ADHD & Careers? 💼💷 

Update: It took me 7 years to find a career. Videography!

I can't even finish a degree because of boredom/Adhd

I am an estate agent, it’s perfect for me because I never have to concentrate, I make phone calls, send a few short emails, leave the office to show people houses - nothing that requires concentration and being in & out of the office on appointments breaks the day up and you get to see inside loads of beautiful houses. I don’t think I’d be able to do any other job because of studying/concentration.

I'm a scientist. I got fired/quit from every job I tried until age 32 (e.g. teaching, sales, administrative). Luckily, at 32 I had an opportunity to go to graduate school for a part-time Master's degree where I could take 1-2 courses per semester but studied full-time to get good grades. It helped me work on a small exploratory project as a volunteer. It captured my attention... I would spend in the lab 10+ hours/day and discovered a new concept. For the next 7 years, in my Ph.D. and postdoc research projects, I developed this discovery further and expanded numerous applications. Now I'm 39... my projects received over $1.5 million in funding and over 45 awards... and I continue to make advancements in this new scientific area that I started. Pros: I enjoy doing creative work, on my own schedule, and promoting the work by public speaking. Cons: Not productive in my work, very slow in publishing the work, hard to manage people, time, prioritizing, etc. My health was severely compromised and was hospitalized 3 times in the span of 2 years, and ended up with a lifelong stress-related physical illness. Although, slower pace becoming successful in my profession. I have been in therapy for 2+ years and trying to get on medications to manage the pressure/demand of work so that I can move up the career ladder and manage personal relationships better.

40 yrs. young now and still don’t have an “established” career. Diagnosed at eight years old and have resented ADHD my whole life, to the point where I denied it being a real deficiency until I was about thirty and read about the symptoms of adult ADHD, which basically described my personality! I’ve always provided well for my family by successfully finding something better. I’ve had to restart a couple times but always come out ahead. That said, I still feel like a huge failure because I’ve tried college several times and only succeeded at obtaining a two-year web design certificate (via mega hyper-focus). I have never managed to get the bachelor’s degree. I don’t care that much about one but finding something better is growing increasingly difficult as so many places require that stupid piece of paper. I am at a job that I detest, but it pays well. I also just plain hate working for someone else. I’ve always felt a deep burning desire to run my own business but have never been able to send my side hustles into high enough gear to replace my full time job. I have two teenage kids and one preteen and yet here I sit, still feeling like a 23 year-old again without any solid direction in my life. Everything in my “career” path points back to ADHD. I am truly a Jack of all trades and master of none, but I am far better than most who are masters of one! 😁 Problem is that it doesn’t sell. I see others in fields where I am somewhat skilled but I know that I don’t even come close to their level, despite others telling me how good I am at x, y, and z. I’m suppose I am just ranting now. I am just so tired of not “fitting in” to this world. I want to find success and fulfillment in what I do, but I feel like I’m never quite enough because I just can’t quite do what the successful people do long enough for it to stick! I digress. I very much enjoy your content and love witnessing your mind jumó around like mine does even as you present in your videos. Keep up the great work!

I just turned 30 and found out I have ADHD and had no idea. I always thought my thoughts were different to others. Hearing you speak I identify immensely.

I'm 40 and I have struggled with inattentive add my whole life without knowing the cause until recently. Your videos have been such a blessing to me and to others so I want to thank you for taking the time to make these wonderful helpful videos, God bless.

Its sooooo comforting when you say your late twenties were the development of who you are! From time to time i cry because I feel guilty and it feels like ive wasted so much time, but now im learning to recognise each skill ive learned

I'm a long distance truck driver . I enjoy the time on my own & I enjoy not having to work hard on thinking about doing different tastes , if that make sense . I can drive for 12 hours a day & let my mind go . But I'm still in control & am a safe driver & have my mind on the job . I try & educate myself by listening to a lot of different subjects on RU-vid as I'm driving . I'm dyslexic as well as having ADHD . So studying & reading is nearly impossible for me . So at the age of 53 with very limited education , long distance truck drivering seems to be a perfect carrier for me . I try to keep life simple .

I’m in Med school, 2nd year finals week actually. It’s quite difficult, I’m constantly struggling but I try and push through it... I found out on my late teens/early adulthood, I’m still trying to find a way to live a balanced life with not much success... There’s still a lot of stigma, ignorance and toxic positivity which is incredibly negative for our mental health and evolution, it only hinders ourselves further... this is not a choice... I have a lovely family but they don’t believe this is a reality they have always seen it as an excuse... None of my parents actually supported my decision to pursue this career until recently, they often remind me there are easier ways... Find a purpose - I want to help people in anyway I can so they can have an easier life... Set a goal no one needs to see it just you, be consistent and hardworking, self loving and forgiving, allow yourself to have moments of chaos... Be resilient, it’s possible!

I found myself in event management around 20 odd years ago. Changed my life. Event work is flat out and over very quickly, then it rolls into the next one. It fed every aspect of my ADHD. I become very successful very quickly. I’m now coming out the other end due to age. I now sit back and watch the young ADHD people come through with a huge smile as I know this will change their lives.

