ADHD reWired

About Kat Hoyer: Kat is a "recovering HR (Human Resources) manager" and started as a member of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups back in 2015. She is the creator of the Steer Your Life Coaching Program and has q9 Steer-Certified coaching across the country. Her business, SYLC Consulting brings holistic workplace development to organizations where she helps organizations talk about stress management, emotional intelligence, and cognitive agility. [00:02:45] - How do we, as people with ADHD, advocate for ourselves in the workplace for what we need without saying we have ADHD? [00:06:54] - What types of accommodations can we ask for? [00:08:23] - What does an accommodation look like, or how can we work through it? [00:09:06] - How can accommodations that we feel we need be beneficial to whatever the mission or the goals of the company are? What happens if we are denied accommodations? [00:12:16] - If we are searching for a job, what are some of the questions we can ask during the interview process without disclosing our ADHD? [00:20:09] - Eric talks about what he's learned & about getting accommodations and what he asked for. [00:22:28] - What exactly are reasonable accommodations? [00:25:01] - Eric & Kat talk about working extra hours, communication, requesting feedback, and advocating for yourself in a way that is solutions-oriented. [00:30:03] - Self-acceptance & self-awareness can make it easier to advocate for ourselves. [00:37:27] - Neurodiversity in the workplace: Where does it stand? [00:39:32] - Has the workplace evolved? What about hybrid models? What if we're struggling with this hybrid model? [00:42:49] - What can managers and bosses do to be more supportive of neurodivergent brains? [00:44:51] - What's the perfect job for someone with ADHD? [00:46:39] - Is it a toxic work environment? [00:47:39] - Kat speaks to her experiences in ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability groups, the tools that has helped others, and the positive things she has seen from people who have gone through the coaching groups. Connect with Kat: Website: SYLC Consulting | Akron, OH | Life Coaching Twitter for SYLC Consulting: @SYLC_Consulting Facebook: STEER Your Life Coaching - Home Listen to her on episode 175: We're Like-Brained, Not Just Like-Minded, with Kat Hoyer Honorable & Noteworthy Mentions: Americans with Disabilities Act Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mahan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

The 27th season of ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups begins in January 2022! Our first registration event is on Saturday, October 30th! If you've been wondering what group coaching can do for you, head over to coachingrewired.com to find out how you can be a part of our award-winning, online and video-based coaching and accountability groups, so you can get your ADHD rewired and rewrite your ADHD story! About Greg: Greg was first diagnosed with ADHD at 10 and went untreated until he was re-diagnosed at 33, after procrastination on a big project made him leave the hospital shortly after the birth of his little girl. Greg has a degree in computer engineering and law, and works as a patent attorney in Silicon Valley. During COVID, Greg found his way to ADHD reWired and is a graduate of season 23 of ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups, and joined season 25 and 26 as a peer-mentor (or "ADDmin") supporting other members of the award-winning coaching program. If you want to hear a story about some mind-blowing growth from one of the most cynical skeptics we've ever encountered in the coaching groups, then this is the podcast you need to listen to. Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

Want to join the ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups? Go now to coachingrewired.com and get your name added to our winter interest list so you can join our kickoff registration event this month in October! Shownotes & timestamps coming soon... Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mahan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the winter season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups! adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

