I finally gave my adult nephew his birthday card when I saw him on Christmas Day.

His birthday is in August.

If you live alone and have ADHD, you probably understand exactly how this happens—and why it’s not about laziness, not caring, or being “bad at life.”

In this episode, I introduce the first pillar of my new ASSAP framework: Access.

Access isn’t about motivation or discipline. It’s about recognizing what happens when everything in your life has to live inside one brain—especially a brain with executive function challenges.

When you’re the only adult in your household, you do all the remembering, planning, deciding, regulating, and noticing. Over time, that creates mental saturation, not failure.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why solo ADHD adults feel overwhelmed even when they’re “doing fine”
• What it really means to have “no backup brain”
• Why insight alone doesn’t reduce overload
• How Access creates immediate relief by moving thinking out of your head
• Three practical, real-life ways to create Access without building perfect systems

I also share a story from my first solo trip to Europe that perfectly captures what Access feels like—when something that used to require constant mental effort suddenly becomes easier because your brain has an anchor.

This episode kicks off a new series and a new coaching program built specifically for single adults with ADHD:

ASSAP — Access, Security, Structure, Action, and Pace

We start with Access because relief comes first.

Listener Takeaway: “I don’t need to think harder. I need another place for my thinking to live.”

What to Do This Week

Notice one small, repeatable friction point in your life—something you solve over and over again.

Ask:

How could I make this easier once instead of re-solving it every time?

Work With Me

I’m Christine Dunning, a Master Certified Life Coach, and I help single adults with ADHD build systems and support so life feels steadier, less anxious, and far more doable.

You can learn more about one-on-one coaching and the upcoming ASSAP program at:

TwoCatsCoaching.com

Want my freebies, and to sign up for my newsletter? Click here!

Next Episode

Next week, we’ll talk about Security—why your anxiety makes sense when you’re the only backup, and how to reduce background fear so structure and action can actually work.

Please Help the Podcast

If this episode resonated:

• Subscribe
• Rate & review
• Share it with someone who’s doing life solo with ADHD

You may be single.

You may have ADHD.

But you are not alone—and you’re not as alone as you think.

As the year winds down, many of us feel pressure to “figure it all out” before January arrives. For solo adults with ADHD, that pressure often turns into shame, burnout, and yet another attempt to completely reboot life.

This episode offers something different.

Christine guides you through a gentle, ADHD-friendly way to reflect on the year—without beating yourself up. You’ll learn how to notice what actually worked, what collapsed under stress, and where your life needs more support (not more willpower).

This is a calm, grounding episode designed to help you close the year with clarity—and step into January without panic.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why traditional year-end reflection often backfires for ADHD brains
• The “reboot cycle” and why it’s especially common for solo adults
• A simple 3-question ADHD year review to gather insight without shame
• How to sort what you learned into keep, reinforce, and release
• Why constant restarts are clues—not failures
• How personal “self-isms” can act as anchors when things wobble
• A new way to think about January that doesn’t involve transformation or hustle

This episode is for you if:

• You feel behind heading into the new year
• You’re tired of resolutions that don’t stick
• You live alone and carry all the responsibility yourself
• You want support systems—not another fresh start

✨ January is about building support, not trying harder.

If this episode resonated, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast, sharing it with a friend, or subscribing so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Download the Companion Worksheet
This episode pairs with a free, ADHD-friendly worksheet to help you:

• Reflect without shame
• Identify what actually worked
• Sort what to keep, reinforce, or release
• Choose one anchor sentence for the new year

Want other worksheets?  Check them out here!

What if you didn’t need resolutions, vision boards, or a “word of the year” to move forward?

In this episode, Christine introduces Selfisms — short, personal belief statements that act like mental shortcuts for decision-making, social situations, and overwhelm. Think: small rules you already live by… just made intentional. If you know what an elevator pitch is – it’s like that, but not necessarily for your business.

Christine kicks things off with a Broadway story that includes an unexpected encounter with Lin-Manuel Miranda, then breaks down how Selfisms helped her freeze less, decide faster, and show up more confidently — long before she ever knew she had ADHD.

