Learning AI with an ADHD brain: What works for me
🌟 Introduction
- Quick context: ADHD + curiosity about AI.
- Why this topic matters to me.
- What I hope readers will take away (strategies, encouragement, real examples).
🧠 The ADHD Brain and Learning Challenges
- Short attention span, hyperfocus bursts, distractions.
- Difficulty with linear tutorials or long technical docs.
- Emotional side: frustration, excitement, overwhelm.
⚡ What Actually Works for Me
- Chunking learning into small, testable experiments.
- Building tools, not just reading — e.g., small AI-infused apps.
- Using ChatGPT as a tutor & coding partner.
- Visuals and diagrams (mind maps, draw.io, pepakura-style notes).
- Gamifying tasks (mini-milestones, treat focus as a sprint).
🛠️ My Toolkit
- ChatGPT / AI assistants → real-time Q&A, brainstorming.
- Notion / Markdown / Jekyll blog → structuring scattered notes.
- VS Code + Copilot → hands-on coding.
- Render / Vercel / Railway → quick deployments to see progress.
- Blender / Houdini experiments → mixing AI with VFX workflows.
🚴 Real-Life Examples
- Building Varsity Audio tool step by step.
- Experimenting with VFX pipeline automation.
- Short projects like PyQt AI chatbot.
- Solo bike ride metaphor → endurance + bursts of hyperfocus.
💡 Lessons Learned
- Perfectionism is the enemy; iteration wins.
- ADHD isn’t a barrier, it’s a different learning engine.
- Momentum builds confidence more than theory.
🙏 Closing Thoughts
- Encouragement for others with ADHD exploring AI.
- Reminder: progress > perfection.
- Future: how I’ll keep learning (structured AI + VFX plan).
Do you also learn with an ADHD brain? Share your own hacks — I’d love to hear them.
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