I walked out of yet another frustrating occupational therapy session, feeling completely defeated. Nothing she suggested seemed to work for me. And she also gave up on me. So, I did what I always do when I'm searching for answers, I picked up a book. This time, it was Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, a book I had read last year. As I flipped through the pages, something clicked. I had to figure it out myself. Because I would not get any help with this from others.
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This time, as I re-read the book, a key message stood out: It’s not just about getting things done, it’s about having fun while doing them. That’s what makes productivity sustainable. In the first chapter, Abdaal shares a story about the physicist Richard Feynman. In the 1940s, Feynman was burned out and uninspired. Then, one day, he saw students tossing a plate in the air. That small, fun moment sparked his curiosity, leading him down a path of discovery that eventually earned him a Nobel Prize. The work didn’t feel like work anymore. It was play. And that changed everything.
This hit me hard because I’ve always struggled with making things feel enjoyable. In school, assignments felt like pure torture. Even now, as an artist, I sometimes lose motivation when a project becomes a “must-do” rather than something I want to do. That’s why I tweak my assignments, I take a reference image but turn it into something I actually enjoy, like my original characters or fan art. When something is fun, it stops being a chore. And when it stops being a chore, I can hyperfocus and get it done.
People often suggest making boring tasks more fun, like listening to music while cleaning or turning it into a game. That’s great in theory, but it’s still a struggle for me. However, one thing is clear: When we feel good while doing something, we naturally want to keep doing it. For those of us with ADHD and ASD, that’s even more crucial because motivation is always a challenge.
Most productivity advice out there isn’t designed for neurodivergent minds. It assumes we can just “build habits” in 90 days or “stick to a structured routine.” But for us? That rarely works. My doctor once told me, “This world isn't made for you.” And he is right. Instead of changing ourselves to fit a rigid system, we need to find a system that works for us. Not easy in todays world, but something has to change.
For example, I’ve learned that I can’t force creativity into a timeline. Productivity gurus love time blocking, but if I try to block out time for drawing, it never works. My creativity doesn’t turn on like a light switch. It comes and goes. So instead of forcing structure where it doesn’t belong, I let creativity flow naturally.
But some things do benefit from structure, like cleaning. I hate doing it alone, but if someone else is with me, suddenly, it’s easier. We talk, bounce ideas off each other, and make the process engaging.
I recently read another book, Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. While it’s not written for people with ADHD or ASD, it still has some good lessons: Do less. Take on fewer tasks. Care about quility. Don’t rush through life trying to keep up with the world’s unrealistic speed. I’ve started applying this by limiting myself to three tasks a day, with only one being a big task, like a meeting. If I overload myself, I crash. Simple as that.
Another approach is to designate one day as a "light" or "clean" day, no big meetings or heavy tasks. Some people choose Monday as a reset day, keeping it free of big obligations. But I’ve flipped that idea around. I have chosen one day when I do my biggest tasks instead. And that day is Wednesday day. Because my dad take my dog for walk that day. Meaning I have less stuff to do. This way, I can mentally prepare, get everything done in one go, and free up the rest of my week for more flexible, creative work.
At the end of the day, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: If something isn’t fun, why force yourself to do it the hard way? Find a way to make it enjoyable. Listen to music. Invite a friend. Change how you approach the task. And most importantly, don’t beat yourself up when mainstream productivity advice doesn’t work for you. Those methods weren’t designed for us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find our own way.
I’m still figuring all of this out, and I’ll be sharing my experiences along the way. If you’ve found a trick that makes productivity easier or more fun for you, let me know! Maybe together, we can rewrite the rules of productivity, on our own terms.
Thanks for listening, share it with someone you love. And have a wonderful rest of your day.
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