I'm 25 and I've just started investigating ADHD in adults, I always thought there was something "wrong"/different with me and couldn't put my finger on it. The more I investigate, the more I become aware of myself and convinced this is it, I've found the answer to the way that my mind works, it's scary but at the same time I'm so happy. What you describe about work and careers and passion is exactly how I've been feeling all my life. I'm so thankful for this video, can't wait to learn more about myself

im struggling to finish watching one video and not click on the other recommended.

Awaiting my diagnosis at 41 years old. Spent my entire life walking out of or being fired from so many unrelated jobs that thinking about it makes my head spin. It's only recently that I realised that I've been somewhat hyperfocused on health and nutrition for some years (now I know hyperfocus is a thing), and with all that I've learned from books and podcasts etc, i have an excellent knowledge base with which to help people. So i'm almost finished a health coaching qualification and will be starting my own business. Learning that I have adhd halfway through my health coaching course hasn't been easy but its enabled me to learn how to work with my adhd brain, rather than trying to carry on and do things as a neurotypical person (which I of course now know I am not). Given how terribly I done at school (because of the undiagnosed adhd) I'm so happy that I've managed to get as far through my coaching course as I have. I hope when I receive my diagnosis that life gets a little easier. I'm optimistic about the future for the first time in my life.

I’m 30 and was just diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. My ADHD must be fairly mild because I actually had no problems education. I’m a mechanical engineer but I’ve been procrastinating getting licensed because I’m afraid of the new responsibilities it will entail. Most of my problems focus on keeping my desk clean, losing important information and social dynamics.

You’re saying everything that I think???? You know me so well!

Thank you for your videos, they really help me. I think you're a very nice and authentic person and everyone would be lucky to be your friend. Sometimes I feel like such a failure because of my ADD, but when I look at you having ADD and being such a valuable person, I feel much better about myself too :)

It’s so hard I’m 28 and every time I’m so certain I know what I want to do in life then I get bored then I change my mind then it’s a cycle I feel like I’m good at everything but can’t start or finish it .

Really appreciate your authenticity and honesty!

My career is gonna be a magician because I want to continue my father legacy

I latched onto computers and video games as a kid and tend to hyperfocus when learning about or working on computers. Unfortunately, I have hopped around a lot to various areas within IT so it has been hard to get really good at any one thing. But overall I've been pretty successful in my IT career. I am very good at analytical things such as computer forensics and scripting and also love building/creating things. I was also good with art as a kid. I have not been diagnosed with ADHD but very recently self-diagnosed. I am 34 years old and your videos and some others I found just blew my mind. My whole life and the struggles just made sense all of a sudden. It actually excited me to finally understand why I struggle with things so much. Thank you so much for your videos!

Wow great video and thanks for this! I'm also being diagnosed with ADD and I'm really searching for what job suits to me. I have a degree but the jobs I am getting with it are office jobs and it is the worst for people with ADD/ADHD. Your video helped me with searching in what will suit me the best. You are very good at explaining why things did not work for you en what does. Thanks!

I'm 38, and have probably had the same number of jobs as my age or so. Jobs keep on not working out for me because they're either exploitative (like 96 hour work weeks caregiving), they are not a good fit for me (not what I was expecting or I'm not a good fit for the culture/personality/that specific kind of work), or I have a strong personality conflict with someone. Over the last several years I've just been looking for some darn stability so that I can work on getting rid of many of my possessions so that I can be free to make more choices and work on my other goals (like hopefully traveling and teaching English abroad before going back to school). I'm honestly so frustrated at this point and I truly don't know what to do. I decided to take a part time job with an employment agency and have been meeting with career counselors at a local college and university. But I'm absolutely terrified of going back to school. The jobs I'm most interested in (like the sciences) require a lot more dedication than the work I thought I wanted to do. Also, what if I wind up in a career that doesn't work out for some reason like so many other jobs I've tried? I'm working with a therapist, a psychiatrist, an ADHD coach, and I even have a case manager. I'm really trying to do the work and figure this out, but there's a part of me that wonders if I just don't belong in this society.

You hit the nail on the head my friend or as my ADHD brain would say “you drove it at straight through the board till it splintered” 😂

I’ve dabbled in MANY things too. Music and songwriting are my hyper focus but never figured out how to make enough money with it. So now I’m still teaching Music, English and French online part-time but supplementing that with part-time window cleaning (of all things). The learning curve for the latter has been très difficile but my boss has been patient (thank heaven). And I love working outdoors and the physicality of the job. In order to do it better I feel obligated to work-out 😂. Plus I do social media posts for the window cleaning business. That is CREATIVE and I love it! So I that’s what’s working for me right now. Thank you for your videos. Please continue. They are so needed.

just got diagnosed at 25. was a good student in primary and secondary school so my behaviours were never called into question. however i completely fell apart in university, commuting to a school i didn’t want to but had to because of financial reasons, not having structure, discipline, friends and a major i chose because of practicality since i had no idea what to do with my life at 18. tried going to a community college, same thing. so many failed attempts. and all peers i grew up with and studied with are ahead of me and successful and i feel like i’m in a bottomless pit, freefalling.

