Getting Things Done with ADHD | ADHD Nerds Podcast, Ep. 6

This is episode six of the ADHD Nerds Podcast. Today, I'm talking with Scotty Jackson. Scotty is a self-described productivityist, a digital communications manager, and cohost of the Nested Folders podcast. Nested Folders is a podcast all about productivity and the good and bad of getting things done.
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Original episode released June 25, 2022
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[@roygbivcreations5929]

My adult son was diagnosed in his late 20s he recently lost 3 high paying jobs and is struggling with his depression we want to be supportive and helpful but knowing now by watching this channel that what i think i could say to him might be useless for him because his brain doesn't work like most im glad i stummbled upon this channel

[@do7425]

My job is on the line, 42 year old father of twins and a wife with CF. I think the main cause for it is ADHD... One needs to learn more about it and how to work with it

[@Just_Me_Being_Myself]

I was just diagnosed at 32, I found the KZbin channel 'how to adhd' very interesting and I also like the podcast 'hacking your adhd'. Today I also received a book that my therapist told me to read and at first glance it does look interesting. It's 'the adult ADHD tool kit' from J.Russell Ramsey and Anthony L. Rostain. Maybe this information can also help you. From 'how to adhd' the videos on the wall of awful and the motivational bridge, are the ones that resonated with me the most.

[@todddavidsonp2pcoaching]

​@@Just_Me_Being_Myself Thanks for the recommendation. I've just downloaded the sample chapter 😁

[@mattng4707]

How was he diagnosed do you just ask your GP?

[@roygbivcreations5929]

@@mattng4707 he was diagnosed by a psychiatrist he had a great therapist but then lost her he then struggled with different therapist but here just recently he told me that he is seeing his favorite therapist again and is doing really well I so pray that it keeps going well he is a brilliant computer engineer but unfortunately struggles with depression associated with ADHD which in turn effects his jobs

[@Comedy4cast]

BTW, one tip I have when I say "Oh, I'll remember that." I immediately say "What in my history leads me to believe that I will remember that?" I admit there is no history there and I try to write it down or somehow otherwise make remembering it next to impossible. Of course (and maybe others can relate to this), if I write it down, it will be in one of the 15 active notebooks I have scattered around. So, still work to be done there. (and no, I do not always carry my phone with me).

[@DD-er6lv]

The agony of performing monotonous admin tasks at work is so true. I can’t stand it.

[@BlurredUniverse357]

Being military, my life and anxiety has been through the roof each and every week. Each week gets harder to focus. I always thought I was eating so poorly it was causing me to feel funky. Man, I remember in high school struggling to get work done, but I would do it. I love history and have so many issues with reading. I dunno how I have survived!

[@peachykeen7634]

15:55 “ I have so much faith in future Jesse!” Y’all are my people! I say this about myself all the time. And when I actually set myself up for success, I thank my past self lol

[@CriminalMindscape-jl8im]

High functioning ADHDer here 🙋🏻‍♀️ we learn how to mask really well. Until we can’t. Hello mental breakdown!

[@idelisab2621]

Tell us your secret!

[@KhayaliDalma]

That's a podcast I would listen to.

[@calebdeming5515]

You are my spirit animal sir. I finally feel like there is another person with my specific set of things

[@Thalanox]

I'm glad that this is one of the few ADHD videos I've seen that doesn't have the comments filled with people just saying that we're all just lazy and need to try harder, like everyone else can.

[@carochan86]

My Kindergarten teacher told my Mom she thought I had ADHD. My parents got me checked and they didn't find anything. K-12 there was a pattern to follow. I could pass by . Then I got to college I couldn't pass any of my classes . My parents had diagnosis of different things but I didn't have anything. I thought that was strange. So 19 I got diagnosed.

[@Plethorality]

Congratulations on sticking up for yourself.

