adhd - Corporette.com https://corporette.com/tag/adhd/ A work fashion blog offering fashion, lifestyle, and career advice for overachieving chicks Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:20:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/corporette-favicon-150x150.png adhd - Corporette.com https://corporette.com/tag/adhd/ 32 32 How to Deal with Sensory Issues at Work https://corporette.com/how-to-deal-with-sensory-issues-at-work/ https://corporette.com/how-to-deal-with-sensory-issues-at-work/#comments Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:23:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=146707

If you're sensitive to lights, sound, or smells, this is the post for you.

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young professional woman is experiencing sensory overload at work and rubbing her temples

While all of us are irritated by sensory distractions at the office, like burned-popcorn smell or super-loud typing, the workplace can make some people go into sensory overload — so today we’re talking about how to deal with sensory issues at work. While it’s a happy accident that we’re sharing this post during Disability Pride Month (we’re admittedly not quite that organized), it’s a great reminder to be aware of the invisible disabilities that affect millions of people.

Some of the advice and products we’re featuring today — especially the tips on “sensory-supportive” work environments and employer accommodations — can help people with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorder, migraine, misophonia, and even folks in recovery from concussion or TBI. However, this info can benefit people without a formal diagnosis or condition, too.

While neurodivergence is represented on Team Corporette (and among a couple of our family members), we also reached out to an expert. Dr. Nicole Villegas, OTD, OTR/L, founder of The Institute for Sensory Conscious™ Living in Portland, OR, answered our questions via email. Her input can help both readers with sensory issues and managers trying to accommodate their employees. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

What to Know About Sensory Issues at Work

Corporette: Do you have products to recommend that can make an office more sensory-friendly?

Dr. Villegas: Although I don’t currently endorse specific products, here’s some guidance:

Sensory-supportive environments aren’t “one size fits all,” because our personal experience shapes how we engage in the space. Keep adjustability and adaptation in mind if you’re looking for products to make the office more sensory-supportive. Take vision and lighting needs, for example. The office may already have adjustable lighting features like blinds on the windows, and adding smart light bulbs to workspace lamps can make the lighting even more adaptable to individual needs.

Sometimes creating a sensory-supportive environment means removing input rather than adding to it. This can look like turning the volume down on office-wide music, or decreasing visual clutter in shared workspaces.

Employers I’ve worked with have been surprised to learn how much their clothing, hair, or tech-use policies prevent their employees from creating a more sensory-supportive work environment. These policies may be implicit or explicitly enforced. Consider whether rules about wearing hats, sunglasses, earplugs, and “professional” attire or hairstyles impact you or your team.

{related: executive functioning tips and tricks}

Can You Get Your Employer to Pay for Sensory-Friendly Accommodations?

Corporette: Under what conditions can someone get their employer to pay for items like these — and to make other sensory accommodations? Do you have to be diagnosed as having a disability?

Whether modifications are provided by employers through reasonable accommodations per the ADA or individual requests without a documented disability, the goal is to help overcome barriers and improve access in the workplace. This shared goal can help ground communication between the employer and the employee.

[This communication] can include a shared goal to improve your work experience and performance, an openness to consider options to address the barriers, and a willingness to problem-solve over time.

“Reasonable accommodations” are covered under the [ADA] and require a documented disability. While some of my clients successfully go through the process of requesting reasonable accommodations through ADA provisions without employer pushback, others have distressing experiences that exacerbate [their] challenges … . In my experience, employees with barriers that are not visible … are more likely to experience slower resolution to their requests.

{related: should you tell your colleagues that you’re autistic?}

Corporette: What strategies do you suggest regarding requesting accommodations — for example, getting your employer to approve a hybrid or WFH arrangement for sensory-related reasons if employees are required to be at the office every day?

This is where communication and self-advocacy come in.

1. When approaching your employer, highlight your shared goals and speak to how your hybrid schedule or working from home will help you to meet those goals.

2. Acknowledge the resources that each of you have (time, funding, expertise, contributions).

3. Map out a plan that meets your needs, and include check-ins over time.

4. An occupational therapist, a coach, or legal representative who specializes in workplace accommodations or self-advocacy may be helpful resources for this process.