I'm a lab tech at a treatment plant. Being a lab tech at a treatment plant can be very very very challenging! It needs fast lab test results. Working in solitude and this feeds my hyperfocus so much! I can zoned out and always forgetting my eating time! I got gastritis for that. But I love this sense of urgency. Makes me efficient! And the best part is the processed water will be channeled to millions of people's homes. Everyday I feel like a novelty achievement!

Currently working on my Bachelor's in Elementary Education to help other students with ADHD, ADD and those struggling! It has most certainly posed its challenges and every day is a battle as I am sure it is for so many enduring this journey. I find the silver lining in what you expressed about pursuing opportunities to truly live who we are. Do you host podcasts? Hope to hear most about your creative endeavors in future videos! Your messages are very far reaching! Thank you!!

I think the dreamer aspects are the driving force behind thinking that trade skills, and "building site" type jobs are out of reach of creatives. I know lots of people who were creative as kids who have become scaffolders, decorators, carpenters etc.. there's actually a high degree of problem solving, and creativity involved in making objects with your hands, but is more suited to practical, grounded type personalities, while dreamers tend to visualize beyond practicality, and see their creativity as art, which then tends to manifest.

I never thought I was able to have someone understand what I’m going through. I never had the words to explain how I have felt in a very long time when it comes to careers. I’ve been in retail and it’s an industry where it has its pros and cons. However, I have a very poor attention to details and critical thinking but if you have a stronger sense in those too areas you can honestly rule the world.

This hit home HARD! I'm 21 and currently looking for a job. I didn't go to college, but I'm thinking about starting a course or some other form of education. This gives me so much hope!!

OMG dude! I’ve recently started taking the possibility seriously! I’m at a job now that requires a lot of attention to detail. I just started and I already hate it! Im a musician and could spend HOURS on one part of a song. But I have to constantly get up at work and walk around, because my thoughts wander constantly. That’s been an issue for me since childhood. Wow!

I've only been diagnosed with ADHD very recently (few weeks ago, at the age of 28). I used to be a stonemason, when I was 18 I was selling granite tombstones and installing them on cemeteries. Web development has always been my hobby, though, so when I was 23 I decided to become a front-end developer (I didn't even know the name, lol). I managed to build a career, I actually got hired few weeks ago as a senior FE developer and now I'm a very fulfilled and happy profession-wise. I sometimes wonder whether the ADHD that I've always had, but never knew about, was a helper or an obstacle. When you have ADHD and are very passionate about something, you basically become unstoppable with this one particular field. It's still super tough with different areas of my life, though, especially relations with peers and my family life. I'm turning 29 in two days, and I still mentally feel like I'm 17 at best.

This makes so much sense. Thanks for your videos, you’re very easy to listen to.

man, i relate so hard to all of these videos. I’m having this problem at the moment, and i’m not even out of high school yet, but i have failed plenty classes. The main problem I have is that I’m too artistic/creative and I can’t time manage or do anything practical, meaning all of the careers that I would actually be good at and enjoy are highly competitive and/or wouldn’t be enough to live off of. I often legit wonder if i’m gonna end up living in a van trying to sell my paintings on a street corner

Thank you for posting these videos stuart and being so open and honest. I find your experiences, feelings and outlooks resonate with me in quite a strangely similar way. I would have sat next to you on that swing im convinced of it. I am 44 and am currently going through the process of being diagnosed. It's all come to a head over the last few years and i need clarity and a solution to the way ive been feeling / always felt. Similar to you growing up and even now i feel different. Detatched. Almost like a visitor in my own life. Career wise for me i did get a degree and ive had multiple career changes. I was artistic at school, but took a science route. Then did marketing and decided i wanted to be a graphic designer. Never felt quite right in all of my jobs so at aged 38 i joined the police. Needless to say i still question my choices and never really felt like any of them were really the true 'me'. Best of luck in your career and future happiness, and diolch yn fawr i chi to you once again. 🙌

Stuart, we are so much alike, man. It's like watching a better-spoken version of myself reporting from the future. Your vids are super helpful. Thank you and greetings from the US.

Hearing you is like hearing myself. Thank you for making this video.

Thank you for wording it out the way you did! U just described my life's dilemma. May the odds be with us 😅

recently diagnosed and found your channel the other day. thanks for sharing these videos! inspiring me to start a new channel to document my journey! subscribed.

I jumped around to 4 different undergrad programs before I finished my degree. After learning I had ADHD (inattentive) I got a teaching credential to work with kids who were like me, and then eventually went to grad school to become a school psychologist. Like you, details frustrate me - making school psych an odd choice, but it plays to my strengths with report writing. I wish I were more interested in the counseling aspects, but, on the whole, I easily recommend it to anyone who is a creative thinker and is interested in neurology, cognition & some diagnostics (it sounds more pretentious than it actually is).

This video hits home so hard. It’s unbelievable how relatable this is and how I’m only now while I’m 30 on a waitlist to get diagnosed with add/adhd .. I’m happiest when I’m making things.. pretty things. But I’m stuck because I made the wrong choices back in my late teens/early twenties.. I will have to push through a couple of years before I can finally do what I want. I wanna have my own salon in nails, hair and makeup. But when you live on your own and don’t want to get a loan for that it’s a process to get all the funding there..

