Hyperfocus is a commonly talked about ADHD symptom. It seems like it can be helpful sometimes, but other times we lose time doing something kinda embarrassing. They're so similar, but why?

A highly desirable state for producing quality work is called "Flow", introduced by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He described it as time disappearing while we get lost in the work. Not only is this a productive state, but it's associated with greater happiness. Flow is amazingly helpful doing creative projects, crafts, computer programming, and even performing surgery.

But when we lose time on social media or googling something random, it's an unhelpful rabbit hole.

The problem is that folks with ADHD fall into hyperfocus easier, and we aren't always aimed in the right direction when we do.

Worse, the medications that help us start a task in the first place, stimulants, can also make us hyperfocus more. If they kick in while we're aimed at a rabbit hole, it might be even harder to pull out.

To know if it's helpful or not, ask yourself this question: Are you making good progress on a task you wanted to do?

Are you getting something good done? That's Flow. Are you doing something that's not very productive? That's a Rabbit Hole.

They can also feel different in our body during and afterwards.

What about your hyper focus? Do you feel like you do more flow tasks or more rabbit holes?

How do you tell the difference?

Do you have strategies you use to pull yourself out of a rabbit hole?

-- Brittany

Here is the video on Hyperfocus: https://youtube.com/shorts/bdaBCS0OZbs

Ramblings

Is Hyperfocus Good or Bad?

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