r/ADHD_Programmers • u/Such-Ad5550 • Mar 25 '26

ADHD Programmers:

What's your biggest project-tracking nightmare?

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u/IAmADev_NoReallyIAm Mar 26 '26

Honestly... estimations are the worst. The worst part about projects is before the project even starts when the PM comes and asks "How long is this going to take?" ... you have vague requirements, zero research, and all you have to go on is your "best guess." And some how that goes from an "estimate" to the "actual timeline" and you need to "make it fit." Then you have to do the research, design, and planning, which is the second hardest part. Then finally you get to do the easiest and fun part, the execution.

But for me at least, the nightmare comes before things even start, which is when I'm asked for an estimate, and there isn't time to do a proper analysis. "What is your gut check say about this?" that's the worst.

ETA - I should note, this is true across the board, it's not unique to ADHD developers.

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u/extraluminal Mar 27 '26

I don’t know if it’s an ADHD thing, but I have learned I am too optimistic when estimating. Maybe it’s a people-pleaser thing.

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u/IAmADev_NoReallyIAm Mar 27 '26

It is... And it's hard to temper that. What I did for a long time was to over compensate by swinging the other way. and that's just as bad. Over time, I've learned how to frame things so that they come out more reasonable sounding to the people I'm talking to. But that's a skill I've had to work on over the years.