into smaller, actionable items.
  • Me: I just started and figured it out as I went. Had a game plan, but the fun was in solving each problem as it came up.
• Event 3: Segmenting the cooking demonstration into specific tasks and sections.
  • Me: Planning the demo made everything clearer. I knew exactly what needed to happen, which made the process enjoyable.

2. Structured and Clear Communication:

Clear and structured communication avoids misunderstandings, which is crucial for those who might struggle with verbal instructions.

• Event 1: Coordinating with sous chefs and kitchen staff.
  • Me: Had to talk to a lot of people to gather the data. Communication was key.
• Event 2: Interacting with various staff members and breaking down instructions.
  • Me: Teaching people how to use the workbook was a challenge, but it made the system better, albeit a bit fragile.
• Event 3: Emailing chefs and communicating adjustments to Gene.
  • Me: Thanks to Gene, I could focus on executing the event and keeping the chefs happy.

3. Leveraging Hyperfocus and Research Skills:

Neurodivergent individuals often hyperfocus on tasks that interest them, diving deep into research and problem-solving.

• Event 1: Using tools like Living Cookbook to meticulously cost recipes.
  • Me: Geeked out over entering ingredient prices and watching the costs change. So satisfying!
• Event 2: Researching and learning new functions in Excel.
  • Me: The coolest part was when a complex function finally worked after hours of trying. Nerdy, but true.
• Event 3: Gathering detailed expectations from chefs and making a structured task list.
  • Me: Prior proper planning prevents piss poor performance, folks. It’s key to having fun while working.

4. Hands-on Learning and Adaptation:

Learning by doing and adapting based on feedback is highly effective.

• Event 1: Actively gathering information and adjusting cost calculations.
  • Me: Loved the investigation and learned a lot in the process.
• Event 2: Learning the FILTER function through trial and error.
  • Me: After days of failure, it finally worked! Left a note in the file explaining it, hoping it’s still there.
• Event 3: Adapting the preparation process based on feedback.
  • Me: Anticipating and reacting to feedback made the experience enjoyable.

5. Organization and Follow-Up with Visual Aids:

Visual aids like checklists and scorecards help in organizing tasks and tracking progress.

• Event 1: Creating a visual scorecard for menu items.
  • Me: Made an Excel workbook. Should’ve put more effort into visuals, but the journey was fun.
• Event 2: Structuring the update process with a step-by-step approach.
  • Me: Solved identified problems systematically and tackled surprises as they came.
• Event 3: Using a task list to assign tasks and follow up.
  • Me: Making task lists was a fun part of the process.

Key Factors for Success for Neurodivergent Individuals

• External Structure: Implementing checklists and schedules to manage tasks.
  • Me: Stop trying to remember everything. Use checklists and reminders. There are so many tools that leverage your phone—no excuses!
• Strength-Based Approach: Leveraging strengths like hyperfocus and problem-solving.
  • Me: Focus on what you’re good at and outsource the rest. Play to your strengths.
• Flexibility and Adaptation: Embracing a flexible approach based on feedback.
  • Me: Love rules for the structure they provide, but knowing where to bend them is key.
• Supportive Environment: Creating an environment with clear instructions and regular check-ins.
  • Me: Check-ins are for me to ensure I’m not missing anything. I’m the one responsible for task completion.

By recognizing and harnessing these strategies, neurodivergent individuals can navigate their unique challenges and leverage their strengths to achieve success.

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The Shameless Plug Section:

So, if you’re vibing with this and want to dive deeper into mastering your ADHD superpowers, check out the book that helped me (affiliate link, no pressure). Who knows, maybe you’ll find it as life-changing as I did. Or at least entertaining.