Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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For years I used to write out a long list of New Year's resolutions, only to not be able to remember what was on the list a week later, let alone where the hell the list even was. So a couple of years ago I started choosing one word and one word only to set the direction for my new year instead, and I discovered that I too could set goals and stick to them in the new year–I just had to start doing it my way.

Choosing just one word for the year works so well for my ADHD brain because it's intentional and it's simple. I may forget about a whole list of goals, but I can focus on one word every day, all year long because that one word sums up who I want to be in that specific year. My word acts as my compass and helps me make my daily decisions with intentionality. It serves as a North Star for me, moving me toward my goals throughout the entire year. I think it'll have a huge impact on you too if you choose to join me.

With one word as your focus, your New Year's goals don't need to be big cosmic shifts and changes in action and behavior, because it's the little things you do, the tiny actions you take every single day that lead to fulfilling a very big intention or goal in 2023.

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Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

We know that shame grows in silence, but the thought of actually sharing our traumas and innermost thoughts out loud can feel so scary that many of us end up burying it down deep instead. Allison Lane, a marketer for non-fiction authors and people who should be, tried using this approach with her own childhood trauma; for years she kept everything inside, afraid of making others uncomfortable and unable to face it herself, until a suicide attempt forced her to confront how much pain and shame she had been hiding, and how isolating it was to carry her trauma alone.

Once Allison started sharing openly about her experiences, she discovered how empowering it was to be able to say, "this happened to me, but this is not me." Now, her mission in her work is to empower other women to share their stories and to use their voices in a way that reaches people.

Allison has seen firsthand the value of sharing our stories and shedding light on our shame, and I hope her words give you the courage to let down some of your own walls, even when it feels vulnerable.
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Resources:

• @allisonlanelit on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn
• Website: lanelit.com
• Email: [email protected]

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

I initially started talking with fitness coach Marnie Bothmer because I told her that I often get pushback from ADHD women around exercise; they know it's beneficial for the ADHD brain, but they want to know how "real people" are supposed to fit it into their busy lives. Marnie pointed out that the whole concept of what "real people" can do for exercise reveals the root of the problem: the societally-ingrained belief that exercise has to be extreme, and is therefore unattainable.

My conversation with Marnie completely changed the way I think and speak about movement (in fact, it got me to stop saying 'exercise' and start using 'movement' with my students and clients), so I knew I had to get her on the podcast to dive into this subject.

In this episode Marnie talks about the value of listening to your body and finding movement that feels good for you, how her multiple sclerosis diagnosis challenged her ideology around the fitness industry, her ADHD-friendly tips for making movement more rewarding and attainable, and so much more.
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Resources:

• Instagram: @marnieb20
• Website: marniebothmer.com

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

Luzia Tschirky was born and raised in the Swiss Mountains in a small town close to the border of Austria and Lichtenstein. As a child, she knew she wanted to become a journalist, so much so that she started her own newspaper at the age of eight and began working for the local newspaper at 14. Now 28, not only is Luzia a professional journalist, she's the first-ever female correspondent in Moscow, where she covers all post-Soviet countries, including Russia and Ukraine.

For the past nine months Luzia has been covering the war in Ukraine, which she says has given her a newfound appreciation for her ADHD. She credits her ADHD brain for her intense curiosity, her intuition, and her hyperfocus and quick thinking in moments of crisis, all of which have helped her to thrive in high-intensity situations and produce impactful journalism even in a warzone.

What sets Luzia apart (on top of everything else) is her incredible empathy for the humans behind the stories, which shines through in everything she does and is one of the many reasons why I'm so excited to share her story with you this episode.
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Resources:

• Instagram: @luziatschirky
• Twitter: @luziatschirky

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

I've been doing intermittent fasting, well, intermittently for a few years now and have found that for me personally, it helps me eat intuitively and clears my brain fog. However, I've been hesitant to talk about it on the podcast because I know it isn't a lifestyle that works for everyone, but when a listener recommended author Gin Stephens as a guest I knew that she was the right person to tackle this tricky subject.

Gin, who's written multiple bestsellers on clean eating and intermittent fasting, doesn't promote the lifestyle as a weight loss strategy or make any claims that it can "cure" your ADHD or anything like that; rather, she focuses on the research into the gut-brain connection and how what and when we eat affects our mood, our immune systems, our cognitive functioning, and our cravings, among many other things.