I have ADHD im a gate assist/wheelchair pusher at the air port. I push people in wheelchairs and get there bags i get payed to listen to people and tolk to people and i love it

I've also done some soul searching and career planning in the last few years. My myers briggs type is INTJ. Turns out that INTJs are good at doing jobs that require them to use their minds for analysis and puzzle solving. Trouble is, because of ADHD I've never had a job that required me to use my mind. I've worked in trades(MISERY) and I've worked in sales and customer service (MISERY). But those aren't my strengths. I need to use my 'brain', but my brain is broken because of ADHD. The medication is helping and I'm trying to invest in health and exercise which also helps cognition. I am in school getting a business degree. Entering 3rd year with good grades, but school drives me crazy so I might be reducing my course load to find more balance and happiness, whatever that is.

You just mntioned my life... I also have photography on the back seat. I did graphic design and im doing it again now 12 years later but now with more passion, more stability and clarity. Ive been bouncing from different areas and it took me a lot of patience and inner work to accept and focus on one thing. Even though I still struggle doing tasks! Btw.. i still plan to go for psychology in the future. Creating, taking pictures and studying human behavior make my soul sing

Although I haven't been officially diagnosed, my therapist brought my attention to the idea that she strongly believes I have adhd. Looking at my life through the lens of adhd over the past months, it all seems to make so much more sense- the time management, distractibility, intensity and depth of feeling, forgetfulness, etc etc etc. So, I'm an elementary teacher, and I find the most difficult thing for me is time management. When I was teaching an older grade, I'd come home and spend six hours planning for the next day. Obviously, I burnt out so quickly and I literally felt that I would have to quit this career I loved because there's no way I could continue maintaining integrity in my position AND have a personal life. It was my first time teaching that grade and I was thrown into it in the middle of the year- it was so difficult and even by the end of the summer break my body and mind were still completely burnt out from stress. I felt that I needed quite a bit of guidance which I thankfully got a lot of from supportive colleagues and had to constantly allow myself room for repetition to actually internalize things and make them "make sense" in my mind. I often felt SO confused and completely lost when people verbally explained things to me- it's like they expected me to "get it" from an explanation but I had to see it and hear it in action to process it and conceptualize it deeply. It was a challenge and still is....I find it has always taken me ten times longer to do anything and plan anything compared to others. I end up with great results, but the amount of time I feel that I need, and that my brain legitimately needs, is not typical whatsoever (working on that!). Anyways, I have had more experience with a younger age group, and this is the grade I now tend to gravitate to because I have the most experience there; however, my mind is still constantly scattered and on complete overdrive the moment I get there until the moment I leave, but, there is more spontaneous flow in organized chunks of the day and I feel like I have more permission to naturally follow the kids' interests and excitement and build on that. I think I benefit from this sense of "flow" even though I always thought I would do better with more structure and rigidity. So when you mention the multi-task oriented nature of work where you're always on your feet- that's definitely me. I'm also ALWAYS the last one to find out about things. That made me laugh. I don't know how many times I've panicked saying, "Oh, we have a staff meeting right now?" after a colleague asked if I was heading over only to realize that I did, in fact, write it on a sticky note as a reminder this morning but left it next to the full cup of tea I completely forgot about at 8am on the bookshelf I spontaneously wanted to reposition only to get distracted by a group of little ones knocking on the window waving hello wanting to show me their outdoor creation before morning entry. L O L. Literally laughing as I write this. These things used to embarrass me- now I try to embrace them and accept them as a part of who I am without judgement. This has been a novel... I very rarely comment on anything but I'm so curious if there are any other teachers out there who are diagnosed. I really hope that everyone here can find what works for them and feel that they can capitalize on their innate talents in whatever they do. There's no right or wrong and our path doesn't have to be linear. Wishing you all the best

It took me 8 years to finish my degree. I was so confused. I had problems with indecision. And now that I have graduated. I am still as confused and undecided. ADHD is a murderous disorder.

I lucked into my career! I got a job as a Buyer for a non-profit. I did not know what a Buyer did but it paid well! I was in that career for thirty years and ended up as a purchasing manager for a manufacturing plant. I loved it because I was constantly solving problems, never a dull moment phones ringing, people demanding, problem solving. I loved it, it was heaven! Now, I know why! Glory Hallelujah! I was great at it too! 😘

I just now discovered your vids and am re watching them 2 years after you posted. Bcuz I just now discovered I have adhd. Just wanted to let u know you’ll always have new people who could use your videos

I'm stuck in a dead-end factory job, which is semi-varied and fairly straight-forward, yet my mistake-prone nature means lots of costly issues and disciplinaries. It can be really embarassing. Making music, or writing weird fiction can be engrossing for me, but I end up thinking about my music or stories too much while at work (to distract me from the monotony of the job), and by the time I'm home I feel as though I've been working on them enough already. Going vegan, taking up mountain-biking as a commuter option, and now meditating, have all had profound effects on both my mental and physical health in recent years, the latter of which I've only just discovered. TRIPP VR for the PS4 is a meditation experience, and it has changed my life. The constant cacophony of ranting voices in my head have been silenced, and I'm becoming far more in-the-moment, while the anger-management issues have completely vanished. No other attempt at meditation has worked for me, yet whether or not because of the visuals, this had an immediate and noticeable effect. So, my life's not ALL bad :-) Thanks for the vid, which is helpful and informative, as always.

