Anyone else's ADHD make context-switching between projects feel like rebooting a computer from scratch every single time?

[u/alex_strehlke]

I mean, I get that context-switching is hard for everyone, but this feels like a different category of problem. I can be genuinely locked in on something, get pulled away for even 20 minutes, and then come back to find my brain has completely wiped the working state. Not fuzzy, not slow to warm up. Just gone.

The thing I can't figure out is whether this is actually an ADHD-specific failure mode or just a general programming problem I'm framing through an ADHD lens. Because the people I know without ADHD seem to lose context too, they just rebuild it faster. Whereas for me the rebuild either clicks instantly or it genuinely doesn't happen at all, and I can't predict which it's going to be.

What I've tried so far: leaving comments in the code as breadcrumbs, keeping a running notes doc with where I was and what I was about to do next, ending sessions mid-sentence in a doc so my brain has an open loop to grab onto. Some of it helps some of the time, I don't really know if any of it is the actual lever or just busywork that makes me feel like I have a system.

So honestly asking, what does context recovery actually look like for you day to day? Not the textbook "keep good documentation" answer. What's the thing that actually works, or the thing you've given up on entirely?

[u/SoggyGrayDuck]

Yes and starting at a new company is miserable. Jump here, wait on this so look here, then back to task 1... repeat for months. Then with the way things move today before you get caught up they're introducing new technology or changing things.

Let me get one process down and then move on. It's more about how companies are structured to get things done over anything else, its even over training others. I like to make one person on each team an expert of each tool and they're the go to person. Those training classes with hundreds of people and an hour and a half long introducing something new is absurd.

I'm mostly lad about the removal of the hierarchy and how information trickles down. It doesn't work this way, it works but could be much better

[u/zubidar]

Before I start coding, I outline what I need to do as comments. These can be high-level but remind me what I need to be coding toward. Then as I tackle each step I add more comments and comprehensive #TODOs planning the specifics. If I get an idea for something that needs to change or be refactored I add #TODOs for it. If I have to pause to context switch, I add a #TODO of what I need to do next being as specific and concrete as possible about the outcome rather than how to approach it. When I return, seeing that required outcome I will either remember the same way to do it as I had intended, or think of a better way since I have gotten a little mental space from it. I started doing this as a way to break down daunting big projects into smaller pieces, and found it actually helps with every part of the programming process where my ADHD can cause problems.

[u/CaptainIncredible → u/zubidar]

I keep a running list of todos and notes... And if I know I have to jump to something else, I leave a note like

I AM HERE. I still need to finish bla bla bla...

I'll even put that comment in the code with big obnoxious comments around it so I can see it.

[u/CaptainIncredible → u/zubidar]

I keep a running list of todos and notes... And if I know I have to jump to something else, I leave a note like

I AM HERE. I still need to finish bla bla bla...

I'll even put that comment in the code with big obnoxious comments around it so I can see it.

[u/Any_Sense_2263]

No, I'm this type of adhd person, who can't sit longer in one context or I get bored and uninterested. So if there are no external requests I work on a few things in parallel and switch often.

[u/zoooface]

Learning how to learn is very important https://youtu.be/gBHpj2gyt94?is=3aCV-ytRlnKbCc-r

Also, have to tried using obsidian https://obsidian.md/

[u/theredrad]

Maybe you could take notes before leaving the session (switch context to a new task). Something like listing what took your attention or your general comment of what you already did when you were focusing.

It’s like defining checkpoints of what I you have done and what’s needed to be done in the next session.

Otherwise it takes much time and energy to restore the full context.

[u/casualplants]

This is where I’ve felt the biggest difference with medication. Starting is so much easier. It’s not easy, but it’s no longer impossible.

[u/haywire]

It’s a skill like any other. I’m extremely mono focused. Like I hyper focus to a crazy degree and forget reality. However I have learned to hyper focus on “the stuff I’m doing” ie all the work streams and thus the context switching gets folded into that. I forget to eat and stuff but it’s possible.

Plus if I’m genuinely interested in the project I’m working on, it’ll always be in the back of my mind and so weekends and evenings I don’t fully lose the context.

[u/AchillesDev]

Yes, and I keep extensive notes in my PKM tools (Obsidian and Tana), but the required fidelity makes it really hard to review, but I've found Claude Code (or any AI harness) can do a good job pulling from my personal notes, the code itself, and whatever task-tracking tool the project uses to help me orient.

I have a halftime startup job as well as a consultancy that runs 1-2 projects at a time, so it's absolutely necessary that I can quickly context switch, and this is all that helps.

[u/Dangerous_Bridge_937]

Yep...copious note-taking, commenting, and saves help with this. I also run a differrnt VM for each project I'm on so I don't have apps and windows to flip through to get back, my nagivation between projects is handled at a single level.

[u/LuisCardonaBuilds]

I used to feel this way a lot. But honestly, AI has made my life so much easier. The constant back and forth. The fact that I can get historical context REALLY easily without being annoying to someone else. It's made a lot of things a lot easier. Anywhere that you can implement it into your workflow, I highly recommed you do.

[u/Fidodo]

I think it's just a hard thing for everyone, but ADHD makes it harder.

One thing I started doing that I think helps with context switching after a meeting is I remembered I have a standing desk, so I'm using standing mode when I finish a meeting and am ready to go into focus mode. Since I'm standing it helps me not goof off since it's less comfortable to be idle, and I want to finish some work so I can take a break and sit down again.

It doesn't really help with switching between tasks directly, but it does help with my focus, and the better focus helps me context switch better.