Episode

478: ADHD at work

Podcast: The Bike Shed
Published: Oct 14, 2025
Duration seconds: 2267
Processing state: processed
Canonical source: https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/478
Audio: https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/167c01a1-0eb9-4640-b488-c2f6d6866650/438f04ec-b795-4de9-85fc-d15e46f43b75.mp3
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Markdown: /podcast/the-bike-shed/478-adhd-at-work.md

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Summary

Aji and Sally share personal strategies for managing ADHD in a high-pressure software engineering environment. They discuss the necessity of external systems to combat context switching and time blindness.

Topics

ADHD
Software Engineering
Productivity Systems
Remote Work
Context Switching
Time Management
Neurodiversity
Note-taking

Highlights

Practical takeaway: Use single-threaded workflows and limit 'in-progress' tasks to prevent the cognitive cost of context switching
Failure mode: Relying on internal memory for time-sensitive tasks can lead to 'time blindness,' where only 'now' and 'not now' exist
Main idea: Externalizing reminders via Slack or physical tools like Moleskine notebooks acts as a necessary prosthetic for working memory
Practical takeaway: Use digital 'scratch pads' or task-specific sections to hold information without triggering a full context switch
Main idea: Establishing clear boundaries, such as calendar-blocked lunches or Slack reminders to end the workday, is vital for remote workers

Chapters

1:00 Gem Development Challenges: Sally discusses the complexities of testing a Ruby gem that functions as a generator and relies on external dependencies.
9:15 Managing ADHD at Work: A discussion on the guilt of not having 'perfect' systems and the reality of navigating neurodivergence in a professional setting.
12:05 Note-Taking and Tactile Tools: Exploring the use of physical Moleskine notebooks and fountain pens versus digital tools to anchor focus.
17:40 The Cost of Context Switching: How jumping into Slack or Jira can derail deep work and the importance of maintaining a single-tasking mindset.
23:25 Hyperfocus and Productivity: The double-edged sword of hyperfocus and the ability to produce significant work in short bursts.
31:50 Time Blindness and Reminders: Using automated reminders to navigate the 'now vs. not now' perception of time and managing transitions between work and home life.