AD/HD: What Do I Do with My Life

AD/HD: What Do I Do with My Life

As a person with ADHD, I decided to help answer,“What do I do with my life?” As a little girl, I remember my grandpa saying,“If you love what you do, you will never work a day of your life,”as I climbed on items, I placed on a chair because I was wanted to reach the cookie jar above the refrigerator.

We are intricate people with different pieces to the AD/HD condition with changing degrees. AD/HD is individual because of the combined subtypes creating different skill sets and challenges for each AD/HDer. No two AD/HDers operate the same way. The right job depends on us. First, we need to know our strengths, interests, and passions. It is where we thrive and struggle.

 Hold your horses! This won’t take long. No, there isn’t a friendly job list.

Finding the right job is a big deal. Oh look! A ball with blinking lights. Everyone has something to bring to the world. For most adult AD/HDers, we are stuck with the mentality “I can’t” because we are so busy trying to survive our difficulties. These difficulties restrict us from our true potential, talents, and strengths. I find Repetitive work boring and lose focus. My mind wanders. I have nothing to hyper-focus on. The world in general, pressures adults to make major career decisions. When we are drawn to careers for the bling of excitement we don’t stop to consider whether it is a good fit or not. We don’t ask, “Can we learn new things and be challenged? What the tasks and responsibilities? Will I get bored?”  

There are many ADHD friendly professions, such as medical, tradesmen, law enforcement, military, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Most AD/HDers like variety, challenges, clear tasks, and short deadlines. Some excel with time management and following written directives for creativity. Others, like myself, thrive with complex issues bringing all the pieces together for a conclusion. Many can focus and remain calm in a crisis.

Many AD/HDers prefer jobs that don’t require sitting all day. Some choose to sit half of the time and move the other half. Often times, changes in the environment or responsibility makes a negative or positive impact. After, I had been laid off seven years into my career, my subtype and severity changed creating new skill sets and challenges. This led me to learn more about ADHD, behaviors, the brain, and how to make changes.

For some, structure helps them flourish. However, in the military it is a requirement to be able to function for a time without medication. Ironically, a lot of AD/HDers perform better in a highly-structured environment because it is a sense of freedom and creativity. Others do better in the arts because the structure calls to memorize characters, settings, plots, and deliver the payoff by a certain time.

When improving your work performance or looking for a job start with what are you good at, strengths, passions, and thrive. Consider the challenges that will prevent you from your goals. I found, I still performed better with structure and deadlines, but no no longer, as strong with my focus during a crisis. Document your findings and find a career counselor, who understands AD/HD and career development.