I just finished architecture.It was hard and always very demanding,which helped me to work,because I felt guilty or competitive enough to finish what I had started. Because it was 6years, I didn t have to think what I had to do with my life, I was always busy because of the rush and the side job. I was always delieverd my project the last from my class, but IT was pretty detail oriented, as much details some time I didn t see the overall picture anymore or I had alredy forgot the documentation part from the begining. I tend to stay near harsh people/proffesors who demanded a lot so my hate of not being good enough, helped me finish, working many many nights. It was never enough for me and I strugled to stay on one task and one idea.I am proud I finished, but I am somehow scared of what will come and adjusting to working in specific hours with other people. I hope now, that I finally descovered I have ADHD, I will be more selfconscious.

Your voice is so calming. It helps me pay attention Thank you! 😊

I have the same issue. I'm suspecting that I have ADHD and I'm 23 hahaha. I've had several jobs and all are not worthy of my time. Right now I'm exploring my options and working on it as well to be profitable and something that I can enjoy doing continously. I'm good at doing a lot of things instead of just one job/task so maybe I could start from there. And I hope you'll find something that would work for you as well!

Everything you said resonates so much with me, especially lack of interest in details and inability to read, I wonder if it's due to ADHD, which I also have. Funnily enough, I'm in academia, I did a PhD, I somehow managed to hyperfocus on one subject for a few years, but now it keeps getting harder sticking to one thing. For now I'm exploring different hobbies to satisfy that need for diversity.

You voice every thought in my brain.

I’ve been struggling with this for too long in my mind from going to high grades in high school to going to university failing and restarting in college and barely making it yet I’ve recently started thinking about this and come to the conclusion that am around people who can’t understand but you did just said what I’ve been trying to comprehend to myself

Thank you for your honesty a lot of points you made resonated with me

i watched your video again and its like you are exactly like me. its as if im listening to the conversation in my head as you talk

At 45 I’m still kinda struggling with what I’d be good at . Besides having ADHD I’m dyslexic and because of the time I grew up the dyslexia went undiagnosed until I was in my 40’s

Great video my career has been in sales , it has to be a product a like .And then we hyper focus on closing the deal for adhd this works amazing

Again..that's me. Myers-Briggs (INFP), career aptitude tests, lifelong amateur photographer (also on back burner until I can find a job (not retail) that fits and pays me well enough to be a foundation for creative work). Then I might even paint.. You are a very good speaker on these videos..easy to listen to, know how to speak well, know your subject (whether it's yourself or ADHD!)..and very helpful for those of us who have done a lot of the same searching but were perceived like there was something wrong with us!!

I'm not diagnosed yet but awaiting an assessment as I do believe I have ADHD and that is why I've struggled with certain aspects throughout life. Career wise I'm actually a scientist, I work with viruses (flu mainly) and all through my school reports the only subject I had consistently good remarks was in science (not physics though lol). I've some how managed to get through a BSc and an MSc but I guess it helped having an interest in the subjects I studied. I'm attempting to get into a PhD program and I really hope I can get a diagnosis before that!

Two BAs followed by two masters I dropped out of. I loved the subject, I really wanted to become a professor. But I hate writing on demand. I am actually fine with reading on demand because I love reading. Anyway, one massage therapy licensing program degree later, I enjoy that. It combines art and science and is physical. There is endless continuing education you can take in bite size pieces to deepen your knowledge and keep it from getting boring as well. But one issue I find difficult is client building and marketing. I am very shy with strangers (despite being an extrovert) and it is hard for me to go to, say a party, and sell myself. I find it difficult to self motivate to keep a website running, put myself out there, etc. when I don’t have clients in the first place. Because there is no externally imposed schedule without (or minimal amount of) clients. I think if I had the structure of regular clients, maintaining the business would be much easier. But getting there is the challenge for me. I hear being self-employed is great for ADHD, but getting the business off the ground, for me, is the big challenge there.

I'm studying music at the moment and I find it really hard when we have to do assignment work. It's a tricky balance that is hard to perfect when you have ADHD... I also have huge trouble following through and actually bloody finish something for once.

This sounds like me. I just got laid off, and focusing on writing, which is something I enjoy doing.

29, teacher in Taiwan. Great use of my task switching for dealing with kids in class, and Hyperfocus is great for Grading, Prep and Studying my materials. Biggest issue: Deadlines, Meetings, Tangents during Class, and un-engaging paperwork. Always an uphill battle on those fronts

Believe it or not, there are many creative people in the trades. The work is great exercise for the conscientious side of us that may need some balancing out with the creative side, I have found that after being conscientious all day, my creativity flows like a raging river when the work day is done.

Hi Stuart, I came across your channel a few weeks ago and found myself relating to your stories as I have ADHD myself as well. I was working as a event specialist for some time. It could be quite tricky to work in that industry with ADHD, because I was constantly required to remember what people said to me verbally without time to write them down. That was a big source of my anxiety and depression. Last year, I decided to quit my job and started talking an online certificate programme for user experience design. I found myself really interested in what a UX designer do, and have become very advocative with putting accessibility first when designing something. It hasn't been easy to finish each chapter of the course. I was constantly distracted and found myself in a position where I had to dig through sea of paper to read. Sometimes I get frustrated - It is a course expected to be finished in six months for neurotypical people, and yes, of course, I know I need to extend that timeline to work for me. I still feel like I'm behind the schedule from times to times. I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD until in the middle of my study. After getting that diagnose, everything makes sense and I started to take Ritalin as prescribed by my psychiatrist. When I design something, I look at it from an ADHD perspective: How can I make it to reduce cognitive load for ADHD? and this can actually apply to other users as well. I feel like I have a purpose now, and knowing how my brain works really gives me a boost start to this new journey. I still haven't finished the course, but it's almost near the end of the finish line. I know I've got this. Thank you for always posting videos like this to make me feel damn heard. I'd be more than happy to connect privately and share my personal experience!

In my twenties I did a four year degree in acupuncture, but maintaining enough focus to get through four years of academia burnt me out so hard that I literally cannot bring myself to trying to work in the field of acupuncture. I know how difficult academia is for my brain, even though I tend to get really good grades, and this year I was given a scholarship and the opportunity to do an honours year in a subject entirely different from my undergraduate. Half way through the year and again, I'm getting great grades but it is a damn struggle to continually have to relight the fires of interest enough for me to finish what I need to do. With every opportunity to do a Masters next year with full scholarship, I think I'm going to have to say no. On the bright side, today I got a phone call, I have been shortlisted for a role as 'underwater biosecurity technician' - basically, weeding the ocean. Full dive training included including scientific diving training, and the job is week on, week off on a boat in a remote sounds in the bottom of the country (New Zealand). Pulling out an invasive seaweed species. I love being in and working outdoors as the modern world is difficult for me to process. I have my fingers crossed! I think it will be especially great due to the week on week off nature of it - one out of two weeks to do whatever I want with my life will allow me to hyper focus in short bursts on the side hustles I want to work in - namely freelance writing and illustrating. I've decided recently to embrace the diversity of where my brain leads me. I'm never going to be able to follow the normal, linear pathway that most people seem to do, and I have to be OK with that. As my dad said to me - "fitting into society has never worked for you before. Why bother trying now?"

I know this is an "old" video to comment on, but I am 44 years old and in LE. I was JUST diagnosed with ADHD. So interesting fact about being a cop is that you will be stimulated often, and I think that is why I excelled. BUT! For the past 12 years I have been a watch commander/shift supervisor/office troll and had real trouble staying on task, which is what led me to my diagnosis. Apparently a lot of ADHD folks are drawn to jobs that keep you on your toes for good reason. Problem becomes when you move up and it gets harder to focus on the mundane. Medication helps a ton, but man do I wish this had been caught when I was younger.

It's been really hard for me to even think of careers that I could do, being a chronically ill artist with ADHD, who grew up in a Trade Town. My town really pushed things like working at The Mill, becoming a carpenter, welder, mechanic, miner, or electrician. But... I couldn't be any of those. Even creative trades were not my style; architect, hairstylist, interior designer. For a while I considered hairstylist but the chronic illness said "No, your body can't handle that. Sucks to be you buddy." I ended up moving to the city and pursuing fx makeup art because I like makeup. I like casual and glam and avant-garde and body paint and full prosthetics. So yeah sure I could do that! But then I learn working in film is 15+ hour days.... Sometimes more... And it's very physical work. Body can't handle that. Then Covid-19 hit and we are still in quarantine. Over the past months I've started production on a webcomic with my roommate that we plan to make a source of income. And I do art commissions of my own as well. And I want to start designing lolita and Ouji fashions and making them custom fit as per customers measurements so that everyone can wear properly fitted fancy Lolita and Ouji and not just thin people. Sliding scale pricing because I too am poor and understand being poor. My mom got me a Serger for Christmas I just have to make money for muslin, thread, and proper fabric. And I've started on so many cosplays. So I've found a few things that work a lot better for me because I can do them from home, and use my many skills all the time, not just one.

It is as if you were in my head talking about how I feel. It took me a while to know what I want. Then I knew: actress. I became one and now I am giving it up because the struggle to keep up with neurological people is too high. 😵‍💫 It feel so strange having to give up a dream. I am also an art person but also crafty. I also figured out that I always wanted to learn something and never trust myself to just start working it but going to school for several years sucks the life, motivation and joy out of me. So eventually I start disliking what I used to love. So from now on I will only do short term courses and no more educations (I have to B.A.). I also know that I need to work alone (not in a team) but have several people working with me on the same project (to feel support), just not directly depending on me or me on them. So... not exactly a walk in the park withe me 🙄 Wish you good luck