{related: medications and your job: business etiquette tips for going off your meds}

collage of products to help you deal with sensory overload at work; see caption for details
Above, clockwise: noise-cancelling earbuds / wireless cooling fan / starter kit for adjustable lights / softer desk lamp / air purifier / filter cover for fluorescent lights / rubber ball fidgets / pink fidget cube / tinted eyeglasses

Some of the Best Products to Deal with Sensory Issues at Work

Our recommendations come from a few sources: The experiences of a family member who is autistic, the experiences of an autistic friend of mine, and a Facebook group for neurodivergent alums of my alma mater.

These items can help not only in an office environment (especially in an open-plan workplace!), but also in a home office, too. Please share your own recs in the comments!

Flare Calmer Earplugs

A pair of Flare white earplugs

Flare’s Calmer “earplug alternatives are recommended by many folks who are especially sensitive to certain sounds.

Made from hollow silicone for comfort (no latex, in case you’re allergic), Calmer doesn’t block sound but instead reduces trigger noises, e.g., traffic sounds, electronic buzzing, the sounds of people eating/chewing, commuting noises) while keeping the general environmental sounding “natural.” Flare explains, “Calmer reduces resonance (distortion) by using a tiny waveguide to reflect sound into our ear which bypasses the effect of the Concha.”

One member of the Facebook group I mentioned above said they’re “total meltdown prevention” and noted, “My life is better when I have less to process, and I can certainly do better work that way!”

These earplugs are available at Amazon; if you buy them directly from Flare (£19.95), you get a 100-day return policy (and free shipping as well). The options available (in addition to Mini) are Soft, Secure, Kids, and Pro. A mesh carrying pouch is included.

Loop Engage Plus Earplugs

A pair of black-and-transparent Loop earplugs

Loop has a thorough quiz on their website that helps you pick the right earplugs for you. Pictured is Loop Engage Plus, which reduces and filters noise up to 16 dB and “takes the edge off” sounds. The included Loop Mute accessory provides an extra 5 dB of noise reduction, and sizing is versatile, because each pair includes four interchangeable ear tip sizes.

Regarding sensory issues, the company notes, “From helping [people] tune out triggering sounds in social settings without feeling so distant to helping them focus at work, Loop earplugs help people with ADHD, autism, misophonia and more…”

Reviewers have shared comments like “As someone who is autistic and neurodivergent it makes a huge difference to be able to cut down the amount of stimuli I take in,” and “I’m Autistic and these are life changing for my sensory issues.

Loop earplugs are available at Amazon, including the Engage Plus; this model is sold at Loop Earplugs for $44.95 with 100-day free returns.

Note: With earbuds, it largely depends on the individual, and it may take some trial and error. If Calmer doesn’t work for you, for example, try Loop, dBud, noise-canceling headphones, etc. — or a pricier but effective alternative, AirPods. (I don’t have a particular sensitivity to sound, but I’m so impressed by their noise-canceling mode.)

Lepro Desk Lamp

A black desk lamp on top of a wooden table next to a magazine

If your office has harsh fluorescent lights — and you can’t escape them by moving to a different office or cubicle — a desk lamp can provide more gentle lighting. Even adding a desk lamp to existing light sources can help by creating layered lighting.

Look for a lamp that offers adjustable brightness levels and different color temperatures, and play around with the settings to find the combo you like. This one from Lepro, pictured, has five dimmer levels and three color modes (and is eligible for free returns).

On the higher end (for your home office), many autistic folks (like this person) recommend Philips Hue smart lighting, which has three light ranges: soft white light, warm-to-cool white light, and white and colored light. Specific technical details, as textbook authors say, are “beyond the scope of this book,” er, blog. Check philips-hue.com for more info.)

Two additional strategies (1) Some people bothered by fluorescent lights cover them with fabric or with thin covers like these filters from Octo Lights. (Of course, you’ll have to check if your employer allows this.) (2) FL-14 tinted eyeglasses (like these at Amazon) were developed to ease people’s eye discomfort from fluorescent light, and often help people who are especially sensitive to light for various reasons, including migraine. (If you wear prescription glasses, ask your ophthalmologist about your options here.)

Some neurodivergent people have even noted that blue light glasses really help them with light sensitivities!