This episode is especially for solo adults with ADHD who are tired of constantly reinventing the wheel every time life throws a decision their way.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• What a Selfism is (and what it is not)
• Why Selfisms work better than resolutions for ADHD brains
• How Selfisms reduce overwhelm, anxiety, and decision fatigue
• Real-life examples from:
  • Teaching and education
  • Job interviews
  • Social situations (including celebrity encounters 👀)
• How to spot Selfisms you’re already using
• How to write your own so they sound like you, not a meme
• Where to keep them so they’re actually useful
• Why Selfisms can evolve as you do

Why Selfisms Are ADHD-Friendly

Selfisms help because they:

• Reduce mental load
• Eliminate “start from scratch” decisions
• Act as built-in scripts for sticky moments
• Create consistency without rigidity
• Lower anxiety in social and professional situations

They’re not about perfection — they’re about making life easier for Future You.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Broadway culture & theater people
• Music teaching philosophy & classroom decision-making
• Job interviews and values-based alignment
• The upcoming ASSAP for ADHD framework:
  • Access
  • Security
  • Structure
  • Action
  • Pace

(More on ASSAP coming in January!)

Next Up:

Next week’s episode focuses on reflection, rebooting, and intentional transitions, and how Selfisms can support you during reset seasons — whenever your reset happens.

Let’s Stay Connected

• Subscribe on YouTube: A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD
• Listen on your favorite podcast app
• Visit: www.twocatscoaching.com
• Want my freebies? Click here
• Like, share, and comment — it truly helps the show grow

And if you’re navigating life solo with ADHD and want one-on-one support?
Christine’s here. This is what she does.

You aren’t broken.
You aren’t behind.
And you’re not as alone as you think.

If the holidays make you feel tired, frazzled, overstimulated, or “just done” before December even really begins — you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken.

This episode breaks down why the holiday season hits solo ADHD adults so much harder.
From sensory overload to time compression, emotional intensity to financial pressure, we take a compassionate, nervous-system-first look at what’s really going on in your brain and body.

This is not the logistics episode (that’s Episodes 22 & 24).
This is the ADHD nervous system episode — the “why this season drains you before you do anything” episode.

You’re not weak.
You’re overloaded.
And today, we talk about why… and what to do about it.

What We Explore in This Episode:

1️⃣ The Invisible Solo Load

• What it means to produce “a Broadway show with a cast of one”
• Why ADHD brains burn more energy per step
• How the financial burden of gift-giving hits single adults harder
• ⭐ Gentle solution: Set a gift rule this year to protect your budget + sanity

2️⃣ Sensory Overload Everywhere
Crowded stores, flashing lights, noise, scents — the December sensory buffet

• ⭐ Gentle solution: Shop at low-sensory times + use headphones/earplugs/curbside pickup

3️⃣ Emotional Intensity & Holiday Landmines

• Nostalgia, grief, comparison, and pressure to be “on”
• Why ADHD emotion centers run hot
• ⭐ Gentle solution: Create a grounding ritual (30 seconds counts!)

4️⃣ Time Compression (aka The Holiday Speed Run)

• The entire season crammed into 3–6 weeks
• Why pace changes wipe out ADHD energy
• ⭐ Gentle solution: Protect ONE routine this month

5️⃣ Decision Fatigue

• Why December becomes one giant bowl of decision soup
• How choices drain your brain before you start doing anything
• ⭐ Gentle solution: Use “decision defaults” to simplify everything

6️⃣ The Holiday Energy Mismatch

• Holiday energy = FAST + LOUD + CONSTANT
• ADHD energy = uneven + sensitive
• Solo energy = “I am the whole team”
• You’re not the mismatch — the season is mismatched to YOU

7️⃣ Compassionate Reframe

“You’re not exhausted because you’re weak or unprepared.
You’re exhausted because the season triggers every ADHD lever at once — and you’re carrying it alone.”

Key Takeaway

You’re not failing.
You’re not behind.
Your holiday exhaustion is predictable, understandable, and fixable when you stop blaming yourself and start understanding your nervous system.

Links Mentioned

• Episode 22: Holiday To-Do Lists
• Episode 24: Holiday Hacks + AI Helpers

Want More?

Subscribe to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD on your favorite platform.

Follow Christine:

• Website: TwoCatsCoaching.com
• Podcast on YouTube: A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD
• Socials: @TwoCatsCoaching
• Freebies? Click here

If the holidays feel like a group project you didn’t sign up for, today’s episode is for you.

In Episode 24, we’re ditching “Pinterest perfect” and aiming for possible.
ADHD brains + solo living + December = a lot.
So here’s an episode full of shortcuts, hacks, permission slips, and some AI magic to make the season lighter.

🎁 What We Cover in This Episode

❤️ Part 1: 17 ADHD-Friendly Holiday Hacks

From gifting shortcuts to décor minimalism to surviving grocery stores, you’ll learn:

• How to pick ONE universal gift for half your list
• Why experiences beat stuff (especially for kids!)
• The magic of a gift drawer
• Why gift cards absolutely count as gifts
• How to decorate using just ONE bin
• Hosting tricks that take 10 minutes
• Why multitasking will make you cry (and what to do instead)

🤖 Part 2: Let AI Carry Half the Load

Perfect for ADHD brains that are done for the year.
We talk about using AI for:

• Holiday card messages
• Writing polite declines and boundary scripts
• Gift planning and kid-specific ideas
• Meal planning and grocery lists
• Travel prep checklists
• Focus, timers, and prioritizing
• Turning your brain dump into an organized plan

📘 Part 3: Easy, ADHD-Friendly AI Primer

Learn how to:

• Think of AI like your enthusiastic checklist-loving intern
• Pick ONE AI tool based on what you already use
• Write prompts using Christine’s simple formula
• Ask AI to plan events, meals, holidays, and more
• Use tone, role-assignment, and details to get better results

Includes a full example prompt for planning a cozy six-person holiday dinner!

✨ Key Takeaways

• Holiday success has NOTHING to do with how “magical” things look
• Fewer decisions = a calmer ADHD brain
• You can absolutely opt OUT of anything that drains you
• AI can help you write, plan, organize, and breathe
• You don’t have to suffer your way through December

💛 About Your Host

I’m Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and your guide through the wild, wonderful world of ADHD solo living. If this episode helped you, please leave a rating or review — it truly helps! Find me at twocatscoaching.com! 

Want some freebies? Click here

Holiday Social Plans… Now What?

Welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD! I’m your host, Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and owner of Two Cats Coaching.

Holiday socializing is hard enough — now add ADHD, winter fatigue, disrupted routines, and the fact that you’re doing this alone.
Suddenly every invitation feels like someone assigned you a group project for a class you forgot to attend.

This episode gives you realistic, ADHD-friendly strategies for three moments every solo ADHDer faces in December:

1. I got an invitation — now what?
2. I’m at the event — now what?
3. I realize I’m overcommitted — now what?

This isn’t about becoming a holiday party superstar.
It’s about protecting your energy, honoring your limits, and choosing what works for your brain.

💌 Section 1 — “I Got an Invitation… Now What?”

When impulsivity says “Sure! Future Me will totally have energy!” — pause.
Here’s how to make choices that support your current bandwidth:

• 10-Second Gut Check: Would I go if it were today?
• The Social Math Test: Does the energy I’ll spend match the energy I’ll get?
• The Half-Attend Strategy: Commit to the first hour, not the whole night.
• Pre-Written Declines: Save scripts so you don’t panic-type.

ASSAP Framework Tie-In: This is Access — creating supports before you need them.

🎉 Section 2 — “I’m at the Party… Now What?”

You don’t need to “work the room.” You need a structure that keeps your nervous system grounded:

• Be the Helper (take a task = instant structure)
• Anchor to One Person (no need to mingle endlessly)
• Pre-Decide Your Exit Conditions
• Create a Calm-Down Bubble (quick escapes are healthy!)
• Have an Exit Script Ready
• Drop the Holiday Performance Pressure

ASSAP Tie-In: These are Action tools — tiny steps that help you function in high-stimulation spaces.

📅 Section 3 — “I Overcommitted… Now What?”

Canceling is allowed. Editing your December is allowed. Protecting your energy is necessary.

• The Permission to Cancel Principle
• The Calendar Edit (star the draining stuff, remove 1–3)
• Use Social Substitutions:
  • 3-hour dinner → 20-minute coffee
  • Party → FaceTime
  • Gift exchange → send a card

💛 Section 4 — A Gentle Reframe

You’re not antisocial.
You’re not flaky.
You’re not failing the holidays.
You’re managing ADHD, solo adulthood, masking, emotional labor, and winter fatigue at the same time.
That’s called being human, not being broken.