Do you struggle with staying active? Does the word "fitness" make you shy away from starting? Then this is the episode you need to listen to because getting your body moving and adding physical activity to your daily routine doesn't have to be boring! About Karen: Karen is a body and mind transformation coach & personal trainer for ADHD women. From Canada, she teaches you how to thrive in your fitness, nutrition and health - not just manage it. She believes you are worthy of your dream body that you feel incredibly confident in, with a mindset to match - even if you have ADHD. Fun fact about Karen: While she spends her spare time camping, she also spends time training in the circus, and also lives in a tiny home! Mentioned on the show: Find Karen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen.broda/ Grab Karen's 15-minute Morning & Night Routines and find her Fitness Identity course here: https://linktr.ee/strong.and.smart Check out Karen's YouTube channel: Fitness, Nutrition, & Mindset for ADHD Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

About Nicolas: Nicolas was first originally from Switzerland. He's a long-time motoring enthusiast, licensed racer, and fourth-generation painter. He now lives and works in the U.S. as a professional automotive fine artist. He trained at Pasadena ArtCenter College of Design and incorporates many elements of Art Deco advertising posters in his paintings - a style he called, "Period Correct." He's worked with the likes of Porsche, 24h Le Mans, McLaren, and Ford, to create one-of-a-kind art pieces and automotive-themed design prints for apparel and products. [00:03:26] - Nicolas talks about a 20-foot painting he was commissioned to do in 2015 for Porsche and says more about his artwork and his business. [00:04:30] - Mentioned here: Hunziker Design – HUNZIKER [00:05:29] - Hear more about Nicolas' family history of artists, Art Deco, photography, and postmodernism. [00:07:01] - Nicolas gives an honest answer when people ask him how they can become a painter, his thoughts on corporate culture, the types of clients he's worked with, and what he did before becoming a full-time painter. [00:10:07] - A relatable moment of time-blindness is mentioned here. (Implied; the phrase, "time-blindness" is not actually mentioned here.) Then, Eric and Nicolas dive more into ADHD and how it's "the worst-named disorder in the world", the difference between hyperfocus and flow, and how Nicolas experiences hyperfocus. [00:14:19] - Eric talks about the COVID hobby he picked up - painting - and asks Nicolas about changing brushes. A question for the listener: Is it just Eric? Or do you think painters with ADHD have to buy more brushes because "we" don't clean them off fast enough? [00:21:47] - Nicolas answers Eric's question: "From what you're learning so far, how do you see ADHD showing up in your work, in a way that challenges your work?" Here, Nicolas opens up about mindfulness and other tools he uses, and how he organizes his environment. He also opens up about impulse control and not being able to say "no", being an instigator, and how his ADHD affects his business and relationship. [00:24:05] - Eric and Nicolas talk about starting "22 things at the same time", deadlines, and perfectionism. Later, they talk about how long it can take Nicolas to finish a painting. [00:27:52] - Hear a helpful reframe on how hyperfocus can potentially be more draining, rather than a superpower. Then, Nicolas talks about the energy differences when he paints versus sketching, how long it takes him to figure out details for historical accuracy, and how perfectionism plays a role. [00:34:03] - Mentioned here: VIRTUAL FREEDOM – More Time More Productivity More Freedom [00:43:26] - Nicolas shares how his ADHD has affected his relationship, the challenges they've had to face together, and how a fantastic referral led him to his ADHD diagnosis. [00:46:26] - Eric and Nicolas share a moment when it comes to filling out forms and how they change their handwriting. [00:48:07] - Nicolas talks about the research phase of ADHD, how he's still learning, how the scope of his ADHD has affected his life and the people around him, losing things, and getting derailed. Unintentional tip from Nicolas: Walk around with paper in your hand, it looks like you're going somewhere. Or, you can hold a phone to your ear! [00:51:18] - Eric and Nicolas talk about auditory processing and dyscalculia, recalling conversations, emotional scarring, and the messiness of sequencing events. Then, they talk about taking notes and how Leonardo da Vinci would handwrite. [00:53:59] - Nicolas opens up about communication challenges, his triggers, his tendencies, and his awareness of his reactions. [00:56:49] - Nicolas shares an analogy about an intention versus the effect of the intention. [00:58:39] - Eric and Nicolas talk more about being emotionally laden, emotional defense mechanisms, and forgetfulness. [01:01:56] - Nicolas gives his thanks. He hopes this episode can help someone listening to his story, too. Mentioned on the show: Hunziker Design – HUNZIKER VIRTUAL FREEDOM – More Time More Productivity More Freedom Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

