ADHD and Careers

It has been a near constant struggle for me to work out 'what I'm meant to be doing with my life'. I've invested over twenty years of research, online tests, visiting career coaches, reading self-help books and investigating. I feel that I've come close in places, only to fall back and return to square one. This has led to cycles of frustration, self-doubt and worry over where I'm heading and what I'm doing. Fortunately, right now I'm in a job where I'm happy so things are a bit more positive. However, I still can't help asking the question: what am I meant to be doing?

I've written before on how coming out of the structured world of education to the free-form world of work was a shock for me. I'd been relying on the structure and regularity of study and classes to shape my life - and people with ADHD really benefit from that. But there's societal pressure, rightly or wrongly, to find 'the job', the ideal thing that's suited to you and you'll love doing. If only you work hard enough and look long enough, you'll find it. And I've been spending years trying just that. I feel like the pressure is worse now that youtube and social media influence is so strong, as 'influencers' try to sell you the dream life and career if you'd just follow their advice (or one weird trick!).

The thing is, for me, the harder I worked at finding a career that suits me, the more stressed I got. I spent money on adivsors, tests and books, and yet didn't seem to be getting closer on any counts. Indeed, at times I felt I got really close, and even signed up to courses on specific subjects and started studying them to find I wasn't that suited because of my ADHD.

Conversely, the times that I felt less stressed and better about my future were the times I was not focusing on finding out what it should be. Instead, I was getting on with my daily life and work, throwing myself into projects and ideas that were happening around me. Right now I feel the same way: I am happy at work, but I am also really engaged in my side-projects like this blog.

I feel that it is from these side projects and experiencing things first hand that you can make the most progress towards finding a career that suits you best. If you've got energy and desire to do something for free in your spare time, then there's a good chance you'd be happy doing it as a job because you have the intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, by trying things out, you see how it relates to your ADHD, where it complements your strengths there or where it might be more challenging.

In short, what I'm recommending for people with ADHD is not to get distracted by the lure of tests or books that promise the answer, but to go with your interests and curiosty, try things out and explore. First hand experience and the novelty of something you've not done before are both strong syngergies with ADHD brains. And if you can stick with it, well that's a very good sign!

What have you found challenging about ADHD and careers? Have you got any tips or advice that you'd liek to share with the community? Comment below!