GTD and ADHD: How well does it work?

[jwsamuel]

I have ADHD (diagnosed) and use GTD somewhat successfully. I think one of the keys to helping someone with ADHD adopt GTD is to avoid trying to introduce them to the entire system at once. That can get overwhelming. I've been using it for several years and still do not use it to its entire capability.

I think if you get them to use the concepts of capturing everything and periodic reviews of their lists, that will be immensely helpful. The simpler you can make it, the better. Contexts, for example, should be as few as possible. I use three - work, home, and personal.

I do a Sunday evening review of my lists and develop a list of what I want to get done in the week ahead from all contexts. Then, I look at my weekly list each morning and pick what I want to do that day.

I don't use any of the high-level, 30-foot stuff. That is where the GTD system becomes overwhelming to me and I begin to lose interest.

I also recommend GTD for Teenagers over the full book for people just getting started. I wish David Allen had called it GTD for Beginners instead.

 

[gtdstudente]

I have ADHD (diagnosed) and use GTD somewhat successfully. I think one of the keys to helping someone with ADHD adopt GTD is to avoid trying to introduce them to the entire system at once. That can get overwhelming. I've been using it for several years and still do not use it to its entire capability.

I think if you get them to use the concepts of capturing everything and periodic reviews of their lists, that will be immensely helpful. The simpler you can make it, the better. Contexts, for example, should be as few as possible. I use three - work, home, and personal.

I do a Sunday evening review of my lists and develop a list of what I want to get done in the week ahead from all contexts. Then, I look at my weekly list each morning and pick what I want to do that day.

I don't use any of the high-level, 30-foot stuff. That is where the GTD system becomes overwhelming to me and I begin to lose interest.

I also recommend GTD for Teenagers over the full book for people just getting started. I wish David Allen had called it GTD for Beginners instead.

How about GTD for Dummies?

 

[ivanjay205]

Without writing a whole book on ADHD, I will just say that ADHD is MUCH MUCH more than racing thoughts. People with ADHD have challenges with working memory (they are very forgetful), time management, prioritization, procrastination, organization, impulse control, and many other areas. Individuals with ADHD are frequently driven to task due to urgency which is why they can be chronic procrastinators. The other big challenge with people with ADHD is follow through and that's where I really see GTD becoming a challenge for them because the system is built on the premise that everything is written down and the subsequent workflow that happens. Failure to consistently use the system will make it unreliable and we are back to square one and the person stops using it. Not sure if this is descriptive enough for someone who is not well versed on ADHD to understand, but I do see some significant challenges with GTD and moderate to severe ADHD and I would like to hear from those with the condition who tried it.

Could not agree more. My son is diagnosed ADHD and very high functioning ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). I am a big fan of GTD, love it, and can follow it. I could not see him succeeding with it. Granted he is still young. But to have the cognitive pause to think "I need to check my list" to me goes against the direct challenge with ADHD. First off, if he has that thought, by the time he goes to do it his mind will be on the next thing and 6 after that and checking the list will never happen. Even taking the minute to pause and write things down. I just could not see it.

Now that being said the list aspect would help him tremendously. In working with his behavioral specialists, OT, etc. a common suggestion of lists came up. We literally have them laminated on his walls in his room. When he is on them he is ON THEM. One of the things many experience with ADHD / ASD is basically an OCD type of experience. So when we are in follow the list mode he is on a mission. In the morning, when he is on top of it, you cannot speak to him until he is done with his lists or it throws him off and he needs to start over.

The problem is after a week or two he loses sight of it (typically once the structure is gone from school over a weekend). Now we have to fully reboot or we are a train off the tracks.

So the system itself I think would help A LOT. However, I am not sure (unless my son is just too young to be able to manage this) that it is feasible to really stay on the system in a healthy way (not compulsive and not leaving it). Interesting thoughts though!

 

[StricklingGTD]

The medication I am prescribed for ADHD, helps for staying on task. To really function correctly however, I still must combine it with GTD.