Venty Wireless Desk Fan

A black wireless fan next to its remote

If you don’t have the common summertime dilemma regarding your office feeling like the inside of a refrigerator, a fan can make a big difference in your comfort — and in turn, your concentration. In some of my office jobs, I ran my desk fan pretty frequently. I bought a basic model (this one, which is still going strong a decade later), while today, you can get inexpensive desk fans (like this one) that charge via USB.

If a small fan like that won’t cut it (the top speed on my old one is kinda sad), I recommend the fan pictured above, which my son uses at home. Going far beyond a basic desk fan, this foldable, wireless model has a battery that lasts up to two days (and charges via USB), plus a little remote. It has four speeds (plus lights, which you can turn off) and has a maximum height of three feet. You can even charge your devices with it. At just over 2.5 pounds, it’s easily portable, and it even has a travel case. Granted, it’s four to five times the price of basic desk fans, but if a basic option won’t cut it, here’s your fan!

Note: If you want a fan to do double duty — cooling and providing white noise — it’s probably better to get a cheap one that doesn’t boast that it’s silent.

Levoit Air Purifier

A silver-colored cylindrical air purifier

You might not think of an air purifier as something that can contribute to a sensory-supportive office environment, but certain models can not only reduce distracting odors but also generate white noise. (Note that some models promise almost zero noise.)

If you want your air purifier to go beyond improving general air quality and also tackle office odors, get one with a carbon air filter, because HEPA filters alone aren’t effective at tackling smells. A pricier option is a Molekule air purifier, which uses technology called PECO (photo electrochemical oxidation) to fight odors. Unfortunately, the brand’s two models are $359.99 (mini) and, ahem, $1,014.99 (full size). (Remember, no matter what product you buy, you’ll have to regularly pay for replacement filters.)

A more affordable option is the pictured air purifier from Levoit. It’s designed for homes with pets, but for a pet-free office, I’d certainly trust something designed for pesky pet odors. (Plus, it’s earned a 4.7 out of 5.0 stars at Amazon from 99,000+ ratings!) This model has an activated carbon filter and can handle about 200 sq. ft of space — so it should be adequate for a typical office.

Fidget Objects and Toys

A package of stress balls, as well as the balls, which are green, red, and red

You have a lot of options in this category — perfect for fidgeting during video calls and so on. Proprioceptive input can really help.

Companies like Rubbabu make textured ball toys for sensory input. Rubbabu’s are made (through ethical production) from 97% rubber foam, are free from fillers and chemicals, and are anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, and mildew-resistant. While they’re marketed to kids, they’re helpful for anyone (although admittedly, they’re pricey).

The pictured assortment is available at Amazon; Rubbabu.com has a bigger assortment of balls (heh).

Other helpful fidgets are fidget cubes (my son likes them), Greek worry beads (komboloi, a classic; available at Amazon, and tons at Etsy), mesh/marble fidgets (I like them), the ubiquitous Pop-Its (satisfying!), polished stones (check your local science museum!), and spinner rings (as in rings to wear).

{related: better ergonomics at the office: what products have you tried and loved?}

More Products to Help with Sensory Overload at Work

I recently talked to the autistic friend I mentioned above, and she sent me a TON of recommendations to share with readers. She added, “Just generally making sure you know what is and is not helpful for you to help narrow the list down is key.” (Before buying an item, or requesting that your employer provide a particular product, see if you can borrow something similar from a friend or relative.) In addition to the products below, she suggested setting your laptop display to “night mode” so the colors are warmer, and if possible, working in a conference room with the lights off.

The products are almost all my friend’s specific recs; we’ve linked to examples for the ones she didn’t provide links for.

1. Gaiam acupressure mat: “also comes in a smaller mat/seat cushion, and neck pillow”

2. Octorox spiky massage balls: “good sensory input for your feet”

3. Guohaoi weighted blanket: “I have no idea if this is good or not, but it’s in my wish list.” (We’ve previously recommended ones from Amazon, Brookstone and Magic Weighted Blanket.)

4. Octorox Spiky Massage Balls: “good sensory input for your feet”

5. EverRest foot rest: “I cant speak to the lumbar support since I don’t have it, but this is the foot rest I use.”

6. Loft ponte pull-on pants: “[This] stretchy material is HEAVENLY.” (Note that these pants are on sale and selling out quickly, but Universal Standard offers pull-on ponte pants in three colors in a wide size range for $98.)

