This blog post aims to share an insightful analysis and key excerpts from a survey I conducted as part of my UX research, focused on individuals with ADHD. The complete UX research will be unveiled as a portfolio project soon.
So, what did I learn from surveying people with ADHD for my UX Portfolio Project? How can these insights inform more empathetic and inclusive design? I invite you to join me on this fascinating exploration. Let’s delve into the significant insights and surprises that emerged from my analysis.
In the realm of User Experience (UX) design, it is imperative to understand the diverse range of user needs and behaviors, in order to create products that are truly accessible and inclusive. Among these diverse user groups are people living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can significantly affect focus, impulsivity, and physical activity levels.
But how does it interact with the realm of digital interfaces? That’s what I sought to understand through my recent project.
How do you treat or detect your ADHD (medication, therapy, alternative methods)?
a
5 out of 6 respondents take medication.
b
2 out of 5 use task managers (planners, to-do).
What are the main difficulties or problems you experience because of your ADHD in everyday life?
a
Most have problems with focusing on the task.
b
Procrastination for almost every respondent.
c
Problems with planning.
d
Low self-esteem.
e
Rapid fading of interest in the task.
Tell us briefly about your typical day. What tasks do you usually have to do?
a
Problems with waking up, long “warm-up”.
b
If there are many things to do, they write a regular list (without structure, time frames, degree of importance).
c
Making a to-do list for the day “before”.
d
When watching movies, you need to keep your hands busy (Non-extinguishing of the cinema).
e
Yoga or exercise in the morning greatly helps the overall mood for the rest of the day.
f
Even on freelance, it is important to maintain a working mode.
What problems or difficulties do you usually experience when trying to do these tasks?
a
General lack of focus on the task, frequent switching from one task to another, and as a result none of the tasks are done properly.
b
Easily distracted by extraneous things (e.g. looking for something, seeing something more interesting and off they go).
c
When working constantly without breaks — loss of strength, fatigue, stress.
d
But if you take breaks, is there a possibility of a “turn” into procrastination?
e
Long “warm-up” even for such things as morning yoga, which helps to wake up. It turns out to be some kind of vicious circle.
f
If the day was planned to be productive, but the morning did not go well because of the long “warm-up”, then some respondents postpone everything to the next day, and this day is considered “spoiled”.
g
Important! Breaks and pauses in the work process. When working monotonously, the level of stress increases.
h
The surrounding order and atmosphere (silence) are important. Chaos causes stress.
i
Difficulty switching between tasks.
j
He/she always automatically plans more than is realistically possible to accomplish, and this frustrates him/her.
How do you usually organize your tasks? What methods or tools do you use for this?
a
Most use a combination of Calendar + Task management application.
b
Large “projects” are conducted in Trello (kanban board). Convenient import from Calendar. Large projects: “getting a job”, “preparing for an exam in Korean”, “project on the course”, “content strategy for the blog”, “promotion strategy for the festival” and so on.
c
Someone returned to the usual notebook and pen. The apps never took hold.
d
Problems with the distribution of strength and energy, with prioritization, deadlines.
What problems do you usually have with concentration? How do you cope with them?
a
Most are distracted by ambient noise, chatter, media.
b
Also distracting are suddenly remembered things → Tasks for the day should be in front of your eyes.
c
To maintain focus silence and brown noise help.
d
Returning to the task is possible after the interest fades on the distracting task.
e
It is important to maintain informational “purity”: when performing important tasks, do not read the news, because for example a negative news can knock off track for a long time.
f
Some are helped by an app to block social networks.
g
Important are “rewards” for completing tasks (coffee with pastry, something tasty after classes, etc.).
h
Most noted that silence, calm music, tidy desk (order), working in a library/coworking help.
Are there any apps or tools that help you organize your tasks or maintain focus? If yes, what do you like or dislike about them?
a
Most are helped by music/sounds (Sleep sounds, Endel etc.) to focus.
b
Not everyone likes to-do apps (possible reason, lack of visibility, overall picture of tasks).
c
Many mention Trello.
d
Reminders and timers can be annoying.
e
The problem of “apps for ADHD” → they are too difficult to set up and have synchronization problems.
f
Some prefer several apps, but with an intuitive interface.
g
One of the most productive ways of tracking was a telegram chat for several people, where participants wrote every day what they were going to do, and at the end of the day summed up the results.
h
TickTick app → respondents note the importance of synchronization with other services (Outlook, Calendar, Reminders)
i
All planners are just annoying. And they have terrible visualization, no visibility at all.
