ADHD in the Workplace

Support for navigating work challenges with ADHD — including focus, communication, performance, and workplace relationships.

ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

ADHD, Email and Saving Time
ByMarla Cummins November 29, 2012June 29, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

It may seem that email is an efficient way to communicate. Or is it? How much energy and time do you expend writing, responding to and thinking about your email? Alot, right? For many adults with ADHD, the constant barrage of email can be overwhelming. Having a system for processing your inbox is the first step to reducing this sense of overwhelm. The second step to minimizing the overwhelm you may be feeling is having a set of rules for how you write and respond to your email. Anxious? There may be times when you are simply nervous about responding to an email. When you notice this, ask yourself: Is that you have put off answering for so long that you are embarrassed…

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ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

ADHD and Meetings: How To Take and Use Your Notes
ByMarla Cummins May 31, 2012May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

You walk out of a meeting confident that you have all the information you need. Then later that day or days later you look at your notes. You wonder: What was I supposed to do? What does that mean? What did Joe say about that project? You just can’t remember. Yes, it is that wonky short term memory. Unless you take good notes that you can also decipher later, following up from meetings can be frustrating. At times, it can even be embarrassing, if you need to go back and ask people from the meeting: What did I say I would do? When did you say you wanted the documents? If you find yourself struggling to remember important information later, it is time to stop…

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ADHD in the Workplace | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADHD and Finding Solutions to Problems
ByMarla Cummins March 9, 2012June 18, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

When faced with a problem, it is all too easy to focus on what is wrong. After all it is a problem! And for many adults with ADHD focusing on the problem may lead to endless non-productive ruminating. Can you think of an example in your own life when a problem seemingly hijacked your brain? You may even have tried distracting yourself with a productive activity, like a project, or a non-productive activity, like watching TV. But that was only a temporary fix. The thoughts, like the air from a window that has not been properly sealed, kept seeping back into your brain. And the problem remained! So you thought hard about how to solve the problem. Makes sense. You have a problem. You need…

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ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

Managing Your ADHD At Work
ByMarla Cummins September 21, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

Of course, everyone has challenges at work. However, as an adult with ADHD, you may have greater struggles than your colleagues with issues, like: details and instructions communication follow-through getting places on time stopping and starting tasks There are steps I have outlined below that you can take to address these challenges and create a better work environment for yourself. To cover the widest range of applicable topics, this article is a mix of new writing and links to a few of my old articles. Getting To Work On Time: Getting to work on time sets the stage for the rest of your day. So, if this is one of your challenges, check out Are You Tired of Being Late. Motivation Maybe…

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ADHD in the Workplace | ADHD Time Management | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

Are You Being Productive or Just Working?
ByMarla Cummins December 10, 2010May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Time Management, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

Sometimes I find myself sitting at my desk with no particular objective in mind. It is what I call, Seat Time O’Rama. You know. It is when you are just kinda hanging out because you feel you should be working, but you are not really getting anything done. When I catch myself, I stop, try to figure out what I need in the moment and change course, so that I am not wasting more time. Sometimes what I really need to do is eat, exercise, read, call a friend or family member, take a nap, do housework, take care of finances, make appts or, yes, do another business related task. Being productive isn’t always about doing work.

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ADHD in the Workplace | ADHD Organization | ADHD Time Management | Blog

Who Else Wants to be Productive?
ByMarla Cummins August 11, 2010May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Organization, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Last week my daughter started 3 weeks of overnight camp. As I am self employed, caring for my daughter is one of the few activities that put boundaries around my work. If you have read any of my writing before, you know that I work hard at making values based decisions. And caring for my daughter is one of my highest priorities. So, when the reason for putting aside my work is to step into the role of parenting, it is generally easier for me to stop working. Lack of structure Now that I have literally no parenting responsibilities, other than writing letters to my daughter. I really lack structure and, honestly was a bit adrift for a few days. I could do anything! As…

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ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

ADD – AD/HD and Work: Should I disclose
ByMarla Cummins December 27, 2008April 3, 2026 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

I was at a meeting where the discussion turned to whether or not people with AD/HD should disclose to people at work that they have AD/HD. I came away thinking that, well, it depends. Sorry, but this is an area that does not lend itself to easy answers. Using the following will help you as you consider your options. You do have a choice. Deciding whether to disclose:I may want to disclose because:I hope that the outcome of disclosing is:I will talk to people I trust and can discuss with me all of the potential implications of disclosing. These people are:If I am still not clear on the implication and have more questions, I may talk to: I have decided to disclose and this is…

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ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

Letter to Parents from Teacher With ADHD
ByMarla Cummins December 27, 2008May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

As an adult with ADD and a former teacher, I feel comfortable sharing the letter below. My intent is in keeping with what I believe is the intent of the author, a good laugh! As you know from my previous post, laughter is healthy as long as it is not meant to demean anyone. As the author is unknown, I can not give proper credit. To whomever wrote this, thank you! To all who read this, please enjoy. Last, to all you teachers with ADD, perhaps you will see a little bit of truth in this letter. Letter From Teacher With ADHD To Parents Dear Parents: I am very pleased to be your child’s teacher this year and look forward to working with both you…

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ADHD Communication | ADHD in the Workplace | Blog

Should I Disclose That I Have ADHD To My Employer?
ByMarla Cummins December 10, 2008May 14, 2025 ADHD Communication, ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

In my last blog entry I wrote about making the decision of whether to disclose to your boss and/or colleagues that you have ADHD. In this article, I am looking at an alternative to disclosing. Of course, you may apply these suggestions to disclosing to anyone, such as teachers/professors, friends and extended family members. Rather than disclosing, you may be able to have a conversation in order to accomplish any or all of the following objectives: create a better environment for yourself enhance your relationships be a team player advance your standing in school or career give the impression of being skilled in school or in your job Delivering The Message The key factor is the manner in which the message is delivered. When deciding…

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ADHD in the Workplace | ADHD Time Management | Blog

ADHD and Managing Interruptions
ByMarla Cummins October 17, 2008May 14, 2025 ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Time Management, Blog

On many occasions, my clients ask me how to manage interruptions when they are trying to do work, either in a home office or in a work place. As staying on task for adults with ADHD is often challenging, having outside interruptions can prove to be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back.” There are strategies to handle this, though. Making A Choice Does it seem rude to you not to talk to someone when they come to your office or cube? If it does, you may knowingly or unknowingly be holding one or more the following assumptions. “I have no choice in the matter.” “If I tell someone that I am busy, whatever I say will be rude.” “Since I allow people to…

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