[@fightington]

it's crazy that my reaction was, oh so glad found out so young at 19! but it's so sad/annoying how took so long. was first reaction i had because i didnt find out till 38

[@carochan86]

@@fightington I feel like thats the way it was in the 90's. Females weren't known for having Adhd. I hope some of your parents habits and skills they taught you have helped you . Were your parents ever diagnosed? How has things changed since you were diagnosed?

[@AgentCathy]

As a child I was told that I was “hyper” and “clumsy.” I always struggled to remember things so I struggled in school. Never felt I was good enough. I was finally diagnosed at 48 years of age.

[@EsmereldaPea]

Same with college. But I didn't get diagnosed until age 60. It has changed my life. (And I did go back and get my BA at 53. But could not hold a job at the same time.) I hope that you live a wonderfully neurodivergent life!

[@rebeccathorne8548]

"I'm doing all that, but in my mind...." I feel so seen! So true.

[@BlurredUniverse357]

SAME!!!

[@bodine219]

Great content. I'm in the process of getting diagnosed. I'm a writer and decided to write a character with ADHD because some of my male cousins have it and I thought representation that wasn't played for comedy would be nice. And in the process of researching for that story I discovered that a LOT of what I thought was normal was in fact...not. Funny thing is, I mask so well that my family absolutely does not believe me but I have zero doubts now that I know what ADHD *is*. I had 0 understanding of ADHD pre-research and I have never felt so seen or so...okay.. Lived life falling short of my potential and semi-burned out from trying to fit the mold. 😅

[@Plethorality]

Good on you for self diagnosis and insight. I didn't find out until I was wondering about Parkinson's. Both are low dopamine problems.

[@RandomPrecision01]

Definite +1 with the lists/brain externalization. I was a nerd for productivity tools for a very long time, but none of them ever stuck until I found Workflowy. Basically just a list app that lets you nest and collapse bullets. That VERY simple functionality just somehow jives with how my brain works, putting things in boxes within boxes within boxes. Thanks so much for the GTD interpretation, too, I want to revisit that!

[@soicybunny]

Both of you, many thanks for this. I was diagnosed at the age of 27 two years ago. Despite having siblings who had also been diagnosed in their preteen and teen years, it wasn't until that "breakdown" in my adult life, when responsibilities inevitably accumulated, that I sought professional help from a psychiatrist. i suddenly couldn’t handle anything, but everyone thought i was the one who could _somehow_ Masking IS a skill, but I never knew what else I might have been because I relied solely on the opinions of others. Indeed, the process of reprogramming and endeavoring to establish structure in both my professional and personal life is exceedingly challenging. Essential support is my psychiatrist, and praise God she is that support. I try to read, research, and be patient with myself, as much as I can about it all..and, in my experience, the majority of the people in your life are unconcerned about ADHD, and there are numerous skeptics regarding treatment options. I discover hope and healing in videos such as this one. Many gratitude to all of you! ❤

[@beaububbles9266]

I have a running to do list document that I default to every morning, and the stages of evaluating how I will productive on any given day closely follows your system. So hard to put into words, so thank you for doing it for me.

[@TinksTravelingFarm]

Everything you have said makes my life makes sense!! Everything!!! I'm downloading this!!!

[@selikalawton3954]

What you said about trouble filing the reports ... thank you.

[@Plethorality]

Thank you. And comments sections keep us concentrating ; )

[@casandrakat3274]

soo this resonated with me 😅 . I heard every word though :)

[@KevinLynchMusic]

The report card thing is so funny. We shredded a lot of old documents a few years back and a lot of the school psychologists and teachers wrote that I couldn’t sit still. Would get up and wonder the classroom. Looked outside a lot. Couldn’t stay quiet and would make loud outbursts randomly. It was interesting to read!

[@Piyestagram]

anyone else feel like theyre good at everything they do but just don't wanna do them? good at everything, but suck at getting them done type of dealio

[@chriswftdj]

The opening line blew my mind

[@elclaustrocl]

THank you guys, you helped and saved another person's chance to happiness :) I'm deeply thankful. Regards from Chile

[@SuziQ-fg4ee]

Hi. Great content yet again. Thank you. I also brain dump all of my random ideas onto lists and post its, but I really struggle with the next step of actually seeing the actions through. Things just stay on the lists and I just forget to look at them and get things done. Any tips or advice on this?