About Will: Will is a Los Angeles-based tech entrepreneur, inventor, and music producer, who is the CEO and founder of Focus@Will. He is the founding member of the 90's hit UK pop-soul band LONDONBEAT, founded a tech company called Rocket Network based in San Francisco, and sold the company in 2003. Will also founded the company called "DigiDelivery", which morphed into Avid Cloud Collaboration (part of ProTools) and is used everyday in pro audio production all over the world. Sources: Linkedin Check it out: Focus@Will: Music to help you focus. Optimized by science. [00:03:47] - Will talks about being diagnosed and shares some of his thoughts about ADHD. [00:07:27] - Eric and Will talk about using music as a tool, what's helpful for them, and the science of music on the brain. [00:11:17] - Hear a sample from Focus@Will, "The Deep", and more. [00:12:36] - Will explains a musician's brain. [00:15:37] - Will shares a story from a friend about music and Alzheimers. [00:22:09] - Eric asks Will about the creation process, the data, and what the data says. [00:24:28] - Will tells us who gave him his ADHD diagnosis, and the types of jobs where ADHD brains need a lot of stimulation to focus. [00:26:22] - Hear more samples from Focus@Will, as Will walks us through the purpose of each sample. [00:29:04] - Will explains how Focus@Will started and what was involved with starting up. [00:32:08] - Hear more about the science, the cognitive testing, and the distinct link between brain types and the kinds of music that helps that type of brain. Did you know: Statistically, one in three people cannot listen to any sound at all while they're working! [00:33:43] - Will talks about the bell curve of the studies, the correlation of ADHD, a link to autism, and how the data came out with how having music on while working helps two thirds of people. [00:36:36] - Hear about a statistic of Focus@Will in a work environment, and how the people using it compare to the organization. [00:42:51] - Eric wants to know about the musical and creative side of Focus@Will - and then we get serenaded! Will explains making music for the non-conscious mind. [00:44:35] - Will talks about "Nature Beat", a channel that is also his own personal artistic endeavor. Then, hear a sample of Nature Beat itself, as Will walks us through how it works and the intentionality behind its creation. (All Nature Beat tracks are 25 minutes long - the same as a Pomodoro!) [00:48:43] - Will explains what "entrainment" is with a demonstration using his guitar. Did you know: Strings sympathetically resonate with sounds that make the strings happen. You can do this with a piano by singing into a piano and holding the sustain pedal! [00:50:07] - Hear "the skinny" about binaural beats, and the brainwaves we need to focus and concentrate. (It's alpha waves.) [00:52:56] - Go to focusatwill.com, take the quiz on the website, and discover what kind of music might best help you get focused! Hint: It often recommends music you don't like. Will explains why. [00:55:36] - Will shares three tips he's received: "Every time I do an email during the day, I 'click' a [pitch] counter." (It just might have been our own Brendan Mahan!) A tip from a Podiatrist (foot doctor): Make sure your feet are grounded at 90 degrees to your ankles when you're working. It has a profound impact on your typing accuracy! An eye-doctor talked about eye-strain and working in front of a computer. The tip: Close one eye, look at your screen, and then look away (or outside) at the brightest source (but not the sun!), and then look back at your computer screen. If it is exactly the same [brightness], you're good to go. But if it's not, then adjust the brightness of your screen so it matches the ambient light. Get in touch with Will Henshall & follow Focus@Will: On Twitter @WillHenshall Like Focus@Will on Facebook Focus@Will on Instagram Other honorable mentions: Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks Learn more about Entrainment here (Wikipedia link) Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

