Top 10 Ways To Use AI & Get More Done with ADHD
Are you curious about all the different AI programs popping up, but you’re not sure how, or even if, they can help you?
Then, today is your day!
After spending some time talking with my podcast co-host, Pete Wright, about AI on Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast, and receiving input from clients and members of the Taking Control Discord community, I have put together, what I believe, are the top 10 strategies for utilizing different AI functions and tools to assist you each day, living with ADHD.
Before we get to the list, I do want to mention that the concept of AI is still quite new. It is constantly being developed and tested as creators continue to learn what we can do with AI. With that said, you can’t expect that any AI program will get things right every time—in fact, AI has been known to get it wrong…a lot. That means, while AI can be a fantastic tool to add to your ADHD toolbox, it shouldn’t be the only tool or strategy you have, and you should regularly double-check the results you receive from your AI programs, instead of assuming it is right.
And, one AI tool does not fit all situations. But, don’t get frustrated if you aren’t getting the results you want from one specific program. Instead, test out a few and find out which one works best for each situation. Ask around and find out what success others have had to point you in the right direction. Eventually, you will find something that works for you, or you may decide that your specific situation is too tricky for AI to handle right now.
With that said, let’s get to my top 10 list of AI tools for ADHD brains!
Break down tasks
Many times, ADHDers tend to avoid certain tasks or projects because they haven't been broken down into their simplest steps, so it makes it hard to know where to start. Try asking your AI program to break down those steps for you, and it can help you start making progress on some of those pesky avoided tasks.Send a polite or professional response
Sometimes, we can find ourselves in a situation where we have been triggered by something that was said or done to us. Whether it was a friend, colleague, or a business, we all can find ourselves wanting to lean in to the impulsivity and fire back a response fueled by those strong emotions. But, oftentimes, that response can lead to future regret. When we have had time to reflect and cool down, we tend to view and react to things differently than we would in the heat of the moment.
Instead, try training your impulsivity to go straight to your AI program. You can send your impulsive response to the AI, then ask it to recreate that response into something that reads a little more polite and professional. Even if you decide not to use the generated content, sending your impulsive response to the AI will result in a lot less regret or unintended consequences down the road.Take Notes
When you're listening to a lecture or presentation, or you’re taking notes during a work meeting, it can feel impossible to jot down all the important information being said at the time. Instead of leaving the meeting and feeling like you missed something, there are many AI systems that can record these important meetings for you, and transcribe them for you to review later.Create a summary
Remember those notes we had transcribed from #3? Many AI programs can take the long meeting transcriptions and provide you with a summary of the important points of the meeting. This can often save you a lot of time, rather than having to read through pages and pages of word-for-word transcripts.Find your next job
This has been a very popular topic within the Taking Control Discord community, recently. With so many steps to the job search and application process, it's no surprise that this can be a difficult and draining task for ADHDers. AI services can assist in helping you lay out your resumé, build a cover letter, and even provide sample questions to prepare you for your next interview.Brainstorming
When you are facing a problem in need of a solution, AI can help! If you are in need of a way to help spark some inspiration, plug in your problem to AI and see if you can be inspired by what it gives you.Study for your next test
This AI tool is one of my college-age daughter's favorites. She will input her school notes for a class, then she will ask the AI program to create a practice test out of the class notes. There was definitely some trial and error in the beginning, when she realized the AI program was creating practice tests, but it was giving the wrong answers. But, instead of getting frustrated or giving up, she did some extra research on other AI programs, and she found another program that was reliably able to create proper practice tests from the information she provided. Since then, it has been a great way to help her study for those college exams.Project Management
Whether you have just been put in charge of your kid's next bake sale, you've been put in charge of a big work project, or you're putting together your next family reunion, there are a lot of steps that go into making sure everything goes smoothly and nothing is missed. Try asking your AI service to put together a sample list of potential tasks and projects, or even a suggested timeline to reach certain milestones and complete the project, to help you prepare accordingly and stay on track.Simplify your thoughts
Most ADHDers don't have a problem with having the words to say, but instead find they have too many words, and aren’t always sure how to explain them in the right order. Whether you find yourself wandering onto unrelated tangents or maybe you have been told that it is hard to understand your explanations, AI can take your words and boil them down into a shorter version, all while still getting your point across.Discover your 'Good Enough'
You have often heard me talk about finding your 'good enough' instead of constantly trying to strive for perfect. But, it can be hard to recognize you're 'good enough' if you aren't used to seeing it. You can get an extra opinion from your friendly, neighborhood AI by sharing what you need to accomplish and have it compare what you have done to the original goal. You may be surprised at the feedback you receive, and how often you have already hit your 'good enough'.
And, there you have it! My top 10 list of AI tools for ADHDers. How did my list measure up to what you knew about AI tools before you read the list? Were there any big surprises? How do you use AI to help live each day with ADHD? I would love to hear from you and find out how you use AI. Contact us and share your AI stories.
Remember, AI is still a new technology that is continuing to grow and evolve as the world finds new and interesting ways to integrate AI into our daily life. While we shouldn't rely on AI to do all the work, it can be a powerful tool to add to your ADHD toolbox.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Nikki
Want to learn more about ADHD & AI? Listen to Pete Wright talk all things ADHD and AI on a special 2-part series of Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast!