[annie_muss]

Before I was diagnosed my average time keeping a job was something like 6 months. I would get a job, feel elated and enthusiastic about the work. After a few months I would start to struggle, feel too anxious to ask for help, spiral into depression. My work output would get worse and worse. The final nail in the coffin would be my superiors asking about my performance. I would usually quit or just disappear because I could take the shame.

Don't underestimate how bad ADHD (and related issues like anxiety, depression, rejection sensitivity) can be.

Now that I've been diagnosed I use a wide range of tools to improve my performance:

* Automation for start and end work tasks. I have Keyboard maestro open and arrange multiple windows on multiple monitors so that at the start of the work day I can press one button and get started. Or if I've gone off task I can close everything and simply hit one button to get back on task.

* Timers. I use many timers to remind me of important things and timebox chunks of work. I really like smart speakers as they are a low distraction device. I also use Horo on my computer and a garmin smartwatch with multiple vibration timers (great if you are in a situation where you need a timer but can't disturb others).

* Task separation. I use different folders and browser profiles for different tasks. The browser bar color changes to remind me which 'mode' I'm in. Downloads automatically go into their respective downloads folder so when I'm hunting for something after the fact it's usually much easier to find.

* Emotional skills. By far the biggest impact. Better than any tool, gadget, app or aphorism. Slowly learn to forgive and accept yourself even when you don't do anything. Spent the whole day watching youtube by accident? Fine. Didn't reply to that email for 6 months? It happens. Learning to see your big, uncontrollable emotions before they completely overtake you is also very valuable.

Overall ADHD is a disability and will have large effects on your career. You can take action to ameliorate some of these effects but you'll generally be behind a similar person without ADHD.