✨ Section 5 — Soft January Teaser

January kicks off the “good stuff”:
Long-term, sustainable systems using the A and P in ASAP — Access and Persistence.
Your future self will thank you.

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Free Consult Call: www.twocatscoaching.com

❤️ If this episode lightened your mental load…

Hit subscribe, leave a review, or share with a solo friend who needs it.

Want some freebies? Click here

You’re not as alone as you think.

Hey friends — welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD!
I’m Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and founder of Two Cats Coaching. Today we’re breaking down the real reason the holidays feel overwhelming when you’re both ADHD and solo: the entire holiday workload defaults to you. No partner, no backup brain, no shared executive functioning.

This episode focuses on the practical, physical, cognitive demands of the season — not emotions or sensory overload (that’s coming in Episode 25!). We’ll look at the invisible, underestimated tasks that drain your executive functioning and why “dropping balls” doesn’t mean you’re disorganized — it means you’re doing the work of two adults with one brain.

In this episode, we cover:

• The holiday timeline: Halloween → New Year’s → January 2 collapse
• Why solo adults carry every task by default
• ADHD + decision fatigue (gifts, meals, travel, RSVPs)
• The invisible holiday workload no one talks about
• The emotional load you're carrying — even when this isn’t the “feelings episode”
• Four simple micro-solutions that make the season lighter right now

Quick Relief Tools Mentioned:

• One-page Holiday Dashboard ( I use my phone calendar!)
• Reduce decisions with the Power of One (one kind of gift, only one store etc.)
• A decompression routine
• Saying no

Upcoming Episodes:

• 🎧 Holiday Hacks Episode (Episode 24) — ADHD-friendly, solo-friendly tips you can use immediately
• 🎧 Ep 25 – Holiday Emotions, Sensory Overload & Why You Feel “Too Much”

Work With Christine

If this episode took even one thing off your mental load, hit subscribe so Future You doesn’t miss an episode.
And if you want coaching that actually fits a solo ADHD life, I offer 1:1 support.
👉 Book a free consult using this link.

Looking for free stuff? Click here

(Part 4 and final of the Side Hustle Mini-Series)

Hey friends, welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD!
I’m Christine Dunning — Master Certified Life Coach, owner of Two Cats Coaching, and your caffeinated companion through the wild world of ADHD-friendly side hustles.

If you’ve been following the mini-series, we’ve covered:
👉 Episode 18 – Finding the Right Side Hustle for You (and Your ADHD)
👉 Episode 19 – Side Hustles: Failures and Successes
👉 Episode 20 – Top 15 ADHD-Friendly Side Hustles

And today, we’re wrapping it all up with the final piece: how to choose the right one for you — plus a few tools, mindset shifts, and money tips to make it actually work.

So if your brain is currently a pinball machine of ideas (been there!), grab a notebook — this is your roadmap to finding a side hustle that fits your ADHD life instead of fighting it.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

• How to define your “Why” before you chase the next shiny gig
• The Three Filters — Time, Energy, and Money — that make or break sustainability
• The three main Side Hustle Styles and how to match them to your brain and schedule
• A quick self-check quiz to find your personal side hustle “sweet spot”
• Tools, templates, and ADHD-friendly systems to keep you on track
• How to know when it’s time to pivot, pause, or pass

💡 Resources Mentioned

• ADHD Budget Template click here
• Two Cats Coaching: TwoCatsCoaching.com
• Free 30-minute consultation: Book here

🧩 Key Takeaways

✅ Your “why” is your compass — without it, you’ll chase dopamine and burn out fast.
✅ Use the Three Filters to evaluate every new idea.
✅ You’re allowed to pivot!
✅ Sustainable side hustles should give you at least one of these: money, skills, joy, or fun.

💬 Share your favorite side hustle wins on socials — I’d love to celebrate with you!
🌐 TwoCatsCoaching.com
@TwoCatsCoaching  🧵 Threads 📧 Substack

Free stuff!  Click here

Next month’s theme? Holiday Burnout! (Yes, we’re doing hacks, humor, and survival plans for ADHDers.)
Until then, stay curious, stay kind to your brain — and give your cat an extra treat for me.

