Joshua Valdez

“The ADHD Advantage—Creativity Work with people who balance out your weaknesses. If you struggle with structure and focus, find someone who complements you in those areas. Get organized—but not too organized. If you have ADHD, this might not be your strong suit, but it’s necessary in order to channel your abilities. Practice and become good enough at organizing. Write down your ideas. If you have a rapid stream of ideas, there is a significant risk that you might forget them as quickly as they come to you. Make a habit of carrying pen and paper with you, or taking notes on your phone. Force yourself to prioritize. Write down your ideas and select one or a few that you like the best. Break down the work into several smaller tasks, where you aren’t allowed to move on to the next until you have completed the one you are currently working on. Also break down problems into smaller parts so they don’t feel insurmountable and cause you to lose interest. This has to do with your brain’s desire for quick rewards. Let there be chaos if that’s what works! My desk (to be honest, my entire apartment) looks like a bomb has struck when I’m writing a book. Articles, books, notebooks and Post-it notes are scattered everywhere. When I tidy up, I often notice that I forget what isn’t right in front of me. It’s as if I’m tidying away some of my thoughts. For instance, I can sometimes make unexpected connections when I see two books lying next to each other—“what if you could apply this way of thinking to that area?” I have realized that I’m at my most creative in a moderately chaotic environment. If you are the same, let it be (reasonably) chaotic around you—but don’t use that as an excuse not to tidy up!”
― Anders Hansen, Unlocking the ADHD Advantage: Why Your Brain Being Wired Differently Is Your Superpower