ADHD and...novelty seeking 🫠

Back in April, I got laid off from my job. It was 3 days before my 4-year anniversary. I know some people with ADHD struggle with staying at a full-time job once the novelty and interest start to wain.

But me? I’m a sticker-arounder. I’m a “no way I’ll quit before I have something else lined up” kind of person. I’m that girl on your team who no longer loves what she’s doing and is burned out af but can’t quit because that feels like failure.

Well, layoffs don’t care if you’re a sticker-arounder. Sometimes, companies have peaks and valleys, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Anyway, I decided to go 100% freelance. Again, probably like a lot of other people with ADHD, the thought of freelancing and choosing who I work with and when I work has been hella appealing for years. But, there’s just no way I would’ve had the guts to do it without the layoff as a kick in the pants.

I mean, beyond getting paid to read books and write about all my special interests, freelancing has got to be the best possible fit for my ADHD, right?

Alright so, there’s this thing about ADHD brains and their love of novelty. Let’s take a quick side quest to find out why:

So let’s just say that starting up a freelance business was the biggest, most exhilarating shiny object for me.

“I could write for them! Or maybe even THEM. I could write about that. Or maybe even THAT. The possibilities!!”

Thankfully, I had a contact that was able to help me locate some writing work, but it wouldn’t start right away, and I was seeking that “getting a client” high. Plus, I didn’t want to put my eggs in one basket (writing). I’m also skilled at SEO, WordPress, and Google Analytics, for example.

So, even though I had some work coming (but didn’t really know how much it would be), I posted about the loss of my job in a local Facebook group.

What came out of it? Two projects with two clients that were potentially ongoing.

And then, the writing work came in. And it was more than I expected. But I really wanted to do all of the articles and all of the projects (and still do).

So now, well, I might be juggling a few too many balls. Or bananas.

I’ve finished quite a few articles at 11 PM on their due date, and had to apologize for pushing other things back.

But the thing is, I like all the things I’m doing. The projects are interesting, the writing is for publications I admire, and I don’t want to give anything up.

Seems like par for the course for an ADHDer, doesn’t it? Picking up new hobbies, saying “yes” to all the opportunities that come along, wanting to experience ALL the things…

And then either stressing more than you’d prefer or burning out. But living with it at the same time? At any rate, I’m trying a new time management thing to help me work when I’m supposed to be working (more on that another day) and just trying out different ways to fit all the pieces together.

Such is life with an interest-based nervous system.

Here’s a recommendation that might help me (and you, reader, if you struggle similarly):