NOTE: This is just a random joke post. If you're looking for serious info on ADHD2.0... I wouldn't know if it even exists.

The Multi Tasking Man



Most of my life I have been struggling with some sort of ADHD, and this was even before the internet came along. Luckily, god gave me enough gray matter to survive and actually have some fun in the process.



I have, by now, seriously studied/practiced/enjoyed music, medicine, architecture, engineering, marketing, mountaineering, photography, design, free climbing, diving, martial arts, meditation and computer science ( might be forgetting something ). Years of obsessive dedication and in some cases even getting payed jobs. I can't remember a second of my life where I have been relaxed. Always busy, always running after something.



The Dark Side



Now, this might sound cool, but not everything that shines is gold. As you might anticipate, this kind of behavior has both a good and a bad side. The good side is that you are forced to integrate a lot of different areas and points of view into your perspective. The bad side is that you usually never get too far on any given area and you tend to become frustrated easily when things don't happen quickly.



This is why I never climbed the Aconcagua, won a major photography contest or created a successful internet startup ( yet ). Because by the time I was getting there, the task at hand got really hard, demanded too much attention and thus competed with my other sources of interest. So, even my best effort was not enough.



So. Lots of races, not so many medals.



Why does this Happen in the First Place?



In fact, no effort could have possibly been enough, because it's not about effort... it's about choice. There is a fundamental principle at conflict with this sort of behavior: With an infinite number of possibilities and a limited amount of resources you will never be able to accomplish everything, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, you must prioritize and let go what's not important, because attention is scarce. I have learned about this the hard way. I need to focus.





Of course this observation is not really a breakthrough. Actually, it has been around for quite some time in many different forms.





The Attention Economy:

"...in an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it" (Herbert Simon 1971, p. 40-41).

Solutions



I won't get into detail here, but life is not impossible for us with problems to focus. There are tools and techniqueis: Time management tools ( I love Tasktop ), Meditation, Sports and, for those who can afford it, building an organization around you.



Over the years I have actually come to understand this as a competitive advantage rather than a problem. I am more creative and curious. But it takes a while to get there and you really have to know your enemy.



That's why I can't help to notice that there is a new threat lurking around the corner...



ADHD - Reloaded



There is apparently a new version of this thing out there catching up like wildfire among people who were perfectly healthy before, killing forests of productive organizations. It is similar to the classic syndome, with the main difference being that this time it is caused by bacterial agents and spread by direct contact with electronic media and devices.



For my prelimiary obsevations, it shares most of the regular symptoms and adds some new ones... like sleep depravation, RSI, sore eyes, wife leave and obesity.



I am still catching up with the solution, and so far most of the old methods have proven only partially effective. I guess we will need new to get down to its level to fight it, bacteria versus bacteria: filtrbox, google reader, twine, etc.



Well, it's been too much rambling around, guess I am having an ADHD2.0 episode myself. I gotta get back to work. Focus.

God help us all in this new batlle.

For now, I am proud to publish the world's first microscopic photograph of the ADHD 2.0 bacteria:











These microbes come in all shapes and colors, usually have drop shadows or reflections, and they reproduce at lightning speeds. They are even more annoying than pokemons.