7. Xumbtvs coffee sleeves: “For people who don’t like wet hands but get iced coffees (but also they’re just great for anyone)”

8. ONO fidget roller: “I’ve heard good things about these fidgets.”

9. Compression clothing: “Wear compression clothing UNDER work clothes, like compression shorts under dresses, compression tanks under shirts, etc.” [ex. Athleta shorts, Girlfriend Collective tank].

10. Under-desk bike pedals, ellipticals, or treadmills [ex. Vaunn under-desk pedal]

11. Neck fans/neck heaters: “They look kind of like headphones that someone took off to rest on their neck.” [ex. AMACOOL]

{related: how to manage ADHD in the workplace}

Other Tips for Handling Sensory Issues at Work

1. This Twitter thread from 2022 has a ton of “easy, stand-alone autism hacks” that can help anyone with sensory sensitivities — for work and beyond. One example: Use detergent designed for wool (like this one) to keep your workwear (and WFH wear) feeling soft.

2. Chew gum.

3. Wear sunglasses indoors (or try blue light glasses!)

4. Use a white noise machine, white noise app, or Spotify playlist (or this constant brown noise on Spotify, which I’m using as I write this.

Readers, do you have tips to share for handling sensory issues at work (whether or not you have a related diagnosis)? What products have helped you, and how has your employer accommodated your needs, if at all?

Stock photo via Deposit Photos.

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Tool of the Trade: Goblin Tools https://corporette.com/tool-of-the-trade-goblin-tools/ Mon, 22 May 2023 16:31:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=149493

Here is Kate's review of a new website that helps you check your tone (and makes tasks fun, and more) online.

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young chic professional woman ponders whether the tone in her email is correct

I realize that today’s Tool of the Trade rec might create two opposite reactions among readers: “I don’t get it; why would you even need that?” and “Oh wow, I gotta try that!” In the words of its software-engineer creator, goblin.tools is “a collection of small, simple, single-task tools, mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.” (I’m not sure where the name comes from, because it doesn’t quite jibe with “goblin mode.” Hmm…)

The tools are Magic ToDo (“Breaking things down so you don’t”), Formalizer (“Turn the spicy thoughts into classy ones, or vice versa”), Judge (“Am I misreading the tone of this?”), Estimator (“Just tell me how long this is probably gonna take”), and Compiler (“Compile my braindump into a list of tasks”). Right now, you can use goblin.tools in your browser (in either dark or light mode) or Android phone, and it’ll be available as an iPhone app soon. It’s free, and there are no ads.

{related: how to manage ADHD in the workplace}

Things like goblin.tools — which uses AI technology — are great for folks with ADHD or anyone who deals with procrastination, time blindness, decision fatigue, rejection sensitive dysphoria, anxiety, problems with prioritizing tasks, and so on. I can see how goblin.tools would be helpful both at home and at work.

To me, the most useful of the five functions the site offers might be Magic ToDo. Depending on how much you need a task broken down into parts, you can adjust the “spiciness level” — from one chili pepper to five chili peppers. Once goblin.tools has broken down a task, you can get it to further simplify any subtasks if necessary. Once you check a box for a task/subtask, it’ll be crossed out. (You can also manually make a to-do list with Magic ToDo.)

While playing around with Magic ToDo for this post, entering some random tasks, I noticed that it did a pretty good job of breaking down projects like “clean up my yard for spring,” “plan a kitchen renovation,” “plan a baby shower,” “run for school board,” “get rid of old financial documents” … and “take over the world,” just for fun (or WAS it?). (I would include a screenshot of one of these task lists if the image didn’t have to be huge to be readable here.) Of course, complicated projects will need additional research to complete, but this website gives you a helpful starting point for anything you want to do.

{related: using AI chatbots to plan a vacation}

Readers, have you tried goblin.tools or anything like it? If not, does it look like something that could help you at home or at work? Any similar online tools to recommend?

Stock photo via Stencil.

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Easy Ways to Remember to Take Your Meds https://corporette.com/remember-to-take-your-meds/ https://corporette.com/remember-to-take-your-meds/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2022 17:02:28 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=136231

What are your favorite tips and tricks to remember to take your meds? Have you tried any of the fun new products like timer caps?

