The Double-Edged Sword: The Highs and Lows of Hyperfocus
Ah, hyperfocus. It’s like the superhero power that comes with a tricky set of instructions. When it kicks in, it can feel like the ultimate productivity hack, an almost superhuman ability to laser-focus on a task to the exclusion of everything else.
But it can also be a deep rabbit hole that sucks us in, making us lose track of time, responsibilities, and even basic needs. And this book? Well, this book is a perfect case study in the glorious, and slightly chaotic, power of my hyperfocus in action.
Three days ago. That’s when the seed of this book was planted in my brain. I honestly can’t even recall the initial trigger – a fleeting thought, a random connection, perhaps just the universe deciding it was time. But once that idea took root, there was no gentle nurturing, no thoughtful planning.
It was an immediate, urgent imperative. I had to start. Right then. The concept of adding it to a to-do list for future consideration? Utterly foreign. My brain had decided, and that was that. The metaphorical starting gun had fired, and I was off to the races.
And it didn’t stop at simply thinking about it. Chapter One had to be written. Immediately. And once it was done, it wasn’t enough to just save it on my computer. It needed to be out there, in the world, even in its nascent form. So, up it went onto the website. A small victory, a tangible manifestation of this sudden, all-consuming drive.
Then came the validation. As a card-carrying people-pleaser, the positive feedback from those first readers – friends who I knew would actually sit down and absorb the whole thing (bless their non-ADHD attention spans!) – was like rocket fuel.
Their enthusiasm and praise sent a surge of dopamine through my system, further cementing my focus on this new project. Suddenly, anything else I was supposed to be doing took a backseat. Client work? Household chores? That important phone call I needed to make? All relegated to the periphery as I plunged headfirst into the next chapter.
This is the exhilarating, yet potentially problematic, nature of hyperfocus. On the one hand, it allows for periods of intense productivity, where you can churn out work at an astonishing rate, completely absorbed in the task at hand. It’s in these moments that the “superpower” aspect really shines.
Ideas flow freely, connections are made effortlessly, and you can feel an incredible sense of accomplishment.
However, the flip side is the tunnel vision. When hyperfocus takes hold, it can be incredibly difficult to break free, even for essential things. Time ceases to exist. The gentle nudges of hunger, the insistent reminders of other obligations, the subtle cues from your body that you need to move or take a break – they all get drowned out by the intensity of the current focus. This can lead to neglected responsibilities, missed appointments, and a general imbalance in life.
For entrepreneurs with ADHD, hyperfocus can be a powerful tool when directed effectively. It can allow us to dive deep into creative problem-solving, develop innovative ideas, and power through challenging tasks. However, without conscious awareness and strategies for managing it, it can also lead to burnout, procrastination on less engaging but equally important tasks, and strained relationships due to perceived neglect.
My sudden immersion in writing this book is a perfect example. The initial burst of energy and focus allowed me to get started quickly, but the subsequent neglect of other responsibilities highlights the potential downside. It’s a reminder that while hyperfocus can be a valuable asset, it needs to be harnessed, not just followed blindly.
Learning to recognise when it’s beneficial and when it’s becoming detrimental is a crucial skill for any ADHD entrepreneur. It’s about riding the wave when it’s productive but also knowing when to consciously steer back towards the shore before you’re completely swept away.
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