What is an ADHD hack to sit in a meeting for a whole week?
I'm condemned to a week-long meeting soon, and it makes me want to put a shotgun in my mouth to even think about it. What can I do to make it more bearable?
Take hand-written notes
Take them in cursive too if you’re not used to it. Learning cursive made taking notes actually pretty fun for me.
A… week long meeting? Surely there’s a more productive use of everyone’s time.
You're right. We should have a meeting to discuss other ways to realize this productivity.
We need a meeting to make the agenda for that meeting. Also, going to need you all to show up in person for team synergy. I'll provide pizza. We're all a big family. Don't worry, I'm grooming you for management.
Do what ADHD people do best. Zone out, and if your name is dropped, zoom backwards what was said and try to catch up before zoning out again.
I used to zone out in this regular multi hour weekly meeting by picking a random co-worker around the table that day and gaming out them snapping.
Like okay today Sue had it and she snaps. Why? Well she found out her husband cheated on her and she's red with rage towards men. First thing to check is if she between me and the door. Okay if it's men who is the closest man to her she will probably be going for him. What weapons could sue have on her she's got her purse so maybe she has pepper spray or a knife. etc. etc.
entertaining enough to make a lot of time slip by, you look like you're thinking and you are looking around at people. And girl if any of those mfers ever snapped I would have got out of there mark my words.
I had one of those. They handed out Starbursts, and I made paper cranes out of the wrappers. Some of the time I doodled. I think most people nowadays understand that doodling doesn't mean you're not paying attention.
In hindsight maybe the paper cranes gave me away a little. But then when it came time to get into the actual meat of the meeting, I gave some really valuable insights and solved a problem that no one else could figure out. As long as you're demonstrating your value, people will be more generous interpreting your behavior.
But every work environment is different. I had a pretty good handle on mine and had already built up a good reputation.
I was in a month-long work orientation completely over Zoom/Teams in 2022. Having 2 monitors and using picture-in-picture mode really helped me avoid losing track of the meeting while multitasking. Play music in the background if you find that helpful.
If this is an in-person meeting, push for more frequent breaks if the host is receptive to that and bring your fidget toys and doodling supplies. Chewing gum also helps me not be too restless, but obviously be respectful and don't chew obnoxiously.
I worked for a company that had Play-Doh, pipe cleaners, scratch pads, and colored pencils for meetings like this. Could you bring things like that?
I fidgeted and made all sorts of stupid things with it, but it worked.
You're not the only person who has discussed fidget peripherals in meetings. Is ADHD awareness at this level in some areas? In what country do you live.
This was in the US, west coast, about 7 years ago.
I'm not entirely sure the company did it purely for ADHD, I think possibly because they knew 8hr meetings 5 days a week were a boring, slog for anyone and they at least acknowledged that one could fidget and still pay attention.
edit: Sadly as with most things in the US, they got acquired by some megacorp and went to crap. Bunch of people I knew laid off. I don't even think the office exists anymore.
Draw
Increased adderall frequency for me, or I’m falling asleep in an hour
Neurotypical people don't have to battle to stay awake during death march meetings?!
I'm a conlanger, so I would just handwrite my notes in my own language and script, and be coining new words as needed. And doodling. Got me through lots of meetings and trainings.
What's a conlanger?
A week-long meeting? That's a fresh new hell I have thankfully managed to dodge at this point.
Bone conduction headphones, music of your choice. Only you can hear the music, and you can still hear everyone else around you as your ears aren't covered.
The hearing aid phones? Can those be used for music!?
It's the same tech but there are some made for music just like regular.
Nah these are specifically meant for music, I have a pair of Shockz but there are cheaper options as well.
I didn't know this was a thing. It it good for loud environments that make you crazy too? Don't suppose noise reduction factors it. I still might consider those just for this application, though.
I'd say so. Having some ambient or instrumental music to occupy my mind a bit makes things less overwhelming. But its not going to block out an airplane or anything.
You can always use them with earplugs, though.
Comp Sci. Slow peers. Droning profs. All day. It could have been hell.
4 colours of easy writing pens and a cover story about taking notes for someone else and there I was, taking notes in 4 colours for easy review and just enough arbitrary framework to keep me distracted.
Now that I one is creative. Sounds hard to do quickly though.
My goto brain game is how many digits of long division I can do just in my head. Usually only like 7-10 cause I'm dumb.
Get into writing your own fiction stuff you're really interested in. My science fiction universe is about the first stage of interstellar colonization. I love working out the technology and what the experience might be like without any fantasy magic involved. The best part is the positivity that comes with imagining a distant future and what is actually possible. It creates perspective about where we are actually at now and how limited it truly is.
Damn, I wish you would share. That sounds so cool.
I write down what people are saying, either typing or in a notebook. These aren't actual notes that can be used later. It's literally "hear word, write down word". I find it helps me to stay concentrated on what is happening. Or at least it prevents me from engaging in other activity.
Bring a quiet fidget toy.
If it is a Zoom meeting, than I just allow myself to run around the room, listening to the meeting on the background.
Otherwise, if it is an in-person meeting, I do lots of things
The most important thing, though, always is to accept the fact that you can miss some parts. Neurotypicals miss bits and pieces of information too — they just don't think it is a bad thing, so it is fine if you miss something, or hear something incorrectly. It is completely fine to ask to repeat something, or to get some information later by asking your colleagues.
Oh oh I've got an actual potentially brilliant solution for you! 😁
It's called an Infinity Cube. I've bought like 20 of them and given most of them away (I have 2 now lol). They're not expensive but they have made a huge difference for me in being able to listen to people, period. I also use it for all the meetings I go to and in fact now I really notice what a struggle I go through if I forget to bring one.
The one I linked is made of smooth black, rigid, silky material and has a perfect weight to it. It's also very quiet so people won't notice you're cycling it. I say cycle because that's kind of what it does in a sort of infinite loop and I think that's why it's so perfect for the brain squirrels.
The other interesting thing I've noticed about it is that people more towards the AuDHD end of the spectrum don't vibe with it at all. Letting someone I'm talking to play with it has almost become a way to stealthily test if they are my flavour of ADHD hehe
Heroin
Bone-conductive headphones.
Lego set. My work offers a sensory room with Lego sets and other stimming toys. I have never listened so well to a meeting as with a new Lego set in front of me.
Take your meds if you have them. And like others said, write yourself a protocol. I personally hate doing that but it's the only way I can stay focused in a meeting. In addition to that, everything I don't immediately write down, I'll forget in the next few minutes. Everyone's always amazed by how well I can recall details of past meetings, when it's actually the opposite lol
Suffer... Just suffer and hope you will survive...
I don't know if I have HELPFUL advice, but I do have a very niche tip. I collect old Gameboy consoles. One of them is a Gameboy Micro. I use it when I'm in long pointless meetings. It's small enough to palm when I'm asked a question.
I have an ongoing game of pokemon Emerald that I only play during meetings. I just beat Winona.