i have adhd and currently unable to get my meds so ive just been caffeinating myself with teas and refreshers and lately anything my shifts or fellow partners ask me to do, i take a piece of receipt paper and write it down. it helps me remain on task in the absence of adderall. if you're not able to do the miscellaneous tasks that you're asked to do because you had customers to help, DO NOT sweat it: a good shift will recognize and understand that. bottom line is that the customers come first and you should never be reprimanded for helping them. if you are, that shift or other barista needs a talking to.

Yep, Saturdays are a different beast. I just got home from a real doozy. I'm sorry you had such a frustrating shift. I think it's worth saying that despite their relative more experience, and despite their presumed neuro-typicality, all of your co-workers were also running on overload, frustrated, and overwhelmed. They just express it differently.

If you haven't told your store leaders about your neurological conditions, I hope that you feel comfortable doing that. Everybody at my store would do what they can to adapt to your needs as they're able, but only if they know about them. I know not every store has good people in management roles, but the person in charge today sounds like she has a pretty good sense of what her team needs and would be receptive to a conversation about how autism and ADHD will affect you in different roles.

I've worked at Starbucks for over 8 years, and held every level position in the store. The job you were given today is the one that I usually assign to myself because it requires expert level decision making about what to prioritize at every moment to keep everything moving. I would NOT give it to a new partner--on a Saturday, no less. Actually, the jobs you listed were assigned to three separate people at my store today (front, warmer, support) because they would be too much for any person to do no matter who they are. Sometimes when I'm in that role and someone asks for something else from me, I just holler back, "I'll add it to my list, but if you can get to it before I do, that'd be swell!" I'm just communicating realistic information about where that request falls on my list of priorities in that moment. Sometimes it's the best I can offer.

So in sum, it sounds like you were operating way above your expected level as a new barista. I encourage you to reflect on your day. What level of activity and multitasking felt comfortable? What felt challenging but in a good way? When did you start to feel like you were losing control? Do they have any specific advice for what you were doing then? Did you identify any questions that you need clarification on and can ask tomorrow about specific tasks? If you get to talk to your management team, I would suggest setting up some things you can say to alert them that you need to change what you're doing before you reach a point like you did today. Then, if you ever say "I'm out!" or "Switch!", or whatever, they know to take it seriously, why, and perhaps have an idea of what sort of change you probably need. Hopefully there is an option to go wash dishes, or clean the bathrooms, or take a 10 a bit earlier than planned. But maybe there's just another role on the floor that would suit you in those moments. One of my best baristas has ADHD and diagnosed anxiety. It means that if I assign her to only the window, where she will stand and wait until things are handed to her, she will GO BONKERS--fidgetty, uncomfortable, and more stressed out by the moment. But it also means that she can do window and DTO by herself long after anyone else would need help from a second person. She thrives on the multitasking. Her ADHD is very obviously an asset in that role, and where most of us feel more stressed, she feels relief and mastery. You may need more time to develop your skills overall yet, but it's entirely possible that you'll find a similar situation for yourself that can be your release valve while still being totally present on the floor.

Anyway, that got really long. It sounds like you're doing great, and it's just time to explore with yourself and your team what options are available to meet your unique needs. I can't even count the number of baristas that I have told to go take a quiet moment in back because we demanded too much for too long. That part is definitely not unique to you.

I have ADHD and I definitely benefit from lists. Also making sure all of my coworkers know that I’m not exactly like them so I might operate a little bit differently, and trusting that they won’t judge me for that. When I get overwhelmed I’ll typically try to either take a breather in the back, run to the bathroom (even if I don’t have to go, just to get away from everything for a few minutes), or ask to be on a position I know I can rock at that time. Typically, I can really exceed in DTO or DTO/DTR, so that’s where I ask to go when I’m having a worse day than normal. I think the biggest thing is just communicating with your partners, they can and will help you out with things you need, even if that’s just being able to step outside for a minute to get a break from the stimulation.

I also like to set up timelines/processes in my head if I’m any position except bar? So like if I’m window I have a process. Greet, payment, handout, thank you. If I’m on dto I have a process. Greet, take order, upsell, thank you. Or if I’m customer support, I’ll give myself five or so minutes to stock all the cups and lids and milks, and 10 minutes to run and put away a load of dishes. Just stuff like that. It helps make it less scary a little bit?

I have ADHD (not autism though), and I too experience sensory overload—mostly with sounds. One thing I do is turn my headset way down or take it off my ear for a few minutes. Sometimes I go to the back and do dishes if we have enough people on the floor that I can do that. Otherwise, if I can’t handle it, I ask my shifts if I can take my 10 or sit down a minute. My shifts are all wonderful and willing to work with me when that happens, which I appreciate!

Someone also mentioned staying caffeinated. If you aren’t on meds and don’t have something like a heart thing or anxiety, a little caffeine can help too! Also, drinking enough water is important too! Best of luck and hang in there, you got this! 💜

ADHD Autistic homie here! I've worked at the job for 2 years (almost left, but then COVID :( ), and sensory overload is still the worst part of it for me. My advice is to learn what shifts / baristas will help you out if you're struggling, and if you know that theres a certain day and time that's a horrible peak, mark that specific chunk of time out of your availability until you feel like you can work through it. Be patient with yourself. Give yourself a couple of assured days off every month if you can. And figure out if your store is right for you once you get acclimated.

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My first store was a drive thru store, and in the beginning, I could barely go 15 or 30 minutes without starting to hyperventilate, panic attacks weren't uncommon. The headset hurt my ears because of the different volume. The oven going off next to my ear once put me in a mental haze for the rest of the day. I ended up transferring to a cafe store that has its own problems, but a lot of my coworkers have their own mental health issues (whatever they may be), and except for the SM, are willing to work with me if I say "I need to be on bar and not talk to anyone right now" "I'd like to focus on one thing at a time, can I just stay on reg and do warming?" "are you okay if I stay on CS and just follow the timer?"


If it's not an overly high traffic store, CS is a godsend on those days because the routine is scripted and written out and as long as you remember what to check up on, people will tell you point blank what they need from you. :)

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Feel free to chat if you have any questions, I can't think of many suggestions off the top of my head other than find the patterns in things (if you have the brain that works like that), learn your sensory triggers (sound is a massive issue of mine, so I take note of when the oven's about to go off, and I don't keep my head near it, I keep the brewing timer on my apron pocket instead of my apron strap), and learn your allies.