What is hyperfocus in ADHD?
Quick answer: Hyperfocus is intense attention on highly engaging tasks. It can be productive when aligned with priorities, yet it can crowd out other responsibilities. Use timers, scheduled breaks, and explicit stop times to protect priorities and transitions. Share plans with teammates or family when sessions run long.
People with ADHD may experience all or nothing attention. Highly engaging tasks capture focus strongly, while routine tasks are hard to start or sustain.
Helpful steps: use 25 to 50 minute timers with scheduled breaks, place visual cues where you work, and set calendar reminders to switch. Keep an agreed stop time with a partner or colleague for long sessions.
Organize deep work blocks around energy peaks and defer low value detail work to separate blocks so hyperfocus does not crowd out priority tasks.