Handling a fast-paced register job when you have ADHD

[u/Admirable_Ground711]

I recently started working the register at a fast-paced local café and just finished my week of training. I've already noticed myself getting more competent at the job, and I'm becoming comfortable ringing things up in Toast and helping customers. I've worked a handful of morning shifts, but most of my experience so far has been in the evenings.

I'm nervous about my next shift because I won't have someone standing over me to help if I can't find a button in the system. Even more than that, I struggle with keeping up when customers rattle off their entire order at once. It's a morning shift, so there's bound to be a line out the door and tons of complex coffee orders.

I have pretty bad inattentive ADHD, and when I feel pressured to work quickly or juggle multiple things at once, my brain will go completely blank. This has already happened a few times, and some customers get impatient, condescending, or down-right nasty even when I explain that I'm new. I try not to take it personally, but it definitely adds to the stress.

I've found that writing down orders and modifications before entering them into the system helps, especially with phone orders, but it slows me down when there's a customer standing right in front of me waiting.

This isn't my first service job, and I feel confident in my customer service skills. I'm just still learning this particular restaurant's menu and system, and I'm worried about keeping up without my trainer there to help.

Does anyone have any tips for remembering orders, navigating Toast more efficiently, or handling time pressure when you have ADHD? I'd love to find a way to practice before my next shift. Thanks!

[u/BreakfastTequila]

Speed comes with time, you’ll get it. Repeating things back to the customer both helps confirm the order and interrupts them from throwing more info at you