[@amirtad]

I am experiencing the same problem. When I break down the project into tasks and go back to read it, each task gets its own working memory space. It's because my brain loads all those things into working memory at the same time and tries to resolve them all at the same time. Additionally, I do them while daydreaming and clearly see what steps I need to take. But most of the time due to the slower pace in real life, it becomes boring and exhausting.

[@SuziQ-fg4ee]

@@amirtad I understand how hard it is to stay focused on everything

[@Plethorality]

Do themes. Like, when my house gets messy...( Most of the time,) I get stuck in bed with overwhelm.. not the most fun bedfellow.. if I break things into smaller tasks, at the beginning, it's too much. Where to start? I can't because, etc.. but if I just do a theme. Just one.. tidy the bedroom.. ok. That means listen to something interesting, gather clothes from around the house and put them away. It takes as long as it takes. Rushing and timers can confuse me. Then pick stuff up off the floor, make the bed, tidy surfaces, it doesn't matter what order, (despite my autistic rigidity I still need freedom). And then t least something is done. And it is visually measurable. Another break, then another room. I leave the vacuuming for an all at once job, or it will live in the middle of a room for ... Weeks. Adding to the overwhelm but not getting used.

[@SuziQ-fg4ee]

@@Plethorality I have also discovered how useful scheduling things has been for me. I book tasks into my diary for the week ahead. I still don't always get them done, but at least it keeps them 'live' for me and not just stuck on a random list somewhere! Lists just don't work for me because I never remember to look at them.

[@BlurredUniverse357]

YES!!! MY DESKTOP IS COVERED in projects and ideas.

[@maglorluinwe]

I just want to thank you both. I've saw a previous video (now I cannot find it) that profoundly resonated with me where Jesse explains about ADHD and, until that point, I had no idea that I could have some condition like this and I'm going to my Neuro Psychologist for the fifth session now, doing some tests, to determine if I am an ADHD person or not (I'm pretty sure I have at least some traces), so thanks Jesse. Then, I've found this video I'm commenting where they talk about Bullet journal and, oh my! I was a little skeptical at first as I'm an IT professional and deal with my tasks and organizational systems in databases, with lots of rules and automated calculations. I'm happy with that, but it takes too much time to maintain and I end up working more on my productivity system then actually doing stuff. If I use some simpler way of organizing myself electronically, I'm never happy because it lacks the complexity I need sometimes... And then I bought the book about Bullet Journalling from Ryder Carroll and read through it while I was also preparing my bujo... I started using it, then came back to the databases... and realize it was too complex... then I gave bujo a second chance... and then, finally, a third chance... and I guess now I'm finally using it the way it should be used, as simple as possible and as complex as I really need (not overcomplicating it). It just works. Thanks again, I'm doing a lot more work than I ever did nowadays (a couple of weeks really using it as it should be used) and I dare to say I've never being so organized in my life now. Thanks a ton; keep up the good work, Jesse!

[@notaprogamer2782]

"And i need to text my mom back" I resonated with that line. My dad lets me drive his truc to work but as long as i text him to and from. Of course i forget to text sometimes. But one time he came back from his own job just to find me and threaten not to let me drive it anymore. As if i was the problem. As if i was purposefully forgetting. As if i didnt have other things on my mind besides when i go to work. I find myself tearing up in my room questioning my life, and bawling in my car, because i know that no one can hear me. Every day i feel attacked. Thank you for making this video and spreading awareness.

[@gj1695]

I can so relate to this guy -- who articulates my struggles beautifully.

[@EsmereldaPea]

I may edit this several times as I watch the video, but boy can I relate! I too can see complex patterns and solve complex patterns. But ckeaning up after I cook? Doing laundry? Paying bills (autopay is a gidsend!)? Nope. Also - thinking about a task 10 times or 10 different ways and then freaking out because your brain then thinks it has 10 discrete tasks!