Me too! Me too. I too am very abstract, theoretical, artist, philosophical-minded. I've tried a plethora of jobs and have studied a variety of artistic endeavors. I've ALWAYS loved the arts, but being shy, I felt I could only participate if I edited other people's work. And boy, oh boy that is beyond exhausting (the only way I could work with it was by watching a show in the background as I was editing, which caused me to miss too many details). . . However, as an artist, you still have to edit . . . I feel a tangent coming on, so I'll try to focus. Let's try this again. What I've discovered over the years is that I may enjoy a lot of different types of creative pursuits---I've studied interior design, graphic design, photography, fine art, literature, voice-over, and acting. And I have done some work in most of all of them. Thus, I discovered a few things along the way. First, I NEED TO KEEP MY MIND ACTIVE. So I am most happy when I am learning something new . . . or working on a new project! The other thing I have discovered is out of all the artistic pursuits I have tried, photography comes the most naturally to me (it is great because it isn't as detail-oriented as other art jobs), then filming, then some form of audio creation. PLUS, I am best being my own boss---AFTER I've landed on a steady direction; otherwise, I feel all over the place and can't even get started (that is where I am at right now). So I do feel being my own boss is best because I don't have to disappoint someone else by not getting things in on time or coming into work on time (A BIG PROBLEM OF MINE) as well as being able to personalize the project, which keeps my interest. There are setbacks though---such as locking onto one direction, setting up daily habits, and having to deal with the editing and technical stuff yourself. Yet I would rather deal with those things than mess with the other stuff I have had to deal with when I was working for someone else. On the other hand, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND entrepreneur or self-employed to some ADHDers, such as my brother! He is much better at having someone else manage his life, and he thrives in an outdoorsy, hands-on environment, like carpentry. Whereas, my need for a changing environment and hands-on is more in the form of traveling and changing the scenery. He is also an extrovert, and I am an introvert. So maybe that makes the difference. Plus, his hyperactivity is way higher than mine!

I relate to your videos so much. I’m 28 and still unsure what I want to do. I was diagnosed with ADHD year ago and it has been a battle to figure out what I truly want to do in life. I felt like I’ve alway been a creator too and I even took classes studying music, but I stopped because I was fearful of not becoming successful and becoming a “starving artist”. I chose a different major, which is what I’m still studying, but I’m just not passionate about it anymore. I find myself struggling through classes because of my condition and I find myself wanting to do something else. I feel like I could be good at many different things and would like to do other stuff, but I feel stuck.

I just commented on another video but I already feel more relaxed when you said you hyper focus while creating I am the same I've won many art awards and I studied art product design and Econ so similar to you and I really enjoyed learning economics but I couldnt focus which made me feel stupid even though I ended up with an A, but when I am creating art a whole day will go by where I forget to eat but I would have done a lot of art work

I've had a roller coaster experience of employment strictly as a result of my learning disabilities. I never thought my unorthodox methods would produce the amount of head-shaking and eye-rolling from management. Therefore, I did far better at my own jobs. I'm 55 and I'm still working towards working towards my career choice. Turns out, I'd probably be a good presenter of LD stories, attempts and challenges.

I'm 41 and undiagnosed, but I check most the boxes on the DSM5 for inattentive presentation, and several online assessments point in that direction. I've been directionless most my life, tried so many jobs, been in about 20, but only fired twice. Then I found the RV technician trade, and I've been happy enough with that. It is seasonal, so I have been getting a few months off in the winter for rest and training, and the work is very different day-to-day, so I'm sure I would have gotten burned out sooner without that. Even still, I have just a bit more schooling to go through to get my full certification here in Canada, and I am fighting to remain engaged. In between, I hyperfocused on learning Swedish and deep dived into the language learning community, so I am tempted to learn how to teach learning languages. I wish I could just vibe in this career for a while, and I'll stick with it for as long as I can, but it's been 4 years now, the second longest I've been in any job, and I can feel the restlessness building.

My initial career plan was to study zoology and work in conservational breeding and care, as thats just a topic I‘m really passionate about and I thought that I could do really well in that field. But I didn’t advance in my studies for two years, which then led to me finally getting tested for ADHD. After I got my diagnosis, I kinda gave up biology and switched over to prehistoric archaeology, as this study has lots of hands-on work and requires us to also do courses in other fields of our own choosing, which I figured to be pretty nice because it could be good for me to have some variety in the things I have to learn. But now I‘m in my first semester of archeology and I overlooked the timeframe to register for my first test and I can’t bring myself to study (which will hopefully get better now that I have new meds). So I recently dug up a really old plan of mine, which would be to open a pet shop that’s specialised on selling finished aquaria and terraria as well as products for people to make their own. This plan would combine another passion of mine (scaping aquaria and terraria) with a business that seems to be pretty profitable (selling those). I could be artistic and share a passion of mine with the world, but this plan also has some flaws and could end up with me being a underpaid dude selling dog food at some big brand petstore.

I have to say I so agree with your points of view! There’s is so many jobs & there’s always poor parts too it! I myself have been a mental health support worker & student nurse! Always crave the ideas for business I have 3 failed so far & currently doing Amazon FBA! Which I love but I do struggle in certain areas, however am now seeing it more as a hobby I enjoy & if I make money great 👍 I do have more freedom now (well before lockdown) I drive for Uber which too my surprise is a job I actually love 💓 meeting people from all walks of life & getting paid for it! Yes there’s drawbacks but I think 🤔 that can said for most things in life! Now if I could combine the two & get that work life balance I’d be in heaven lol 😂 Ps am suspected adhd however still waiting just over 2 years for an assessment ( knew I should of went private ) Keep up the good work great videos 💪💪💪

I'm dealing with this myself right now. 28 and just now being able to hold a job without issues, I have down time now too so I can work on photography, skill up here on RU-vid just like you, and earn more knowledge and credentials for work.

I am working in IT Service Desk. I was taking calls so work was "pushed" on me and I had no possibility to procrastinate. Lately I moved to handling escalation emails. This work requires attention for short time, if I stop I can always start again. It is mostly replying to emails and forwarding them. Small tasks. I also work from home so can take break, walk around my place, also when I got distracted no-one from the team really notices since we communicate on chat. Work in big company means your responsibilities and tasks are clear and repetitive and mosty it is work with data not people and this is what I like.

I've been sculpting for the last 5 years. It has been fun but even then I find myself getting a little board of it and forcing myself to finish projects. I really want to start oil painting again so that might be my next career, even though I've got alot of customers to get through with sculpting.

You legit just described my life and thoughts

Omg I’m relating to this so much. Photography was my first major in college. We thrive creating. I really need to get back to it

I get bored easily in school although now that I'm older I love to do extensive research it's fun but idk it's only with things that interest me like astrology but that's not practical lol I do like psychology but idk why am.i even writing all of this to you

Follow your gut, period. School is the bane of my existence, I always hated it. Started in Music Therapy (AMAZING field, but it wasn't meant for me) but a year into it resulted in switching to Arts Administration. Which is just a piece of fricking paper that says you survived university haha. Final year I decided to FINALLY listen to my gut and start my journey as a game composer, which I've had a voice saying GIMME since sophomore year of highschool? Now loving my dream job of doing just that, even if I'm still playing catchup in all respects. Slow start so far but picking up pace. ^_^ Hang in there - starting to get the hang of shiz when almost entering 30s is my curse as well. I was a MESS in my 20s. Who knows, perhaps it's our par for the course, as much as I don't want to say that.

I recently finished Computing. Last year I started Game Design and Development. I think this matches me well, I am a creative person, full of ideas, I like mathematics, drawing and computer graphics. I think it could be a good career path for many people with ADHD because there are many creative professions related to Game Development and I think Games are future, we actually may be in one(simulation theory). I did MBTI as well and get INTP, we like games a lot:)

You just described me. This sounds like autism. I was diagnosed autistic a couple of years ago and you just described my main struggles.

OMG... You are like my alter ego. Everything that you said totally fits me. Unbelievable

Amen Brother it's been Hard men when I find Hyperfocus I feel like no one can beat me ..but it's hard to get back to the same state

This video choked me up. After years of being in IT as a support tech, with 3 dismissals and numerous performance reviews. I decide a few months ago to make a massive career change that compliments my innate skills. If anyone is doing what I did, STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Make a strategic change. Stuart is so right in what he said here. Thanks for this video mate.

I was only very recently diagnosed, but about a year ago I finished a 3 year MBA program. I'm thankful I made it through the program because there were long stretches where I struggled to give it the attention it needed. This has always been the case for me with school so it wasn't all that unusual. I do wonder how much more I could have gotten out of it had I received my diagnosis before starting.

UX design has worked out pretty well for me, as I got more senior I have opportunity to choose bigger, rougher projects and utilize my ability to think big and recognize patterns, and to hand most of details over to someone else, and my chaotic work style is seen as just sign of me being creative.

I’m a middle school teacher, but I found when I was with pre-k and kindergarten students my mind was always occupied, due to their energy.

I have been an accountant for 11 years now and have hated pretty much every moment of it. I just got diagnosed earlier this year and through all my research just to figure out how & why my brain works the way it does, I've come to realize that I have an incredibly creative and bizzare mind. Sitting in front of an excel spreadsheet for 10 hours a day has completely eaten away my soul. I would LOVE a career change, I just don't know what else I'm good at. This is all I've ever done 😔

Thank you very much for sharing your story. The story sounds way too familiar for me as if you’ve known me for a long time.

This channel is gold for adhders TA

I love this video so much .. it just screams ADHD !!!! Like I like this but I don’t like this I like that but can’t finish it .i don’t know if it was intentional but it was perfect:

Although this video is a year old I want to answer the last question. I have ADHD, undiagnosed until I was 25, and I'm a programmer. I did an apprenticeship which was quite hard for me, especially because I needed to go to school some days and it was hard for me to understand all the new processes of developement. But I finished the apprenticeship and got a job as a real programmer in the same company which I am very happy about. I feel there is something intuitive about ADHD which is very useful for writing good code. You are probably used to seeing strategies that other people don't. Overly cluttered code makes you repulsed and rightly so, because it's a useless waste of time and processing power. So if anyone who reads this isn't sure what to get into I can definitely recommend programming, especially if you were interested in it, or have experience with it already. Also many companies let you come in any time you want, so you won't have as much trouble coming to work on time, because there is no specific time to come. It's still a difficult job for me, especially when I have tasks, that are plain boring and don't give me anything in return. But for me it's like making music or painting, because you paint with your own individual paint brush and your code will be individual. All the best to everyone who chooses this path aswell and everyone else.

I got officially diagnosed 3 months ago and this vid just popped up in my feed again. Just seen my previous comment from 2 years ago, hi past self. Anyway that bit about wanting to do a trade but you’re not that kind of person, yep 💯