What strategies or approaches do you have to make task completion easier?
a
Shopping as a way to thank yourself.
b
Important work atmosphere where taking breaks is normal.
c
One of the participants, before performing a big task, does a “reconnaissance” — searches for information and prepares everything that will be necessary for its execution. Then he takes a break (an hour, several hours, a day?) and starts it.
d
Also he starts with the easiest points, this helps to “warm up” and immerse.
e
Important! Break down a big task into a small one (“so that at some stage you can tell yourself that I can quickly cope with this small task and without difficulties”).
f
Breaking down into small tasks is not possible for everyone.
g
Helps to analyze what “scares” in the task. You can talk to a colleague/close one to get an outside view.
h
Also can help Research: googling everything on the topic, reading, immersing — this helps to start generating ideas and the task will be done.
i
One of the participants once again repeated about the importance of atmosphere and silence: if there was a mess at home she went to work in a cafe.
Do your ADHD symptoms change throughout the day? If yes, how does this affect your ability to complete tasks?
a
They get worse under stress, especially emotional stress.
b
They have poor “judgment” in the morning.
c
Before lunch everything is ok with focus and energy, but after eating there is sleepiness and concentration drops until the evening.
d
[Advice]. One of the participants mentioned: If I am stressed or feeling bad, I try to switch to some activity or tasks that require less concentration.
e
Respondent #5 also paid attention to the morning: In the morning there is a big temptation not to get out of bed for a long time, if I give in, then the whole day will be like not from the right foot. I won’t be able to work or I’ll work with a very bad mood.
f
He also pays attention to the possibility of taking breaks at work.
g
Sometimes people with ADHD can drop out of work for a while. This causes a feeling of guilt, as a consequence “hello low self-esteem”.
How do you usually remember important things or appointments?
a
Not everyone with ADHD has a problem with forgetfulness.
b
Others try to use the Calendar and visual solutions (Board with stickers, planner — everything that can be noticeable and in sight).
c
For cataloging and structuring information, you can use mind maps (hello Miro).
d
About cramming: My memory works normally only if I realize the information I receive, no cramming helps.
e
Respondent #5’s psychiatrist gave him advice: The most important thing is to write down what’s going on in your head. If you have an idea — you need to open Notion right away and write down everything you came up with. Even such trivial tasks as “write to a friend and find out how things are”, because without it I will never write and forget about the friend altogether.
Can you describe the moments when you realize that you are distracted from the task you were working on?
a
People with ADHD sometimes have trouble with self-control: they are constantly distracted by something. Some of the respondents just “gave up” on tracking “but I wanted to do something else”.
b
When hyperfocused, it is already difficult to get distracted, but it is not easy to enter it.
c
The moment of “distraction” is poorly captured.
d
And again Respondent #5: It’s good if at this moment I can see the absurdity of the situation, that is ask myself: what am I doing right now? Then I quickly get out of the state.
e
If everything is tough at work with the planning system, then people with ADHD may experience stress and a feeling of guilt (hello again self-esteem).
f
Respondent #6 laughs at things he started and didn’t finish during the day.
How do you cope with time eaters (factors or habits that take away our time, preventing us from achieving our goals and reducing our productivity)?
a
Someone just gave up on fighting time eaters.
b
Often advise using blockers of sites, applications.
c
Cool advice to keep daily plans on paper, so that you don’t have to take your phone in your hands again.
d
The chance of getting stuck in the phone is often related to fatigue and stress. It is important to take breaks. But again, this should be the “right” break, not “I’ll take a break — I’ll get stuck in the phone” 😂
e
Someone tries to fight time eaters with one willpower…
f
And when there is no willpower, “Format C Enter” helps 😀 → deleting Instagram or less radical: cleaning subscriptions, blocking story shows.
g
Respondent #3 gives a good advice: And I also have a long-standing rule — to turn off any notifications of new messages, except for the closest people.
h
Advice from a psychotherapist to Respondent #5: You need to allocate time in the calendar to do nothing. I have a time slot “resting and dumbing” after 9 pm.
i
The app one sec greatly helped reduce screen time.
Summary
a
I found the respondents in thematic Telegram chats and Facebook groups.
b
I noticed that some of my questions are similar and repeat each other. I need to prepare for the questions better.
c
During the analysis, I liked finding the “common intersections” between the respondents answers. It’s like the game “Memory”, where you have to collect identical cards.
d
The sensations from the research and analysis are indescribable: these are not fictional UX Personas, where you conditionally “fit” them to yourself (which is wrong), but real living people and real data.
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