Don't know if studying/ working in Architecture and AD(H)D are a bad mix, but the stuff they prescribe to better cope with it (Methylphenidate or Ritalin) is very popular among all sorts of students and professionals...

thanks for the advice.

geezertect - I'm getting as much experience as I can to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into. The highway looks pretty good.  I'm just struggling with speed right now.

From what I've seen in the profession seems like it's practically a requirement to be constantly off topic, patently disorganized and allergic to spreadsheets or budgets. And of course there's the randomly ignoring all else and wasting hours in a day over some minute detail then completely forgetting about it the next.

The ones who are thoroughly organized tend to leave pretty quickly...probably out of exhaustion/exasperation cleaning up others' messes for low pay.

I've been diagnosed as ADD and from what I can tell the vast majority of people in the construction industry (the residential side, anyway) are farther along that spectrum than I am. Yes, it takes more work and focus to be successful. Medication helps but I've found other ways to be productive, as I don't like the side effects or cost. Short bursts of work, clear to-do lists, frequent breaks to get some physical activity, and just plain willpower (an underrated quality these days). Learn to keep your mouth shut, and take copious notes during every.single.meeting. 

When it comes to ADD/ADHD builders, I have realized that conversations are completely useless, as nobody with ADD remembers anything that is said. Written words are slightly better. But I have a sign over my desk, "If it matters, draw it." ADD-types do much better with a picture than with words of any sort. In commercial work that's virtually a given, but on the mid-to upper-end residential work I've always done, it's common to cut corners on design. These are gross generalizations, but as the result of 20+ years of observation and practice, I think they're accurate.  

Are you in school still?

School was MUCH harder than practice is, in terms of workload and timing demands. Client deadlines are far easier to juggle than the overload of projects in school.

There are a ton of books offering practical strategies and tips on how to succeed in the business world with ADHD that are extremely useful. When you are out of school and have the breathing room to read and reflect on these, cultivating better working habits that allow to work with /around your ADHD will help you be successful without necessarily needing medication.

I echo wood guy... there are A LOT of ppl in all parts of residential design/construction who exhibit signs of ADHD.

Thank you for your advice everyone.

Everyone I've spoken to about this says that medication isn't a sustainable strategy so I'll definitely not rely on that option.

Wood Guy - thanks for the helpful pointers. I definitely need to learn to keep my mouth shut more! It definitely helps to process what's going on. 

Mantaray - so good to hear that it gets a bit easier with clients.

Thanks again everyone

I’m struggling with the same issue (ie missing minute details, having a lot of redlines, forgetting tasks given to me). Although I have these issues, being aware of them is the first step to overcoming ADHD. Now that I spot the problem, I can correct it before it becomes a pattern. I agree that taking ALL the notes you can is a huge help. Sticky notes and highlighter will become your best friends. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to explain further if you didn’t catch it the first time. If you’re passionate about a career, don’t let something like ADHD/ADD stand in your way. There are ways of overcoming, and you’re not alone! 

Yes! "Sticky notes and highlighter will become your best friends" this is an absolute for picking up redlines with ADD. Keeps you focused and even shows accomplishment. I also use Asana to manage my tasks to complete, so I don't forget them. As you move up and begin to assign staff members tasks, it helps you not forget to assign them, and track them so they get completed. 

From my experience University was somewhat easier to deal with ADHD. You can take more time to complete work in the evenings if you cant focus or if your struggling to complete things in time. Also the work tends to be a little bit more intresting as you can take quite a bit of ownership over it and it is fictionally your own creation. This is an advantage if you can structure your thought process as being able to think or 20 or 30 things at one time can be use to your advantage.

In practice I struggle with the top down approach to management and the unstructured - structure that is often in place. Meeting deadlines can be difficult yes, and ensuring you catch all the details constantly making little mistakes frustrates everyone. 

However from my position being 3 years post M.arch I beleive ADHD is a gift and if only employers and society could learn to work with it the world would benefit from it.

With in Britain ADHD is wrongly viewed as a Disability in which we must try and cure (which you cant) or manage through prescribed drugs. The truth is Neuro-diversity should be more accepting, look to adapt the way we work and approach people to recieved the best out of them. Rather than trying to manage the ADHD if we could look more at embracing it we could see the emergence of far more intresting and significant pieces or Architecture/Design, or atleast that is my opinion. We all have weaknesses and strengths.

Determination and resolve is what got me through my studies with reasonably good results. I would advise you not to give in if it is something you truely love. But if the every day to day management is a real struggle look at parallels there might be like gaming design etc. You dont want to get through all your studies and at the end of it find that its all a bit too much and your heart isnt really into it. 

Try onenote and todo list to keep things on track, and investigate getting a learning support advisor. 

For me it was. It sucks. I hate my life and myself because of ADHD. It ruined my university experience. I also have a crippling RSD that mutated into depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy did help a bit but not enough. RSD and ADHD are a horrible mix. Apart from me not respecting the deadlines and being unable to meet all requirements each and ever time I felt super super ashamed of all this and that made me into a horribly avoidant person. I'm not saying that all people are like that but this is my experience. I did try to switch carreers,, without much success. The tragedy is even worse because I'm not a good housekeeper, and I dread at the boredom of married life. So I started to believe that my destiny is to be a perpetual failed student of architecture since that's the only thing I'm remotely good at.