I always thought that multitasking was the worst idea but one of my best friends who has adhd often seems to do 2+ things at once if he's trying to get hard/boring work done. Realising I have adhd I've tried to loosen up and not feel bad about multitasking and this video has helped so much. I was looking for someone to explain it and that's what you did!
So that’s why work is so much more difficult if I don’t have music playing! My work is very fast paced, detail oriented, and requires a lot of thought and focus (I’m a pharmacist). This is brilliant. Ty!
I have ADHD and I love to listen to audiobooks when I'm walking or working out at the gym. It is the only way to listening without wondering off. Now I can understand why. ❤
Thank You for the video! In school I noticed that I would comprehend the lesson better and hear the teacher more clearly if I was doodling in my notebook at the same time. I could actually hyperfocus on the subject. If I didn't doodle, I would start losing focus and start daydreaming. However, for me listening to music that has lyrics is super distracting while working or studying.
I multi-task a good 50+ odd hours a week while working a manual trade job or doing hobby stuff. Keeps my brain entertained at the same time. I worry that when I eventually get ADHD drugs they might prevent me multitasking when that’s an important part of my life. Naturally I’m multi tasking and writing this comment while listening to you talk. You’ve reminded me of a Zumba class I loved going to for years to the teacher retired due to injury. I do totally find my mind wandering during my glow stick rave dance class these days though.
This is so interesting and helpful!! Im a cleaner; music and audiobooks help me get through the mundane repetitive tasks. However if the tasks then become slightly more stressful due to timings and remembering tiny details (guests come in at a certain time and some cottages have a million details to remember to check off), then the music becomes a hindrance. Always wondered why til now!!
Tetris and audiobooks become a bit like one is a fidget toy for the other action. I used to write multiplication tables on the covers on my math notebooks whilst listening to my lectures in primary school I guess it would be... sometimes I became a bit to focused on what I was writing, now days I do sudoku styled games while listening to books. Or practicing writing the alphabet with my somewhat less dominant and definitely less used to writing with hand. Or multiplication tables... I'm not sure if I might have the non hyperactive style of adhd but I'm definitely autistic and dyslectic. And some of your tips and other ADHD youtuber's tips and tricks work's really well for me. Like having a plethora of similar versions of routines so I get some verity and stability at the same time because I definitely need that novelty aspect in my day, as well as more structure but a strict routine just doesn't work. Need sameness and change at the same time... which seems to be a common theme for lot of AuDHDers as well as ADHDers surviving in a neurotypical system.
Doodling while listening helps me focus better, both on the phone and when I'm playing roleplaying games in person at a table with friends. I interrupt less and struggle less if my hands are moving a pen or marker while I listen. I remember better, too. Cuddling with one of my cats, with her pinning my arm so I can't get up, also helps my mind not wander off from the video I'm watching. Tactile, casual comfort is key for keeping me grounded in both these situations, instead of my mind wandering off elsewhere.
I think this was useful but I wasn't doing anything else and my thoughts wandered off in the middle. Will re-watch. I do find sometimes that heavier/faster music holds my attention way better when doing something else, even if I'm not in a particularly heavy mood.
Mine has been audiobooks or similar and sleeping. I can’t switch my brain off without input, and even when I was a child, my dad would record stuff off the radio for us all to listen to at night
So I film my RUclips stuff on my phone but also find myself wanting to watch RUclips videos or listen to podcasts whilst building the models I'm filming. It's a challenge and I've tried to listen to podcasts on my Alexa but it has a fault where it randomly skips back 10 minutes - infuriating! Maybe I need another phone? 😅 I can do chores much more easily when listening to podcasts - except putting clothes away. That can get in the bin.
I have to be doing something while listening to an audiobook or podcast or I cannot focus. If I’m just sitting at my desk, it needs to be mindless like Minecraft. I’ll just run in circles in the game, but I can completely follow without rewinding a million times. Same if I’m cleaning or working. I think I’ll redownload Tetris though. I used to be pretty good.
I play Candy Crush while listening to RUclips videos at double speed. My Achilles heel is linguistic multitasking. As long as the secondary activity is non-linguistic (like Candy Crush or Tetris) it works well for me.
Non-linguistic is a great way to put it. When there's two linguistics things going on I feel like my head will explode. People who try to have another conversation whilst on the phone to someone stress me out 🤣
I'm curious what you mean by admin tasks. I think of admin tasks as things like reminding myself to do things or logging what I've been doing etc and those require focus and lack of distraction for me or I'll forget what I'm doing. Also, I'm sitting and pulling roots out of potting mix so I can reuse it while I'm listening to this :)
Good question - for me things like scheduling stuff in my calendar, buying things online or writing emails that don't require a lot of thinking, I can do whilst watching something (as long as I've watched it before and don't really need to pay attention). Whereas I couldn't do that with things that require me to follow instructions or do things in a set order. It's interesting to hear how it's different for different people :)
Yep... I play with a rubic's cube sometimes when I need to focus on a presentation or coversation with multiple people. I don't know the solution to the cube (I haven't looked it up or figured it out yet) so it stimulates my math-side of brain while I listen with my language-side of brain. I used to do math stims a lot as a kid, like counting tiles or street lights. Music stims too, like clacking my teeth to a rythm or singing. Kind of similar. I've been trying to do mainly tacktile stimming like playing with stimming toys or knitting, since I learned about my adhd, but it doesn't always work. Perhaps I should try different things with different tasks.
Do anyone else be come calmer when listening to really not normally calming music, for me Sugar by System of a Down has calmed me down about since the song was released. Whilst music that usually people pick as calming tunes just stresses me out... sorry of topic
I start on Ritalin today... bit nervous. But hopeful. Your videos have been super helpful Rachel, keep up the great work. Let's see how my multi-tasking goes now :)
I always thought that multitasking was the worst idea but one of my best friends who has adhd often seems to do 2+ things at once if he's trying to get hard/boring work done. Realising I have adhd I've tried to loosen up and not feel bad about multitasking and this video has helped so much. I was looking for someone to explain it and that's what you did!
So that’s why work is so much more difficult if I don’t have music playing! My work is very fast paced, detail oriented, and requires a lot of thought and focus (I’m a pharmacist). This is brilliant. Ty!
I have ADHD and I love to listen to audiobooks when I'm walking or working out at the gym. It is the only way to listening without wondering off. Now I can understand why. ❤
Thank You for the video!
In school I noticed that I would comprehend the lesson better and hear the teacher more clearly if I was doodling in my notebook at the same time. I could actually hyperfocus on the subject. If I didn't doodle, I would start losing focus and start daydreaming. However, for me listening to music that has lyrics is super distracting while working or studying.
I multi-task a good 50+ odd hours a week while working a manual trade job or doing hobby stuff. Keeps my brain entertained at the same time. I worry that when I eventually get ADHD drugs they might prevent me multitasking when that’s an important part of my life. Naturally I’m multi tasking and writing this comment while listening to you talk. You’ve reminded me of a Zumba class I loved going to for years to the teacher retired due to injury. I do totally find my mind wandering during my glow stick rave dance class these days though.
This is so interesting and helpful!! Im a cleaner; music and audiobooks help me get through the mundane repetitive tasks. However if the tasks then become slightly more stressful due to timings and remembering tiny details (guests come in at a certain time and some cottages have a million details to remember to check off), then the music becomes a hindrance. Always wondered why til now!!
Yessss!
Tetris and audiobooks become a bit like one is a fidget toy for the other action.
I used to write multiplication tables on the covers on my math notebooks whilst listening to my lectures in primary school I guess it would be... sometimes I became a bit to focused on what I was writing, now days I do sudoku styled games while listening to books. Or practicing writing the alphabet with my somewhat less dominant and definitely less used to writing with hand. Or multiplication tables... I'm not sure if I might have the non hyperactive style of adhd but I'm definitely autistic and dyslectic. And some of your tips and other ADHD youtuber's tips and tricks work's really well for me. Like having a plethora of similar versions of routines so I get some verity and stability at the same time because I definitely need that novelty aspect in my day, as well as more structure but a strict routine just doesn't work. Need sameness and change at the same time... which seems to be a common theme for lot of AuDHDers as well as ADHDers surviving in a neurotypical system.
Yes! Definitely like a fidget toy. And yes to sameness and change at the same time - it's a constant balancing act!