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woman holds a white pill up to her mouth, about to take it

I’ve seen a surplus of cool ways to remember to take your meds lately — so I thought I’d round some up. I’m sure a lot of you have memory hacks of your own for remembering to take your meds — please share!

My Memory Hack for Remembering to Take My Meds

One memory tip that I’ve used sometimes to remember to take my meds is this: I keep the pill bottle on the LEFT hand side of the sink, and after I take it I move it to the RIGHT hand side. I’d heard that you can imprint a physical habit like this by doing it 30+ times — even in a short time period, so when I started with a new medicine, I practiced doing that. This has worked for me for a long time — but when the kids went back to school my morning system got a bit screwier, and I’ve found myself wondering on numerous days whether or not I took my meds. (Did I take them and just forget to put them on the correct side of the sink? Did I forget to “reset” the pill bottle to the left side the night before, and didn’t actually take them?)

I’ve never liked pill organizers because they take too much time to fill and often don’t hold more than a single pill (plus, they’re usually not safe around kids).

That said, I’ve seen a number of newer, easier products addressing just this problem in more streamlined ways, so I ordered a few to check them out…

How to Remember to Take Your Meds: Pill Poppers

a keychain-sized bubble-popper with days of the week that can attach by rubber band to a nasal spray, liquid medicine (both pictured), or pill bottle (not pictured)

These Pill Poppers are one of the first things that arrived — a three pack is under $10. I am giving these as stocking stuffers this year; they’re so cool. You can adapt this to any pill bottle (or spray or liquid bottle) because it’s got something similar to a silicone rubber band at top. (I have it on a typical brown drug bottle and it hasn’t interfered with the safety cap at all.) It’s tiny, easy to use, and super satisfying to “pop” the day of the week in. The only trick, of course, is remembering to do the correct day…

(I could see these being difficult if, like my mother, you keep about 10 different medications in a tight space like a plastic basket, just because the pill poppers might get accidentally jostled/popped/unpopped when you add/remove different medications.)

The system also has an AM/PM pop button if you need to take the drug twice a day, but the next system might be more helpful. for that If you don’t like the bubble popper, this “take n slide” medication tracker sticker might be better — I didn’t buy it because it’s a bit more expensive (around $20 for 5) and is stuck on the side of the bottle. They say it’s reusable and can be unstuck easily, for what it’s worth.

How to Remember to Take AM/PM Meds: The Chart

a white and green chart that reads "DID YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINE?" with columns with the days of the week and AM/PM; a woman is sliding over a tab for Saturday PM.

I got this visual medication reminder/tracker primarily because my son takes a few meds, and depending on who’s watching him and medicating him, I thought this one could be useful for a team. (We’ve double-dosed a kiddo at least once with antibiotics (years ago now)… that was a fun call to Poison Control.) I also like that the chart clearly has AM/PM in different columns, and (as the sales page points out), if a family member notices that you haven’t taken it, they can remind you.

Admittedly, you could also just keep an index card near your meds with similar handwritten columns and just check them off — but where is the fun in that?

How to Remember to Take Your Meds: The Timer Cap

two timer caps that display the "time since last opened" on the top of a brown pill bottle; the caps are blue and red

I think this is the ultimate solution — timer caps that display the last time the pill bottle was opened!! Brilliant!! So long as the battery works well, of course. You can get 2 for around $15.

Readers, what are your favorite tips and tricks to remember to take your meds? Have you tried any medication reminder products like these timer caps and so forth?

Stock photo via Stencil.

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Focusmate Review: “Body Doubling” Tips to Increase Productivity https://corporette.com/body-doubling-tips/ https://corporette.com/body-doubling-tips/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:02:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=126458

Have you heard of the new trend of "body doubling" to increase focus or productivity? Kate tried it out...

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two young Black women working separately on laptops in a corporate-looking space

Have you heard of the new trend of “body doubling” to increase focus or productivity? Would you try it out? Here’s what to know about it, and our best body doubling tips…

When I learned about the productivity strategy of “body doubling” on TikTok, I was intrigued. It made me think back to college when going to the library could make it easier to work and study — because I knew everyone else there was working and studying, too. That kind of situation lacks accountability, however. For all I knew, the other students could have been zoning out and doodling in their notebooks. (This was back when everybody didn’t have a phone — an understatement — so I knew they weren’t playing on their phones, at least!)

