Seven Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Deal With ADHD
Our new friends at Mashable recently published this interesting article on how people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can benefit from using AI tools. This is a timely topic, given that ADHD medications are still in short supply , and I wanted to add a few tips of my own to the conversation.
Even with medication, managing ADHD is very difficult, and while ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence programs will not replace Adderall, they can greatly help people suffering from attention deficit. Below are seven specific tips for using AI to overcome task paralysis and other executive function problems that come with ADHD. (Bonus: Since many of the symptoms of ADHD are present in neurotypical people, albeit to a lesser extent, these organizational techniques work in normal people as well.)
Use AI to estimate how long it will take to complete a task
This one is huge for me. Like many people with ADHD, it’s often difficult for me to start doing something if I don’t know how long it will take to complete each step. Though I know I can estimate the time to completion myself by asking ChatGPT something along the lines of “How long does it take to change the oil?” helps because by outsourcing the preliminary mental task of “figuring out how long this will take,” I can better mentally fit the task into the day. Otherwise, it will remain an abstract “thing I know I should do” that invariably ends up being neglected.
Use AI to write first drafts of emails and other communications.
Although I write professionally, sometimes I get hung up on correspondence. Usually, the most mundane messages confuse me the most – “thank you” notes, elementary requests. So having the AI take the first step really helps. Using AI allows you to describe the message you want to send only in general terms. It then outputs the text, eliminating the need to look at a blank page. I usually end up completely rewriting the AI post, so I’m not sure if it saves time, but starting something is usually difficult for me, and it’s easier to edit a post than to create one.
Use AI to create better to-do lists
Anyone who wants to better manage their time is encouraged to make lists, but if you have ADHD, you may be paralyzed by the very process of making lists, asking, “How do I prioritize tasks?” or “How do I know what I need to put on this list?” AI can help you by instantly providing as many sample lists as you can imagine, and can also help you order the list in a variety of ways until you find the one that’s right for you.
Use AI to explain things repeatedly
Having ADHD can make learning new things difficult, and even the most patient teacher will eventually get tired of explaining a concept over and over again. But there is no AI. You can ask him to tell you the same thing in many different ways until he is absorbed.
Warning here: current consumer AI technology is not entirely reliable in providing accurate information, so make sure you cross-check all actual data with another source. In the future, when such bugs are fixed, this may even prove to be the most useful use case.
Use AI to synthesize information in a variety of ways
You can use artificial intelligence to break down information in a way that makes it more palatable to you, whether it’s converting a long article into digestible bullet points or asking for more information on a topic. Again, this information may not be 100% accurate, but it can give you a starting point for further research.
Use AI to Organize Your Personal Relationships
This has complex moral and/or ethical implications, but you can use AI to take on much of the responsibility of keeping in touch with friends and family. This is a common problem for people with ADHD who often don’t respond to messages or emails for the same reason they don’t pay their electricity bills.
You can already set regular “text mom” reminders, but AI lets you do more. I spoke with Daniel (who asked not to be named) about how CommuniqAI , his communications scheduling app, can automate your social life. “We’ll be integrating ChatGPT soon, which will look at your conversations with friends, family, and business contacts, and then typically come up with something you can quickly say to those people,” Daniel said.
I asked if it was possible to fully automate my social life on the Internet – just tell the AI: “Keep friendly with my squash partner Gary, without my participation”, and according to Daniel, CommuniqAI can be used in this way. although he does not recommend it. It is intended to either remind you to send a message, or to compose a message that you must approve and send. But according to Daniel, the user can disable this feature and it “will continue to act on your behalf.”
“But these are people you value [and] trust, and I don’t know if you want AI to respond entirely on your behalf without your prior knowledge,” he said.
I agree. It worries. But I’m not judging: if you think it will help, try it – or just use AI to remind you from time to time to text your father.
Use AI to break complex tasks into small, manageable steps.
This is an important question for many, and is the focus of the article by Abby Olheiser that formed the basis of this list. For many people with ADHD, completing larger, longer-term projects or multi-step tasks can be difficult or impossible. Often this task paralysis comes from not knowing where to start – if there is any confusion or ambiguity about the first step, it can lead to complete inactivity, a feeling of “I can’t even think about this huge thing.” “. The AI is great at helping you get past this hurdle if you use it right – it usually gives very general advice at first, but its endless patience allows you to get better answers eventually.
For example, I asked ChatGPT to tell me how to buy a house. My hint:
I would like to buy a house. Break down the process for me into very small steps, focusing on specific actions, and also estimate how long it will take to complete each item.
His initial response was less than helpful. He provided a list of ten broad steps. The first step was:
Determine your budget: Figure out how much you can afford to spend on a house based on your income, debt, and expenses. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks.
Certainly. I’m just “setting my budget”.
I asked him to explain exactly how to do this, and he started with:
Collect all necessary financial documents.
Still not good enough. I asked what financial documents to start with and how to get them, and in the end I came up with the following:
Contact your employer’s HR department: Your employer’s HR department should be able to provide you with copies of your pay stubs.
It took a while, but “collecting your pay stubs” is a good and effective first step. The next step could be “Email my HR department asking for my pay stubs” and you’ll be on your home buying adventure.
This step by step approach seems like something people without ADHD can easily do (I don’t know) and requests like this to “break it down for me even more” are what irritate the flesh and blood mind. j. Luckily, AI doesn’t judge. And no one should judge you for using it to deal with ADHD.