ADHD at Work
by Jason Longo

When Work Feels Like a New Toy Box: Embracing Tech with ADHD Curiosity

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You know that feeling when you were a kid and someone handed you a brand-new toy box? That rush of curiosity, the possibilities, the sheer chaos of deciding what to play with first? That’s exactly what it feels like when we get new technology at work—especially when you’ve got ADHD.

A new app, a shiny tool, a dashboard full of colors and buttons—it’s not just tech, it’s a playground. And for a few glorious moments (or days, or weeks), it’s our entire personality.

We dive in. We click every button. We open ten tabs. We Google shortcuts and set up custom automations that no one asked for. We might even become temporary experts. For a little while, we are the new technology.

But then… the novelty fades. Or the actual task we needed the tool for shows up. Or worse, the toy turns out to be a spreadsheet in disguise.

That’s when the ADHD brain starts looking around for the next shiny thing. Not because we’re flaky—because we’re wired for discovery, not drudgery.

The challenge is this: how do we turn that toy box curiosity into long-term usefulness?

Some ideas:

  • Gamify it. Give yourself points for every new thing you learn or use. Turn your learning curve into a quest.

  • Share what you find. Become the office tech whisperer. Teaching others can help you stay engaged.

  • Use it for your own chaos. Find ways this tech helps you stay organized or creative. If it feels personal, it sticks.

  • Ask for flexibility. If a tool doesn’t work for your brain, speak up. There might be another toy in the box.

For those of us with ADHD, new technology isn’t just a change—it’s a chance to shine. We just have to remember that the real magic isn’t in the tool. It’s in the way we play with it.

Author

Jason Longo

As an artist, musician, project manager, and neurodivergent creator with a background that blends design, education, and marketing, I’ve spent my life navigating the intersections of creativity and focus.

Through Creative with ADHD, I share tools, systems, and insights for fellow creatives living with ADHD. From digital planners to thought-provoking blogs, everything I create is designed to support focus, flow, and follow-through—without sacrificing your spark. Whether you're chasing inspiration or corralling chaos, you're in the right place.

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Staying Focused When You’re Not Getting That Quick Fix (Thanks, ADHD)

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Let’s be honest—if you have ADHD, you already know that the struggle is real when it comes to sticking with something that doesn’t give you an instant dopamine hit. We love a quick win. A like on a post. A finished task. A high-five. A piece of chocolate. (Preferably all of the above.)

But what happens when the project you’re working on doesn’t offer that quick reward? When it’s long, tedious, or just plain boring until the end? Your brain is like, “Nah, let’s scroll instead.” So how do we power through?

Here’s how I deal with it—and how you can too.

1. Micro-rewards for the micro-wins

Big goals with no immediate payoff? Break them down. No, smaller. Even smaller. Finished a paragraph? Reward. Named a file correctly? Treat. Put a sticky note on a thing? Boom. That’s a win. Your brain just needs a little taste of success to keep going.

2. Gamify it or make it weird

Can you race yourself? Track points? Pretend your spreadsheet is a dungeon and your formulas are spells? Yes. Is it weird? Also yes. But if it tricks your brain into staying focused—do it.

3. Make it visual

Progress bars. Sticky note walls. Checklists you can physically cross off. Visual cues give your brain something real to chew on. Plus, nothing says “you’re doing the thing” like watching the color-coded boxes fill in.

4. Anchor it to something you do love

If your task is boring, pair it with something that isn’t. A favorite playlist. A nice-smelling candle. That cool mug you save for special focus days. Turn the chore into a ritual, and suddenly it feels less like drudgery and more like a vibe.

5. Time travel (not really, but kinda)

Remind Future You how great it’ll feel to be done. Write them a note. Picture them with a smile. Imagine bragging to a friend. That future payoff is gratification—it’s just a little delayed. Make it real enough to reach for.

6. Use your support crew

Tell someone what you’re doing. Post your goal. Ask for a check-in. Body double. Having someone else know you’re working on a thing makes it harder to ghost your own progress.

7. Accept that sometimes, it’s gonna suck—but you can survive it

Not every task will be fun. Some will be the mental equivalent of folding a fitted sheet in a wind tunnel. That’s okay. You’re still capable. Do what you can, take breaks, and celebrate even showing up.

Bottom Line?
If you’re chasing long-term goals, you’ll have to create your own mini dopamine trail along the way. With ADHD, the path to productivity isn’t straight—it’s twisty, creative, and a little chaotic. But that’s what makes your brain amazing.

And yes, you can do hard things, even without the instant gratification. (But you can still have a cookie after.)

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How to Pretend Your Non-Creative Day Job Is Actually Creative

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(Even When It Really, Really Isn’t)

So your day job doesn’t exactly scream “creative genius.” Maybe you’re crunching numbers, managing spreadsheets, answering emails, or working in a world where color-coded folders are the closest thing to art. But deep down, you are a creative person—so what do you do when your workday doesn’t match your inner artist?

You get sneaky. You reframe. You turn the mundane into your own weird little creative sandbox. Here’s how:

1. Rename Everything

Why call it a “Weekly Status Meeting” when it could be “The Great Quest for Progress”? Rebrand your daily tasks with dramatic, ridiculous, or poetic names. You’re not responding to emails—you’re “curating digital correspondence.” That spreadsheet? It’s a “data symphony in G major.” Boom. You’re an artist now.

2. Turn Workflow into Performance

Even if you’re following rigid procedures, you can control the style with which you do them. Try pretending you’re the main character in a workplace drama. Add a little flair when you speak. Narrate your tasks in your head like a documentary. Bonus points for internal British accents.

3. Bring in Your Creative Tools

Who says you can’t use colorful pens or highlighters? Doodle in your margins. Design your to-do list like a mini zine. Use Canva to make truly unnecessary but beautiful graphics for your next report. It may not be required—but it sparks something inside you.

4. Gamify Everything

Creatives thrive on challenge and novelty. Pretend your workday is a game: set mini-missions, level up with bonus rounds, and give yourself achievements for completing dreaded tasks. “Answered all emails before noon? Achievement unlocked: Inbox Sorcerer.”

5. Find Your Creative People (Even If They’re in Hiding)

There’s usually someone at your workplace who gets it. Find the person who has an unnecessarily cool email signature or who uses GIFs in professional settings. Form a secret creative alliance. Share memes. Make inside jokes. It counts.

6. Make Your Breaks a Creative Ritual

If you can’t infuse creativity into your actual job tasks, turn your breaks into sacred creative time. Sketch, write a haiku about your lunch, rearrange your desk like a stage set. Even five minutes of expression between meetings can shift your mindset.

7. Document the Absurdity

Keep a secret notebook of hilarious, bizarre, or poignant things that happen at work. Turn it into poems. Turn it into comics. Turn it into content. Your job may not be creative, but your perspective on it absolutely can be.

Final Thought

Pretending your non-creative job is creative isn’t about faking it—it’s about claiming your creativity anyway. Even in the grayest of cubicles or the dullest of dashboards, your creative spirit can sneak in through the cracks, paint the walls of your mind, and turn the whole thing into a performance piece.

Because you, my friend, are never just your job title.

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