** There's still room for YOU to join the 26th season of the award-winning ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Groups, starting in October! Head over to coachingrewired.com to find out how you can be a part of these intensive, online and video-based coaching and accountability groups, so you can get your ADHD rewired and rewrite your ADHD story! [00:02:20] - Eric has the first ADHD moment of the show [00:04:38] - Question: A listener who was recently diagnosed with ADHD asks about hyperfocus, prioritizing, and how to tell the difference between something that is a "new" passion versus a hyperfocus, versus a new commitment that may lose interest in. Learn as much as you can about ADHD. It's a disorder where information makes a difference. If you can anticipate the things in your environment that you're more susceptible to falling into hyperfocus and plan for them. Our tendencies can be double-edged swords. Ask ourselves: Is it a passion or calling, or something we're just doing a deep dive on? Have a place to store your ideas, because it doesn't mean you have to act on them and continue to scroll. It's okay to be curious about it, and observe if the curiosity will fade tomorrow before acting on it. The more we are engaged in thinking about it (our ADHD), the more we are going to take our lives off auto pilot. Is it a time-suck or a time-investment? Learning about ADHD is really learning more about ourselves. [00:14:33] - Question: What is the most frustrating thing about your ADHD? This listener's most frustrating thing is having to wait for stuff. But first, Barb and Eric have a moment! Roxie: working memory in almost every aspect of her life, and shares a working-memory moment. Moira: day-to-day is waiting, but the big-impact ADHD frustration is impulsivity with blurting out. Will: An extreme lack of executive function while recovering from COVID (at the time of this recording) and activating on the task at hand. MJ: Impulsivity to never (or rarely) say "no". Then optimism kicks in, then they realize they can't do all the things, even though their ADHD wants to do all the things. Brendan: The "waiting-brain" and having trouble initiating prior to something bigger in the future. Eric: Transitioning or moving on to the next thing, and multi-tracking and maintenance in multiple domains of life at once. [00:19:37] - Question: A listener is one month away from having a baby and is in serious need of working on their recently diagnosed ADHD, and wonders how to balance these. Suggestions: Don't join a coaching group (yet). Focus on your baby and get to know your baby because the years will fly by. Learn more about ADHD by listening to podcasts, because you can listen to a podcast and feed a baby at the same time. The more passive the learning, the easier it's going to be to fit in [the learning] around your baby. When you're pregnant, your body has a lot of estrogen which helps your ADHD. When you deliver, those hormones decrease. Women with ADHD have a much higher rate of postpartum depression largely due to this drop. Figure out what works for you even when others want to give advice, ask for help, don't be afraid to ask for help, and take care of yourself. [00:30:55] - Question: A listener, who is a startup cofounder, asks about navigating and managing rejection in a practical way, and avoiding participation with the anxiety of facing rejection. It's not just about competing with someone else, it's about competing and challenging ourselves. Is there risk? Yes. The only guarantee if a "no" is to not do the thing that scares us. Ask ourselves: Can you do everything that you think you can do and at the same time, understand that it might not go your way, or seal your own fate by not doing anything? Ask ourselves: What's our mindset when we go into these things? Ask ourselves: Do we love what we're doing? One of the things that makes rejection so hard is the story we tell ourselves about why we were rejected. If we change the story and make it one that serves us rather than one that undermines us, it's easier to take that risk the next time because we're not ruined by the story we told ourselves. [00:35:16] - A listener gets burnt out from doing productive things, but when they feel burnt out, they know exactly what they need to do to recharge. But when they feel like they need to do more things, they don't feel like they have the right to recharge. (The panelists can relate!) "I need to do all my work first before I can recharge" may be an old story we tell ourselves. We can't only do the work because that's what leads to burnout. Nobody gets everything done on their to-do lists, including neurotypical people. Ask ourselves: What's the story we tell ourselves? What are the remnants of our old belief patterns? Are we making up for our ADHD? Plan the time off first, and protect that time after it's been planned. We're never going to escape the mental trap that says, "Oh, I could do more." Sure, we could do more, but with diminishing returns. You deserve to have self-care, whether you've gotten the stuff done or not. Write