Host: Christine Dunning — Master Certified Life Coach, cat enthusiast, and your friendly neighborhood reminder that side hustles can be a great thing.

Series: Side Hustles, Part 3 of 4

A fast, honest tour of 15 ADHD-friendly side hustles, grouped by how your brain likes to work—structure, flexibility, creativity, or “please just help me pay for that trip.” You’ll get pros/cons, typical start-up costs, and quick “pro tips” so you can test one without melting your executive function.

Section One: Part-Time Jobs (structure + social + low decision fatigue)

1. Retail / Seasonal / Food (bookstores, craft stores, cafés, restaurants)

2. Event & Catering Gigs

3. Substitute Teaching / Para Sub

Section Two: 1099 & App-Based (you pick the hours)

4. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

5. Delivery (DoorDash/Instacart/Amazon Flex)

6. Field Inspections (WeGoLook, Gigwalk, etc.)

7. Companion/Helper (Papa Pals, Care.com, errand services)

8. Pet & House Sitting (Rover, Wag, private clients)

Section Three: Freelance & Creative Work (you’re the boss)

9. Freelance Writing

10. Virtual Assistant / Admin Support

11. Online Tutoring or Music/Lesson Teaching

12. Digital Products (printables, templates, courses)

13. Social Media Management / Content Creation

14. E-Commerce & Handmade (Etsy/Shopify/POD/craft fairs)

15. Local Micro-Services (house cleaning, lawn care, babysitting, handyman)

Pro tips & notes

• Rideshare: Budget for car wear, gas, and gap insurance (app time vs. personal policy).
• Events/Food: Some states require a food handler card.
• Tutoring/Lessons: Pay varies wildly—market yourself locally for better rates.
• Digital Products: Respect copyright & asset licenses (clip art, fonts, Canva usage).
• Pet/House Sitting: Overnights pay best; reliability is everything.
• High-need niche: Morning kid-launch help (breakfast/backpacks/school drop-off).

Work with Christine

Need help picking and launching your best-fit side hustle? I coach 1:1 to map your energy, set prices, and get you earning—without burnout.
👉 Book a consult: TwoCatsCoaching.com 

Want some freebies?  Click here

NEXT EPISODE

Part 4: How to choose the right hustle for your brain (decision matrix + red/green flags).

Call to action: Follow A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD, rate & review, and yes—give your cat a treat for me.

🎙️ Episode 19 — Side Hustles: Failures and Successes (My Story)
A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD | Hosted by Christine Dunning, MCC

ADHD brains love a new idea — that dopamine rush hits and suddenly we’re convinced we’re starting a dog-treat empire, buying overpriced craft machines, and signing up for every delivery app known to humankind. 🐶✨

In this episode — the second in our Side Hustles Mini-Series — I’m sharing the good, the bad, and the “what was I thinking?” lessons from my own side-hustle journey. I’ve tried a LOT of them… so you don’t have to learn the hard way. 😉

💡 What You’ll Learn

• The 3 main types of side hustles for ADHDers
• Why “passive income” isn’t actually passive
• The upside (and downside) of taking on more than one gig
• How to recognize when a hustle is draining you
• The right time to quit — without feeling like a failure
• Real-life stories from rideshare driving, substitute teaching, music gigs, digital products & more

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Structure helps when your brain is tired.
• Flexibility helps when your soul is tired.
• “Failure” isn’t failure — it’s data.
• Side hustles should support your life… not take it over.

🧭 Mini-Series Progress

✅ Episode 18 — Why do a side hustle? What to avoid
➡️ Episode 19 — My wins and fails (you are here!)
🔜 Episode 20 — Popular hustles: pros, cons, and real talk
🔜 Episode 21 — How to pick the right one for you

💬 Mentioned in This Episode

• Music and theater side gigs 🎶
• Renting spare space 🏡
• Trivia hosting 🎤(find me at QuizlandiaDenver.com)
• Rideshare driving 🚗
• Digital products 💻
• Life coaching 🐾

👋 Stay Connected

Looking for guidance while building your ADHD-friendly work life?
➡️ Book a coaching consult: www.twocatscoaching.com
➡️ Join me on social: @TwoCatsCoaching
➡️ Check out the podcast website: https://asolopersonsguidetoadhd.buzzsprout.com

Freebies? Click here

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review & subscribe — it helps so much! 💛