[@deeslifestyleloves]

"Edges start to crack". This!

[@Comedy4cast]

Long-time ADD sufferer (and very late diagnosed) first time listener. LOL! Thanks for helping the cause.

[@GoQuokka.GoQuokka]

So bold of you to assume that I'll be able to focus for 30 minutes for a convo I keep zoning out in between of.

[@cornpopper4921]

I could never hide my ADHD. I'm pretty much a failure in everything I've done or tried.

[@adriansalinas1862]

Then watch more ADHD KZbin videos

[@theshadow6273]

Not to be a dick but negative self talk in the youtube comments section isnt really going to help you acheive the things you set out to do. Maybe talk to your therapist about things you can do to get out of the behavioral loop of negative self talk.

[@wynnebritton1]

I have the ReMarkable, love it too, was really disappointed that I couldn't transfer my kindle books. Going to have to work out the downloading of books onto it. I was gutted because I bought it just before the second version came out, which so much better.

[@SpregioCheeks]

Ha, this man has the ADHD of my fiance, she loves project mgmt, and is a systems analyst for a medical device company, and then when he said the lego plants, i was like WoW! She has both the orchids, and the succulent set and also loves those wooden Gear puzzles, we have a bunch of them. . im the "non list like ADHD" creative tech person, building PCs, monkeying around with my pc, playing video games, drawing, playing music, snowboarding, biking. I don't want to do anything administrative. But With my meds, I can do those things, but nothing to the extent of my hyper focus I get on things I enjoy. Like video editing and motion graphics, I lock it in doing that stuff.

[@deadbolt91765]

This was really helpful

[@ольга-п4я]

I have loop around productivity tool) Chose 5 things that matter and every time you tired, you switch to next, not to stupid youtube mind comsuming stuff and if I am tired to loop, I do nothing until I am bored anough to do one of 5 things.

[@willmckenna9423]

I feel like my anxiety has gotten worse since being on the medication for ADHD.

[@VicodinElmo]

Not unusual. They are ultimately still stimulants

[@ilikefunbetterthanu]

The first few weeks can be rough. But also, I found that Vyvanse (extended release) made me super anxious while I was on it, but when I got onto Dex (short release) my anxiety left (until the crash lmao). I don't know much about it but perhaps different meds might be better for you specifically.

[@SashaNever]

I was diagnosed with ADHD at seven years old and I want to start a KZbin channel however I feel super unsuccessful because everywhere else in life I failed and I’m afraid to take meds and I just everywhere and I just want to success

[@Thalanox]

Don't commit to a schedule. Treat the channel (don't only look at YT as a host) like a sketchbook. Something to add stuff to once in a while.

[@Christie-EnergyHealing]

It's really sad the amount of teachers who are non educated about these children, im experiencing it right now with a young teacher at my sons school.

[@casandrakat3274]

It’s unfortunate but i’d have to agree with you on this. I am a teacher and with having ADHD, I not only sympathize but empathize with the child . I implement so much more than “time extended “ to task which I find ..comical . For those who truly understand ADHD , know that time is expendable. I modify assignments quietly with the child and work with the parent to inform the family of these modifications. Chunking information , color coding, bold / italic font, close proximity to teacher , positive reinforcement, students working not just at their desks but around the around (freedom to move), cooperative learning groups , frequent brain breaks(which all students benefit from) and much more… Not acknowledging a student with ADHD adequately with proper interventions can not only have short term, but long term effects . Emotionally , socially, and academically. How do I know this .. I was that child. “Gifted” yet so misunderstood. As I got older, and more confident with accepting myself as someone who has ADHD.. It is very important to me to advocate for my students. There is a very skewed and misinformed perception of ADHD , and some teachers , not all.. do not have the proper training. I am a general education teacher. Make no mistake, whether a special education or general, a teacher should be able to modify accordingly. This is to ensure success for the child in all facets - socially , emotionally, and academically .