I love the idea of writing the alphabet with your non-dominant hand! Thank-you, I'm taking that with me! ☺
Why is "z" easily the most difficult?
Doodling while listening helps me focus better, both on the phone and when I'm playing roleplaying games in person at a table with friends. I interrupt less and struggle less if my hands are moving a pen or marker while I listen. I remember better, too. Cuddling with one of my cats, with her pinning my arm so I can't get up, also helps my mind not wander off from the video I'm watching. Tactile, casual comfort is key for keeping me grounded in both these situations, instead of my mind wandering off elsewhere.
I clean my house and listen audiobooks 😊
I think this was useful but I wasn't doing anything else and my thoughts wandered off in the middle. Will re-watch.
I do find sometimes that heavier/faster music holds my attention way better when doing something else, even if I'm not in a particularly heavy mood.
I enjoyed this comment 😁
Mine has been audiobooks or similar and sleeping. I can’t switch my brain off without input, and even when I was a child, my dad would record stuff off the radio for us all to listen to at night
I also have to read every night, though I haven’t thought about it like that till now. I’ve been doing that since I was a teenager.
So I film my RUclips stuff on my phone but also find myself wanting to watch RUclips videos or listen to podcasts whilst building the models I'm filming. It's a challenge and I've tried to listen to podcasts on my Alexa but it has a fault where it randomly skips back 10 minutes - infuriating!
Maybe I need another phone? 😅
I can do chores much more easily when listening to podcasts - except putting clothes away. That can get in the bin.
Thanks
Thanks Simon- very kind of you!
I have to be doing something while listening to an audiobook or podcast or I cannot focus. If I’m just sitting at my desk, it needs to be mindless like Minecraft. I’ll just run in circles in the game, but I can completely follow without rewinding a million times. Same if I’m cleaning or working. I think I’ll redownload Tetris though. I used to be pretty good.
I was literally playing solitaire while listening to this… lol
haha love that!
I play Candy Crush while listening to RUclips videos at double speed. My Achilles heel is linguistic multitasking. As long as the secondary activity is non-linguistic (like Candy Crush or Tetris) it works well for me.
Non-linguistic is a great way to put it. When there's two linguistics things going on I feel like my head will explode. People who try to have another conversation whilst on the phone to someone stress me out 🤣
I'm curious what you mean by admin tasks. I think of admin tasks as things like reminding myself to do things or logging what I've been doing etc and those require focus and lack of distraction for me or I'll forget what I'm doing. Also, I'm sitting and pulling roots out of potting mix so I can reuse it while I'm listening to this :)
Good question - for me things like scheduling stuff in my calendar, buying things online or writing emails that don't require a lot of thinking, I can do whilst watching something (as long as I've watched it before and don't really need to pay attention). Whereas I couldn't do that with things that require me to follow instructions or do things in a set order. It's interesting to hear how it's different for different people :)
Yep... I play with a rubic's cube sometimes when I need to focus on a presentation or coversation with multiple people. I don't know the solution to the cube (I haven't looked it up or figured it out yet) so it stimulates my math-side of brain while I listen with my language-side of brain. I used to do math stims a lot as a kid, like counting tiles or street lights. Music stims too, like clacking my teeth to a rythm or singing. Kind of similar.
I've been trying to do mainly tacktile stimming like playing with stimming toys or knitting, since I learned about my adhd, but it doesn't always work. Perhaps I should try different things with different tasks.
I'd be interested to hear how you find trying different kinds of stims for different tasks :)
Do anyone else be come calmer when listening to really not normally calming music, for me Sugar by System of a Down has calmed me down about since the song was released. Whilst music that usually people pick as calming tunes just stresses me out... sorry of topic
Funny you should say this. I used to listen to really heavy music in the car with my dad and I'd fall asleep 🤣
@@rachdoesyoutube
My dad once said he used to play Scottish marching music for me as a toddler and I just relaxed and went to sleep.
Do you think this might be related to why coffee calms me down? I can have a double-shot espresso and be sleep an hour later.
I start on Ritalin today... bit nervous. But hopeful. Your videos have been super helpful Rachel, keep up the great work. Let's see how my multi-tasking goes now :)
Thanks so much! Keep us posted on how it goes 😊
@@rachdoesyoutube i'm on day two and it's AMAZING!!!!