down a compelling "why" to help remember why it was prioritized. [00:41:13] - A listener, who is also a new dad, is overwhelmed and finds himself doing anything else except for the things he feels he needs to do. Both him and his partner have ADHD. Balance the sleep by swapping nights with your partner and experiment with a rhythm that works for you. Ask for help and be open about what your struggles are, that doesn't necessarily need to disclose the ADHD. [00:44:50] - A listener asks what kinds of movies the panelists like to watch! Eric: Death to Smoochie MJ: Oceans 13, Atlantis, The Emperor's New Groove, otherwise they watch documentaries or true-crime Will: Mostly watched kids movies recently; really enjoyed The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Will also enjoys comedies and light-hearted things. He even enjoys "terrible" movies (movies that are so bad they're good.) Moira: needs movies with a story to stay engaged. Otherwise, she enjoys Pride & Prejudice (both versions), period pieces, and movies with mysteries but aren't scary. She also enjoys rom-coms. Brendan: All the Marvel movies, Star Wars, fantasy stuff, heist movies, especially Oceans 11. Roxie: Jojo Rabbit, comedies that take her by surprise and are really quirky. Barb really likes comedies and action movies like the Fast & Furious movies, and series like Umbrella Academy. Honorable mentions: Sharknado Tremors 6 Ticket to Hawaii 5-Headed Shark Poseidon Rex [00:55:57] - A listener, who was diagnosed with ADHD over ten years ago as an adult, and is wondering if there is any ADHD medication that can be taken while breastfeeding. It comes down to risk-reward of the baby and managing ADHD. Some folks have found it safe to take the medication, depending on medical history. Bottom line: Talk to your doctor, and make sure your doctor knows you and understands ADHD. Talk to your pharmacist. [00:59:08] - Between ADHD, a brain injury, hormones, and anxiety, a listener is feeling like a dysfunctional mess. Coaching, therapy, meds, and techniques haven't worked for them thus far, and are feeling down more frequently. Number one: Putting yourself first and being kind to yourself. Questions asked back to the listeners: How many of us did help not work until we had the right help? What are your protective factors? What does your support look like? What community support networks exist that you can take advantage of? We have an inner voice or inner critic we're allowed to 'tell off'. [01:04:25] - Eric shares an update about his Phish tickets and shares some lessons learned about travelling. [01:05:44] - A listener, newly diagnosed with ADHD, asks about dealing with transitions. Ask someone to help and share that transition-piece with someone else. Use a timer, but make sure it's a timer it's not on your phone. Make it something that will have you get up from your chair if the "gravity" of your chair is getting stronger. Limit context switching whenever possible. Try doing everything in one space that you need to do in that space before transitioning onto the next. "Break for Eyes" on iOS desktop. Build in more buffer time between switching. Have an alarm for the upcoming transition as a "nudge" of what's coming up, not the transition itself. Every transition is really two transitions: You have to transition out of what you're doing, then into whatever is coming up next. There are three kinds of transitions Physical transitions Emotional transitions Intellectual transitions [01:11:29] - Enjoy the last minute moment-of-dad from the Dad-Joke King himself, Will Curb. Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too: adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

** There's still room for YOU to join the 26th season of the award-winning ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Groups, starting in October! Head over to coachingrewired.com to find out how you can be a part of these intensive, online and video-based coaching and accountability groups, so you can get your ADHD rewired and rewrite your ADHD story! About Jim: Jim has been battling ADHD since his diagnosis at the age of 10 in the early 1980's, adding bipolar type 2 (Bipolar II), substance abuse, and an anxiety disorder to the mix has made life interesting, to say the least! Having a robust recovery plan and a team in place is helping Jim overcome these obstacles and stay on the path to recovery. Jim is a father of four, married to his wife for 30 years, an army Veteran, and a fire EMS captain. (Check back for updated timestamps of this episode!) Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too! adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

This week, Eric talks with his guest, Henry Holman, about how some of the lessons he's learned through gaming can also apply to real life, the impact of discovering when you're not alone with your ADHD, and dive into a quick coaching session for tips and strategies to managing your to-do's. About Henry: Henry is going to be a senior at DePaul University, studying computer science and is working towards a career in game programming. Although he was diagnosed at 9 years old, he didn't start learning about ADHD until he was 19, and remains fascinated with the "why" behind his ADHD-ness. He has loved video games for as long as he can remember, and in recent years, he has learned a lot about himself as he strives to improve at competitive Super Smash Brothers™. His long term career goal is to create a game that makes players feel like they have ADHD, to increase awareness and understanding surrounding the disorder. This is one of the first episodes in a while where Eric gets to have a guest in-studio! [00:02:48] - Eric asks how Henry got into video games. It all started with a Game Boy Color™ and a McDonalds toy. Henry and his siblings also split a game console.Then Eric and Henry hash out their virtual tennis accomplishments, and why a lamp-timer is helpful. [00:04:39] - Henry talks about a video game he wants to create that will make people feel like they have ADHD. His brother recommends a game to play, where the underlying theme of the game is a metaphor for overcoming the character's anxiety, and why it resonated with Henry. He also talks about a game he's played where the character in the game suffers from psychosis, which also gave him inspiration. Fun fact: The game Henry mentions in the timestamp above was, indeed, made in collaboration with neuroscientists and mental health professionals. Henry says, "They didn't want to do [the game] a disservice" and wanted to break a misrepresentation of mental health in games. Read more: Hellblade studio launches a new venture to explore mental health through games How Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice changed lives with its thoughtful portrayal of mental illness [00:08:31] - Eric asks where Henry is at [with his game]. Henry has already made some prototype levels, designed after Dr. Russell Barkley's theory of executive deficits, and how the levels represent these deficits. [00:11:00] - Eric and Henry talk about enthusiasm vs. pursuing a passion professionally. Henry reflects on an episode of ADHD reWired he's listened to. "We don't have the luxury [with ADHD] of doing things we don't like to do for a living" is a phrase that resonates with how he felt about school. [00:12:44] - Henry really wanted to do game design as a career, but got a "C" in a game-design class, but didn't quite know what it was he truly wanted to do. Later on, Henry discovers a love for programming, problem-solving, and playing with Lego and K'nex. [00:15:31] - A moment of ADHD happens right before the break. [00:22:26] - Henry started educating himself after getting stuck on breaking his skill-ceiling, and talks about the game he dove into to learn how to play competitively. Eric and Henry nerd out about their "mains" in Super Smash Brothers™. Henry explains how picking up a new character in the game was a perfect metaphor for living life with ADHD. [00:27:13] - "Autopilot" isn't effective. Henry talks about how his skill-ceiling led to frustration, and coming up with new strategies after losing another set. When he realizes his ADHD may have something to do with his struggles, he talks about diving into ADDitude magazine articles, watching HowToADHD videos on YouTube, and going down the ADHD Reddit rabbit-hole. [00:30:48] - Henry learns about tournament-nerves, staying calm under pressure, and being able to control impulses, and how in Super Smash Brothers™ was helpful to apply the principles he learned to the real world. [00:33:20] - Henry recommends taking a drink of water to knock your body out of fight-flight-freeze mode, and how it became his pause-mechanism. [00:34:33] - Henry's passion about games "speaks to if we're going to problem-solve around any area of life, if we can figure out a way to put it through the lens of what we are passionate about, it gives our brain a fighting chance." - Eric [00:40:55] - Eric and Henry go through some coaching about a consistent system to keep track of his to-do's. From a digital-assignment notebook and a whiteboard. [00:44:46] - Eric and Henry talk about the assignment books they received in school, and dive into some of the tools Henry used to use, and how what has worked before never lasted for him, aside