It’s 8 a.m., I’m working from home, enjoying the quiet. My ADHD brain itches for big focus tasks—coding, planning, the deep stuff I’m built for. I need 90 minutes of focus, like a mushroom needs darkness to grow, but I’m struggling to remember the last time that happened. I open my laptop, and bop—a Webex ping lands like a beachball, a quick question from a colleague I respect. I reply quickly, sending productivity California surf vibes his way, satisfied it’s done. Now I can focus.
Another bop, an engineer needs her PR reviewed. I consider doing it later, but I can’t leave her stuck. A quick review and seeing the satisfying thankful hands emoji keeps the virtual beachball aloft. It’s a California beach party in Webex, Slack, and Teams—and I am swept up, my focus evaporating. Management wants responses in 45 minutes or less, so everyone’s happy.
When the intensity gets too high, I resort to closing my laptop for a 30-minute lunchtime walk outside—just trees, sky, and no screens help me reset and slide back into the afternoon. I know that unplugging for a short stroll is no substitute for being intentional about my day: blocking out quiet time for deep, solitary mushroom work, then using the balance of my day for less focus-intensive sunflower tasks.
By 5 p.m., I’m hungover—foggy and drained from the all-day fiesta. My focus is shot from constantly staying alert and responsive. I know I can’t keep up this pace, sooner or later something has to give.
I can’t blame my team—we’re all engaged, constantly batting the messaging beachballs aloft through the party haze. The system rewards our ‘busy’ surf vibes, ignoring the massive deep-work productivity loss, since the sand is always churning, our feet always in motion.
I know exactly what I should do, but I doubt I will. My impulse is to blame the tools, the hyperactive hive mind, even management, but here’s the truth: I work this way because part of me loves it. We all do. We love feeling busy, looking busy, all while surfing the emoji affirmation of this coastal party haze.
We tell each other we hate it, but we’ve all checked into Hotel California, and we can never leave. Look in the mirror—you’re probably hooked too.
Who’s in for some unplugged Mushroom detox… or maybe just a quiet accountability buddy who’ll alternate mushroom blocks with you—keeping the beachballs batted while your mushroom tasks flourish unseen? 🌻🍄
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