With actual body doubling, accountability is built in. For example, you might ask a friend to come to your home while you do something you’ve been putting off, like pack for a move. That’s a low-tech method of body doubling, but a more tech-y option is using a tool called Focusmate, which I also discovered while scrolling through TikTok (ironic, no?).

{related: what productivity hacks really work for you?}

General Body Doubling Tips

  • Find a friend who’s interested in body doubling (or use a service like Focusmate).
  • Select the tasks you want to accomplish.
  • Expect to spend a minute on chitchat about what your goals are.
  • Set a time limit.
  • Let your partner know if you’ll be on mute (or if you have to step away for a second).
  • Thank your partner for working with you.
  • Repeat as necessary!

My Focusmate Review

What Is Focusmate, and How Do You Use It?

First of all: I realize that to some readers, Focusmate may sound bizarre, but for those who sometimes struggle with staying accountable to themselves, and for those have ADHD or are otherwise neurodivergent, it (or body doubling in general) can be a lifesaver.

Focusmate matches you with a random activity partner whom you’ll connect with to work “together.” The website has an integrated video function — no Zoom required. You create a profile, select your time zone, and when you’re ready, choose a day and time you’d like to work with someone (for either 25 or 50 minutes). If you want to work with a particular person, you can share your profile link or they can share theirs.

Once you’re matched with a partner (from anywhere in the world — kinda cool), you go to Focusmate.com at the designated time and click on your session, then introduce yourself and chat for a minute or two about what each of you wants to accomplish. Then you get right to work.

You and your partner can see each other in the Focusmate tab in your browser, and both users are supposed to stay on camera. You can remain unmuted or mute yourself — for example, if you want to listen to music. (Let your partner know either way.) There’s a built-in a chat feature that you can use to excuse yourself for a minute (“brb, just have to go get some water” or whatever) and to silently enter an additional task if needed during your session.

At the end of the time period, you briefly speak with your partner about how things went. (An alarm will sound, in case you’re too engrossed in work to notice.) Socializing isn’t encouraged in general, but if you’re both interested in chatting at the end of a session, that’s permitted. At the end, people typically say something like, “Thanks for working with me.”

If you’re late or don’t show up, the “timeliness” score on your profile will be reduced.

The Focusmate Facebook group is great (people look for partners to coordinate with particular activities, share tips, and so on) but it isn’t mandatory.

I tried Focusmate a few weeks ago to see what it’s like and was matched with a woman who worked on writing a paper that I assume was for college or grad school. (I felt old.) Focusmate helped me in a few ways: It kept me focused because I had designated tasks rather than just a goal of “getting work done,” it kept me accountable because I knew I’d have to report how much I did, and it was easy to “stay in the zone” after the session and keep working.

{related: how to make the most of your productive times}

What Does Focusmate Cost?

Focusmate is free for up to three sessions a week. For $6.99 per month, the Plus plan gives you unlimited sessions.

Should I Be Worried About Safety?

Here are the community guidelines, along with miscellaneous tips. Selling, flirting, sexual harassment, and discriminatory comments are a few of the things prohibited. You can easily block users and report “bad behavior,” after which the person will be warned, suspended, or banned.

When you create your profile, Focusmate lets you choose who you want to be matched with, with the choices of (1) everyone, (2) everyone except men, and (3) everyone except cisgender men. (I chose #3 to prevent myself from having to worry about any potential creepiness.) In your user profile, you can choose one or more of the following for your own gender identity: man, woman, non-binary, transgender, or “prefer not to say” — or add your own gender.

Readers, do tell: Would you ever use something like Focusmate? Have you ever used body doubling to accomplish things?

{related: five ways to improve your focus}

Psst: some of our favorite books on productivity!

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Stock photo via Stencil.

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Coffee Break: Multi Cube Timer/Rotating Timer https://corporette.com/adhd-pomodoro-time-cube/ https://corporette.com/adhd-pomodoro-time-cube/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2021 18:43:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=122590

This little timer cube is super simple, and I'm finding it helps me stay focused and manage my time.