from Google Calendar. Then, Eric asks, "What if we can… shift to the mindset from 'I want to find a consistent tool' to being quick to pivot when we realize we are no longer paying attention to this tool?" [00:47.01] - Eric talks about the different places his to-do's live, and what Eric found helpful for him. Eric also recommends setting a reminder that asks, "Am I using this tool?" Then, Henry reflects on how this could work for him. Eric also recommends using an erasable pen when using a paper-calendar. [00:49.07] - Henry shares his issue with communication, how he stores the information he's been given, and how shorthand isn't always the best way to store that information. [00:52:14] - Eric goes over keeping track of to-do's, then checking-in with the to-do's. Mentioned here: Book - Change Your Questions, Change Your Life (affiliate link) [00:54:52] - "The thing that I think is most important to be cognizant of is, 'What are you doing now, what are you doing next?' ...because knowing what's next makes transitions easier. Everything else is a distraction." - Eric [00:56:39] - Henry shares his takeaways and the systems he wants to try, which include implementing the reminders about his systems in his calendar, and keeping an "encyclopedia" or an "owner's manual" of strategies of what he has done in the past. Eric also encourages rotating through the tools we have. Get to know Henry here from his Linktr.ee @HankDeTank05 Other Honorable Mentions: ADDitude Magazine r/ADHD (reddit) HowToADHD with Jessica McCabe myHomework Student Planner App Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too! adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)

This is an episode you won't want to miss. Listen in as Eric - and his guest, Aron Croft - talk about the coping mechanisms Aron went through before he was diagnosed, the lessons he learned from his failures, and how he rose like the pheonix from Procrastinator in Chief to developing an ADHD-friendly productivity system you can't not hear about! About Aron: Aron appeared to have it all together when he got into Harvard. But that was the beginning of his demise. He struggled non-stop for 15 years until he was broke, divorced, and earning minimum wage, failing out of his first seven jobs and businesses. But after getting a masters degree in coaching psychology and a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, his life changed. He built a successful fortune 500 career, got married, and discovered how to get shit done with a neurodivergent brain. RIght before Eric and Aron hit record, Aron also adds another skill in pillow fort building for reducing slap-back audio in a not-perfectly-acoustic room! [00:02:26] - Eric and Aron start at the "bottom" of Aron's story. Aron gets into Harvard and explains how he dropped out twice before graduating, hating school, being outmatched and outclassed. He lost the structure he had around him, moving from south Florida to Boston, and was sick of the pain to get things done by waiting until the last minute until fear motivated him to get things done, studying computer science. Eric affirms that activation energy can be amazing, but comes at a price. [00:05:10] - Aron talks about the ways he got through high school, building relationships with teachers that felt inauthentic, feeling like he needed to be studying subjects that had "right" answers, such as math and science. He goes into how it was easier to bounce back from dropping out of school the first time. [00:07:11] - Aron shares how he moved his life to an island off the coast of New Zealand, his plan to retire early, and what came out of these decisions he made in his early 20's, navigating with some minor inconvenient factors he'd overlooked. Even though Aron and his then-fiance quickly discovered boredom, he doesn't regret his decisions. [00:10:00] - Eric and Aron agree on the idea of boredom and "retirement". Then, they discuss the "drug" of self-improvement. Then, Eric asks Aron how they got off the island. [00:11:55] - Aron teaches Eric and the listeners about "The Harvard Curse" and being heavily influenced by his environment. [00:13:32] - "It's applying it that's challenging for me." - Aron [00:22:16] - Eric asks Aron about the next 15 years. Aron talks about his first job out of school and a decision he wasn't proud of in that chapter of his life. He then talks about the other jobs he had, but repeated a pattern of letting things pile up until the last minute to get things done. Aron explains how this affected his relationship - navigating without yet being diagnosed with ADHD. After a year and some at his second job, he takes his ambitious 