[@Christie-EnergyHealing]

@@casandrakat3274 it was really hard for my kid to go to school last year, thankfully thus summer he got a bit more mature, and the new teacher is way more skilled and understanding, we are happy this year, and thank you for bringing awareness to out culture and society about adhd people.

[@deeslifestyleloves]

I just discovered the lego botanicals. I love them

[@hugocast]

Loved this episode! I still remember seeing Scotty do one of the OmniFocus setup showcases :)

[@BadSquiddoGames]

This was great!

[@notimetothink6786]

where's the summary for those having trouble focusing so we can also check out the notes?

[@MBoshnaf]

I'm utterly panicing over the Idea that every single semptem on every single episod is describing a part of my life that I couldn't understand amazed that a key can be hidden until you're 30 and in totaly defrint life in another contenant than the one I was born in and just everything is difrent becouse of that

[@JS-mq6ve]

TLDR: This is the exact topic I was looking for which both addresses the handwriting piece and the task management... BUT can you go into more detail with STRATEGIES that DO work and why (with regards to ADHD)? E-ink, notecard, etc. Ridiculously long ramble: I know for sure handwriting out my thoughts is critical. Externalizing thoughts, yes. Yet, what I do from there is a clusterf**k. A gagillion paper and digital notes (across multiple platforms) that get so lost and disorganized in my (lack of) system. I have a bunch of notes on the same platform with just slight variations that all go into the abyss and it means I'm repeating processes over and over and over. Memory is a major issue like you said. But so is any type of little user friction. I've tried, oh I've tried to slim down my system. Just use google drive and have a good folder system, upload handwritten notes there (rocketbook or similar). Nope. I've spent an insane amount of time researching e-ink tabs lately or regular tablets for notetaking, but I'm skeptical it will work for me due to user friction with syncing, still feeling lost on how to create a simple workflow, and all the devices/apps seem to have their holes. Nothing seems to be able to do all of the things well in terms of cross platform/OS integration and functionality, OCR, adding voice/audio clips, excellent handwriting experience, handwriting to text conversion, auto-sync, auto-restore, etc.. E-ink is so so appealing, but if there isn't friction-less (or at least friction-minimal) syncing and integration with non-native apps, I don't see this working. Please.... help!!!!

[@beyondallreason-du4pq]

I didn't think I had it too since i could sit still but my brain would be all over the place I've trI'd every neurotically person methods of productivity it doesn't work for me

[@TheCuriousCorrespondent]

First Came Stimulus Augmentation, Where Specific Stimuli is Magnified or Amplified to a Degree that I am Beyond Anxiety Attacks...Its Terror. For Me its Fireworks, Guns, Baloons, bread bags blowing up, backfires...One Year I went to a Circus and there Was a Cannon Off to the side. I was literally on pins & Needles...couldnt enjoy the circus...until the cover came off. I left my seat...down 2 flights of stairs...ran through the halls of the auditorium for about a block...outside, and across the street...wondering if I was far enough away. Im Better With Age...but as A Kid Id dit under the covers all day on July 4...Fingers in ears. Nowadays They Shoot For Up to 2 Weeks...I cover my windows and get loud movies. Recently I got high end headphones that help a lot. Then came personality...INTP...Actually Has Similat Characteristics to ADHD I said all that to say this...ADHD Is Just One Facet of My Multifaceted "Soul"? "Being "? Whatever..,But The Combination of the 3 Makes Me Super Difficult to Comprehend. It Also Makes Me Super Interesting. 😎

[@mattng4707]

Kobayashi OMG 😱😱😱😱😱 I hyper focus for 3 months for stupid things. Can u explain why is it soooo hard to do fill in the blacks like admin ..ADMIN ... araghhhhhhh

[@BlurredUniverse357]

I can't tell you how many times I start episodes of historical documentaries and I have to pause and restart at the exact time....

[@cellinoina9555]

14:00

[@sportsmen4569]

I need to get somethings done right now... ':D

[@EsmereldaPea]

Oh wow. Just realized youre tye ADHD Jesse I follow on Twitter. Surprised it took the algorithm a year and a half to serve you up to me on KZbin! Sunscrobing.

[@Renee_egan]

Ohhh my God!!! I want the remarkable!!! 😍😍I already wanted the remarkable... Damn you!!!! Lmao now im going to end up spending a ton of money 😂😂

[@HookahStank]

I think ADHD is both the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed condition there is. Half of the kids diagnosed with it don't really have it, and half of the ones who do have it never get diagnosed because we have this false assumption that ADHD always means physically hyperactive, when more times than not it's the exact opposite. It usually presents itself as someone being stressed or worn out easily, and the kids who are "overactive" are just normal kids with a lot of energy to spend, and we wonder why they can't sit still in a boring classroom all day so we slap the ADHD diagnosis on them so we can stick em on drugs to get them to behave better in a system that wasn't built for growing, curious human minds.

[@MrBeardmaster]

How does this channel feel about medication?

[@rb.x]

Don’t know about the channel but I will never get medicated. Sounds like an unnatural thing that will lead to side effects. Pharma industry has a lot of bad things to answer for.

[@douglasphillips1203]

Oh My God ... I just found this and listening to Scotty was like a playback of my childhood (sans buttons)!

[@malakiblunt]

"i was a stright A student" "im now going to completly overwhelm you with my riduclously complex organisation method"

[@XEONFX23]

bruh i see a bunch of talks and stuff but how the fuck do i fix it! This is so much bullshit

[@KhayaliDalma]

Trust me I feel you. How do I solve it! Gimme a solution!

[@nellkellino-miller7673]

Amphetamines are useful functional drugs, but definitely not should be a substitute for adjusting the environment. If you need a pharmaceutical chemical to adjust to an environment, you're simply in the wrong environment.

[@flyingfox707b]

Try a notebook.

[@cafangytang1700]

this is satire right lol

[@KhayaliDalma]

And you think we haven't?

[@brandonsmith2735]

you're face is too close the camera

[@SashaNever]

I just noticed this and I’m bothered by it now

[@Renee_egan]

Another one of your videos that HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD 🙌🏼 holy f*^# did this ever lol That is so sweet about the succulents and orchids as a sort of wedding theme for you and your wife, and you love your lego, and BAM!: LEGO succulents for your desk, beautiful representaion 🫶🏼 I had a shit psych but I eventually got my diagnosis, what a validating moment that was on its own, but that dr retired with out passing me to another dr and im worried I now have to do it all over again, fight for my diagnosis just so I can continue to with with my adhd as opposed to against... Well its still always going to be a fight but its not as antagonistic as it used to be now that Ive had a "medical professional" diagnose me; all the people who told me "theres nothing wrong with you, you need to try harder".... Wish thing someone can say! When i was already trying my absolute hardest, and everyone tells you your not actually trying in their opinion... which is so beyond discouraging and heart breaking- for lack of better words) - on its own... But suddenly they kinda ease up... A bit. You guys said it earlier in the video; people who dont have it will NEVER understand the constant struggle and roller coaster. But it was an improvement so.... Any recommendations on how to find a new dr and get on the right treatment plan to try to manage being productive and maintain a professional career? Im going to run out of steam eventually, my sleep is BEYOND messed among other things, but I already fight to stay awake at work at times and Ive previously lost a job opportunity from completely sleeping through too many alarms and being hours late to work two days in one week (one hour first day, and then the whole week went down hill after that, and two days later I was like 2.5-3 hours late... And I literally had 5 different alarms set and had a friend call me a many times that morning with a wake up call that I also slept right through) and the emotional up and down... Thats exhausting also 😂 but then I cant sleep, right? Adhd is one big paradox it feels like some times Thanks for another amazingly encouraging video! Im going to go check out the other chanel too! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