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I purchased this little timer a few weeks ago in white, and I have to say it’s pretty clever — you rotate it from side to side to give yourself chunks of time to focus and do tasks. Mine has 5-, 15-, 30-, and 60-minute increments — you basically just turn it so the time you want is on top of the box, and then the screen rotates to show you how much time remains. There’s a little beep to let you know the timer has started, and a blinking red light. Then when the time is up, it buzzes. (It’s totally silent in the interim.)

The buzzer is a bit annoying — I just turn it screen-side down to shut it off immediately, and then usually forget about it.

But I’m finding I do use this, and often — I’ll try to give myself a “power hour” to Do the Things I Don’t Want to Do, or to break the work into segments like the Pomodoro method specifies. (They don’t have a 25-minute option, but I’ve never really felt like there’s been magic in that particular number anyway, at least for me.) I could also see it being great if you’ve got a billable hour!

I feel like it’s a bit superior to using Siri — just picking up my phone can lead to a world of distractions sometimes. And I tried to use the app Forest previously, but neither the phone nor PC version really worked well for me.

The timer cube is $18.90 and comes in a variety of colors. (My description of how it works all applies to the white one, since it seems the time options may be different depending on what color you get.) I recommend!

Readers, what other fun ways do you have to manage your time?

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Workwear sales of note for 1.21.24

Our favorites are in bold!

Workwear sales of note for 1.21.24

Our favorites are in bold!

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Stay tuned for a list of our latest threadjacks!

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Five Ways to Improve Your Focus https://corporette.com/improve-focus/ https://corporette.com/improve-focus/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2021 17:51:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=50353

Do you struggle with focus at work (or, hey, at home)? What tips and tricks have you found to improve your focus? I am always looking for the best ways to improve my focus, but keep coming back to a few ideas… Readers, what are your best tips on how to improve focus? {related: how ... Read More about Five Ways to Improve Your Focus

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tiny green frog with red eyes and blue legs and belly

Do you struggle with focus at work (or, hey, at home)? What tips and tricks have you found to improve your focus? I am always looking for the best ways to improve my focus, but keep coming back to a few ideas…

Readers, what are your best tips on how to improve focus?

{related: how to focus on work}

Our Best Tips to Help You Improve Focus

1. Eat that frog.

I have yet to read the book (affiliate link) of the same name by Brian Tracy, but I really like the idea: whatever you’re procrastinating on most — your “frog” — get it done first thing in the morning. As in: eat the frog. (Half of the trick here is knowing what your frog is!)  Once the frog is out of the way, I find that my mental focus is a lot better — or, at least, I’m free to procrastinate on other things.

{related: how to focus when you work from home}

2. Only try to focus for small chunks of time

For example, 25 minutes at a time (aka the Pomodoro method, which we’ve discussed with other time management methods as well as how to maximize your most productive times of the day).

3. Turn your mouse over

Option 2: get away from the computer entirely. I truly believe that the mouse is at the root of half of my focus problems — if I turn it over (so it’s on its back), turn it off, or remove it from my desktop, it cuts down on my almost Pavlovian response to go check Facebook whenever there is a mental pause.

{related: our best executive functioning tips and tricks}

4. Use specific devices for specific things.

For example, if you need to read a ton and prefer not to print EVERYTHING out… but keep finding yourself distracted by Pinterest or something on your use-it-for-everything iPad, consider having one device that is JUST for reading, whether it’s a Kindle, an old iPad, or another tablet.

On a related note — I often find that I am MUCH more productive as a writer when I take my bluetooth keyboard and go work on my iPad (my iPhone will also work in a pinch, like if I’m on an airplane and only have a bit of desk space in front of me).

Before my iPad I would write longhand when I really needed to focus — the iPad is better because it gets the text on the screen (no need to hire someone to type it in for me, or waste time doing it myself) but, because there is no mouse, I don’t get distracted.

{related: how to limit screentime}

Psst… stay tuned for some of our favorite tools to help us manage our time, focus, and otherwise stay productive!

5. Block specific distractions, like particular websites.

I’ve written before of my love for browser extensions that help you minimize distractions — now that I’m on Chrome a lot more I tend to use the Chrome app Morphine. I tend to allow myself 3 minutes at a time on sites like Facebook, but you can set it how you please.

Readers, what are your best tips for improving your focus?

Current images via Stencil. Originally pictured (2015): Frog burns, originally uploaded to Flickr by Tilley 441.

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