In this episode, Gin gives a great breakdown of what intermittent fasting is, the science behind it, and how to ease into it responsibly. We also talk about metabolic syndrome, how to find the foods that work best for your body, and much more. Again, intermittent fasting isn't right for everyone, but if you're curious to learn more about it, come join our conversation.
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Resources:

• Instagram: @GinStephens
• Website: ginstephens.com
• Her books: ginstephens.com/get-the-books

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

When Martha Barnard-Rae was finally diagnosed with ADHD after years of being told it was just anxiety, she started structuring her home and work life around her brain's unique needs and saw a complete transformation in how she lives and speaks to herself.

Since getting her diagnosis, Martha has gone on to give an inspiring TedX talk about ADHD and start her own copywriting business, Word Candy, where she has the freedom to let her ADHD strengths shine.

"I want people to understand that ADHD is a part of me and I can use these powers such as they are for good. And I think the more that I can kind of say about it, the more people will understand and they can go, 'oh, I want to work with her because she does those hyperfocus weeks because she can work in that way.' That's a feature, not a bug."

Join us this episode as Martha shares all the ways she's redefining success for herself, her vulnerable experience on the TedX stage, how she fills her "bowl of resilience," and so much more.
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Resources:

• Website: wordcandy.com.au
• Instagram: @wordcandycomms
• LinkedIn: Martha Barnard-Rae

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

Alexis Tomaszewski knew she wanted to be a dentist by the age of 12. When she got to dental school, however, she realized that although she had the clinical and hand skills for dentistry, she struggled with multi-choice tests, which led to her essentially flunking out the first time around.

Alexis thought about not returning to dental school, but after stepping back to get some clarity and rediscovering her purpose of opening up an ADHD-friendly dental practice, she returned to school in full force, this time with a lot more intention and positive emotions. Her imposter syndrome and RSD were and are still there, but keeping sight of her purpose has allowed Alexis to push through the negative thoughts even when things get hard.

Alexis's goal to create a comfortable, shame-free, and fun dental experience for ADHDers is admirable (and much needed!), and her story is a great reminder that, when we align ourselves with our purpose, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
______________

Resources:

• Tiktok: @tooth_be_told
• Email: [email protected]

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

I first met Amanda Smith in my Your ADHD Brain is A-OK program, and ever since she has been bringing so much empathy and joy to the group that I knew I had to get her on the podcast.

In Amanda’s own words, she is not your typical ADHD brain. She didn’t struggle with executive functioning or memory growing up, so when doctors discovered Amanda had a Multiple Sclerosis lesion on her prefrontal cortex, causing sudden-onset ADHD with working memory and cognitive impairment, she realized she was going to have to completely change how she had been operating for the past 32 years.

Amanda’s life was turned on its head when she got the diagnosis –her life snow globe got kicked down the stairs, as she puts it– but her ability to find new ways to forge forward and move her life in the direction she wants it to go in is truly an inspiration.
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Resources:

• Instagram: @dandylion_wishes
• BRIDGING THE GAP: Exploring community, connections, and overcoming barriers through intergenerational care
• Therapeutic Benefits of Children for People With Dementia (verywellhealth.com)
• Toddlers and Seniors Together: The Benefits of Intergenerational Care

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

I wasn’t planning to do anything special for this 200th episode, but my wonderful friend Sandra wouldn’t hear of it. She suggested I invite my family onto the podcast to mark the occasion–after all, they’ve been putting up with this for 200 episodes now–so that’s exactly what I decided to do.

In a podcast first, I’m sitting down with my husband and kids to get their perspectives on how ADHD impacts our family, what makes us different from other families, and what it’s been like behind the scenes of this whole podcasting journey so far. My family generates so much positive emotion for me and I truly couldn’t keep this podcast going without them, which is why I’m so excited to introduce you to them in this milestone episode.

I also couldn’t have made it this far without the support of all you wonderful listeners, who have allowed me to show up as my authentic self and make something that matters to so many people. I am so appreciative of you all for showing up these past 200 episodes and I can’t wait to see where all our unique paths will take us in 200 more.
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Resources:

• Instagram: @ateastefani

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

___

Okay, so you did a bunch of learning and self-reflecting and you suspect you might have ADHD. Now what? The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis can, ironically, be super inaccessible for the ADHD brain, so I wanted to do an updated re-release of my episode on how to seek out a diagnosis for those of you who don't know where to start.

Whether you're afraid that you won't be believed by your provider, that you'll be accused of drug-seeking, or that you won't be able to remember anything you wanted to say in the moment, I've created a checklist of adult ADHD symptoms based on the DSM-5 and Russell Barkley's Adult Scale that will help you discuss your experiences with confidence.

I'm not a doctor, but I know how your brain works because I share it, and my aim with this episode is to give you the framework and the courage to fight for the medical support you deserve.
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Resources:

• spyhappy.me/adhdprofslist

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2

Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok

Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com