25-year-old-self to start a business in real-estate. Then, queue a slight tangent about their handyman skills! [00:25:41] - Aron shares a realization about being his own boss, moving to Australia, and going into sales. He then discovers a world-renowned program at the University of Sydney in Executive Coaching, seeing a Master's Program in Coaching Psychology, changing the trajectory of his life for the better. His passion shines here, and tells the story about how a gag-gift from a friend sparked his relationship with personal development. [00:30:50] - Eric and Aron fast forward to when he moved back from Australia to Chicago and landing a new job. Receiving some feedback and realizing his position is now at risk, Aron shares his story about the measures he took to keep himself employed. Mentioned here: If you are struggling with addiction, here are some resources available in the United States & Canada: In the United States: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration American Addiction Centers Crisis Text Line National Drug Helpline Partnership to End Addiction National Suicide Prevention Lifeline National Institute of Mental Health In Canada: Get help with substance use - Canada.ca - The Government of Canada website lists the resources available for each province. [00:38:14] - Eric has Aron dive into his "holy shit" moment of only having two weeks to redo his work while under probation. Aron talks about his "swiss-cheese" resume and the drastic measure (which is NOT endorsed by ADHD reWired and its team or Aron Croft). He [Aron] then realized what it meant when people told him to "just focus." Eric also affirms the Oh-moment, while Aron explains how these actions led to scheduling an appointment to getting an ADHD diagnosis. Then, Eric and Aron share the experience when they were asked how they managed to "survive" and "get this far" before getting diagnosed. [00:42:55] - Aron not only finishes his work after getting thrown under the bus, his environment changes and starts ADHD medication, and starts crushing it - getting promoted four times in six years. Then, Eric throws Aron a tough question, as he recounts working 9 hour days in a job he didn't love, leading to some isolation. Aron shares his realization when ADHD medication wasn't enough and needed to see the bigger picture and using specific strategies. [00:46:17] - Eric reflects on his past successes and how he would do things differently. [00:47:50] - Aron shares the process of how he went from "Procrastinator in Chief" to developing the SMASH productivity System, his thoughts and feelings as he dug into the process while looking into his future, and what happened after his "fit of freaking out". He talks about 30-minute productivity blocks, then mastering those principles in a 30-minute block that he could replicate. Find more about the SMASH productivity system here! [00:50:56] - "I'm not going to outwork neurotypicals, so I need to outsmart them." - Aron [00:51:01] - Select High-Leverage Actions [00:52:13] - Minimize Distractions [00:52:42] - Add Accountability [00:55:30] - Schedule it First! [00:56:51] - Hone Your Process [00:58:03] - Aron mentions using the Staircase Method and layering small improvements overtime. [00:58:57] - Aron & Eric share their closing thoughts… and it's definitely worth a listen. Connect with Aron: https://www.hiddenadd.com https://www.tiktok.com/@hidden_adhd https://twitter.com/aroncroft https://www.facebook.com/HiddenADHD/ https://www.instagram.com/hiddenadhd/ Honorable Mentions: What is the Pareto Principle? The One Thing by Gary Keller - A must-read and requirement before joining ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups (affiliate link)"If you struggle with prioritization, you must read this book." - Eric Tivers Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: adhdessentials.com with Brendan Mehan hackingyouradhd.com with Will Curb adhddiversified.ca with MJ Siemens adhdfriendlylifestyle.com with Moira Maybin coming soon - Wait, What Was the Question? with Will Curb and Coach Roxie Martin. Reach out to Will and Roxie at [email protected] Don't Forget These, Too! adhdrewired.com/patreon — Support the show by becoming a Patron! coachingrewired.com — Get your name on the waitlist to join the fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching and Accountability Groups adultstudyhall.com — Join your ADHD-friendly co-working space! adhdrewired.com/events — Join Eric, Brendan, Will, MJ, Moira, Roxie, and Barb for an hour of Live Q&A on Zoom, every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm Central (10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern)