The modern day work environment. Cubicles have been replaced with open work spaces. Meeting rooms get turned into war rooms. We get bombarded with notifications from our computers and connected devices like phones, tablets, and smart watches. Week after week our days are filled with meaningful interruptions along with time sucking distractions. How do we ever get work done? Dealing with distractions at work can be difficult for anyone, but toss in ADHD and those distractions become magnified. Larry Gordon will walk you through his experience of being a software engineer with ADHD and will highlight some of the techniques and strategies that helps him stay productive and focused throughout the day.

1. Focusing in a Distracted WorldFocusing in a Distracted World
ForwardJS - July 29, 2015ForwardJS - July 29, 2015

2. Hello Forward JSHello Forward JS

3. I'm a Creative Engineer with a passion for UX
@psyrendust@psyrendustLarry GordonLarry Gordon

5. Types of DistractionsTypes of Distractions
Thoughts
Emotions
Discomfort / Pain
Hunger
Just plain tired
Digital notifications
Phone calls
Emails
People
Clutter
InternalInternal ExternalExternal

6. I don't think I can do it!I don't think I can do it!
Solutions are within reachSolutions are within reach

7. Self ReflectionSelf Reflection

8. Identify areas I would like to changeIdentify areas I would like to change
1. Whats the most important task I should be doing
right now
2. Knowing when to say no and following through
with it
3. Having trouble getting to work at a consistent
time without feeling rushed
4. Not letting social networks suck up my time
5. Building a better routine
6. Finding quiet time at work
7. Rewarding myself often
8. Finding out what makes me thrive

9. 1. What is the most important task1. What is the most important task
I should be doing right now?I should be doing right now?
Using timers to break myself out of what I’m
doing (controlled distraction)
Stop what I’m doing and take a step back
Ask myself "Is this task something I should be
doing right now?"
If not, observe my feelings and surroundings to
understand why I’m doing this task
If the task is important, put it in my task manager
Find the task I should be working on and begin
Rinse and repeat

10. 2. Knowing when to say2. Knowing when to say no andand
following through with itfollowing through with it
I like being helpful, and sometimes helping others
can conflict with the task I'm currently doing
If it's important, discuss it with management
Reprioritize the new task against my current list of tasks
It’s not just about saying no to other people
Being able to say no to yourself

11. 3. Having trouble getting to work at a3. Having trouble getting to work at a
consistent time without feeling rushedconsistent time without feeling rushed
Started to time myself
When did I wake up
How long does it take me to get ready in the
morning
How long does it take me to leave my apartment
and grab my bike?
How long does it take me to bike to BART
What time do I get to BART
How crowded is it at this particular time?
Can I get my bike on BART at this time?
How long is my BART ride
How long is my bike ride to work from BART?
Realizing that getting to home is not the same as
getting to work

12. 4. Not letting social4. Not letting social
networks suck up my timenetworks suck up my time
I only check them during micro gaps
When I’m on my commute
When I’m waiting in line for
something
Anytime I have a few minutes
between something

13. 5. Building a better routine5. Building a better routine
Used all of my time tracking notes
Placed an event in my calendar for each
thing I was doing
Waking up
Getting ready for work
Commuting to work
Lunch
Commuting to home
Decompressing
Making dinner
Eating dinner
Time with my wife
Getting ready for bed
Sleeping

14. 5. Building a better routine5. Building a better routine
I could look at my calendar and know if I
was off my routine
If I was consistently off I would adjust my
routine to account for it
Rinse and repeat until it became a habit

15. 6. Finding quiet time at work6. Finding quiet time at work

16. 6. Finding quiet time at work6. Finding quiet time at work
I observed that it was quiet at work before
8:30am and after 4pm
I adjusted my routine to get to work at 6:30am
I became super productive work
No external distractions
I didn’t check email, use social networks, or
web surf
Worked on my toughest tasks that required
the most concentration
Noise canceling headphones!

17. 6. Finding quiet time at work6. Finding quiet time at work
Negotiated with my manager on a better place to
sit (an area with less foot traffic)
Moved to a corner seat vs in the middle of all
of the teams
Not quite as visible so people were less likely
to just bother me for little things
Worked on getting recurring meetings moved so
that it doesn’t break up the day as much
Worked on instituting no meeting Tuesdays and
Wednesdays
Blocked off the rest of my free time in my
calendar as work time
If someone wanted to schedule something with
me they would have to ask me first

18. 7. Rewarding myself often7. Rewarding myself often
Trying to create a new routine is tough
Make a long term goal
Decide on a reward for when that larger goal is
complete
Also make smaller short term goals
Decide on a reward for those short term goals too
Take a larger or tough task and break it down to
smaller achievements
Then take a moment to reward yourself after you
complete each one
Make sure to enjoy it
Build up a positive experience

19. 8. Finding out what makes me thrive8. Finding out what makes me thrive
Observe my patterns
What was it that made me energetic?
Could I find a job doing that?
Could I make adjustments in my current job to
make me happy?

20. Change is difficultChange is difficult
It won't be easyIt won't be easy

21. Don't Give Up!Don't Give Up!

22. #FocusingInADistractedWorld
Larry Gordon
Thank you!Thank you!
@psyrendust
http://psyrendust.com